Abstract This paper attempts to shed some light on the liturgical spirituality of St. Basil the Great through an examination of St. Basil's own letters and his work "On the Holy Spirit". To do so, the writer situates St. Basil's time frame and gauges it through his writings in order to elucidate St. Basil's theology and personal spiritual development. In addition, the writer looks at particular significant aspects of Basil's context such as cultural, social, and economic conditions during his period.
From the Paper "Saint Basil wrote a whole treatise On the Holy Spirit that was composed around 375 C.E. It was a written as a defence of Nicene orthodoxy at the request of the Bishop Amphilochios of Iconium. Basil wrote this book during a time where persecution had ceased and when Christianity had become a "state" religion. He struggles incessantly to unravel the truth in a time of turmoil in the early medieval Church. Moreover, it was written during a time of great uncertainty for the Church."
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the book "The Picture of Dorian Gray," by Oscar Wilde. Specifically, it compares and contrasts the characters of Henry (Lord Henry Wotton) and Basil Hallward, illustrating their influence and interaction with Dorian, and the role each plays in his eventual downfall.
From the Paper "Dorian Gray, the main character of the book, is young and beautiful. He is a shallow man, who only wishes that he did not have to grow old; his wish comes true, but at a terrible cost. Dorian remains young, while the portrait Basil painted of him grows old and hideous. Throughout the book, he is influenced by the strong personalities around him, particularly Lord Henry Wotton. Under Henry's guidance, Dorian commits murder, and two people close to him commit suicide, but nothing deters him in his quest for excitement and perfection."
Abstract In Oscar Wilde's novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray", concepts of mortality and death are tied to concepts of aesthetics. This paper shows how Dorian Gray fears death but also considers art as a way of overcoming death. He then makes himself into a work of art, while the true artwork, the painting of him produced by Basil Hallward, is subject to all the mortal disintegration which rightfully should be suffered by Dorian himself.
From the Paper "Gray also embodies the New Hedonism expressed by Lord Henry, another challenge to aging and death. However, aging and death are part of the natural order and cannot be escaped in any way except through art. Dorian does see himself as a work of art, but he lives not for an aesthetic but for the love of self. In the end, age and death come to him because he has not lived a balanced life. Critics point out ways in which ideas of aesthetics are embodied in the novel along with moral issues concerning immortality and the ability to evade responsibility for one's actions."
Abstract This paper studies studies the main factors which led to the ultimate failure of the Council of Basel in 1449. It looks at how it was
an organisation that gave way to radicalism, its conflict with Eugenius IV and his successor Nicholas V and the loss of support the council suffered in its latter stages. It shows how the radical membership that the Council of Basel contained eventually destroyed it through a dispute that marked the end of the Conciliar movement of the late medieval period.
From the Paper "The Papacy's acquisition of the support of the secular rules in particular The Holy Roman Emperor, was the main factor for the ultimate failure of the Council of Basel. In the early stages of the council both France and the Holy Roman Empire took a neutral stance, and from 1440-45
relations between Eugenius IV and the Empire changed little. However, circumstances changed this stance. Political exigencies in Hungary made friendship with Eugenius IV particularly desirable for the Emperor Frederick III. To gain the Emperors support Eugenius granted Frederick the right to nominate various Papal offices within his state, several benefits and most importantly he paid him a substantial sum of money."
Tags: conciliarism, eugenius, roman, emperor, france, pope
Abstract An analysis and critique of John White Alexander's oil on canvas version of "Isabella and the Pot of Basil" from 1897. This paper goes through the nuances and details of the famous painting, as well as the haunting story behind its mysterious subject.
From the Paper "Some of the world's best-loved paintings are based on ancient legends and stories. The visual combined with the verbal usually ends up producing a truly magnificent work of art, made all the more meaningful by having a story behind it, backing it up and expanding upon every detail. John White Alexander's oil on canvas version of Isabella and the Pot of Basil from 1897 is definitely one of these pieces. Based on Keats? 1820 poem of the same title, Alexander masterfully combines the tragic essence of the legend with the macabre actuality of what Isabella was doing."
Tags: alexander, analysis, boston, criticism, john, keats, mfa, paintings, white
Abstract This paper discusses Basil Davidson's book, "The Black Man's Burden: Africa and the Curse of the Nation-States," illustrating the inappropriate path towards nationalism in Africa. The paper presents the author's own account and theory about how, in the midst of an almost politically free African region, its peoples have yet to experience true freedom in the sense that they cannot govern themselves effectively, often falling prey to the promises of nationalism, but failing to live the ideal model of a nation-state.
From the Paper "Throughout history, the most marginalized race in most countries in the age of capitalism and technological advancement remains to be the African race. Driven to live a life of bondage through slavery in most Western societies and being colonized in their own land, the Africans have not yet defined their true sense of identity as peoples. Instead, what was developed in their psyche is the feeling that they were indeed a race that would inevitably experience prejudice and discrimination in any society in the world."
The following paper reflects on the story of a great adventure had by Claudia and Jamie which is both meant to entertain us and meant to teach us some of the important lessons in life, as the author weaves a number of themes carefully through the book.
650 words (approx. 2.6 pages), 0 sources, 2003, $ 23.95
Abstract This paper examines the themes of the meaning of money and the meaning of worth as well as the very definition of what the central characters are doing. The way in which the two children come to understand the difference comes about through their finding the money in the fountain.
From the paper:
?Oscar Wilde asked, and then answered his own question: ?A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.? This book is all about the difference between money, on the one hand, and value. Claudia takes Jamie with her because of all the people she knows he has the most money. And they become fascinated with solving the mystery of the angel because they think it will lead them to great riches.?
Abstract "Basil Davidson has argued that the concept of the nation-sate was a poor choice for governing structure in Africa and was indeed doomed from the beginning. Davidson writes about the problems of post-colonial Africa that "the jubilant crowds celebrating independence were not inspired by a 'national consciousness' any more than were the Romanian peasants and their coevals in the nation states crystallized some decades earlier from Europe's old internal empires
From the Paper "Basil Davidson has argued that the concept of the nation-sate was a poor choice for governing structure in Africa and was indeed doomed from the beginning. Davidson writes about the problems of post-colonial Africa that "the jubilant crowds celebrating independence were not inspired by a 'national consciousness' any more than were the Romanian peasants and their coevals in the nation states crystallized some decades earlier from Europe's old internal empires. They were inspired by the hope of more and better food and shelter" (Davidson 185). When the satisfaction of these immediate needs did not materialize, the people oriented themselves other foci for social allegiance. Eriksen writes,
For the great Pan Africanists, the nation state may have been too small; for very many Africans, it was way ..."
A review of the work presenting an overview of the history and development of the continent's culture, government, religion, art and Western influences.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 1 source, 1991, $ 47.95
From the Paper "The purpose of this paper is to discuss and analyze the book, The African Genius, by Basil Davidson.
Davidson is a great admirer of the African culture in general, and the ability of the African people to survive. He is also very cognizant of the element of racism in European and American historians' discussion of Africa's history. As he puts it, it is still necessary to set African reality within its historical context "The anthropologists of the colonial period did not do this" (26). Davidson feels that most historians have looked upon African societies as being timeless entities without past or future.
The result of this approach, according to Davidson, was to "strengthen the impression of a complete otherness of African societies. Presented without history, as living in a perpetual..."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts two chapters of separate documentaries on Africa. The first chapter is Basil Davidson's "The Bible and the Gun", and the second is Ali Mazrui's "New Gods". These two documentaries demonstrate that the role of religion and colonization in Africa impacted the development of the country in a significant manner.
Abstract The paper states that the conversion of the Rus - the medieval political entity centered on the city of Kiev - is dated from 988, when its pagan ruler, Vladimir, and his subjects were baptized under the auspices of the Byzantine emperor, Basil II. The writer explains that the acceptance of Eastern Christianity may have been determined as much by geography as theology. The paper explains that, over time, the architecture, decorative arts and music, in the area of the Kievan Empire, began to reflect Byzantine style. The writer shows that one of the most significant consequences of the conversion of the Kievan Empire was the division between church and state. The paper explains that the Byzantine view of church-state relations suited the rulers of Kiev and later the Russian Tsars, who saw themselves as Caesars, who were all-powerful in their realms. It explains that autocracy has been a factor in the development of Russian leadership until the time of the Soviet Union, which itself had all-powerful leaders. In conclusion, the writer posits that had the Kievan Empire not converted to Eastern Christianity, the society and culture in Russia today would be far different from what would have developed in the absence of that conversion a millennium ago.
From the Paper "The acceptance of Eastern Christianity by the Kievan Empire may have been determined as much by geography as theology. Kiev, strategically situated on the Dnieper River, in the tenth century dominated the established trade route between the Baltic Sea in the north and the Black Sea in the south. This so-called "route from the Varyagi (Varangians or Vikings) to the Greeks," permitted trade from northern Europe to the Byzantine Empire, the Eastern Mediterranean, and various parts of Asia. The prosperity and influence of Vladimir's Kiev depended on the use and control of this route, which involved many rivers, lakes, and the portage of simple rafts and open boats between bodies of water (Barraclough 114-15). "Byzantium was not only Kiev's principal partner in this north-south trade, the two also at times fought wars against each other and at other times aided each other against the threat of third powers. In fact, the most direct cause of the conversion of Vladimir may have been an agreement between Vladimir and Emperor Basil that called for Vladimir to provide 6,000 troops to help Basil put down the rebellion of Phocas, one of Basil's generals, who had declared himself Emperor, taken over most of Asia Minor, and besieged Byzantium (Shchapov 58-59). What Vladimir got out of the agreement was marriage to an Imperial Princes, Anna, the Emperor's sister. "
Abstract This paper looks at the challenge of operating a business in a foreign country. The case study in this paper presents a specific business situation, describes the prevailing conditions which needed to be addressed, relates the decisions that were made, and examines the consequences of failing to apply sound business and management principles.
Outline:
Introduction
Case Overview
Case Analysis
Lessons Learned
From the Paper "In a foreign business environment there is always going to be pressure on a manager to conform to prevailing cultural values and attitudes, but businesses succeed or fail in accordance with their adherence to sound business and management principles, not their adherence to cultural expectations. Many of the problems encountered could have been avoided or overcome if top priorities would have been established, such as making decisions based upon sound management principles, delegating authority to subordinate managers only if they have demonstrated competence and reliability, and ensuring that effective assistance could be obtained if corrupt business rivals seek to exploit their connections to undermine
the business or infiltrate it with their own people."
