https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.theguardian.com/education/mortarboard/2013/feb/27/bring-back-ema-students-urge&sa=U&ei=YdKYUr2gC8SUtAbG_YDQCA&ved=0CA4QFjAFOB4&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNES3WZhokISpcASYaBhX60Cw1eYXQ

Education 

The Guardian in it’s issue of 27th of February published an article on education. The headline of the article I have read is: « Students urge MPs to restore EMA grant». The article touches upon very serious problem, which consist in scrapping the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). By the way, what does this acronym mean? The EMA was a grant of up to £30 a week that allowed over half a million students from some of the poorest families in the country access to further education; almost 90% of students eligible for free school meals received the EMA.

The author starts by telling the reader that students have come up with a new strategy in their fight to get the education maintenance allowance (EMA) restored. They're urging MPs to support an "early day motion"- which is a proposal submitted for debate in parliament. Activists on over a dozen college campuses are organizing petitions, online lobbying and social media action in an effort to persuade MPs to support disadvantaged young people so they can continue to study post-16. The author states that most of the students are not going to give up, because they can’t accept the destruction of the education system and their future lives. According to the article cancellation of EMA led to dreadful consequences: the number of students applying to university is in sharp decline – in 2012 Ucas reported a drop of more than 50,000 people, the education system suffers a lot. Besides, the cost of the grant is offset by the benefits, because а lot of teenagers who received EMA were encouraged to get higher education. The article goes on to say that leading economists including Jonathan Portes, director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, have pointed out, the EMA "delivered significant economic and social benefits" and was valuable not only to poorer students but "to the economy as a whole". In conclusion the author admits that young people are going to struggle for their rights. The main idea is not to give up.

I found the article very important, because it touches upon very controversial theme. On the one hand the government desn’t have enough money to finance this project, but on the other hand students shoudn’t suffer. Personally I think that both rich and poor students must have the same educational rights and opportunities.

What do you think about this situation?

 

Social behavior

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/28/walmart-black-friday-protests-thanksgiving#start-of-comments

Shopping is one of the most popular hobbies in our modern life. Women and men like buying something new, especially in sales, where you can find a fashionable dress with a big discount.

Black Friday is a day for shopaholics in the United States. A lot of American people are going to a multinational retail corporation “Walmart”, where “record numbers of workers plan to protest major retailers”, said “The Guardian” in its issue of the 28^th of November.

As the author of the article, Dominic Rushe concentrates our attention on dissatisfaction of workers of Walmart and shows us two different points of view on conditions and wages in the main shopping centre of the US. He points out on the fact that protests are planned at more than 1,500 of Walmart’s 4,000 US stores on Black Friday, which is considered as a great number of disaffected workers. According to the text we can see commentaries of different people, including some of them who are for protests and another part of them who are against it.

I found this article topical, because the author touches upon the burning issues of our today’s life. These conflicts in the US lead to serious problems not only in economy, but in social and political spheres, because such conflicts are the reason for walkouts. I believe that politicians should interfere in this process and solve a problem of people’s welfare.

Have you ever heard about Black Friday protests in the US? Do you often buy something in a sale? 

Ann Aristova 

ART

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2251067/Underground-art-scene-Posters-decade-showcased-celebration-150-years-Tube.html

The Daily Mail published an article on London underground art scene. The title of the article is: “Underground art scene: Exhibition to celebrate 150 years of the Tube will feature incredible posters from each decade since 1908”. The article informs the readers of the exhibition that showcased the iconic poster art that has adorned the walls of the London Underground for more than a century. Poster Art 150 – London Underground's Greatest Designs was held at the London Transport Museum to commemorate the Tube's 150th anniversary. The unusual exhibition featured wall art seen in Underground stations from each decade since the early 1900s. The exposition was the first of its type since 1963 and showed the changing art styles of the last 100 years. The 150 were chosen by a panel of experts from more than 3,000 in the London Transport Museum vault.

In my opinion, the article is extremely useful for those who want to know more about wall art and feel the atmosphere of London’s Tube. I enjoyed a lot reading it and watching distinguished posters. I hope that poster art and wall art will win popularity among Russian artists and we will see their work in Moscow metro or in other public places soon :)

The question is would you like to see different posters from famous artists on the streets of our city or in public places such as theatres, cinemas, hospitals, schools, etc.?

Below you can see some examples of posters from London’s Tube.

Ann Lebikhova

Cultural artifact is a term used in the social sciences for anything created by humans which gives information about the culture of its creator and users. The artifacts can provide knowledge about technological processes and way of life in different historical eras.

The story is set in England in the period of the reign of Tudors dynasty.

The main artifacts in the film:

Gorgeous tapestry with the family coat of arms, the gold-plated dishes, adorned with gems, ancient jewelers (rings, necklaces) belong to the Royal family. (In this period more and more attention was paid to surroundings and atmosphere in the house)

The tapestry includes fashionable decoration of foliage, birds and other creatures which perfectly show the age of Renaissance. Rooms were hung with costly and marvellous tapestries of pure gold and fine silk garnished with pearls and precious stones. In marked contrast to gilded ceilings, costly tapestries and princely attire were stark floors covered with rushes, trestle tables, and wooden benches in the great hall and draughty corners.

Furniture: The number of pieces of furniture has increased. The furniture was decorated with sculptures, carvings, paintings, different upholsteries, and detected propensity to antique images.

Heavy wooden pieces with carved details & iron hardware like pulls, hinges, studs, & latches. Four poster beds & headboards in carved designs with canopies & drapery. Refactory tables with bulbous turned legs & carved wooden chairs. Built-in sideboards & cabinets along with storage benches were often seen in classic Tudor homes. Pewter dishware & glassware displayed in open cabinet shelves with an occasional exotic porcelain piece. Leather strapped wooden chests. Books with leather covers were a status item since the invention of the printing press.

On the age of Renaissance one of the problems was the problem of lightening and heating. Fireplaces – the focal point for any Tudor room provided necessary heating. Chandeliers - handing with many candles to provide lighting.

Changes in clothing in XIV - XVI centuries traced stronger than many centuries before. Linen and wool were the most common fabrics used during this period. The luxurious fashions depicted in art work most often reflect the clothing worn by royalty, the nobility, and the elite. The upper classes wore garments made of silk, satin, velvet, damask, and taffeta, in addition to wool and linen. Finer linens were bleached in the sun, embroidered, or block printed. Fashionable embellishments included braiding, borders, embroidery, lace, guarding (ribbon trim), and gems or pearls sewn onto the fabric.

Mikhailenko and Kuznetsova

Sociofacts cover customs, traditions, ceremonies of the society. There are all elements due to we can see an image of the society and understand how it works. We can find a lot of sociofacts in films. Our group decided to choose "The Other Boleyn Girl". In our case we consider English society in the 16th century. At those times the King was Henry VIII.
The main tradition in the royal family was to give birth to a heir, only a boy. And you had to get a boy at any price. We can see in the film how it was important for woman to have a boy because the Henry was interested in only a son. Only son became the heir of the English throne.
But the queen couldn't do it. She had a weak health. That's why the King became cold with her and found other women called favorites. It was normal for their time, after such relationships woman could find a wealthy husband, for example a Duke. From the religious point of view it was amoral. But the society accepted the willingness of The King. The power of the King was absolute and his desires always came true.

Men were the heads everywhere: as in their family so in the society. We saw it in the scene of the Anne's judgment; you don't find a woman among the judges.

In the family last word was always said by the man. The father, Mr. Boleyn, chose the destinies for his children without their agreements. Parents took decisions for their children very often: the marriage, the carrier and etc. If a family wanted to be successful (rich and powerful) in the society their children would be the best tool to achieve it.
The hunting is the main ritual when we mention the King and his court. We saw it on the scene when the King visited Boleyn's estate.
Traditions and customs have been forming by years, sometimes centuries. But the history shows us even centuries-old traditions can change in one moment. Some situations and personals can change the image of the country. We can see such personals in this film: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth (we saw her as a little girl at the end of the film). Such great personals can break the rules, traditions and the whole history. Their motivations and actions were not always right and good. But due to these personals we can see England such as it exists now.

Ovchinnikova Lera and Kasatkina Inna

Mentifacts (the ideas, beliefs, and values that people hold)

The movie ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ gives us a picture of medieval England, specifically England in the 16th century during the reign of King Henry the 8th(1509-1547). The people of the Middle Ages were very superstitious, religious, devout. They were serious about the notion of family, divorces were not acceptable because people were afraid to be condemned by society besides religious considerations. But people put the king above everything, servicing to him was their main aim. (Mary's father disregarded for her marriage for the sake of serving the King.) No one had the right to contradict the King’s will, otherwise he would be accused of treason.

Due to Catherine of Aragon’s (the first wife of Henry the 8th) inability to give him an heir Henry decided to annul his marriage at the insistence of Anne Boleyn. Having been refused by the Roman Catholic Church, the king declared the Church of England independent of the pope in 1534, which marked the beginning of a new era in the religious culture of England.

Popova Dasha and Vasilevskay

1.      How many children did Anne Boleyn give birth to?

a.       1 +

b.      2

c.       3

d.      4

2.      Anne Boleyn was:

a.       The 1^st Henry VIII’ s wife

b.      The 2^nd Henry VIII’s wife +

c.       The 3^rd Henry VIII’s wife

d.      Wasn’t Henry VIII’s wife

3.      The 1^st Henry VIII’s wife was:

a.       Catherine of Aragon +

b.      Mary Boleyn

c.       Anne Boleyn

d.      Jane Seymour

4.      The name of Anne, Mary & George’ s mother was

a.       Kristin

b.      Catherine

c.       Elizabeth +

d.      Victoria

5.      Mary Boleyn had been married:

a.       Hadn’t been married

b.      Once

c.       Twice +

d.      Three times

6.      The 1^st Henry VIII’s child was:

a.       Edward

b.      Elizabeth

c.       Philip

d.      Mary +

7.      Anne Boleyn was:

a.       Beheaded +

b.      Imprisoned till the end of her life

c.       Exiled to France

d.      Was the wife of Henry VIII till the death of Henry VIII

8.      Mary Boleyn’ last marriage was with:

a.       William Carey

b.      William Stafford +

c.       Henry Percy

d.      Thomas Howard

9.      Catherine of Aragon gave birth to:

a.       A girl +

b.      A boy

c.       Twins

d.      Boy & girl

10.  Mary Boleyn gave birth to:

a.       A Henry VIII’s legitimate daughter

b.      A Henry VIII’s legitimate son

c.       A Henry VIII’s illegitimate daughter

d.      A Henry VIII’s illegitimate son +

1) Henry VIII established new church of England . (T)

2) Ann was the youngest child in the family. ( F) - Her sister Mary was the youngest.

3) Catherine of Aragon managed to give birth to a boy. (F) - She gave birth to a daughter Mary.

4) Ann Boleyn was the third legal wife of the king. (F) – She was the second legal wife.

5) Mary gave birth to illegitimate son. (T)

6) Henry was obliged to break off relations with Catholic Church. (T)

7) Ann Boleyn gave birth to twins. (F) – She gave birth to daughter Elizabeth.

8) George Boleyn was accused of incest. (T)

9) George Boleyn was imprisoned. (F) - He was executed.

10) Ann Boleyn was beheaded. (T)

 Adamovich Sofia and Popova Arina