How could speaking of oneself be a methodological challenge in the humanities? The paper focuses on cultural studies as a new way of arguing about identity issues. Our thesis is that speaking of oneself entails neither a lack of objectivity nor an overflow of selfishness, but the requirement of self-reflexiveness. As an observer is not neutral but interacts with his field, he thus has to be a aware of his own background and explain it with fairness. So speaking of oneself (...) could be a condition of truth in the humanities. (shrink)

Face à l’extension d’un art disséminé, nous nous arrêtons sur un registre de pratiques et de notions malentendues, les arts martiaux japonais, confondus avec des « sports de combat ». Par « art » nous entendons une conduite soucieuse de mener une pratique et une production à la perfection, et foncièrement à la perfection de soi, quelle que soit la manière culturelle locale d’envisager cet état d’accomplissement. En regard de l’art du bouquet ( ikebana ), de pratiques shintoïstes (comme le (...) kototama ), nous examinons des notions comme celle d’art martial ou bugei, littéralement l’art ( gei ) d’arrêter la lance ( bu ). Ce que les Occidentaux ont interprété comme un « art de la guerre » se voulait un « art de la paix ». Les arts martiaux japonais mobilisent en ce sens des notions et des expériences parfois connues en Occident comme le ki, l’énergie, ou méconnues comme le shin (le cœur-esprit), le ma (l’espace-temps) ou l’ aï (l’un). Nous nous proposons de démonter un malentendu à partir d’une pratique artistique, le kino-michi, élaboré par Masamichi Noro, dérivée de l’aïkido, en vue de comprendre en quoi ces bugei sont une éducation, une élévation de l’âme et du corps au même titre que la musique ou la danse. (shrink)

Summary In the 1930s, atomic absorption spectroscopy replaced chemical methods for determining the amount of mercury in atmospheric air. The overall state of chemical analysis was favourable: physical instruments were moving into the chemical laboratory. This new method emerged from work in quantitative physics, and it met a need arising from the risk encountered by those who handled mercury. The new spectrometer, which originally functioned as a detector, also made precise and rapid quantitative determinations possible. This in turn encouraged industrialists (...) to take out patents and make commercial use of the method after various improvements. This method is considered to be the ancestor of modern atomic absorption spectroscopy, which developed independently after 1960. The method developed in the 1930s could only be used for gaseous mercury, and it was not generalized as a method for quantifying other elements. The determination of mercury in air by atomic absorption spectroscopy was the first application of this technique; indeed, it was the only example of a specific use of atomic absorption. It was also part of the instrumental revolution. (shrink)

Le street art a depuis longtemps une réputation de marginalité, lié aux mauvais lieux des esprits contestataires. La critique d’art, savante ou médiatique, abonde en ce sens, perpétuant une image de pratique rebelle et anticonformiste. Toutefois cette marginalité nous semble douteuse compte tenu de l’histoire de ce mouvement, de l’évolution économique et artistique de certaines pratiques de rue, de la reconnaissance d’un art des rues par le marché de l’art et les institutions culturelles privées et publiques. Examinant les statuts d’une (...) marge et du street art depuis des paramètres proprement artistiques et relevant de l’esthétique, notre propos se centrera sur la notion de débordement. (shrink)

Summary In the 1930s, atomic absorption spectroscopy replaced chemical methods for determining the amount of mercury in atmospheric air. The overall state of chemical analysis was favourable: physical instruments were moving into the chemical laboratory. This new method emerged from work in quantitative physics, and it met a need arising from the risk encountered by those who handled mercury. The new spectrometer, which originally functioned as a detector, also made precise and rapid quantitative determinations possible. This in turn encouraged industrialists (...) to take out patents and make commercial use of the method after various improvements. This method is considered to be the ancestor of modern atomic absorption spectroscopy, which developed independently after 1960. The method developed in the 1930s could only be used for gaseous mercury, and it was not generalized as a method for quantifying other elements. The determination of mercury in air by atomic absorption spectroscopy was the first application of this technique; indeed, it was the only example of a specific use of atomic absorption. It was also part of the instrumental revolution. (shrink)