Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T14:16:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fumikazu Saito.pdf: 10989609 bytes, checksum: 339ee2687abdfdc808fbb99663c1ebfb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-05-19 / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo / This work discusses the relationship between instrument and sensorial or perceptive experience in the light of Giambattista della Porta s natural magic and the 17th century natural philosophy. It points out to factors that made of the telescope a natural magic device, by approaching to the design of Galileo Galilei s instrument. Analysis is centered on De telescopio, De refractione optices parte libri novem and Magiae naturalis libri XX by Della Porta and Sidereus nuncius by Galileu, as primary sources. This study allowed to realize that the expansion of the visual capacity achieved through instruments and devices was not merely related to philosophical strategies that would lead to mistrust naked-eye observation or mathematization of seeing by 15th century linear perspective. Among other features involved in the change of views regarding the observation of nature, the recognition of the sharper visual perception achieved through instruments was also associated to natural magic s manipulation of seeing / Este estudo discute a relação do instrumento com a experiência sensória ou perceptiva sob a perspectiva da magia natural de Giambattista della Porta e da filosofia natural do século XVII. Aponta-se, desse modo, para os indícios que fizeram do telescópio um aparato de magia natural, dialogando com a concepção do instrumento de Galileu Galilei. Foram selecionados para análise o De telescopio, o De refractione optices parte libri novem e a Magiae naturalis libri XX de Della Porta e o Sidereus nuncius de Galileu, como fontes primárias. Por meio deste estudo, observou-se que a ampliação da capacidade visual, por meio de aparatos e instrumentos, não estava apenas relacionada a certas estratégias de natureza filosófica, que fizeram desacreditar na observação a olho nu, nem à matematização do olhar proposta pela perspectiva linear do século XV. Além de outros aspectos relacionados à mudança de atitude em relação à observação da natureza, o reconhecimento de uma percepção visual mais aguda, por meio de instrumentos, estava também relacionado com a proposta da magia natural de manipular o olhar

Este trabalho visa abordar conceitos estéticos, musicais e históricos (relacionados à época do Iluminismo) que envolvem as transcrições para violão \"Six Airs Choisis de l\'Opéra de Mozart: \"Il flauto magico, arrangés pour guitare\" Op. 19 do compositor e violonista espanhol Fernando Sor (1778-1839), publicadas entre os anos de 1823 a 1825, em Londres, e baseadas em árias de A flauta mágica k620 (1791) de Mozart. O processo de transcrição empreendido por Fernando Sor exigiu, inclusive por necessidades históricas (aproximadamente 35 anos separam essas obras), uma mudança de concepção da escritura instrumental, pois, para Sor, tratava-se de verter a essência de um pensamento musical concebido no meio operático e apresentá-lo sob o conceito sonoro de um instrumento solo emergente, como foi o caso do violão no final do século XVIII e primeiras décadas do século XIX. Assim, do ponto de vista instrumental, elementos como textura, estilo de acompanhamento e conceito de condução de vozes, para citar apenas alguns aspectos, sofreram mudanças de concepção, resultando muitas vezes quase em uma nova composição e, até mesmo, outra percepção da forma musical, porque, acima de tudo, o elemento dramáticoliterário está ausente. / This paper aims at addressing the aesthetic, musical and historical concepts (related to the Enlightenment) that involve the guitar transcriptions \"Six Airs Choisis de l\'Opéra de Mozart: \"Il flauto magico, arrangés pour guitare\" Op. 19 by Spanish composer and guitarist Fernando Sor (1778-1839), published between the years 1823 to 1825, in London, and based in Mozart\'s Die Zauberflöte k620 (The Magic Flute). The transcription\'s process undertaken by Fernando Sor required, even for historical purposes (the compositions were created 35 years apart), a change in the concept of instrumental writing. For Sor, it was a question of translating the essence of the musical thought conceived in an operatic way and presenting it under a sonorous concept of an emerging, solo instrument as had been the case of the guitar in the late 18th century and in the first decades of the 19th century. From the instrumental perspective, therefore, elements such as texture, style of accompaniment and the voice leading concept, to name but a few, have undergone conceptual changes, often resulting almost in a new composition and even a different perception of the musical form since, above all, the elements of drama and literature are absent.

Exploramos aspectos da espacialidade nos videogames, aplicando o conceito de círculo mágico como abordado por Johan Huizinga, refletindo sobre a experiência da imersão e da observação externa. Empregamos, como objeto do pensamento, ferramentas provenientes da teoria dos games, geometria, semiótica, fenomenologia, psicologia, informática e pós-estruturalismo. Observamos a estrutura triádica na percepção do jogador alicerçada sobre três categorias espaciais: físico-tátil, imagético- narrativa e intencional. Levantamos informações relativas aos sistemas de objetos próprios dos jogos eletrônicos. Classificamos esquemas espaciais utilizados para a apresentação do espaço diegético na tela. Aplicamos o conceito de flow, criado por Csikszentmihalyi, para avaliar a imersão e o engajamento do jogador. Investigamos possíveis extrapolações do círculo mágico formado pelo jogar. Observamos modos de virtualização e atualização na interface dos games. Abstraímos o jogo como obra de metadesign, considerando modos de autoria pelo interator. Verificamos processos de embodiment através do agenciamento via avatar. Contemplamos aspectos topológicos de rede e estruturas labirínticas. Ponderamos sobre as possibilidades abertas pelo game thinking, como processos de ludificação e simulação. Por fim, divisamos as circunstâncias de transcendência do espaço do jogo por meio da alteridade e da expansão do círculo mágico. / We explored aspects of video game spatiality, using the magic circle concept, as approached by Johan Huizinga, pondering upon the experience of immersion and external observation. We applied, as object of thought, tools originated from the theory of gaming, geometry, semiotics, phenomenology, psychology, computing and post-structuralism. We observed the triadic structure of the player\'s perception based on three spatial categories: physical-tactile, imagery-narrative and intentional. We collected data related to the system of objects used in electronic games. We classified spatial diagrams utilized in the presentation of diegetic space on screen. We applied the flow concept, created by Csikszentmihalyi, to valuate immersion and engagement of players. We explored possible surpassing of the magic circle created by the act of playing. We observed modes of virtualization and updating of the gaming interfaces. We abstracted gaming as a work of metadesign, considering means of authorship by the interactor. We verify embodiment processes via avatar agency. We observed topological aspects of network and labyrinth structures. We pondered the possibilities opened by game thinking, like processes of gamification and simulation. Finally we glimpsed the circumstances of gaming space transcendence by the means of alterity and the expansion of the magic circle.

This essay examines the inherent instability present in Diana Wynne Jones’ 1986 novel Howl’s Moving Castle. I suggest that in relying on the ambiguity of the story and the setting, Jones creates not only a more complex universe, but allows the characters to be multidimensional -- both literally and figuratively -- without having any stable selves. Using deconstruction as a (non-existent) foundation for my analysis, I contend that the strength of the story is in the looseness of it. Thus, by using a Derridean approach with added Cixousian feminist elements and a heap of Kristevian intertextuality, I further argue that Jones invites the reader to embrace the ambiguity of identity by closely analyzing the conflicting behaviours of the two main characters in the novel, Sophie Hatter and Wizard Howl. In conclusion, I argue that Diana Wynne Jones through subverting classic fairy tale tropes in an ingenious way, suggests that there is no such thing as a final finished growing person and that there is comfort to be found in embracing this incompleteness.

Considered under the theme 'The Floating World', the aim of this research project was to create a written exegesis and a series of artworks, primarily in the form of digital animation and illustration, which investigate decorative and illustrative art practices and their historical lineages. Particular emphasis was given to investigating the links between contemporary decorative/illustrative art practice and the aesthetics and psychology of the Edo period in Japan (C17th - C19th), in which the term 'The Floating World' was used to describe the city of Edo (old Tokyo). The writing concerned with The Floating World is comprised of the following chapters: history; concepts; aesthetics; contemporary adaptations of Ukiyo-e; and gothic romance and associated genres. The outcomes of my Masters program represent a sustained exploration of decorative and illustrative art practice and theory, and incorporate experimentation with associated genres such as magic realism, gothic romance, the uncanny, iconography, surrealism and other metaphorical and abstract representational practices. More broadly, my Masters project is an investigation, both theoretical and practical, into the way drawing and illustration have been a process through which to (literally) give shape to hopes and fears, and to describe understandings of self and the world. I am particularly interested in exploring how, through the act of abstraction and the use of metaphor and decoration, a capacity to 'speak the unspeakable' and 'know the unknowable' are somehow enabled. For example, when contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami decorates Edo-inspired screens with a colourful arrangement of morphing cartoon mushrooms, he conjures up a startling and complex poetic space that juxtaposes traditional Japanese aesthetics and philosophy with the hyper-consumerist characters and ethos of Disneyland, as well as disquieting references to the mushroom bombs that dropped down on Hiroshima and Nagasaki from US planes. A similarly complex space is enacted by contemporary US artist Inka Essenhigh: her oversized canvases seem like sublime Japanese-inspired screens but a closer inspection reveals that the decorative motifs are actually dismembered body parts morphed together to create a savage and compelling metaphor for contemporary America that is all the more disarming for being perf ormed in a seemingly innocuous illustrative style. My research will draw on these examples but will endeavour to create a series of artworks that are particular to an Australian context. This interests me particularly in a time when, as a nation, we appear to be confounded about what it means to be Australian: as a contemporary artist I am interested in how we represent ourselves as a nation, and in exploring the motifs and attributes that we consider to be ours.

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This project argues that there is a previously unnamed canon of literature called Magical Feminism which exists across many current popular (even lowbrow) genres such as science-fiction, fantasy, so-called realistic literature, and contemporary television and film. I define Magical Feminism as a genre quite similar to Magical Realism, but assert that its main political thrust is to model a feminist agency for its readers. To define this genre, I closely-read the image of the female magic user as one of the most important Magical Feminist metaphors. I argue that the female magic user–commonly called the witch, but also labeled priestess, mistress, shaman, mambo, healer, midwife– is a metaphor for female unruliness and disruption to patriarchy and as such, is usually portrayed as evil and deserving of punishment. I assert that many (although not all) of the popular texts this genre includes are overlooked or ignored by the academy, and thus, that an important focus for contemporary feminism is missed. When the texts are noticed by parts of the academy, they are mostly considered popular culture novelty acts, not serious political genres. As part of my argument, I analyze third wave feminism’s attempt to reconcile traits previously considered less than feminist, such as the domestic. I also deconstruct the popular media’s negative portrayal of contemporary feminism and the resulting reluctance for many young women to identify themselves as feminist. I also argue that this reluctance goes hand in hand with a growing attempt to seek new models for empowering female epistemologies. My assertion is that these texts are the classrooms where many readers learn their feminism. Finally, I list a short bibliography as a way of defining canon of texts that should be considered Magical Feminist.

No description available.

I would like to present the latest novel by Said Ahmed Mohamed, Babu alipofofuka (\'When Grandfather came to life again\'), published at the end of the last year. The mine will be only a first, preliminary and very inadequate attempt as, I am sure, this work will challenge us for quite a few years. In fact, after five realistic novels the author has adopted a new technique, turning to magic realism as he himself defines his work, but perhaps it is a too limitative definition. He depicts our world in a near future, when Tanzania and other African countries will have already undergone the process of globalization. The results are disastrous: impoverished and dulled masses are governed by a handful of immensely rich, powerful and arrogant persons mostly of foreign origin, deprived of all human qualities, who have thrown away any inhibition and deliberately sunk in all sorts of physical and moral debasement; nothing embarrasses nor frightens them anymore as they feel unpunishable.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal