Negative Capability: Documentary and Political Withdrawal

<p>This thesis thinks with, alongside, and against several theories of political withdrawal that have emerged during the past three decades as they have been taken up by artists working with documentary video. Political withdrawal here refers to a set of tactics that position themselves in opposition to existing models of belonging, civic engagement, and contestation. The context in which this study takes place is one in which qualifying for citizenship in the liberal western state increasingly requires one remain transparent, docile, and willing to acquiesce to whatever demands for information the state may make. In response to these conditions, the theories and artworks examined in this thesis all propose arguments in favour of anonymity, opacity, and indeterminacy. Situating itself, sometimes uncomfortably, within the archives of feminist, queer, and anarchist thought, this thesis engages with selected video works by Martha Rosler, Bernadette Corporation, Hito Steyerl, and Zach Blas in order to understand the ways in which withdrawal may constitute a generative framework for enabling meaningful social change. These video works are here described as documentary, but not in the conventional sense that they are objective or transparent attempts to capture or record actual fact. Rather the term is understood as a historically pedagogical genre — notably deployed in the service of both oppressive regimes and oppositional movements — that provides a means through which to engage with, and creatively reimagine, political languages. The artists in this study take a critical approach to troubling times. Suspending the truth claims historically associated with documentary, they offer a range of ways to think through how complaint might be articulated and commitment sustained.</p>

Negative Capability: Documentary and Political Withdrawal

<p>This thesis thinks with, alongside, and against several theories of political withdrawal that have emerged during the past three decades as they have been taken up by artists working with documentary video. Political withdrawal here refers to a set of tactics that position themselves in opposition to existing models of belonging, civic engagement, and contestation. The context in which this study takes place is one in which qualifying for citizenship in the liberal western state increasingly requires one remain transparent, docile, and willing to acquiesce to whatever demands for information the state may make. In response to these conditions, the theories and artworks examined in this thesis all propose arguments in favour of anonymity, opacity, and indeterminacy. Situating itself, sometimes uncomfortably, within the archives of feminist, queer, and anarchist thought, this thesis engages with selected video works by Martha Rosler, Bernadette Corporation, Hito Steyerl, and Zach Blas in order to understand the ways in which withdrawal may constitute a generative framework for enabling meaningful social change. These video works are here described as documentary, but not in the conventional sense that they are objective or transparent attempts to capture or record actual fact. Rather the term is understood as a historically pedagogical genre — notably deployed in the service of both oppressive regimes and oppositional movements — that provides a means through which to engage with, and creatively reimagine, political languages. The artists in this study take a critical approach to troubling times. Suspending the truth claims historically associated with documentary, they offer a range of ways to think through how complaint might be articulated and commitment sustained.</p>

Policing the Poachers in a Western State: Game Wardens and the Use of Discretion

Game wardens are specialized law enforcement officers responsible for enforcing hunting and fishing laws designed to protect wildlife resources. While performing their duties they encounter a variety of wrongdoers that range from first time offenders to those who are chronic violators of the law. Little research exists on the use of discretion by wildlife law enforcement officers, or their attitudes toward offenders. This study took a qualitative approach to data collection and examined the use of discretion by game wardens in Montana and their perceptions of habitual poachers. Factors that were associated with the use of discretion included intent of the violator, seriousness of the offense, and age of the violator. The majority of wardens in the study expressed negative opinions toward violators that were chronic offenders. Findings contribute to our understanding of law enforcement attitudes and decision making.

Earned Citizenship

This paper argues that conceptualizing Western state citizenship from the vantage point of advancing liberalism is insufficient. Instead, recently restrictive trends may be summarized under the umbrella of earned citizenship. Conceived of as privilege not right, this is a citizenship that is simultaneously more difficult to get and easier to lose, and it inheres elements of neoliberalism and of nationalism in tandem. One could even call it an instance of neoliberal nationalism, which is neither ethnic nor civic but including on the basis of merit and desert. The rise of earned citizenship is a convergent trend across Western Europe and the classic immigrant nations of North America and Australia.

School on HIV infection for future doctors of various specialties Vera HIV med school: importance and value for a young doctor

The article presents a brief overview of the materials received by the author in September 2020 at the School HIV infection for future doctors of various specialties (Moscow), in which she participated as a resident of the Department of Family Medicine of the North-Western State Medical University named I.I. Mechnikov. The goal of the School is to raise the awareness of young doctors on the topic of HIV infection and reduce the level of discrimination against people living with HIV in the health sector.

Features of the clinical course of a new coronavirus infection in students who were under observation in the observatory

The emerging epidemic of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), received the status of an emergency of international importance and attracted the attention of not only health professionals, but also the population around the world. Although the risk of severe health consequences from COVID-19 for young people without comorbidities is relatively low, an increase in the incidence of infection in this age group may lead to an increase in the proportion of people with severe disease, as well as the spread of infection among older age groups who are in close contact with them and are at high risk of mortality from COVID-19. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical features of the new coronavirus infection among students of the North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, placed in the observatory. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of the observatory of the North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov. All persons transferred to the observatory in the period from 21.04.2020 to 31.08.2020, epidemiological and clinical-anamnestic data were recorded. In a prospective study, all participants were asked to complete a Health Questionnaire (EQ-5D) over the phone 3 months after their stay at the observatory. Results. 113 people participated in the study: 45.1% of men (n = 51) and 54.9% of women (n = 62). The average age of the respondents was 22.4 2.5 years. When conducting a multivariate analysis, it was found that gender, age, belonging to an ethno-linguistic group, and chronic diseases are not reliable factors associated with the development of COVID-19 participants. According to the results of a prospective study, a statistically significant difference between the responses of respondents who had and did not have COVID-19 was obtained with a positive answer to the question about the presence of pain and discomfort (p 0.05).

Opinion of students of medical university on methods of contraception and prevention of unwanted pregnancy

The article analyzes an opinion of 6th grade of young women, the 6th grade medicine students, on the topic of using contraceptive methods for preventing unwanted pregnancy. In the North-Western State University named after I.I. Mechnikov an anonymous poll was conducted by filling specially prepared questionnaires, that included 29 questions and informed consent for using the results of the survey in scientific research. The study included an opinion of 300 6th grade students with the age 22 to 33 years. The results of the survey about the most frequently used contraception methods by 6th grade students was provided as well as the purpose of using certain modern types of contraception, the awareness of students about the chosen methods of contraception.

Grass/Legume Compatibility in the Derived Savanna Regions of Western State of Nigeria

THE grass/legume compatibility between six grasses and three legumes were studied at Fashola State Farm in the derived savanna region of Western State of Nigeria. The highest herbage yields per hectare per annum were obtained from the mixed swards. The yields of legumes were smaller in the mixtures with the tall than in the short grasses. It was concluded that in this area, Stylosanthes gracillis was compatible with the elephant and Guinea grasses. Pueraria Phaseoloids was compatible with the Northern Gambia and the mulasses grasses, while the Centrosema pubescence combined well with the giant star grasses.

Report on the Effect of Drought Condition on Livestock Production in North Western State

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