Saints Into Soviets: Russian Orthodox Symbolism and Soviet Political Posters

Visual archetypes from Russian Orthodox iconography shaped a widely understood visual vocabulary with politically important cultural meaning. Icons derived their symbolic authority from their status in Orthodox doctrine as divinely revealed sacred truth. Although the Bolsheviks who seized power in 1917 officially denounced organized religion, revolutionary artists nonetheless recycled iconic archetypes in political posters. These recycled Orthodox symbols legitimized the revolution and its leaders, idealized new heroes and social behaviors, and promoted Soviet utopia. Russian Orthodox archetypes thus became important elements of the new “master fiction” underpinning the Soviet regime’s exercise of political power. Other authors have noted stylistic similarities between icons and posters but have tended to overlook icons’ deeper cultural significance. In contrast, this study applies elements of visual, semiotic, and cultural theory to explore icons’ symbolic cultural meanings, the dynamics of their transfer from Russian Orthodoxy to the Soviet context, and their implications for Soviet political power.Russian icon, Soviet poster, Political culture, Cultural idiom, Visual perspective, Cultural recyclin

The Missa L’homme arme of Johannes Regis and Franco-Flemish Perceptions of St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel performed three key roles in medieval western Christendom, as outlined by religious historian Richard Johnson: guardian, warrior, and psychopomp. The roles of intercessor and military leader derive from scriptural references to St. Michael, while the psychopomp role derives from the Jewish and Christian apocryphal tales that compose the Saint’s vita. Beginning with Charlemagne, liturgies dedicated to Michael were nationally sanctioned in the Carolingian Empire. The Frankish region would remain devoted to the Archangel well into the fifteenth century. Mont-Saint-Michel in particular would develop its own foundation myth, leading the surrounding area in angelic patronage during the late middle ages. Michael’s three key roles directly correlate with the rise and fall of the Cult’s popularity, which notably coincides with the coming and going of wars. Fresh off the campaigns of the Hundred Years War, fifteenth-century Franco-Flemish countries produced music dedicated to St. Michael that predictably demonstrate a militaristic tone. Franco-Flemish composer Johannes Regis (c.1425-c.1496), in particular, represents this tradition in his Missa L’homme armé. The prominence of the Archangel in this work reflects the historically Michael-devoted environment in which Regis composed his mass. Regis’s Missa L’homme armé portrays St. Michael as protector and military leader through tropes focusing on the expulsion of the dragon from heaven and depictions of the apocalyptic trumpet. Musically, the piece relies not only on dramatic text but also the popular L’homme armé [Armed Man] cantus firmus, which carried its own military theme and history, including frequent use in fifteenth-century polyphonic works to symbolize warrior figures such as St. Michael. Searches for the tune’s origins lead to Phillip the Good’s Order of the Golden Fleece, as well as Louis XI’s Order of St. Michael, organizations that significantly blended chivalric ideals, knightly practice, and votive devotions. Missa L’homme armé reflects St. Michael’s western military and devotional functions in Franco-Flemish society through its treatment of text, choice of cantus firmus, and compositional techniques. My study of this piece illuminates the musical expression of the Cult of St. Michael during one of its most popular periods in history

BIM mediated mass customization applied to engineered-to-order of building component : custom kitchens and cabinetry solutions

Orientador: Regina Coeli RuschelTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e UrbanismoResumo: Um número crescente de fabricantes tem buscado a Customização em Massa (CM). CM é uma estratégia de produção que utiliza de Tecnologia da Informação, processos flexíveis e estruturas organizacionais adequadas para fornecer produtos projetos específicamente para um cliente a um custo próximo ao da produção em massa. Quanto maior for o nível de customização, maiores serão os benefícios, mas também os custos operacionais. Portanto, o objetivo desta pesquisa é avaliar os benefícios da Modelagem da Informação da Construção (BIM) para se obter um elevado nível de CM. O foco da pesquisa está na formulação de uma solução que permita a reconfiguração das estruturas e processos de sistemas de fabricação de componentes de construção, em sistemas de produção em CM mediados por BIM. Esta solução fornecerá conhecimento sobre como determinar o nível apropriado de personalização para um determinado produto abordando os seguintes problemas: (a) O valor de um determinado nível de customização, de acordo com as especificações dos clientes; (b) a capacidade do sistema oferecer este nível de customização; e, (c) a combinação desses problemas aparentemente antagônicos. O desenvolvimento da solução proposta, está sendo realizado através de uma Design Science Research, um método de pesquisa que é um processo rigoroso de projetos de artefatos (constructos, modelos, métodos, instanciações e Design propositions) com relevância prática e contribuição teórica. Esta investigação cria artefatos que são validados por uma instanciação através de uma pesquisa-ação em um fabricante de cozinhas e móveis modulados fabricados sob encomendaAbstract: An increasing number of fabricators has pursued Mass Customization (MC). MC is a system that uses information technology, flexible processes and organizational structures suitable to provide individually designed products at a cost near that of Mass Production. The higher the customization level the more significant the benefits, but also the operational costs. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for achieving a higher level of MC. The research focused on the formulation of a solution that enables reconfiguration of fabricators structures and processes into BIM mediated mass-customized production system. Such solution provided knowledge on how to determine the appropriate level of customization for a specific product addressing the following issues: (a) the value placed on a level of customization by the customer's requirements, (b) the system's ability to deliver that level of customization, and (c) the combination of these apparently conflicting issues. The development of such a solution was carried out through a Design Science Research, a method that is a scientific process of designing artifacts (constructs, models, methods, instantiations, and design propositions) with practical relevance and theoretical contribution. This investigation created artifacts that were validated by an instantiation through action research at a kitchen and furniture custom cabinetry fabricatorDoutoradoArquitetura, Tecnologia e CidadeDoutor em Arquitetura, Tecnologia e Cidad