The dystopian genre has had a surge of popularity in television and movies the past few years with movies such as the Hunger Games and series such as Netflix’s Black Mirror. However, the genre’s...Show moreThe dystopian genre has had a surge of popularity in television and movies the past few years with movies such as the Hunger Games and series such as Netflix’s Black Mirror. However, the genre’s popularity had its beginning in the early years of the twentieth century, in particular, thanks to the contributions of Aldous Huxley and George Orwell. Their books, Huxley’s Brave New World (1932) and Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), are to this day lauded for their prophetic elements. On the one hand, Brave New World explores scientific progress and the negative consequences it could entail. Some of the inventions present in the novel were not yet invented at the time that Huxley wrote them, such as for example birth control for women. On the other hand, Orwell’s exploration of cruelty by totalitarian regimes and the high-tech espionage of their citizens through cameras in Nineteen Eighty Four, well before the Soviet Union’s KGB and the East-German Stasi applied them during the Cold War, prophesied the rise of surveillance technologies in modern technocracies. These two foundational dystopian novels have their origins in the two authors’ critique of optimistic utopian narratives. The works of H.G. Wells, in particular, were viewed adversely by Huxley and Orwell. Despite the negative incentive, there are clear similarities between the novels of these three public intellectuals. H.G. Wells had a ground-breaking approach to communicating his ideas about science and society to a wider audience. In his scientific romances he combined aspects of the social novel with scientific theories about the progress of human civilization in order to express his vision of how to rid the world of its ills, which ultimately inspired, on the one hand, the scientific explorations of utopia in Brave New World and, on the other hand, the social protest against dystopian developments in Western society that Nineteen Eighty-four was to become. These would ultimately become two distinct kinds of dystopian literature: Huxley’s science-fiction dystopias and Orwell’s social dystopias. There are of course also combinations of both. The close readings of H.G. Wells’ Perez 4 Men Like Gods (1923), Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-Four will highlight the similarities between the three novels in terms of their treatment of the utopia/dystopia dichotomy and will show that the authors’ personal backgrounds played an important role in determining each different approach to the building of a utopia/dystopia in the respective novels.Show less
By examining two of the most acclaimed and popular televisual productions recently released, Mr. Robot (USA Network, 2015 - present) and Black Mirror (Channel 4/Netflix, 2011 - present), I wish to...Show moreBy examining two of the most acclaimed and popular televisual productions recently released, Mr. Robot (USA Network, 2015 - present) and Black Mirror (Channel 4/Netflix, 2011 - present), I wish to show up to what extent they portray the expansion of capitalism into the political, cultural and social dimensions of our Western contemporary reality as a phenomenon weakening our utopian sense of the future. Drawing upon the field of social theory, I will argue that Mr. Robot, with its emphasis on the political and cultural domains, shows how mechanisms of control and manipulation responding to the logic of late capitalism and consumerism are influencing our ability to imagine a new and alternative system to the current one. In the case of Black Mirror, criticism towards late capitalism revolves around the use and abuse of new technologies, which implement the spiral of image addiction, the power of commodities, and cause a dramatic change in the way we perceive the boundaries between life and death. Throughout my analysis, I will refer to the utopian genre, and, specifically, its most recent variation of critical dystopia, with the aim of considering the tension and interaction between utopia and dystopia in the two TV series as a strategy, first, to raise awareness in the public about the most degrading aspects of our reality and, secondly, to reinvigorate a concept of utopia not as escapist thinking, but as a transformative impulse to change society and potentially overcome the cultural deadlock of capitalism.Show less
In this thesis, I analyze the view that the narrator of Madame Bovary takes on the society of the (fictional) French provincial town of Yonville. Gustave Flaubert, the author of the novel, strongly...Show moreIn this thesis, I analyze the view that the narrator of Madame Bovary takes on the society of the (fictional) French provincial town of Yonville. Gustave Flaubert, the author of the novel, strongly insist in his famous Correspondence on the impersonality and the objectivity of the author. Being the emissary of the author, the narrator therefore also has the task to withhold himself from any subjective statements or emotions and so on. However, there are multiple indications (both resulting from the novel itself and from the remarks of scholars) that question the approach so called ‘impersonal’ of the narrator. Giving ironic descriptions of his characters, and sometimes mocking them overtly, he doesn’t always seem to live up to the position of an objective narrator. Apparently, there is a contrast between Flaubert’s aesthetics (as pronounced in his Correspondence), that state that the narrator has to stay impersonal and even impassive, and the actual approach of the narrator in Madame Bovary. The claim we have made is that the narrator is above all a person himself as well, who has his own feelings that he expresses accordingly.Show less
Ce mémoire examine le rôle du 'négatif' dans la théorie littéraire de Maurice Blanchot, son lien avec 'l'espace littéraire', et l'influence de Martin Heidegger à ce propos.
On the 25th of January 2018 the doomsday clock was set to 2 minutes to midnight, meaning that according to the scientific community the world is now closer to a nuclear apocalypse than it has ever...Show moreOn the 25th of January 2018 the doomsday clock was set to 2 minutes to midnight, meaning that according to the scientific community the world is now closer to a nuclear apocalypse than it has ever been before (Bulletin). Worryingly, the last time the world’s scientific community deemed a nuclear apocalypse this close was in 1953, after the USA had announced they would “pursue the hydrogen bomb” (Bulletin). In the same period, in response to the widespread anxieties caused by the increasing nuclear threat, science fiction stories abounded that explored various post-nuclear apocalyptic scenarios. Two of the most lastingly influential novels in this genre are John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids (hereafter, Triffids) (1951) and Richard Matheson’s I am legend (1954). Both texts explore the apocalypse as a phenomenon wherein the civilizations of man inevitably rise and fall. In both narratives the characters experience an apocalypse that is caused by humanity and the protagonists have to learn to live in a post apocalyptic world. The narratives explore the nature of science, technology and the identity of man within a pattern of creation and destruction. This thesis explores the apocalypse as a cyclical phenomenon in which the apocalypse is both the end and the beginning of civilization.Show less
Robert Heinlein is not only one of the most influential science fiction writers of the twentieth century, he is also one of the most controversial science fiction writers of this century. Heinlein...Show moreRobert Heinlein is not only one of the most influential science fiction writers of the twentieth century, he is also one of the most controversial science fiction writers of this century. Heinlein implemented his political convictions into his work, evolving through his career from a socialist viewpoint to a libertarian – arguably even anarchistic – viewpoint. This thesis tracks this development through a critical analysis of three novels from the early, middle, and late stages of his career. In Beyond this Horizon, which is a reaction to the Great Depression in the United States, Heinlein describes a utopian society based on a socialist economy in which all problems of the twentieth century are solved. In Starship Troopers, which is Heinlein’s response to President Eisenhower’s decision regarding the end of nuclear testing, he explores the ideology of a society which promotes individual freedom, arguing that freedom and responsibility ultimately leads to patriotism. The third novel, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, is Heinlein’s libertarian retelling of the American revolution and is the culmination of his political development from socialist to libertarian ideology.Show less
This thesis provides a close reading of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone (1979) and 11/22/63 (2011) and suggests that both novels can be regarded as historical novels. This thesis presents an overview...Show moreThis thesis provides a close reading of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone (1979) and 11/22/63 (2011) and suggests that both novels can be regarded as historical novels. This thesis presents an overview of the key historical events and figures of the respective time periods in which the novels are set. The Dead Zone is set during the 1970s and 11/22/63 is set during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Both time periode are represented negatively. The Dead Zone explores the feeling of distrust that the American citizens experienced after Richard Nixon’s Watergate Scandal and the Vietnam War. 11/22/63 shows the flipside to JFK’s hopeful image and the optimistic 1960s. Ultimately, I will show that despite the negative representation of America in the 1960s and 1970s, there is hope for the characters in these novels which enables them to survive and to find peace. The Dead Zone and 11/22/63 contain a hopeful message which is represented through education and love. This hopeful message does not only represent hope for the characters of the novel, but also for the readers of these historical novels, who can find guidance in working through historical events such as the Vietnam War, 11/22/63 and the Watergate Scandal.Show less
The thesis studies the Angolan novel Os Papéis do Inglês (2000), by Ruy Duarte de Carvalho. The approach to the novel will consider that the hybridity of the postcolonial space is transformed into...Show moreThe thesis studies the Angolan novel Os Papéis do Inglês (2000), by Ruy Duarte de Carvalho. The approach to the novel will consider that the hybridity of the postcolonial space is transformed into structural element and method of constructing the narrative. This hybridism is present in different levels: in the construction of characters, in narrator’s voice, in the styles and genre of the writings. It is a result mainly of the overlap of elements which are normally seen as opposites, like Fiction and History, Literature and Science. By bringing such elements together, Ruy Duarte deconstructs central ideas and categories of the Western thought and draws attention to different forms of seeing and understanding the world. This work will study two conceptual deconstructions that can be found in the novel: first the ideas which distinguish literature and scientific writings, mainly regarding the realm of anthropology and ethnography, showing how those polarities are entangled in the postcolonial universe; and in second place the concept of a linear chronological time, focusing on the idea of spectral presences and hauntings which disrupt the borders between past and present. Lastly, I will consider how those deconstructions work in the context of the Angolan literary project, as to assess how the book engages in a literary debate regarding the ideas of nation and identity, so important in the context of postcolonial states. Therefore, by subverting some paradigms of European thought, Ruy Duarte seems to be proposing alternative ways in which the Western world can relate to non-western areas.Show less
La question centrale de ce mémoire est : Dans quelle mesure le chevalier de Mailly utilise-t-il le merveilleux et la galanterie pour créer une œuvre d’une identité indéfinie ? Le chevalier de...Show moreLa question centrale de ce mémoire est : Dans quelle mesure le chevalier de Mailly utilise-t-il le merveilleux et la galanterie pour créer une œuvre d’une identité indéfinie ? Le chevalier de Mailly a combiné deux tendances littéraires dans son œuvre « Les Illustres Fées. Contes galans. Dédié aux Dames » de 1698. Le livre fait partie du courant littéraire des contes de fées, dont on peut trouver beaucoup de caractéristiques dans les histoires. En outre, l’auteur y a ajouté de la galanterie. Il s’agit d’une galanterie qui rend les héros encore plus agréables, mais il y a aussi une galanterie licencieuse qui crée une couche plus adulte. Les deux tendances se renforcent dans l’œuvre : la galanterie fait que la structure des contes de fées est plus facile à reconnaître et les contes de fées créent des conditions pour une insertion facile de la galanterie. Ainsi, l’auteur a créé un livre destiné à un lectorat divers par son identité ambiguë.Show less
Corruption is inherently present in Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth. The representation of corruption, both in Follett’s work and in the Medieval English church, however, has not yet been...Show moreCorruption is inherently present in Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth. The representation of corruption, both in Follett’s work and in the Medieval English church, however, has not yet been studied to its fullest extent. This thesis aims to explore whether Follett has successfully depicted the Medieval church of the twelfth century by further delving in to the several depictions of corruption that are featured in the novel, and to examine whether these can also be attributed to the Medieval church Follett is aiming to describe. Financial corruption is attested in the world of Follett by the uncertainty as to where the money to build the Kingsbridge comes from. In contrast, it is seen in the Catholic church in the appearance of indulgences. The question whether indulgences can be linked to corruption will be answered by looking at the way Follett has decided to include any form of these contracts. Indulgences were, in fact, an inventive means to have a cathedral built. The erection of the New Saint Peter’s Basilica was supported by financial support of indulgences. Historians, predominantly Protestant, in the nineteenth century have castigated the practice of indulgences. 3 This thesis also aims to present an impression as to in what extent our ideas of corruption in Medieval England has been shaped by these ideas. By including corruption of power and the corruption of faith and looking at it in both Follett’s work and the Medieval English church, this thesis will present a satisfactory answer to the question whether the picture Follett presents is a valid example of a Medieval view of the church.Show less
The writings of André Gide and Julien Green are very much influenced by the oppression they felt by the strict moral rules of Christianity during their childhood. The spiritual struggle they have...Show moreThe writings of André Gide and Julien Green are very much influenced by the oppression they felt by the strict moral rules of Christianity during their childhood. The spiritual struggle they have had during their entire life made them criticize the demanding character of religion, and of Protestantism in particular. The two writers are very different when it comes to their origins, their attitude towards religion and their literary style, but in these novels, it is clear that they elaborate the same theme: that of the excessive Christian morality. In this study, the focus will be on the way both authors underline and question the strict moral rules that the protagonists of their novels impose themselves. First, a closer look will be taken at the spiritual quest the authors have gone through themselves in respect to the religious heritage of their childhood. Secondly, the novels will be studied by focusing on the way Gide and Green deal with the theme of excessive morality and express the critical attitude they adopt towards these excesses of the Christian religion.Show less
This thesis compares two modern adaptations of Shakespeare's The Tempest to the original play and argues that Indigo and Hag-Seed problematise and expand on The Tempest by providing different...Show moreThis thesis compares two modern adaptations of Shakespeare's The Tempest to the original play and argues that Indigo and Hag-Seed problematise and expand on The Tempest by providing different perspectives and filling in gaps that are not explored in the classic play.Show less
Video games form one of the latest media in which stories are told. However, video games are not just stories - they are interactive experiences in which players have an active role. Therefore...Show moreVideo games form one of the latest media in which stories are told. However, video games are not just stories - they are interactive experiences in which players have an active role. Therefore there has been much debate on how video games should be academically approached: can video games be analysed with methods used in literary studies or should new methods be developed. Yet, little to no research has been done on the relationship between storytelling and interactivity in a video game genre that blends these two features together unlike any other: choice-driven video games. While the genre is not unique in its approach to blend storytelling and interactivity, as role-playing games (RPGs) have done so for several years, it has become increasingly popular with video game developers specialising in these sort of video games, such as Quantic Dream and Telltale Games. This genre of video games is often marketed to highlight the players' freedom and control over the video games in which their decisions dictate the outcome of the story. Nevertheless, these qualities are often overplayed as scripted events serve as boundaries limiting the extent players are actually able to affect the outcome of these video games. Thus I propose that choice-driven video games (and RPGs) offer the illusion that players' choics, decisions, and actions are significant to the outcome of the video game they are playing through clever use of mechanics that provides players to chance to immerse themselves in these video games. Until Dawn (2015), Life Is Strange (2015), and Undertale (2015) are used as case studies for this thesis.Show less
This thesis deals with two biopics namely Ed Wood (1994) and The Disaster Artist and two films, Glen or Glenda (1953) and The Room (2003)and places these against a postmodern framework in order to...Show moreThis thesis deals with two biopics namely Ed Wood (1994) and The Disaster Artist and two films, Glen or Glenda (1953) and The Room (2003)and places these against a postmodern framework in order to analyze the construction and reconstruction of identity. Similarly, the metatextuality of the biopics as they refer back to the original filmmakers and their films is also examined herein.Show less
