Medea by Euripides | Analysis

Medea by Euripides | Analysis Children are seen as an essential part of a family, as well as the embodiment of the love between two people. One can find numerous references to children and the roles they play in works that analyze society and its defects, such as Medea by Euripides, and Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello. In literature, children are used to represent a great majority of things, but in particular they can represent innocence and purity. This is due to the fact that children are seen as free of any sins or impurities, because their minds do not have the capacity to fully comprehend evil as adults do. Both Euripides and Pirandello use children to symbolize the contamination of human nature through loss of innocence and the consequences it can bring. The childrens innocence in Medea is used to illustrate that love can be a force of destruction. The following examination will illuminate the importance of the theme of loss of innocence in the play. This claim is rationalized by the Chorus after the childrens deaths: O your heart must have been made of rock or steel, You who can kill With your own hand the fruit of your own womb. Of one alone, I have heard, one woman alone Of those old who laid her hands on her children, Ino, sent mad by heaven when the wife of Zeus Drove her out from her home and made her wander; And because of the wicked shedding of blood Of her own children she threw Herself, poor wretch, into the sea and stepped away Over the sea-cliff to die with her two children. What horror more can be? O womens love, So full of trouble, How many evils have you caused already! (41-42) Candidate Number: 002130-005 When Medea murders her children, who are the personification of innocence, not only has she destroyed their innocence, but also metaphorically destroyed her own innocence. At the very beginning of Medea, the reader is shown both Jason and Medeas transgressions: Medeas having persuaded the daughters of Pelias to commit murder for her benefit, and Jasons abandoning Medea and his children for another woman. This serves to introduce the warring reality of the play, as well as Medeas barbaric tendencies, which further serve to draw attention to the childrens innocence. The Nurses comment that the children have no thought at all of their mothers trouble and that it is not usual for the young to grieve (2), tells us that the children are not even aware of the great evil that is closest to them. Throughout the remainder of the play, Medea slowly becomes more and more consumed by evil, until she ruthlessly takes the lives of her own sons in order to exact her revenge on Jason. In this sense, they can be viewed as the plays conscience, manipulating the audience into sympathizing with them through their innocence and at the same time be horrified with Medeas cruelty and viciousness. In Six Characters in Search of an Author, the children symbolize the deterioration of human nature as a result of their parents seemingly inappropriate decisions, which ultimately leaves the children feeling powerless. The Mother illustrates this when she says: But those two little ones over there have you heard them speak? They cannot speak, sire, not anymore! They still keep clinging to me to keep my torment alive and present. For themselves they dont exist, dont exist any longer. (55) Candidate Number: 002130-005 The Mothers impulsive decision to leave the Father indirectly affected the lives of her future children, setting in motion a series of events that would change their lives forever. In addition, the children are forced to witness the abuse and neglect that continues to tear the family apart. In the aforementioned example, Pirandello purposefully paints such a clear picture of the childrens suffering, as well as their innocence to show the consequences of potentially immoral decisions. Perhaps the most important aspect of this drama is the fact that both the Little Boy and Girl do not utter a single word throughout the entire play. This not only emphasizes their loss of innocence, but also adds an eerie quality to the play: the families tragic past has transformed the children into ghosts that represent the sense of powerlessness and symbolize how a family is ripped apart by death and abuse. In both Medea and Six Characters, the abandonment of the children further contributes to the loss of innocence resulting from Jason and the Fathers selfishness and neglect. At the end of each drama, the reader is shown just how deadly the consequences can be. Medea condemns Jasons thoughtless acts when she reveals: And how happy among Greek women you have made me On your side for all this! A distinguished husband I have for breaking promises. When in misery I am cast out of the land and go into exile, Quite without friends and all alone with my children, That will be a fine shame for the new-wedded groom, For his children to wander as beggars and she who saved him.. (17) Candidate Number: 002130-005 The Stepdaughter in Six Characters in Search of an Author further supports this claim when she states: Its not true. [To the Director] Dont believe it. Know why she says it? For his sake. [Pointing to the Son] His indifference tortures her, destroys her. She wants him to believe that, if she abandoned him when he was two, it was because he [the Father] compelled her to. (17) Jasons contribution to his childrens loss of innocence is demonstrated when he marries the daughter of Creon, and later rationalizes his irresponsible and neglectful actions to Medea by telling her that it was in the childrens best interests. However, in reality, Jason is aware that he will benefit more from this arrangement since his position in Creons kingdom is secured. Despite his claim that it is in the childrens best interests for him to marry the princess, common sense dictates that the king would eventually expect an heir through his own daughter. Jasons marriage to the princess triggered a grave aggressive response in Medea that created a domino effect and led her to obsessively seek revenge on Jason by transforming her children into unknowing messengers of death and ultimately taking their lives. In Six Characters, the Father forcibly divides the family by acting as the manipulative force behind the Mother and Sons devastating separation and later neglecting his parental responsibilities. Despite the Mothers vulnerable state of mind and erratic behavior, the Father, like Jason, ultimately pursues the alternative that is most beneficial to him. His selfishness leads him to send the Son away, thus impeding the crucial development of an emotional relationship between the Son and Candidate Number: 002130-005 his parents. The Father continues his self-serving pursuit by making inappropriate advances toward the Step-Daughter, which he later denies. As a result of this, the Step-Daughter becomes bitter and resentful, ultimately unleashing her anger and confusion upon the Young Boy, who she blames for the familys descent into tragedy. Because of the Fathers initial decision, the Young Boy is robbed of his innocence and carefree childhood experiences, and he becomes too frightened to even speak. The resulting loss of innocence leads to the ultimate tragedy in the play, which is the Young Boys suicide. In Medea and Six Characters in Search of an Author, the childrens loss of innocence is the direct result of their parents unseemly behavior. In Medea, the children are used to illustrate how lives are destroyed due to rejected love. While in Six Characters, the children represent the final outcome in the deterioration of human nature due to their loss of innocence. Ultimately, the fathers ambitions, combined with the mothers irrational responses lead to the calamitous destruction of the children.

Type of particles with dimensions

Nanoparticles include any type of atoms with dimensions of less than 500 nanometres. Nanoparticles play a major function in a assortment of Fieldss including advanced stuffs, pharmaceuticals, and environmental sensing and monitoring, as stated by ( J.B. Donnet et Al 1998 ) . Nanoparticles classified as one of two types, engineered or nonengineered. Engineered nanoparticles are deliberately designed to run into the demands of specific intents, such as chemical or biological. They can be end merchandises of a procedure eg.pharmaceuticals, or ultrafine atoms have tradition ­ally been used by the aerosol research and occupational and environmental wellness communities to depict airborne atoms. Nonengineered nanoparticles are accidentally generated or of course produced, such as burning from firing wood fuel or gasoline from vehicle emanations in the ambiance. Exposure of workers in different environments to assorted hazards nanoparticle engineering exists is legion. Nanoparticle engineering are applied in assorted industries, such as chemical industry catalysts, adhesives, car industry fuel additives, abrasion immune pigment, Health attention, pharmaceuticals, biocompatible stuffs, and building industry merchandises bettering wear-resistance. Occupational exposure bound ( OEL ) is an of import instrument for decrease of exposure to occupational jeopardies and bar of occupational diseases as stated by, M.I. Mikheev ( 1995 ) Toxicology Letters Vol. 77 ( 3 ) , pp 183-187. The intent of ( OEL ) is to move as a precaution in protection of the wellness of individuals in their several working environment from exposure to concentrations good over their allowable exposure bounds. The chief paths of occupational exposure to nanoparticles include inspiration, transdermic desorption and consumption ( BORM et.al, 2005 ) . Harmonizing to ( HOET et.al, 2004 ) the most common and investigated signifier of occupational exposure to nanoparticles is inspiration. A possible hazard arises when a individual within the working environment illustration, chemical industry performs everyday procedure where conditions as possible jeopardies exist. The hazards of nanoparticles are present and enter the human organic structure through one of the assorted paths of exposure and there are interactions of the stuffs with the organic structure ‘s biological systems. There can be inauspicious wellness hazards following exposure to the peculiar substance. Acute and Chronic exposure of the substance associated with the magnitude and dose of the exposure, good above the threshold value and continuity of the stuff in the organic structure. The built-in toxicity of the stuff, and the exposure or wellness position of the individual exposed along with age, sex, will find the type of wellness consequence impacting the worker. Hardman R ( 2006 ) A toxicologic reappraisal of quan ­tum points VOL 2, pp165-172.According to ( Duffin et al. 2007 ) which made mention to the fact that harmonizing to the substance of engineered nanoparticles features will change in footings of toxicity in the biological system of the organic structure and that there are uncertainnesss because the features of nanoparticles may be different from those of larger atoms with the same chemical composing. Inhalation is the most common signifier of exposure taking to respiratory diseases in footings of lung infection due to sedimentation of particulate affair within the respiratory piece of land over a period of clip due to dosage from point of beginning. ( Daigle et al. 2003 ) has made mention to the fact that ultrafine nanoparticles are deposited in the liner of the lungs which is the epithelial cells, to a greater extent than larger atoms of the same substance. The sum deposited in to the lungs increases with take a breathing rate due to strenuous activities and alteration from rhinal pit to talk external respiration. This tends to worsen individuals with bing lung conditions illustration occupational asthma and chronic effects can be linked to mesothelioma or lung malignant neoplastic disease, silicosis. Based on surveies, distinct nano ­particles may come in the blood stream from the lungs and disperse to other variety meats ( Takenaka et al.2001 ) . These indissoluble or low solubility atoms deposited in the pneumonic system are eliminated from the respiratory system by transporting them elsewhere in the organic structure. The motion of these ultrafine atoms in the blood stream could impact endothelial map and promote thrombosis in the arterias and other blood system jobs, including increased blood curdling ( Nemmar et al. 2002 ) , which leads to cardiovascular upsets. Expelled atoms from the lungs into the blood watercourse have effects on cardiovascular physiology, with changes of cardiac beat and arterial diameter. Several epidemiological surveies ( Wichmann et al. , 2000 ) which made mention to ultrafine atoms can go through through the extrapulmonary variety meats via the blood stream. Some atoms can be transported along the centripetal axons to the cardinal nervous systems which affect the encephalon doing neurological effects. The possible for neural consumption and translocation of inhaled particulates and pathogens to the encephalon was researched by ( Oberdorster et al. 2005 ) . Consumption may besides attach to inspiration exposure because atoms that are cleared from the respiratory piece of land via the mucociliary escala ­tor may be swallowed, ( Chen, Z et Al. 2007 ) . Nanoparticles can be straight ingested from H2O, nutrient, pharmaceutical drugs. Consumption can happen from unwilled manus to talk transportation of stuffs, this has been found to go on with established stuffs, and it can be assumed that it besides could go on dur ­ing managing nanomaterials. Harmonizing to research done by ( Behrens et al.2002 ) after consumption ultrafine atoms can be transferred across the enteric wall easy than larger atoms of the same substance. Surveies suggest that nanoparticles could come in the organic structure through the tegument during occupational exposure or through cosmetics. ( Tin ­kle et al. 2003 ) illustrated that atom smaller than 1  µm in diameter may pene ­trate into stamp tegument of the organic structure, and farther stated that it perforate the stratum core ­num barrier by inactive diffusion and local ­ize within the cuticular and cuticular beds within 24 hours. ( Lademann et al. 1999 ) stated that atoms making the corium can be transported to the lymphatic system by macrophages and dendritic cells. This leads to the release of in ­flammatory cytokines, oxidative emphasis, and reduced viability ( Monteiro-Riviere et al. 2005 ) . Skin annoyance has been noted for a few atom types, illustration for semisynthetic mineral fibers. This consequence is greater for larger fibers than smaller fibers. Within the working environment there are hazards, with mention to nanoparticles such as a chemical province as indissoluble atoms or fibers nanoparticles and ultrafine atoms, Diesel fumes, and semisynthetic mineral fibers. Harmonizing to Hannah, W. ( 2008 ) Nanotechnology, hazard and the environment Journal of Environmental Monitoring VOL.10 pp291-300. Research workers agree that ultrafine atoms pose the strongest emerging hazard with respects to occupational exposure. Hazard appraisal is an indispensable measure to find what command degree must be implemented to restrict emanations in the air or H2O and prevent a toxic substance from impacting certain mark variety meats in workers. The control measures must be relative to the hazard ( Roberge et al. 2004 ) . Measures must implemented to guarantee that associated hazards are minimal to workers who might be exposed to nanoparticles through inspiration, transdermic desorption and consumption. There must be applications of hazard appraisal methods from bing informations to the peculiar working environment which is under reappraisal for appraisal. From the appraisal 1 must determine a description of the nanomaterial whether it is engineered or nonengineered, its chemical composing, H2O solubility, aspect ratio, surface alterations and its intended use as stated by ( Aitken RJ et Al. 2006 ) . There must besides be hazard designation in which information is collected about the nanomaterial and its effects on the volume of emanations on the environment, and scattering to environing countries thereby doing wellness effects to individuals at the immediate point of release and besides long range scattering. Helland, A. ( 2008 ) Reviewing the environmental and Human wellness cognition base of C nanotubes Vol.115 pp 1125-1131 The jeopardies which are identified must be categorised, an epidemiological survey in footings of who will be affected that is the workers in the environment, consumers, and other individuals in the general populace. ( Schulte et al. 2008 ) . Invitromethods which refer to local effects on the oculus and tegument, skin pervasion and genotoxicity, invitro proving refers to illustration, possible effects in the respiratory system, particularly the lungs. Inflammation, cytotoxicity or genotoxicity, which contribute to lung toxicity in vivo ( such as fibrosis or tumour formation ) are examined. ( Hess et al.2005 ) . Another jeopardy exists when there is exposure which occurs when a individual within the working environment comes into direct contact with a nanomaterial during a normal procedure or when a nanomaterial is released into the air, H2O, dirt, deposit, nutrient, or a merchandise. Exposure may be followed by existent entry into the organic structure via intake inspiration or consumption or transdermic soaking up though other open tissue, such as the oculus. The nature of the nanomaterial based merchandise may take to assorted paths of exposure. ( Nasterlack, M. et al 2008 ) . Potential hazards must be evaluated and quantified due to the nature and frequence of the jeopardy that is intake emanation concentration and maximal workplace concentration in footings of a high or low dosage. The hazard degree must be adjusted harmonizing to the badness or uncertainnesss of the documented hazard. Harmonizing to ( Singh, S.et al 2007 ) sometimes due to a low frequence of the jeopardy or exposure informations a full quantitative and qualitative appraisal of hazards, can be done, this may be done by comparing the trial stuff to a stuff with well-characterized toxicity judged to be more terrible as a benchmark. After the information would be assessed for divergences in stuff and applications. Risk direction involves cut downing hazard of nanomaterial procedures or merchandises to worlds and the environment. A hazard direction appraisal would supply the sequence to supervise activities, procedures, and dispose of or recycle the merchandise. It besides minimises any possible inauspicious impacts towards individuals and the environment. The degree of protection must be determined and command steps should be proportionate with the hazard. Decisions should be based on bing criterions of wellness and safety, and the effectivity of the chosen control method in cut downing exposure to below the maximal degree determined acceptable in the hazard rating harmonizing to ( Paik, S.Y. ( 2008 ) Application of a Pilot Control Banding Tool for Risk LevelAssessment and Control of Nanoparticle Exposures Vol 52 pp419-428.Health jeopardies identified above illustrates the demand to look into thorough hazard appraisals and fix protocols which include steps for minimising staff exposure. Such s teps include administrative controls and direction determinations for nanoparticles and other risky chemicals must be included in the appraisal. Engineering control techniques such as insulating the gen ­eration beginning from the worker and lo ­cal fumes airing systems must be effectual for restricting airborne nano ­particles. The usage of good work patterns helps in understating worker exposures to nanomaterials, such as forestalling the ingestion of nutrient or drinks in workplaces where nanomaterials are handled. The instruction and preparation of workers in protocols of good work patterns reduces incidents although hazards are present at different procedures. The development of processs and rating of types of exposure to find the choice and type of PPE for employees. Although nanoparticles are present in many workplaces, from beginnings such as procedures, burning, vehicle emanations, when a hazard appraisal is undertaken trying methods may be given to take readings at points other than atom beginning doing it hard to dif ­ferentiate between incidental and caused emanations. Harmonizing to ( Silkoff et al. 2005 ) persons with asthma and long term wellness effects have early noticeable symptoms can non wholly be attributed to nanoparticles, illustration, and familial cistrons. From the research of ( Takenaka et al.2001 ) at that place needs to be detailed research saying if the ultrafine nanoparticles which transrelocate to variety meats organic structure from the lungs are more prevailing to engineered or non engineered and if the ultrafine are more toxic than the larger versions of the said substance which causes amendss to cell construction. Although from the research done by ( Tin ­kle et al. 2003 ) , which gave a value of atom smaller than 1  µm in diameter may pene ­trate the cuticular beds of the tegument it does non print information as to the concentration of toxicity towards the several beds of the tegument to do annoyance and besides research on the cuticular exposure of nanomaterials is ongoing. ( Wichmann et al. 2000 ) in their research made reference of ultrafine atoms altering location from organ to organ via the blood watercourse but did non uncover any informations about the continuance of these within the organic structure peculiarly the liver and kidneys, since these organ remove toxins from the blood watercourse, or after digestion as most nanoparticles are expelled from the system via faces. Little is known about possible inauspicious effects from the consumption of nanomaterials. Another country which warrants research is the transportation of nanoparticles across the placenta, the exposure which is critical to fetal development. Within some states Government face an inevitable undertaking in maintaining up to day of the month with the hazards which nanomaterial airs to the population and the environment due to inefficiency of information. There are betterments in nanoparticles development which offer a broad scope of chances particularly in footings of medical research for sensing, diagnosing and intervention of diseases. Research has besides begun in utilizing nanoparticles in term of environmental decontamination.

HIPPA Tutorial Summary Essay

HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA privacy rule was passed by congress in August of 2002. According to Understanding Health Information Privacy (2014), â€Å"The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides federal protections for individually identifiable health information held by covered entities and their business associates and gives patients an array of rights with respect to that information. At the same time, the Privacy Rule is balanced so that it permits the disclosure of health information needed for patient care and other important purposes.† The Security Rule specifies a sequence of administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for covered entities and their business associates to use to assure the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of electronic protected health information (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). The HIPAA, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, tutorials are a memento that there is c ontinuous need for progress on the part of health care professionals and individuals. There is a strong need among health care professionals to know the guidelines, rules and regulations to stay within the laws set onward by the federal government. What did you learn from the HIPAA tutorial? The HIPAA tutorial was very educational and informative. I learned many things from this tutorial; however, I found the online information the most fascinating. Personally, I started in healthcare soon before we had EMR’s (electronic medical records) or as HIPPA calls them, EHR’s (electronic health records). A majority of us feel that our health information is personal as well as private and should be protected. The federal government put in position the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule to ensure you have rights over your own personal  health information, no matter what form it is in (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). The government also created the HIPAA Security Rule to require specific protections to safeguard your electronic health information (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). A few possible procedures that can be built in to EHR/EMR systems may include: â€Å"Access control† tools like PIN numbers and passwords, to help limit access to your information to authorized individuals (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). â€Å"Encrypting† your stored information. That means your health information cannot be understood or read except by those using a system that can â€Å"decrypt† it with a â€Å"key† (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). An â€Å"audit trail† characteristic, which records who accessed your information, when and what changes were made (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). There is so much new technology and more modern advances in technology to come. With just about everything being based on computers comes with a whole new set of procedures and policies to keep individuals personal health information private. Federal law requires hospitals, doctor offices, doctors, and other health care providers/professionals to notify you of a â€Å"breach† (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). The law also requires the health care providers/professionals to notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). The Understanding Health Information Privacy (2014) â€Å"If a breach affects more than 500 residents of a state or jurisdiction, the health care provider must also notify prominent media outlets serving the state or jurisdiction.† This requirement helps patients know if something has gone erroneous with the protection of their information and helps keep providers accountable for HER/EMR protection (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). Also, I did not know before the tutorial explained it that there are several layers of protection each computer system has. The different types of  protection systems have are fire wall, virus detection, cryptography, and intrusion detection systems (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). Firewalls get rid and/or locate viruses (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). Virus detection blocks distrustful traffic from entering the computer system (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). Cryptography preserves confidentiality (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). Intrusion detection systems look for patterns of misuse (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). The tutorial provided imperative information on integrity, confidentiality, and availability of all e-PHI’s created. Integrity is based on an individual’s values and trust (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). Confidentiality is shielding information from unofficial disclosure (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). Availability is appropriate authorized people having access to individuals personal health (medical) information that is required (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). All of the knowledge I have learned from the HIPPA tutorial I will be able to use not only in my future health care career but also as a patient myself. Why is this information important? Privacy allows us to make our own decisions free from compulsion (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). Privacy is valuable because it facilitates and/or promotes other essential values including ideals of personhood such as (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014): †¢ Personal autonomy (the ability to make personal decisions) (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). †¢ Individuality (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). †¢ Respect and †¢ Dignity and worth as human beings (Understanding Health Information Privacy, 2014). †Informational privacy is seen as enhancing individual autonomy by allowing individuals control over whom may access different parts of their personal information† (Pritts, 2010). It also allows people to maintain their dignity, to keep some characteristic of their life or behavior to themselves (merely because it would be embarrassing for other people to know about it) (Pritts, 2010). Pritts (2010), †Privacy also allows people to protect their assets or to avoid sharing information with others who would use it against them, such as discrimination by employers, educators, or insurers.† An individual’s health/medical records can include some of the most intimate details about a person’s life. They document a patient’s physical and mental health, and can include information on social behaviors, personal relationships and financial status (Pritts, 2010). I learned a huge amount of important information from the HIPAA tutorial. Case in point: the HIPAA law was passed in August of 2002 and it requires a covered entity to secure patient records containing individually identifiable health information so that the confidentiality of the information is protected (HIPAA Security Basics: Health Care Workforce, 2004-2010) (Hippa Health, 2010). Another item I learned was the six steps to comply and document each process (Hippa Health, 2010). Throughout the tutorial it discussed an assortment of information about risk assessments, viruses, and denial of services, hackers, and breaches and consequences of HIPAA Security policy (Hippa Health, 2010). How will you use this information in the future? The information I learned from the HIPAA tutorial will help not only me but other health care professionals to understand how important complying with the rules and regulations has to be in order to provide the best protection for patient information. Understanding the regulations implemented in HIPAA will help health care professionals make the right decisions when releasing, sharing and discussing patients health care information. Every person is entitled to privacy in their lives and it is no different when it comes to health care. Conclusion Understanding and having the general knowledge of the rules and regulations implemented in HIPAA will further assist health care professionals to make the correct decisions when releasing, sharing, and discussing patient’s personal health care information. The privacy of health information as well as personal information continues to be a challenging issue. As a majority of health information is computerized, individuals communicate concern about their privacy over their personal health information. To help alleviate public concerns, According to Understanding Health Information Privacy (2014) â€Å"Federal rules governing the use and disclosure of health information were promulgated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (known as the HIPAA Privacy Rule).† References Understanding Health Information Privacy. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/index.html Pritts, J. L. (2010). The Importance and Value of Protecting the Privacy of Health Information: The Roles of the HIPAA Privacy Rule and the Common Rule in Health Research . Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Research/HIPAAandResearch/PrittsPrivacyFinalDraftweb.ashx HIPPA HEALTH. (2010). Retrieved from https://www.courses.learnsomething.com/scripts2/content.asp?a=9F7B983E559541A692699E4D6709D56D&ph=0A2241E0A9004D7EB6AD1293A5A86346&r=BeginFlashCourse&screenw=1280&screenh=800

Devotio Moderna And Its Influence On The Ghent Altarpiece

Sarah Chapman Professor Luscheck Honors 322 14 December 2014 Devotio Moderna and its Influence on the Ghent Altarpiece Devotio Moderna is marked by contradictions that render it almost impossible to adequately categorize it. John Van Engen states â€Å"historians have had trouble finding ways to fit [Devotio Moderna] in. Fifteenth-century histories tried to place them back in the millennium-old framework of medieval religious orders†¦sixteenth-century princes and prelates†¦found little place for [the movement],† and that more modern scholars consider the followers of the movement to be â€Å"on the cusp of change†¦emblems of transition, if not its agents† (Van Engen, Sisters and Brothers, 4). As such, Devotio Moderna has appeared to scholars as a particularly problematic area of study; at once accessible and unapproachable (6), with critical and academic responses throughout the past centuries ranging from considering it to be â€Å"a turning point, perhaps the turning point, in European history† (3) to havi ng â€Å"little relevance outside local history† (4). Yet, as Devotio Moderna produced the second-most translated books in human history, the most important devotional work (aside from the Bible) in Catholic Christianity (Miola 285), and as Devotio Moderna was actively practiced for nearly two hundred years in the Lowlands, it is difficult for one not to be curious about this mystifying movement. Surely, if its writings were so wildly popular and far-reaching, the movement was not without