3,171 research outputs found
Antonio Gramsci’s impact on critical pedagogy
This paper provides an account of Antonio Gramsci’s impact on the area of critical pedagogy. It indicates the Gramscian influence on the thinking of major exponents of the field. It foregrounds Gramsci's ideas and then indicates how they have been taken up by a selection of critical pedagogy exponents who were chosen on the strength of their identification and engagement with Gramsci's ideas, some of them even having written entire essays on Gramsci. The essay concludes with a discussion concerning an aspect of Gramsci's concerns, the question of powerful knowledge, which, in the present author's view, provides a formidable challenge to critical pedagogues.peer-reviewe
The Fluctuating Intergalactic Radiation Field at Redshifts z = 2.3-2.9 from He II and H I Absorption towards HE 2347-4342
We provide an in-depth analysis of the He II and H I absorption in the
intergalactic medium (IGM) at redshifts z = 2.3-2.9 toward HE 2347-4342, using
spectra from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) and the
Ultraviolet-Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES) on the VLT telescope. Following
up on our earlier study (Kriss et al. 2001, Science, 293, 1112), we focus here
on two major topics: (1) small-scale variability (Delta z = 10^-3) in the ratio
eta = N(He II)/N(H I); and (2) an observed correlation of high-eta absorbers
(soft radiation fields) with voids in the (H I) Ly-alpha distribution. These
effects may reflect fluctuations in the ionizing sources on scales of 1 Mpc,
together with radiative transfer through a filamentary IGM whose opacity
variations control the penetration of 1-5 ryd radiation over 30-40 Mpc
distances. Owing to photon statistics and backgrounds, we can measure optical
depths over the ranges 0.1 < tau(HeII) < 2.3 and 0.02 < tau(HI) < 3.9, and
reliably determine values of eta = 4 tau(HeII)/tau(HI) over the range 0.1 to
460. Values of eta = 20-200 are consistent with models of photoionization by
quasars with observed spectral indices alpha_s = 0-3. Values of eta > 200 may
require additional contributions from starburst galaxies, heavily filtered
quasar radiation, or density variations. Regions with eta < 30 may indicate the
presence of local hard sources. We find that eta is higher in "void" regions,
where H I is weak or undetected and 80% of the path length has eta > 100. These
voids may be ionized by soft sources (dwarf starbursts) or by QSO radiation
softened by escape from the AGN cores or transfer through the "cosmic web". The
apparent differences in ionizing spectra may help to explain the 1.45 Gyr lag
between the reionization epochs, z(HI) = 6.2 +/-0.2 and z(HeII) = 2.8 +/-0.2.Comment: 27 pages, 7 figures, to appear in Ap
Towards a framework for critical citizenship education
Increasingly countries around the world are promoting forms of "critical" citizenship in the planned curricula of schools. However, the intended meaning behind this term varies markedly and can range from a set of creative and technical skills under the label "critical thinking" to a desire to encourage engagement, action and political emancipation, often labelled "critical pedagogy". This paper distinguishes these manifestations of the "critical" and, based on an analysis of the prevailing models of critical pedagogy and citizenship education, develops a conceptual framework for analysing and comparing the nature of critical citizenship
Sex and the Cinema: What American Pie Teaches the Young
This paper focuses upon the wildly successful blockbuster American Pie teenpics, especially American Pie 3 – the Wedding. I argue that these films, which are sited so securely within the visual and pedagogical machinery of Hollywood culture, are specifically designed to appeal to teenage male audiences, and to provide lessons in sex and romance. Movies like this are especially important as they are experienced by far more teenagers than, for example, instructional films or other classroom materials; indeed, as Henry Giroux has observed, "teens and youth learn how to define themselves outside of the traditional sites of instruction, such as the home and the school… Learning in the postmodern age is located elsewhere – in popular spheres that shape their identities, through forms of knowledge and desires that appear absent from what is taught in schools" (Giroux, 1997, p.49). In this paper I discuss whether the American Pie series is actually a "new age" effort which, via insubordinate performances of gender, contests the hegemonic field of signification which regulates the production of sex, gender and desire, or whether it is more accurately described as a retrogressive hetero-conservative opus with a veneer of sexual radicalism. In short, I intend to probe whether this filmic vector for sex education is all about the shaping of responsible, caring, vulnerable men, or is it guiding them to become just like their heterosexual, middle-class fathers? And whether, despite its riotous and raunchy advertising, American Pie really dishes up something spicy or something terribly wholesome instead
Large-scale Star Formation Triggering in the Low-mass Arp 82 System: A Nearby Example of Galaxy Downsizing Based on UV/Optical/Mid-IR Imaging
As part of our Spitzer Spirals, Bridges, and Tails project to help understand
the effects of galaxy interactions on star formation, we analyze GALEX
ultraviolet, SARA optical, and Spitzer infrared images of the interacting
galaxy pair Arp 82 (NGC 2535/6) and compare to a numerical simulation of the
interaction. We investigate the multiwavelength properties of several
individual star forming complexes (clumps). Using optical and UV colors,
EW(Halpha), and population synthesis models we constrain the ages of the clumps
and find that the median clump age is about 12 Myr. The clumps have masses
ranging from a few times 10^6 to 10^9 solar masses. In general, the clumps in
the tidal features have similar ages to those in the spiral region, but are
less massive. The 8 micron and 24 micron luminosities are used to estimate the
far-infrared luminosities and the star formation rates of the clumps. The total
clump star formation rate is 2.0+/-0.8 solar masses per year, while the entire
Arp 82 system is forming stars at a rate of 4.9+/-2.0 solar masses per year. We
find, for the first time, stars in the HI arc to the southeast of the NGC 2535
disk. Population synthesis models indicate that all of the observed populations
have young to intermediate ages. We conclude that although the gas disks and
some old stars may have formed early-on, the progenitors are late-type or low
surface brightness and the evolution of these galaxies was halted until the
recent encounter.Comment: Accepted for publication in the AJ, 22 Figures, 5 Table
Pedagogia crítica e direitos humanos: fundamentos para uma proposta pedagógico-crítica em direitos humanos
Este artigo reflete sobre a necessidade de encontrar uma teoria pedagógica que ofereça sustentação à ação educativa em Direitos Humanos, apresentando uma proposta pedagógico-crítica alicerçada nos pressupostos da teoria e da pedagogia críticas, privilegiando a pedagogia freireana, numa perspectiva atualizada para os Direitos Humanos. Nesse sentido, o trabalho tem o propósito de discutir um fundamento teórico-crítico para a Educação em Direitos Humanos, buscando novas formas de investigação e de análise para sua compreensão, apropriando-se de conceitos críticos como conscientização, autonomia, diálogo e emancipação. Finalmente, considera que uma prática pedagógica crítica em Direitos Humanos contribui para a leitura do mundo do excluído, para sua inclusão na sociedade e para a compreensão de que é possível desconstruir relações e práticas sociais injustas.(undefined
The Obliteration of Truth by Management: Badiou, St. Paul and the Question of Economic Managerialism in Education
This paper considers the questions that Badiou’s theory of the subject poses to cultures of economic managerialism within education. His argument that radical change is possible, for people and the situations they inhabit, provides a stark challenge to the stifling nature of much current educational climate. In 'Saint Paul: The Foundation of Universalism', Badiou describes the current universalism of capitalism, monetary homogeneity and the rule of the count. Badiou argues that the politics of identity are all too easily subsumed by the prerogatives of the marketplace and unable to present, therefore, a critique of the status quo. These processes are, he argues, without the potential for truth. What are the implications of Badiou’s claim that education is the arranging of ‘the forms of knowledge in such a way that truth may come to pierce a hole in them’ (Badiou, 2005, p. 9)? In this paper, I argue that Badiou’s theory opens up space for a kind of thinking about education that resists its colonisation by cultures of management and marketisation and leads educationalists to consider the emancipatory potential of education in a new light
The Outcomes Assessment of the Plasma Blade Technology in Upper Blepharoplasties: A Prospective Study on a Series of 25 Patients
Background: The Dermo Ablation Surgery (DAS) Medical® (Technolux, Italy) device is a plasma blade which induces a plasma voltaic arc causing a retraction in the epidermis and superficial dermis. Objective: The aim of our study is to prove the efficacy and safety of the DAS Medical® device in dermatochalasis size reduction. Methods: Our prospective study included 25 adult patients presenting with upper eyelid dermatochalasis undergoing a two-session treatment protocol with the DAS Medical® device (with a month treatment-free interval). The primary end point was the reduction in the size of the dermatochalasis. The secondary end points were patient satisfaction, and a blinded assessment of the outcomes was carried out by 15 plastic surgery specialists on post-procedural pictures. Results: The mean reduction in the size of the dermatochalasis was estimated at 2.47 mm on a 6-month follow-up (13.5 mm at T0 vs. 11.03 mm at 6 months, p = 0.0002) and 1.97 mm on a 12-month follow-up ((13.5 mm at T0 vs. 11.53 mm at 12 months, p = 0.0055). Eighty per cent of the patients and 78% of the assessing clinicians were globally satisfied with the results on a 12-month follow-up. The mean visual analogue pain score reported during the treatment was 4.5/10; MEOPA® was used in 23% of cases. No irreversible post-procedural sequelae (complications) were observed. Conclusion: Voltaic plasma arc treatment with DAS Medical® is an effective technique for non-invasive blepharoplasty on moderate dermatochalasis patients not suffering from palpebral lipoptosis and is very well tolerated. It can be usefully and successfully associated with surgery. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266
The Metagalactic Ionizing Radiation Field at Low Redshift
We compute the ionizing radiation field at low redshift, arising from
Seyferts, QSOs, and starburst galaxies. This calculation combines recent
Seyfert luminosity functions, extrapolated ultraviolet fluxes from our IUE-AGN
database, and a new intergalactic opacity model based on Hubble Space Telescope
and Keck Ly-alpha absorber surveys. At z = 0 for AGN only, our best estimate
for the specific intensity at 1 Ryd is I_0 = 1.3 (+0.8/-0.5) x 10^-23
ergs/cm^2/s/Hz/sr, independent of H_0, Omega_0, and Lambda. The one-sided
ionizing photon flux is Phi_ion = 3400 (+2100/-1300) photons/cm^2/s, and the H
I photoionization rate is Gamma_HI = 3.2 (+2.0/-1.2) x 10^-14 s^-1 for alpha_s
= 1.8. We also derive Gamma_ HI for z = 0 - 4. These error ranges reflect
uncertainties in the spectral indexes for the ionizing EUV (alpha_s = 1.8 +/-
0.3) and the optical/UV (alpha_UV = 0.86 +/- 0.05), the IGM opacity model, the
range of Seyfert luminosities (0.001 - 100 L*) and the completeness of the
luminosity functions. Our estimate is a factor of three lower than the most
stringent upper limits on the ionizing background (Phi_ion < 10^4
photons/cm^2/s) obtained from H-alpha observations in external clouds, and it
lies within the range implied by other indirect measures. Starburst galaxies
with a sufficiently large Lyman continuum escape fraction, f_ esc > 0.05, may
provide a comparable background to AGN, I_0 (z=0) = 1.1 (+1.5/-0.7) x 10^{-23).
An additional component of the ionizing background of this magnitude would
violate neither upper limits from H-alpha observations nor the acceptable range
from other measurements.Comment: 30 pages, 9 figures, accepted for Astronomical J. (Oct. 1999
- …