Calisto’s Narcissistic Visions: A Reexamination of Melibea’s ‘Ojos Verdes’ in Celestina

In Act 1 of Fernando de Rojas’s 'Celestina' (1499), Calisto praises the beauty of Melibea largely in terms of the clichéd portraiture common to chivalric romance. Her green eyes (ojos verdes), however, contrast with more widespread depictions where authors tend to describe eyes in terms of their luminosity (shining, starry or mirror-like). This article proposes a new means of considering Melibea’s ojos verdes as a complex symbol joining the psychophysiology of sight to the conflicted desire that both sustains and undermines Calisto’s amorous feelings. The greenery of the eyes thus comes to serve as a metaphor for the transcendental, rapacious, and narcissistic modes of desire linked to vision and the gaze between lovers. In this study, I demonstrate how (1) the ojos verdes are etymologically and textually associated with traditions of beauty, carnality, and mirrored vision and (2) these issues coalesce around the theme of Ovidian narcissism present within the text. This dual objective is elucidated through an analysis of the beatific vision Calisto claims to experience in Act 1, where the reference to ojos verdes appears, the undoing of these exalted eyes in their connection to falconry and rapacious desire, and the link between Melibea’s eyes, narcissistic imagery, and the greenery of the garden in Act 19

Autoimmunization of Ewes Against Pregnancy-associated Glycoproteins Does Not Interfere with the Establishment and Maintenance of Pregnancy

doi:10.1017/S1751731109004145Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) are a large grouping of placental proteins that belong to the aspartic peptidase gene family. Although useful to detect pregnancy in ruminant species, the function of these molecules is unclear. Several PAGs expressed by trophoblast binucleate cells can enter the maternal circulation, suggesting that they could have a systemic role in altering maternal physiology. The objective of this work was to examine whether these circulating placental antigens were important in pregnancy by actively immunizing ewes against them. PAGs were purified by pepstatin-affinity chromatography and conjugated to the immunogenic protein, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Ewes were immunized with PAG-KLH conjugate (n522) or with KLH alone (n59), and bred to intact rams. Blood samples, collected on Day 0 (day of estrus), Day 10, Days 15 to 25 and weekly throughout pregnancy, were analyzed for PAG by an ELISA. On Day 30, pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasound. Ewes immunized against PAG-KLH produced a range of reactive anti-PAG titers, whereas all immunized ewes had high anti-KLH immunoreactivity. PAGs became detectable in the anti-KLH (control) ewes at Day 21.662.2 of pregnancy. Those ewes immunized against PAGs (n57), that had very low immunoreactivity toward PAGs, had measurable PAG by Day 22.961.3, and their PAG serum profiles throughout pregnancy did not differ from the controls. Those exhibiting moderate to high anti-PAG immunoreactivity (n515), had significantly lower PAG concentrations than controls, with antigen not becoming detectable until Day 48.1615.6. The decrease in circulating PAG in the immunized animals did not correlate with changes in pregnancy rates, lamb number or lamb birth weight. These results suggest that while PAGs may play a role in maintaining pregnancy, their major contribution is likely to be at the fetal-maternal interface. Their actions at extra-placental sites are presumably of more secondary importance.This work was supported by NIH Grant HD21896 and the Animal Reproductive Biology Group of the University of Missouri Food for the 21st Century Program

American Comedy Film as Mass Communication: The Audience Experience

Many American audiences have enjoyed comedy films throughout much of the twentieth century. In years past, some visited motion picture theaters on a weekly basis; today many audiences continue to enjoy comedy films. Given the numerous daily conversations that revolve around films, it seems that many viewers may learn about and remember the comedies they see. Besides the entertainment that comedy films provide, comedies may also teach audiences. This culminating project is designed to discuss the communication of American comedy films with audiences. It will introduce various types of comedy and certain comedy actors. In addition, it will note literature used to research this project. After the review of sources, this project will discuss noteworthy American comedy films, including Duck Soup (1933), It Happened One Night (1934), Bringing Up Baby (1938), and Some Like It Hot (1959). The discussion will then analyze different ideas about possible meanings of these comedy films. Among other things, this project will discuss whether comedies, as Mary Douglas maintains, may support the status quo or may promote new ways of life (in Karnick and Jenins 270). By examining paradoxes that comedies may contain and vicarious experiences that they may offer, this project hopes to explore some of the ways that comedy films may relate to viewers. While films are interpreted in different ways , this project intends to offer a few of the many ways to look at them. Though comedies are o f ten seen as mere entertainment, they may educate and influence viewers as well. More fully comprehending possible meanings of comedy can lead to a greater appreciation of comedy as well as a better understanding of the human condition. Thus, the study of comedy film messages seems worthwhile and interesting

How Autism is Diagnosed in Black Indigenous People of Color

How Autism is Diagnosed in Black Indigenous People of Colo

How Autism is Diagnosed in Black Indigenous People of Color

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