7 research outputs found
âCan any good come from Ireland?â:contrasting images of Ireland and the Irish in the Topography of Ireland by Gerald of Wales
Abstract. The purpose of this masterâs thesis is to examine the seeming duality in the representations of Ireland and the Irish in the first recension of the Topography of Ireland (Topographia Hibernica) by Gerald of Wales (c. 1146â1223). The results of the study are threefold. Firstly, by comparing and contrasting the two representations, the study demonstrates that there is a contrast between the overwhelmingly positive portrayal of Ireland and the overwhelmingly negative characterisation of the Irish. Secondly, by comparing these representations with the negative preconceptions conveyed in the authorâs preface, it may be said that there is a shift in the image of Ireland, whereas the image of the Irish is only reinforced. More specifically, Ireland seems to be raised to a new status as the home of the âwonders of the Westâ, while the Irish are marginalised even further. Both descriptions are based on the image of the island as the farthest western periphery. An exploration of the Topographyâs historical context indicates that the characterisation of the Irish taps into the contemporary clichĂ© of the peripheral and inferior barbarian. At the same time, the concept of the periphery seems to be rehabilitated where Ireland, the land, is concerned. Thirdly, although the inner logic of the work may be questioned, the authorâs personal circumstances indicate that the two representations are not contradictory where authorial interests are concerned in so far as both may be seen to serve the same purpose of demonstrating the superiority of the Self. The Topography of Ireland revolves around notions of superiority and inferiority. The results of the study indicate the centrality of the Self in the work, which raises questions as to its real subject. In any case, although, historically, the Topographyâs reputation has centred on its characterisation of the Irish, it is not the Irishânamely, the Otherâbut the Self that is of real interest in the work.TiivistelmĂ€. TĂ€mĂ€ pro gradu -tutkielma vertailee Irlannin ja irlantilaisten nĂ€ennĂ€isen ristiriitaista kuvausta Gerald Walesilaisen (c. 1146â1223) teoksessa Topographia Hibernica. Tutkimus koskee teoksen noin vuonna 1187 ilmestynyttĂ€ ensimmĂ€istĂ€ versiota. Tutkimuksesta kĂ€y ilmi, ettĂ€ teos esittÀÀ Irlannin positiivisessa valossa, mikĂ€ korostaa irlantilaisten negatiivista kuvausta. LisĂ€ksi vertaamalla kuvauksia kirjoittajan esipuheessaan esiintuomiin negatiivisiin ennakkokĂ€sityksiin voidaan todeta, ettĂ€ nĂ€kemys Irlannista muuttuu teoksen edetessĂ€, kun taas irlantilaisiin liittyviĂ€ negatiivisia ennakkokĂ€sityksiĂ€ vahvistetaan. Tarkemmin sanoen teos kohottaa Irlannin uuteen asemaan âlĂ€nnen ihmeidenâ kotipaikkana syventĂ€en irlantilaisten marginalisointia. Molempien kuvausten perustana on kĂ€sitys Irlannista kaukaisimpana lĂ€ntisenĂ€ periferiana. Tutkimuksesta kĂ€y ilmi, ettĂ€ teos hyödyntÀÀ 1100-luvulle tyypillistĂ€, syrjĂ€seutujen kansoihin liitettyĂ€ barbaarisuuden kĂ€sitettĂ€ irlantilaisten kuvauksessa. Samalla periferian kĂ€sitteen voidaan nĂ€hdĂ€ muuttuvan suotuisammaksi mitĂ€ tulee Irlannin kuvaukseen. Vaikka teoksen sisĂ€inen logiikka ontuukin, molempien kuvausten voidaan nĂ€hdĂ€ palvelevan kirjoittajan etuja, sillĂ€ Topographia on ennen kaikkea argumentti minuuden ylemmyydestĂ€. Tutkimustulokset viittaavat minuuden kĂ€sitteen keskeiseen rooliin Topographiassa. Tutkielma esittÀÀkin, ettĂ€ vaikka Topographia Hibernican maine on usein painottunut sen esittĂ€mÀÀn irlantilaisten kuvaukseen, olennaisinta on kuitenkin se, mitĂ€ se kertoo kirjoittajastaan ja tĂ€mĂ€n maailmasta
Saint Patrick:approaches to a controversial figure
This bachelorâs thesis explores the concept of âSaint Patrickâ. A case study of Saint Patrick, the study approaches the figure from a holistic point of view. Accordingly, it is not the purpose of the study to discuss solely the historicity of the Patrician legend; both the historical and the unhistorical, and further, the past and the present are seen as essential to the figure. On a more general level, the thesis addresses the question of how to approach a figure that is inherently fictitious. Essential to this question is the concept of hagiography. The study shows that attitudinal problems remain in terms of saints. In accordance with more recent trends in the study of saints, this thesis adopts a wider view of what is historical.
The present study argues for a dualistic understanding of the concept âSaint Patrickâ: namely, the figure is a combination of the historical man who flourished in the fifth century and the posthumously developed image of a saint. Moreover, the study demonstrates that Saint Patrick is a construction. Emphasising the significance of the community behind a saint and his/her cult, the âclienteleâ of a saint, the study discusses the dynamics involved in the construction of a saint. Importantly, understanding Saint Patrick requires a knowledge of the historical and religious context in which the figure has developed. Further, the study demonstrates the importance of appreciating the concept of sainthood in terms of Saint Patrick. Significantly, it is the memory of a person that forms the basis for the creation of a saint.
More specifically, this thesis analyses the âproblemâ of Saint Patrick. The analysis shows that the problematic nature may be understood on a variety of levels. The study concludes that, due to its long history, the concept of Saint Patrick is a complicated one, and the most useful approach is therefore to accept the complexity and focus on the history of the concept. The thesis argues, too, for an understanding of Saint Patrick as a product of Irish history. Considering his historical importance, the study of Saint Patrick is valuable in its own right, but may be seen, too, as instrumental in understanding the history of the Irish.TĂ€mĂ€ kandidaatintutkielma kĂ€sittelee Irlannin suojeluspyhimystĂ€ PyhÀÀ Patrikia, jota tutkitaan kokonaisvaltaisesti, kĂ€sitteenĂ€. Tutkielman tarkoituksena ei ole siis tarkastella ainoastaan pyhimyksen historiallista paikkansapitĂ€vyyttĂ€, vaan laajemmin sisĂ€ltĂ€en sekĂ€ pyhimyksen historiallisen ettĂ€ kuvitteellisen puolen, jotka kuuluvat molemmat olennaisena osana PyhĂ€n Patrikin kĂ€sitteeseen. YleisemmĂ€llĂ€ tasolla tutkielma pohtii, miten suhtautua historiallisesti merkittĂ€vÀÀn hahmoon, joka sisĂ€ltÀÀ myös paljon kuvitteellisia piirteitĂ€. TĂ€hĂ€n kysymykseen liittyy olennaisesti hagiografian eli pyhimyselĂ€mĂ€kerran kĂ€site. Tutkielma osoittaa, ettĂ€ pyhimyksiin liittyy edelleen asenteellisia ongelmia. Pyhimysten tutkimuksen nykysuuntauksia heijastellen tutkielma omaksuu laajemman nĂ€kökulman historiaan.
Tutkielma esittÀÀ PyhĂ€n Patrikin kĂ€sitteen muodostuvan kahdesta osasta: 400-luvulla vaikuttanut piispa ja tĂ€mĂ€n kuoleman jĂ€lkeen kehittynyt pyhimys tulisi pitÀÀ erillÀÀn. On tĂ€rkeÀÀ huomata, ettĂ€ âPyhĂ€ Patrickâ on konstruktio. Tutkielma tarkasteleekin, mitĂ€ tekijöitĂ€ pyhimyksen rakentumiseen liittyy painottaen erityisesti yhteisön, pyhimyksen âasiakaskunnanâ, merkitystĂ€. Jotta voisimme ymmĂ€rtÀÀ PyhÀÀ Patrikia paremmin, meidĂ€n tĂ€ytyy tuntea se historiallinen ja uskonnollinen konteksti, jossa tĂ€mĂ€ hahmo on kehittynyt. LisĂ€ksi on tĂ€rkeÀÀ ymmĂ€rtÀÀ, mitĂ€ pyhyyden kĂ€site pitÀÀ sisĂ€llÀÀn. Huomautettakoon erityisesti, ettĂ€ pyhimys rakentuu aina henkilön muistolle.
Tarkemmin sanottuna tÀmÀ tutkielma analysoi PyhÀn Patrikin ongelmallisia piirteitÀ osoittaen, ettÀ nÀissÀ voidaan nÀhdÀ useita eri tasoja. Tutkimus tuleekin siihen lopputulokseen, ettÀ PyhÀn Patrikin hahmo on monimutkainen johtuen sen pitkÀstÀ historiasta, minkÀ vuoksi on hyödyllisintÀ hyvÀksyÀ tÀmÀ monimutkaisuus ja keskittyÀ tarkastelemaan kÀsitteen historiaa. Tutkimus esittÀÀ myös, ettÀ PyhÀ Patrik tulisi nÀhdÀ Irlannin historian tuloksena. Ottaen huomioon pyhimyshahmon historiallisen merkittÀvyyden PyhÀ Patrik on jo itsessÀÀn tÀrkeÀ tutkimuskohde. PyhÀn Patrikin tutkimus auttaa meitÀ kuitenkin myös ymmÀrtÀmÀÀn Irlannin ja irlantilaisten historiaa
Tundra Trait Team : A database of plant traits spanning the tundra biome
Motivation The Tundra Trait Team (TTT) database includes field-based measurements of key traits related to plant form and function at multiple sites across the tundra biome. This dataset can be used to address theoretical questions about plant strategy and trade-offs, trait-environment relationships and environmental filtering, and trait variation across spatial scales, to validate satellite data, and to inform Earth system model parameters. Main types of variable contained Spatial location and grain The database contains 91,970 measurements of 18 plant traits. The most frequently measured traits (> 1,000 observations each) include plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf fresh and dry mass, leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus content, leaf C:N and N:P, seed mass, and stem specific density. Measurements were collected in tundra habitats in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, including Arctic sites in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Fennoscandia and Siberia, alpine sites in the European Alps, Colorado Rockies, Caucasus, Ural Mountains, Pyrenees, Australian Alps, and Central Otago Mountains (New Zealand), and sub-Antarctic Marion Island. More than 99% of observations are georeferenced. Time period and grain Major taxa and level of measurement All data were collected between 1964 and 2018. A small number of sites have repeated trait measurements at two or more time periods. Trait measurements were made on 978 terrestrial vascular plant species growing in tundra habitats. Most observations are on individuals (86%), while the remainder represent plot or site means or maximums per species. Software format csv file and GitHub repository with data cleaning scripts in R; contribution to TRY plant trait database (www.try-db.org) to be included in the next version release.Peer reviewe
Tundra Trait Team:a database of plant traits spanning the tundra biome
Abstract
Motivation: The Tundra Trait Team (TTT) database includes fieldâbased measurements of key traits related to plant form and function at multiple sites across the tundra biome. This dataset can be used to address theoretical questions about plant strategy and tradeâoffs, traitâenvironment relationships and environmental filtering, and trait variation across spatial scales, to validate satellite data, and to inform Earth system model parameters.
Main types of variable contained: The database contains 91,970 measurements of 18 plant traits. The most frequently measured traits (> 1,000 observations each) include plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf fresh and dry mass, leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus content, leaf C:N and N:P, seed mass, and stem specific density.
Spatial location and grain: Measurements were collected in tundra habitats in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, including Arctic sites in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Fennoscandia and Siberia, alpine sites in the European Alps, Colorado Rockies, Caucasus, Ural Mountains, Pyrenees, Australian Alps, and Central Otago Mountains (New Zealand), and subâAntarctic Marion Island. More than 99% of observations are georeferenced.
Time period and grain: All data were collected between 1964 and 2018. A small number of sites have repeated trait measurements at two or more time periods.
Major taxa and level of measurement: Trait measurements were made on 978 terrestrial vascular plant species growing in tundra habitats. Most observations are on individuals (86%), while the remainder represent plot or site means or maximums per species.
Software format: csv file and GitHub repository with data cleaning scripts in R; contribution to TRY plant trait database (www.try-db.org) to be included in the next version release