审美认同、种族与美国民间音乐

本文运用审美认同的概念来探究音乐类型、社会运动与种族认同之间的关系。在20世纪的美国,其民间音乐在某个时期会破坏黑人与白人之间的绝对边界,而在另一个时期又强化了这种边界。审美认同是艺术类型与社会群体的文化结盟,借助这种结盟,群体就会感觉到某种艺术类型是代表了＂我们的＂或者＂他们的＂艺术、音乐和文学。这样,艺术类型的边界就成了社会的边界。民间音乐颠覆了艺术类型与社会边界的这种常规关系。民间音乐总是一些＂他者＂的文化,或者是种族的、地区的、阶级的文化,或者是民族的文化。在被叫作民间音乐之前,美国的本土音乐更多地体现了种族的完整性而不是其社会性,它是占支配地位的欧洲音乐和主要受非洲音乐影响的音乐相互混合的产物,但是又很好的表现了这两者。在商业唱片时代之前,黑人和白人音乐家们唱着同样的音乐,相互学习歌唱技巧和歌曲,并且共享一个表演的社会空间。民间音乐的概念是由学术精英创造出来的,但直到20世纪30年代到40年代后期,当有组织的左派把它当作一个文化事业时,它对大多数人来说仍然是陌生的。无论是学术精英还是政治活动家都将艺术类型建构成另一种种族化的艺术类型,而商业唱片工业又以＂种族唱片＂和＂山地音乐＂将之双重化。在那个特定的种族极端化的时代,美国的共产主义者和他们的同盟者非常有意识的使用民间音乐作为一种加强种族团结的工具。由于麦卡锡主义的压制,直到20世纪60年代,民间音乐作为种族统一的类型而得到复兴,但迅速被白人化了。为什么民间音乐的复兴与白人有关,我的解释是有三个因素：连续商业化的种族遗产;新左派不能像老左派那样有效地通过文化设施来控制音乐;在某个时候,当黑人努力要进入白人中产阶级青年所抵制的体制中时,一种把民间音乐理解为＂他者＂音乐的文化动力。     

Gender differences in mathematics education in Zambia

This paper discusses whether gender differences in mathematics education exist in Zambia, and if so, what are their possible causes. Differences are found to be present both in terms of access, and in terms of performance. Possible reasons for such differences are examined, in the light of empirical data consisting of responses to an attitude questionnaire.     

Reviews

Marzollo , J. and Lloyd , J. (1977). Learning through Play. Meek , M., Warlow , A. and Barton , G. (1977). The Cool Web: the Pattern of Children's Reading. Hoffman , M. (1977). Reading, Writing and Relevance. Jackson , S. (1977). Oxford Junior Workbook, 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A. Riddell , G. and Gulland , D. (1975). Teaching: Active or Passive. Lewis , L. (1977). Attack-a-track. Spooncer , F. A. (1976). The Development of Reading, The Evaluation of Reading. Williams , A. (1971). Reading and the Consumer. Zimet , S. G. (1977). Print and Prejudice.     

Effects of different ways of introducing a reading task on intrinsic motivation and comprehension

This study compared the effects of two brief prereading instructional practices – hands‐on activities and prior knowledge activation – on sixth‐graders' intrinsic motivation for reading a text and reading comprehension. Both hands‐on activities and prior knowledge activation substantially improved reading comprehension relative to a control condition where students just read to answer questions and take a test about the text content. These effects did not depend on preexisting individual differences in basic reading skill, reading motivation or topic knowledge. Hands‐on activities and prior knowledge activation did not differentially affect reading comprehension, however, nor did either of them have any effect on intrinsic motivation to read the text. If used regularly in classrooms, brief prereading practices in the form of hands‐on activities or prior knowledge activation may result in knowledge gains that accumulate to build a solid conceptual basis for further, self‐regulated learning from text.     

Ohm’s law, Kirchoff ’s law and the Drunkard’s walk

Recall from Resonance, Vol. 1, No. 7 that when the Drunkard asks: “Will I ever, ever get home again?”, Polya answers: “You can’t miss, just keep going and stay out of 3D!” In this two-part article we show how to look at this question of recurrence and transience of random walks (which was originally asked and solved by George Polya) through electrical networks. In the first part we look at the related electrical networks.     

The development and use of a faculty salary model for a higher education system

Most of the earlier attempts to develop faculty salary models have been based on data from a single institution or from an undifferentiated group of institutions, without a data base adequate to support the design. The overall objective of this paper is to report on the development, characteristics, statistical findings, and utility of a faculty salary model employed over the period 1978–79 to 1980–81 for a higher education system containing 16 institutions ranging from a comprehensive university to a small rural community college in complexity and mission. The need for the model grew out of requirements for the governing board to: (1) deal with litigation and the issues of equity for minorities and females; (2) make interinstitutional salary comparisons as these relate to size, complexity, and mission; and (3) better understand the factors which determine faculty salaries.     

Does maximalist footwear lower impact loading during level ground and downhill running?

A new model of running shoes which features an extreme cushioning and an oversized midsole, known as the maximalist (MAX) was launched. This design claims to provide excellent shock absorption, particularly during downhill running. This study sought to assess the effects of MAX on the external impact loading, footstrike pattern, and stride length during level ground and downhill running on an instrumented treadmill. Twenty-seven distance runners completed four 5-minute running trials in the two footwear conditions (MAX and traditional running shoes (TRS)) on a level surface (0%) and downhill (10%-declination). Average and instantaneous loading rates (ILRs), footstrike pattern and stride length were measured during the last minute of each running trial. A 12% greater ILR was observed in downhill running with MAX (p?=?.045; Cohen’s d?=?0.44) as compared to TRS. No significant difference was found in the loading rates (p?>?.589) and stride length (p?=?.924) when running on a level surface. Majority of runners maintained the same footstrike pattern in both footwear conditions. Findings of this study suggested that MAX might not reduce the external impact loading in runners during level and downhill treadmill running. Instead, this type of footwear may conceivably increase the external impact loading during downhill treadmill running.     

The Easiest Proof of Fermat’s Principle

This article presents the easiest direct proof of Fermat’s principle with the help of differential calculus for all types of surfaces.     

The educational impact of the eugenics movement

Although there is a growing literature on the Eugenics movement and historians have shown some interest in its impact on educational policy, there has been little attempt by historians to demonstrate its continuity throughout the 20th Century. There also has been little exploration of its linkages with scientific racism as it has developed in several societies (in particular North America) in recent years. This chapter argues that Eugenics never lost its hold on policy, in particular, the treatment of ethnic minorities, and can only be fully understood in the light of the ongoing concern for Eugenic theory. The author also suggests that the widespread influence of the Eugenics movement illustrates the communality of educational policy across the developed world and particularly across modern Europe.