The Poetics of Indeterminacy: Corneille's Le Cid

This article theorizes that it was an aesthetic motivation that prompted Corneille to leave Le Cid open-ended, despite his assertion in the 1660 examen that it was respect for the bienséances that obliged him to close the tragedy on such an uncertain note. While moral reservations may have played a role, surely an artist as committed to his craft as Corneille was motivated by some overriding aesthetic goal as well. In consequence, Chimène's defiance at the play's end must be viewed as an integral component of the tragedy and not just a reflection of the author's reluctance to violate dramaturgical precepts. I argue that by leaving the dénouement in doubt, Corneille draws deliberate attention to his aesthetic manipulation of the well-known historical/literary precedent. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, his aesthetic manipulation of history shields Chimène's heroism from the quotidian reality of degradation and devolution that are the defining traits of non-aesthetic realities.     

Tragedy and Science

Tragic theater is a phenomenon both extremely rare and sadly ephemeral. Perusal of Nietzsche will lead to the proposal that tragic theater developed in periods marked by scientific revolutions, related here to sweeping and far-ranging changes in the social fabric and the myths — or world theories (condensed images of the world) — underlying it. Tragic theater expresses an insoluble conflict between a mythology (or world theory) in decline and a new form of culture, epitomized by a new world theory. True tragic theater therefore exhibits the same conditions that give rise to scientific revolutions. This “Tragedy — the Swan Song of Myth” thesis, outlined in Nietzsche's early studies of Greek tragedy, will be generalized and extended to the case of 17th century English tragedy and science, and the origins of the modern myth of Progress and Enlightenment.     

小议孔子的历史悲剧

在20世纪初的思想解放运动中,孔子成为反封建民主斗士的批判对象,成了封建专制制度的殉葬人。按照辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义的观点看待这一史实,这一结局对孔子本人不仅是一场历史悲剧．而且也是一个值得深入探讨的历史化现象。     

The Tragedy of Politics: Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra

Abstract

In Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare uses the story of the two lovers to dramatize the tragedy of politics. The excessive love of self that characterizes the two serves as a metaphor for the larger story of Rome's descent into tyranny. Unless love of country, that is, love of one's fellow-citizens, tempers self-love, a state loses its capacity to sustain even that degree of freedom that belongs to kingly rule. But Shakespeare also depicts the love of Antony and Cleopatra for each other as something noble; there is something worthy of our love that is higher than freedom. The tragedy of politics lies in the opposition of these two loves.     

Unraveling Ravelstein: Saul Bellow's Comic Tragedy

Abstract

This article argues that international relations (IR) theory, defined by its paradigms, theories, and models, has responded not to questions of human experience in world politics, but rather, has been primarily an exercise in self-definitional or privately satisfying research interests. I demonstrate this through analysis of two of the most cited and discussed IR approaches of the past half-century, Waltz's structural realism and Wendt's constructivism. The article argues that a reconstruction of IR premised on John Dewey's pragmatism would enable IR to succeed in responding to questions of practical import. Such questions inherently cannot be determined by privately satisfying research interests of academia, but rather, are defined as problems of lived human experience in world politics as determined by the public itself.     

Tourism and Tragedy: The Memorial at Belzec,Poland

In 1942, within in a period of 10 months, 500,000 people were systematically murdered in a specially built death camp at Belzec, Poland. When it had served its purpose the Nazis demolished it, and to hide its existence, grassed the site over, allowing the atrocities performed there to remain virtually hidden from public view for over 60 years. In 2004 an important new Holocaust memorial, covering the whole death camp area, was opened. Visually striking, this conceptual art/architectural artwork affectively elicits strong visitor responses. I explore ways in which the materiality of the reconfigured site makes the invisibility of such horror and collective loss paramount. My interpretation and visual analysis shows how ‘memory work’ can operate through viewer experience. This paper locates Belzec within its historical context and includes a related discussion about Polish–Jewish relationships up to the present. As a significant heritage site, Belzec’s new role in Polish Holocaust tourism is examined.     

Someplace Else: The Tragedy of Korean-American Relations

Book reviewed:
Mitchell B. Lerner. The Pueblo Incident: A Spy Ship and the Failure of American Foreign Policy.     

Personal Tragedy and Presidential Performance: Calvin Coolidge as Legislative Leader

The elevation of Calvin Coolidge to the presidency in the summer of 1923 was impressively smooth. The new president was entirely comfortable in his new role and impressed Washington officialdom with his self-assuredness, political adroitness, and hard work. One of his main initial objectives was to develop a strong and productive relationship with Congress and to lobby it to enact his extensive and progressive legislative agenda. During his first year, he worked vigorously at these tasks and achieved a notable degree of success. However, in July, 1924, the president confronted a devastating personal tragedy–the death of his young son–that left a deep imprint on the remainder of his presidency. He lost interest in legislative affairs and withdrew from interaction with Congress. The result is that he has been ranked among the least successful presidential leaders of Congress in U.S. history. However, incapacitation as a result of severe clinical depression rather than either incompetence or ideology was the precipitating cause.     

大气污染引发的悲剧

正人类在地球上已经生息了大约300万年,人类同包括植物、动物、微生物、土壤、水和空气在内的整个地球环境构成了一个互相制约、互相影响的生态系统,维持着一种稳定的生态平衡。在工业发展以前,地球上的水是清洁的,空气是新鲜的。人类和自然界一直相安无事,那时人类"改造"自然界的能力有限,最多只是局部的改变。但是,近200年来,工业革命让人们学会了使用现代科学技术来发展工农业生产和交通运输业。从此,生产力水平有     

大气污染引发的悲剧

<正>人类在地球上已经生息了大约300万年,人类同包括植物、动物、微生物、土壤、水和空气在内的整个地球环境构成了一个互相制约、互相影响的生态系统,维持着一种稳定的生态平衡。在工业发展以前,地球上的水是清洁的,空气是新鲜的。人类和自然界一直相安无事,那时人类"改造"自然界的能力有限,最多只是局部的改变。但是,近200年来,工业革命让人们学会了使用现代科学技术来发展工农业生产和交通运输业。从此,生产力水平有     

Tragedy of Rehabilitation: Land Issue of Tibetans in India

It could be moreout of geostrategic consideration rather than mere munificence for Nehru's administration to host the 14 Dalai Lama and his followersin 1959.1 Being one of the most important strategic assets of India to balance China,Tibetan communities in India always enjoy special care and favorable treatment ever since their arrival,in comparison with the other groups of people in similar situation.