Twilight

An unapologetically “against the grain" reading of "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer and the subsequent film adaptation that explores the inadvertent queer resonances embedded within the film. Topics covered include  the queer origins of the vampire figure, the "cult of beauty" tradition, the "sad young man" trope, the ambiguous star-text of Robert Pattinson, and gay male spectatorship.

This thesis unveils what is abnormally appealing and distinctive to the readers that makes Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Novel Series so popular and well-read, what it is about the characters that makes the readers love them, what it is about the storyline that allows so many readers to dive into it and relate it to parts of their lives, all whys and wherefores to argue that literature stands able to absorb and highly recognize the values of novels that are obviously not written by the conventional standards that literary critics would seek. The thesis applies a Freudian psychoanalysis of the id and the super-ego to the mentalities and the behaviors of the main characters of the novels in order to achieve this goal.

Abstract

This work deals with the analysis and explanation of Talmudic and halachic data on the halachic-scientific topic known as ‘Bein Hashmashot’ (evening twilight), while making comparisons and using explanations from the relevant topics in the sciences of astronomy and observational astronomy, and combining various disciplines.
‘Bein Hashmashot’ is a Talmudic-halachic concept referring to a doubtful time of day, when definite daytime has ended because the sun has already set, but definite nighttime has not yet begun because the effect of the sun on the atmosphere/sky is still apparent to one degree or another.
The work opens with an introductory chapter, containing general information about the areas of research that will be discussed in the work, definitions of the topic and its uniqueness, existing research, the research questions and the structure of the work.
The first chapter of the work includes two fundamental subjects: a scientific introduction and a halachic introduction. The scientific introduction reviews important basic astronomical data required for the understanding of the work, such as basic scientific information about Earth and the seasons, sunrise, sunset and twilight, and data about the stars. The halachic introduction presents the basic halachic definitions which lie at the basis of the work, such as the relation between natural time and Chazal’s walking time, and the Talmudic concept ‘breadth of the sky.’
In the second chapter, presented for the first time are comprehensive synopses of the passages pertaining to Bein Hashmashot in the Babylonian Talmud, as well as comparative synopses of parallels from the Palestinian Talmud. The presentation of the various versions contributes greatly to the understanding of the differences in the wording, and to understanding various points of the topic, as can be seen further in this chapter and in the following chapter. An attempt is then made to interpret the implications of the significant textual differences discovered during the preparation of the synopses. Of interest is some unique wording discovered in Geniza fragment T-S F 2(2).11 and the connection found between this fragment and the school of Rabbenu Chananel. The chapter ends with a reconstruction of the text of that Geniza fragment, together with a discussion and summary of its unusual nature. As in many other studies, the great importance of the use of Talmudic manuscripts for the purpose of understanding Talmudic topics is demonstrated in this study. Comparing the texts of the manuscripts reveals important wording and interpretations, as well as connections in tradition between manuscripts and centers of study.
The third chapter comprises a comprehensive discussion on all Bein Hashmashot issues brought up in the Talmud. Examined are textual differences, astronomical data and parallels from the Palestinian Talmud, creating a broad basis in which each part illuminates and reveals on its other parts as well. As a supplement, a brief overview of the opinion of Rabbenu Tam was added at the end of the chapter, including the various hypotheses as to the reasons that may have led to the unique way in which he interpreted the topic. In particular, this chapter reveals the necessity and advantage of combining scientific data for the understanding of this topic. Additionally, this chapter proves once again the great value of comparing the Babylonian Talmud with the Palestinian Talmud, so much so that one who studies a topic in the Babylonian Talmud that has parallels in the Palestinian Talmud and does not deal with them, is missing a very important part in the understanding of the Babylonian Talmud itself.
The fourth chapter concerns the determination of Bein Hashmashot in 19th century Jerusalem. The chapter opens with a brief historical overview of the development over the generations of the halachic ruling in matters of Bein Hashmashot, and the transition from ruling according to the opinion of Rabbenu Tam to following the opinion of the Geonim. Following are details about the prayers and times of prayer in Islam, as a background to the connection between the time of halachic sunset and the Muslim call to the Maghrib prayer. In this context, mention is made of the reliance of Baghdad rabbis on the call to Maghrib and the way they determined the halachic ‘visible sunset.’ Regarded next is the method of Rabbi Yehosef Schwartz, who immigrated from Germany to Jerusalem, his way of combining Torah and science in general, and the combination of astronomy and halacha in his groundbreaking book Tevuot HaShemesh. Finally, a debate between Rabbi Shmuel Salant and Rabbi Chiya David Spitzer of Jerusalem’s Old City is presented and analyzed, on the determination of Bein Hashmashot in regard to the circumcision of a baby born at twilight on Friday evening. The debate primarily surrounds the question how to determine sunset and sunrise in places with a mountainous horizon, and the relation between the call to Maghrib and halachic sunset. This debate is of great importance for the determining of halachic times in places with a mountainous horizon, but also of historical and social importance regarding life in the Old City of Jerusalem in the relevant period. Most of the discussion on this debate was published as an article in HaMa’ayan, Tishrei 5778.
Chapter Five deals with the rulings of two important 20th century rabbis, who greatly influenced contemporary rulings regarding the time that day terminates and that Shabbat ends: Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tucazinsky and Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz (Chazon Ish). Their opinions are reviewed, the similarities and differences between them pointed out, and the factors that apparently drove each of them to reach the conclusions he reached are considered. Following is a discussion on the observational developments made repeatedly in Israel after the times of these two rabbis. These developments led to repeated disputation of their opinions, while attempting to return to the conclusions that arise from the Talmud.
The sixth chapter presents responsa received from ten Israeli rabbis concerning the time night begins in practical halacha. The purpose of this chapter is to give general guidance as to the state of rabbinical rulings in Israel in the 21st century, on the question of the end of Bein Hashmashot and the time Shabbat goes out. The letters were received in response to a query on this subject posed by the Omkah Shel Halacha Institute, as well as in response to a letter sent by myself. Both the queries and the answers are presented. Each responsum is followed by a discussion of its contents and its principal innovations.
The work ends with a summary of the main conclusions of each chapter.
This work proves that when combining scientific data with Talmudic-halachic discussions on scientific topics, it is possible to reach an in-depth understanding of many issues that are at the core of the subject, while reaching conclusions that cannot be reached without a proper combination of science and halacha. Additionally, from this work it is once again apparent that great benefit to the study of Talmudic topics can be derived from a combination of philological and comparative methodologies.

במאמר קצר זה מוהדרים לראשונה דברי רבי אברהם בן הרמב"ם בסוגיית בין השמשות. עד כה נודעו דבריו רק מתוך תרגום חלקי בשו"ת מהר"ם אלשקר. לדבריו נודעה השפעה רבה על פולמוס זמן צאת הכוכבים (הידוע בשם "מחלוקת הגאונים ורבינו תם), והוצעו פירושים שונים בדעת רבי אברהם. כעת, עם חשיפת דבריו במקורם הערבי, מתלבנים מספר נקודות עמומות בדעתו.

The aim of this study is to detect elusive light that indicate the prayer time (Isha'). Therefore, we focused on optical sky brightness at dusk from May 2007 through April 2008 intermittently. The measurements of twilight sky brightness were covered at one (1) site covering; West coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The measurements were done by applying Sky Quality Meter (SQM) which covered between 400-700 nm in accordance of human eyes and SQM range. Results showed that there are clear indications of light changes when Sun at certain degree below horizon that visible by plateau form in twilight sky brightness dependences versus solar zenith angle. It is clarified that the yearly averages of solar depression by observation are best correlated within the range of 17.3o -19.5o for Isha'. Index Terms-Twilight; prayer time; sky quality meter.

In response to recent sociological studies that suggest that the seriousness of psychological, emotional and verbal abuse are not only dismissed but are also the least identified in dating relationships, this article undertakes an analysis of these underexplored, ‘less visible’, elements using Ellen Pence and Michael Paymar’s ‘Power and Control’ and ‘Equality’ wheels, it compares Stephanie Meyer‘s 10th anniversary re-release of Twilight, and Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined, which tells the same story as Twilight, but with the genders reversed are compared using the ‘Power and Control’ and ‘Equality’ wheels. The author argues that Life and Death is not just a simple swap of names and pronouns, as Meyer asserts, but that the alterations of thoughts and actions of the characters reflect commonly held ideas about gender, including the perpetration of psychological, emotional and verbal abuse in intimate relationships as hallmarks of masculinity. Moreover it shows that consistent with the feminisation of vampire Edythe Cullen and mortal Beau Swan, the intimate relationship in Life and Death more closely resembles that of a non-violent and equitable relationship, which significantly lessens the abuse, and reinforces traditionally socially accepted messages about gender in intimate relationships.

The aim of this study is to detect elusive light that indicate the prayer time (Isha'). Therefore, we focused on optical sky brightness at dusk from May 2007 through April 2008 intermittently. The measurements of twilight sky brightness were covered at one (1) site covering; West coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The measurements were done by applying Sky Quality Meter (SQM) which covered between 400-700 nm in accordance of human eyes and SQM range. Results showed that there are clear indications of light changes when Sun at certain degree below horizon that visible by plateau form in twilight sky brightness dependences versus solar zenith angle. It is clarified that the yearly averages of solar depression by observation are best correlated within the range of 17.3o -19.5o for Isha'. Index Terms-Twilight; prayer time; sky quality meter.

The adaptive origins of primates and anthropoid primates are topics of enduring interest to biological anthropologists. A convention in these discussions is to treat the light environment as binary-night is dark, day is light-and to impute corresponding selective pressure on the visual systems and behaviors of primates. In consequence, debate has tended to focus on whether a given trait can be interpreted as evidence of nocturnal or diurnal behavior in the primate fossil record. Such classification elides the variability in light, or the ways that primates internalize light in their environments. Here, we explore the liminality of light by focusing on what it is, its many sources, and its flux under natural conditions. We conclude by focusing on the intensity and spectral properties of twilight, and we review the mounting evidence of its importance as a cue that determines the onset or offset of primate activities as well as the entrainment of circadian rhythms.

Results of unaided eye observations of the morning twilight phenomenon at Tubruq of Libya are recorded. These results are an average of 623 observing twilights carried out at Tubruq ( = 32° 05´ N, = 23° 59´ E) for the desert background in the time interval (2010-2013). The average enabled us to get an average depression of the sun below the horizon of about 13.144° which lies in a range between (11.13° Do 14.7°). The results show that there is about 4° difference between our obtained value and that currently used in Libya which is 18.25°. The azimuthally range of observation in the solar vertical direction ranges from 0° to 10°, while the phenomenon was followed from 0° to 20° along the altitudinal range. The results indicate that the dawn (first light) occurs according to normal eye estimates at Tubruq at sun vertical depression angle D = 14.7°. o

The history of land control in Indonesia is overwhelmingly one of colonial conquest, government enclosure and expropriation of traditional property rights. However, beneath these great transformations, counter-currents also flow. Encroachment on state land and its gradual privatization by ordinary people sometimes gnaw at government property. Through a series of small, sometimes innocuous actions, people manage to undo the previous ownership regime. This article shows how settlers over a period of some 30 years – through a strategic mixture of civic disobedience and civic compliance – managed to appropriate, formalize and effectively privatize land belonging to the state-owned railway company in the city of Bandung. The authors argue that disobedient occupation and subsequent obedient payment of taxes, documentation of residence and 'normalization' of the area have reduced the company's ownership to thin formality, whereas new residents hold all the substantial elements of property rights to the land.

Summary. The intrapartum cardiotocographs (CTGs) of 38 severely asphyxiated, term infants, born during a 17-month period, and those of 120 healthy term infants acting as controls were independently reviewed by three investigators who were unaware of the clinical outcome. Interobserver agreement was good (Kappa statistic = 0.74, P<0.0001). The investigators found that cardiotocographic abnormalities were present in 33 of the asphyxiated infants (87%) and in 35 of the controls (29%) and predicted that the abnormalities were severe enough to lead to significant fetal metabolic acidosis at delivery in 23 asphyxiated infants (61%) and in 11 controls (9%). The differences between the two groups were highly significant (P<0.001). Using the traditional diagnostic criteria for fetal distress, the investigators found that fetal blood sampling was indicated in 58% of cases in the asphyxia group and in 20% of controls but was only performed in 16% of asphyxiated infants and in 8% of controls. Furthermore, the median response times of delivery suite staff for abnormal fetal heart rate patterns were similar whether the FHR changes, classified using Krcbs' CTG scoring system, were moderate or severe: 80 min and 90 min, respectively. These findings suggest that interpretation of the intrapartum CTG continues to pose major problems for practising obstetricians.

W artykule analizuję zjawisko "szarej godziny" -- niezwykłej pory dnia, zawieszonej między między dniem a nocą, chętnie przywoływanej w młodopolskiej literaturze. Fragmenty prozy i poezji zestawiam z przykładami polskiego malarstwa z tego samego okresu -- polskiego "Stimmungu" -- szukając wspólnego, "synestezyjnego" sposobu odbioru świata, jaki przejawiali artyści pióra i pędzla tamtej doby.

Twilight observations were carried out in the period «1983-1985» in different seasons at different sites mainly to deduce the beginning and the end of twilight. One of these sites was Matrouh. These observations were gathered using a refractor (an alt-azimuth scanner) of 10 cm diameter associated with a photoelectric tube of the type (u fi Y À 51) using 3-filters namely; the blue, visual and red filters. The photoelectric system was calibrated with the international photoelectric color system. The phenomena were followed in steps each 10°in both altitude and azimuth. The depression of the sun below the horizon was calculated from the local time of each scan. The results indicated (at a = 5°and A = 10°) for the latitude of Matrouh that the end and the beginning of the twilight occurred when the depression of the sun (D o) was between 18°and 20°, while the dawn times were found to be between 14°and 16°. The brightness of the twilight phenomena was followed, however, to different altitudes and azimuths [0°6 a°6 60°and 0°6 A°6 60°].