scholarly journals Crossings with Jatra: Bengali Folk-theatre Elements in a Transcultural Representation of Lady Macbeth

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (38) ◽  
pp. 91-108
Author(s):  
Aabrita Dutta Gupta

This paper examines a transcultural dance-theatre focusing on Lady Macbeth, through the lens of eastern Indian Bengali folk-theatre tradition, jatra. The wide range of experimentation with Shakespeare notwithstanding, the idea of an all-female representation is often considered a travesty. Only a few such explorations have earned recognition in contemporary times. One such is the Indian theatre-dance production Crossings: Exploring the facets of Lady Macbeth by Vikram Iyenger, first performed in 2004. Four women representing four facets of Lady Macbeth explore the layered nuances that constitute her through the medium of Indian classical dance and music juxtaposed with Shakespearean dialogues from Macbeth. This paper will argue the possibilities posited by this transgressive re-reading of a major Shakespearean tragedy by concentrating on a possible understanding through a Hindu religious sect —Vaishnavism, as embodied through the medium of jatra. To form a radically new stage narrative in order to bring into focus the dilemma and claustrophobia of Lady Macbeth is perhaps the beginning of a new generation of Shakespeare explorations. Iyenger’s production not only dramatizes the tragedy of Lady Macbeth through folk dramatic tradition, dance and music, but also Indianises it with associations drawn from Indian mythological women like Putana (demoness) and Shakti (sacred feminine).

Author(s):  
E. Thilliez ◽  
S. T. Maddison

AbstractNumerical simulations are a crucial tool to understand the relationship between debris discs and planetary companions. As debris disc observations are now reaching unprecedented levels of precision over a wide range of wavelengths, an appropriate level of accuracy and consistency is required in numerical simulations to confidently interpret this new generation of observations. However, simulations throughout the literature have been conducted with various initial conditions often with little or no justification. In this paper, we aim to study the dependence on the initial conditions of N-body simulations modelling the interaction between a massive and eccentric planet on an exterior debris disc. To achieve this, we first classify three broad approaches used in the literature and provide some physical context for when each category should be used. We then run a series of N-body simulations, that include radiation forces acting on small grains, with varying initial conditions across the three categories. We test the influence of the initial parent body belt width, eccentricity, and alignment with the planet on the resulting debris disc structure and compare the final peak emission location, disc width and offset of synthetic disc images produced with a radiative transfer code. We also track the evolution of the forced eccentricity of the dust grains induced by the planet, as well as resonance dust trapping. We find that an initially broad parent body belt always results in a broader debris disc than an initially narrow parent body belt. While simulations with a parent body belt with low initial eccentricity (e ~ 0) and high initial eccentricity (0 < e < 0.3) resulted in similar broad discs, we find that purely secular forced initial conditions, where the initial disc eccentricity is set to the forced value and the disc is aligned with the planet, always result in a narrower disc. We conclude that broad debris discs can be modelled by using either a dynamically cold or dynamically warm parent belt, while in contrast eccentric narrow debris rings are reproduced using a secularly forced parent body belt.


Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 327
Author(s):  
Morwenna J. Spear ◽  
Simon F. Curling ◽  
Athanasios Dimitriou ◽  
Graham A. Ormondroyd

Wood modification is now widely recognized as offering enhanced properties of wood and overcoming issues such as dimensional instability and biodegradability which affect natural wood. Typical wood modification systems use chemical modification, impregnation modification or thermal modification, and these vary in the properties achieved. As control and understanding of the wood modification systems has progressed, further opportunities have arisen to add extra functionalities to the modified wood. These include UV stabilisation, fire retardancy, or enhanced suitability for paints and coatings. Thus, wood may become a multi-functional material through a series of modifications, treatments or reactions, to create a high-performance material with previously impossible properties. In this paper we review systems that combine the well-established wood modification procedures with secondary techniques or modifications to deliver emerging technologies with multi-functionality. The new applications targeted using this additional functionality are diverse and range from increased electrical conductivity, creation of sensors or responsive materials, improvement of wellbeing in the built environment, and enhanced fire and flame protection. We identified two parallel and connected themes: (1) the functionalisation of modified timber and (2) the modification of timber to provide (multi)-functionality. A wide range of nanotechnology concepts have been harnessed by this new generation of wood modifications and wood treatments. As this field is rapidly expanding, we also include within the review trends from current research in order to gauge the state of the art, and likely direction of travel of the industry.


In 1980 it was only possible to express foreign genes in bacteria and a few easily cultured animal cells. During the subsequent eight years specialized vectors have been developed to allow the genetic manipulation of a wide range of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. One of the major goals of biotechnology in 1980 was to use host cells as ‘factories’ for the production of proteins that were only available in minute quantities from natural sources. This has already lead to a new generation of pharmaceutical products. Advances in our understanding of host-vector systems have defined new goals. The basic concepts of expression vector design will be illustrated. Some of the new goals are discussed with particular reference to the exploitation of novel host-vector systems to develop vaccines and anti-viral agents against AIDS.


2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-292
Author(s):  
B. ANANTHAKRISHNAN

Modern academic training for theatre in India has a history of just over fifty years (since independence). The National School of Drama (NSD) was set up in 1957, but the prime objective of the institution at that time was to generate professionals to develop children's theatre and rural theatre. Although India possessed a wide range of traditional performance cultures throughout the country, from rituals to folk performances and classical performances, the NSD was modelled on the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) since the new institution was led by a graduate of RADA, Professor Ebrahim Alkazi, who put the institution on a functional track. Thus the toolkit used during the initial days was primarily based on Western models conducive to realism rather than growing organically out of the actual practices of the different forms of Indian performance. This early orientation remains today, emphasizing the creation of referential meanings on the stage through conventional methods and devices, taken as the unshakable organizing principle of theatre practice.


Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay K Wakhloo ◽  
Pedro Lylyk ◽  
Joost de Vries ◽  
Matthew J Gounis ◽  
Alexandra Biondi ◽  
...  

Objective: Validated through experimental studies a new generation of flow diverters (Surpass™ FD) was evaluated for treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IA). We present our multicenter preliminary clinical and angiographic experience. METHODS: To achieve the calculated flow disruption between the parent artery and aneurysm for thrombosis, single FDs were placed endovascularly in parent arteries. Implants measured 2.5-5.3mm in diameter with a length of 10-80mm. Patients were enrolled harboring a wide range large and giant wide-neck, fusiform and multiple small and blister-type aneurysm. Clinical and angiographic follow-up were performed at 1-3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 186 consecutive IA in 161 patients (mean age 57.1 years) were treated at 33 centers. Fifty-three aneurysms were smaller than 5 mm, 64 were 5-9.9mm in diameter, 47 were 10-20mm in diameter, and 22 were larger than 20mm (10.4±0.7mm, neck size 6.0±0.5mm [mean±SEM]) . The aneurysms originated in 63.4% from the internal carotid artery; 22% and 14.5% of the lesions were located in the anterior circulation distal to Circle of Willis and posterior circulation respectively. Technical success was achieved in 182 aneurysms (98%); average number of devices used per aneurysm was 1.05. Permanent morbidity and mortality during the follow-up period of mean 8.4months (range 1-24 months) including periprocedural complications for patients with aneurysms of the anterior circulation were encountered in 5 (3.7%) and 2 (1.5 %) patients respectively and 1 (3.7%) and 4 (14.8%) respectively for patients with aneurysms of the posterior circulation location. One-hundred-ten patients (70.5%) harboring 127 (70.2%) were available for clinical and angiographic follow-up and showed a complete or near complete aneurysm occlusion in 63 (81.8%) of the ICA. Aneurysms of the ICA≥10mm that were completely covered by FD and not previously stent-treated with a minimum of 6 months follow-up available in 16 patients showed a complete obliteration in 81.3% (n=13) and >90% occlusion in remaining 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data demonstrate high safety and efficacy of a new generation of FD for a wide range of IA of the anterior and posterior circulation with a single implant.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-206
Author(s):  
Lavanya P Kumar ◽  
Shruti J Shenoy

BACKGROUND: Bharatanatyam is an Indian classical dance form that is practiced globally. There is limited information about the prevalence of injuries in Bharatanatyam dancers. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries and specifics of dance training in female Bharatanatyam dancers in the Udupi district of India. METHODS: We developed and tested a survey for Bharatanatyam dancers regarding injury history in the prior year, including location, time loss, cause, and need for medical help. We also obtained demographic and training information. RESULTS: 101 dancers completed the survey. 10.8% of dancers reported musculoskeletal injuries because of participation in dance. They sustained 0.65 injuries/1,000 hours of dancing. The most frequently injured areas were ankle (27.2%) and knee (27.2%) followed by lower back (13.6%) and hip (9%). Despite being injured, 36.4% of the dancers continued to dance. 54.5% of the injured dancers sought the help of a medical professional for their dance-related injuries. The most common surface for dance was concrete followed by other hard surfaces such as marble and tile. CONCLUSION: Female Bharatanatyam dancers are prone to injuries of the lower extremity and back. Most dancers in our study practice the Pandanalluru style on hard surfaces. There is a need to investigate the impact of training factors on the injury occurrence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-17
Author(s):  
V. P. Bui ◽  
◽  
S. S. Gavruishin ◽  
V. B. Phung ◽  
H. M. Dang ◽  
...  

A new technique is described, used by the authors to automate the design process of the main drive of a new generation machine intended for industrial washing of fruits and vegetables. To solve the problem of multi-criteria design, the original approach is proposed that uses interconnected mathematical models describing the dynamic behavior, strength reliability and functional characteristics of the machine in a unified information space. The generalized mathematical model includes 12 controlled parameters, 16 functional constraints, and 3 quality criteria. A genetic algorithm was used to find the space of Pareto-optimal solutions. The situational approach was used to select the final rational solution from a set of solutions belonging to the Pareto-optimal domain. The rational design of option the washer found using the proposed approach is compared with the existing ones. The proposed design methodology can be recommended for the design of a wide range of similar mechanical structures.


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