The Vices and Virtues in the Evolution of the Grotesque from Medieval to Modern Literature

The grotesque, which some critics believe to be the dominant mode of expression in twentieth-century literature, is not a strictly modern phenomenon. By concentrating on the literary evolution of the most grotesque of medieval dramatic figures--the Vice of the morality plays--I demonstrate in three major chapters the continuity of the grotesque tradition from its beginnings in the Middle Ages to its uses in the works of several modern writers. I define the grotesque as follows: The grotesque, through the conflicting tendencies of the humorous and the terrifying, embodies the I negation of a preconceived norm implied within a particular work. The first part of the definition is in general agreement with most theorists of the phenomenon, who note its, characteristic conflict. The second part shifts the discussion.. away from the exact nature of the grotesque, which is obscured by much critical controversy, and allows us to focus on its thematic significance, which may be treated more concisely. The grotesque grew out of the complex consciousness of medieval man, whose mind was split between the \u27ideal and the real. By typo- I logically adapting:classica1 and Hebrew ideas, the Fathers of the I Christian Church pictured an ideal world of rational, hierarchical order. This order was reflected, in their fundamentally didactic aesthetics, which associated Good with harmony and beauty and Evil with ugliness and discord. But no such order was evident in medieval society, which was characterized by superstition, violence, and reckless enthusiasm. Caught between these conflicting forces, the artists were: innately unable to characterize Evil--which led to certain damnation but which seemed so attractive in everyday life--in purely negative terms. The result was the ambivalence which we call the grotesque, and which pervades medieval art and literature in the form of gargoyles, half-human figures in manuscript illumination, and allegorical personifications of Vice in literature. Though the effect is ambivalent, the thematic function of these figures is clear: The grotesque embodies evil and is used as an exhortation to virtue in an attempt to insure salvation. I call this function traditional and use it as a standard against which .to measure later, more complex, uses of the grotesque. Although the concerns of many twentieth-century writers have shifted from the religious concerns of Good and Evil to a more general regard for life adjustment without reference to any particular creed, there is still a strong tendency to associate grotesquerie with spiritual moral, or psychological error. This technique is seen in the works of William Faulkner. Some of today\u27s writers, however, effect an inversion of the tradition by endowing their obviously grotesque characters with qualities which are superior to those manifested in the normal world around them. This technique is used in varying degrees and modes by Flannery OI Connor, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Peter Shaffer, and Samuel Beckett. Grotesquerie in both the traditional and inverted senses is. evident in the literature written between the Middle Ages and the twentieth century. Spenser, Jonson, Milton, and Dickens are traditional \u27 in using the grotesque to embody a negation of right living, while Shakespeare, Swift, and Mary Shelley are more modern in their uses of profoundly ambiguous inversions. I conclude that the grotesque is not a modern phenomenon; it is a persistent, prominent, and potent element in our literary heritage

Space biology initiative program definition review. Trade study 1: Automation costs versus crew utilization

A significant emphasis upon automation within the Space Biology Initiative hardware appears justified in order to conserve crew labor and crew training effort. Two generic forms of automation were identified: automation of data and information handling and decision making, and the automation of material handling, transfer, and processing. The use of automatic data acquisition, expert systems, robots, and machine vision will increase the volume of experiments and quality of results. The automation described may also influence efforts to miniaturize and modularize the large array of SBI hardware identified to date. The cost and benefit model developed appears to be a useful guideline for SBI equipment specifiers and designers. Additional refinements would enhance the validity of the model. Two NASA automation pilot programs, 'The Principal Investigator in a Box' and 'Rack Mounted Robots' were investigated and found to be quite appropriate for adaptation to the SBI program. There are other in-house NASA efforts that provide technology that may be appropriate for the SBI program. Important data is believed to exist in advanced medical labs throughout the U.S., Japan, and Europe. The information and data processing in medical analysis equipment is highly automated and future trends reveal continued progress in this area. However, automation of material handling and processing has progressed in a limited manner because the medical labs are not affected by the power and space constraints that Space Station medical equipment is faced with. Therefore, NASA's major emphasis in automation will require a lead effort in the automation of material handling to achieve optimal crew utilization

Development of a Cost-Benefit Projection Model for the Namibian Workplace

In Namibia, where reduced aid from international organizations has adversely affected access to healthcare, the private sector needs to increase their involvement in workplace health and wellness. We helped the Namibian Business Coalition on AIDS develop a cost-benefit projection model, which evaluates the cost-effectiveness of workplace wellness programs. To achieve this, we identified Namibia\u27s prevalent health problems and determined possible health interventions. The model allows companies to make informed business decisions about investing in employee wellness

A proposal to establish a comprehensive training program for restaurant personnel at the Table Rock Restaurant that will ultimately be utilized in every restaurant operated by the South Carolina State Park Service

This paper submits a proposal to establish a comprehensive training program for restaurant personnel at the Table Rock Restaurant that will ultimately be utilized in every restaurant operated by the South Carolina State Park Service

Insightful Problem Solving and Emulation in Brown Capuchin Monkeys

We investigated problem solving abilities of capuchin monkeys via the floating object problem, a task in which the subject must use creative problem solving to retrieve a favored food item from the bottom of a clear tube. Some great apes have solved this problem by adding water to raise the object to a level at which it can be easily grabbed. We presented seven capuchins with the task over eight trials (four dry and four wet ). None of the subjects solved the task, indicating that no capuchin demonstrated insightful problem solving under these experimental conditions. We then investigated whether capuchins would emulate a solution to the task. Seven subjects observed a human model solve the problem by pouring water from a cup into the tube, which brought the object to the top of the tube, allowing the subject to retrieve it. Subjects were then allowed to interact freely with an unfilled tube containing the object in the presence of water and objects that could be used to solve the task. While most subjects were unable to solve the task after viewing a demonstrator solve it, one subject did so, but in a unique way. Our results are consistent with some previous results in great ape species and indicate that capuchins do not spontaneously solve the floating object problem via insight

Crystal Growth Furnace System Configuration and Planned Experiments on the Second United States Microgravity Laboratory Mission

The Crystal Growth Furnace (CGF) is currently undergoing modifications and refurbishment and is currently undergoing modifications and refurbishment and is manifested to refly on the Second United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML-2) mission scheduled for launch in September 1995. The CGF was developed for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under the Microgravity Science and Applications Division (MSAD) programs at NASA Headquarters. The refurbishment and reflight program is being managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama. Funding and program support for the CGF project is provided to MSFC by the office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications at NASA Headquarters. This paper presents an overview of the CGF system configuration for the USML-2 mission, and provides a brief description of the planned on-orbit experiment operation

3D Hydrogel System with Continuous Stiffness Gradient

Traditional 2D cell culture protocols poorly represent in vivo conditions. Methods to allow culturing of patient derived cells in scaffolds that closely mimic the 3D environment would be of great clinical value. Parameters to consider are tissue stiffness, chemical and stiffness gradients, and the ability to co-culture various cell types. This project aimed to create a 3D hydrogel system in a range of stiffness comparable to body tissues while allowing cell growth and differentiation in a 3D environment. The design utilized a fast gelling hydrogel and a cross-linker that allowed controlled stiffness. This was combined with a microfluidic gradient generator to produce a 3D hydrogel with a continuous stiffness gradient. This approach can be a valuable tool for tissue engineering research

A written knowledge test for the fifth grade students at Archer Elementary School

The purpose of this study was to devise a written knowledge test for a jumping and ball handling unit for the fifth grade at Archer Elementary School. The initial development of the written test was begun in the pilot study conducted at Curry Demonstration School. 'With the assistance of the classroom teacher, a written knowledge test was constructed and administered to twenty-six students at the conclusion of the three-week unit on jumping and ball handling. The test used in the pilot study was revised and submitted to three judges for empirical validation. Then the test was presented to the three classroom teachers at Archer Elementary School. After the suggested changes had been incorporated into the written test, it was administered to the one hundred and three fifth grade students at Archer Elementary School