This thesis sought to interpret what the main protagonist of Caramelo, or Puro Cuento critically interrogates, and to what extent her act breaks with dominant power structures, examining her view...Show moreThis thesis sought to interpret what the main protagonist of Caramelo, or Puro Cuento critically interrogates, and to what extent her act breaks with dominant power structures, examining her view on womanhood and sexuality compared to sexist archetypes. Notably, the tandem Celaya-Awful Grandmother forges a bond to deeply revisit societal sexism, showing that inside benevolent sexist ideals there is a subjacent willingness for a redefinition of womanhood and sexuality outside sexism. As a ghost, her Awful Grandmother Soledad embodies for Celaya the needed support to act upon and become her desired self: an independent, educated young woman. By choosing not to reproduce the hegemonic discourse around fairy-tale-like love stories, Celaya explicitly refers to telenovela narratives and her opportunity to choose which narrative –comedy or tragedy– she wants to be the protagonist of. This final reflection poses a firm suggestion on how telenovela narratives can mirror these redefinitions on womanhood and sexuality that populate Chicana feminist writingsShow less
This thesis offers an analysis of the development of Salman's Rushdie's work through a close reading of two early novels (Midnight's Children and The Satanic Verses) and two most recent novels (The...Show moreThis thesis offers an analysis of the development of Salman's Rushdie's work through a close reading of two early novels (Midnight's Children and The Satanic Verses) and two most recent novels (The Golden House and Quichotte). The research question is to establish whether a major change in style has taken place. The premise is that a shift seems to have taken place from what Brian McHale calls the ontological dominant in postmodernism to an ethical and moral dominant. This thesis focuses particularly on typical postmodern topics such as the questioning of the ontological relationship between reality and truth, since Rushdie’s style of fantastical writing invites such a focus.Show less
An analysis of a seminal work within the Gonzo journalism tradition. It shows the extent to which the experimental style of the author was a vehicle for the expression of socio-political critique.
Questa tesi affronta il mensile di politica, arte e scienze, «Mercurio», che è stato fondato dalla scrittrice italo-cubana, Alba de Céspedes y Bertini. Uno degli obiettivi di questa tesi è di...Show moreQuesta tesi affronta il mensile di politica, arte e scienze, «Mercurio», che è stato fondato dalla scrittrice italo-cubana, Alba de Céspedes y Bertini. Uno degli obiettivi di questa tesi è di offrire un piccolo contributo alla rivalutazione e riconsiderazione dell’opera di Alba de Céspedes e di studiarla in modo approfondito, magari non interamente, ma almeno in parte. Questa tesi pone come domanda di ricerca “In che misura «Mercurio» si profila come un periodico eterogeneo?” Per poter rispondere a questa domanda, intendiamo rilevare i seguenti aspetti: 1.Quali sono gli obiettivi del periodico? 2. Chi sono i collaboratori? 3. Qual è il pubblico di destinazione? Per poter rispondere a queste domande, si propone una ricerca macrotestuale, non in senso semiotico, ma nel senso che si studierà la rivista attraverso un distant reading, che sarà effettuato tramite i dati inseriti in una banca dati digitalizzata. L’analisi quantitativa dei 29 fascicoli di «Mercurio» che sono stati pubblicati tra il settembre 1944 e il giugno 1948, ci permetterà di partire dal materiale primario e di poter contestualizzare l’andamento del mensile nell’intero arco di tempo. Inoltre, la banca dati ci permette di individuare delle tendenze principali e alcuni casi concreti che analizzeremo in modo più approfondito.Show less
This thesis explores the extent to which Middle English Romances's readers could have been familiar with the botanical matters referenced within these tales. The data has been gathered from 6...Show moreThis thesis explores the extent to which Middle English Romances's readers could have been familiar with the botanical matters referenced within these tales. The data has been gathered from 6 Middle English Romances: Lay le Freine, Sir Thopas, The Knight's Tale, Athelston, The Awntyrs off Arthur, and The Romaunt of the Rose. The research also includes explorations of non-romance texts and archaeobotanical results to discuss the presence of botanical matters in multiple facets of the lives of contemporary readers of the Middle English Romances.Show less
This thesis examines literary representations of agents who predict the future, as well as the relationship that fiction itself has with the future. These dual layers of analysis are oriented...Show moreThis thesis examines literary representations of agents who predict the future, as well as the relationship that fiction itself has with the future. These dual layers of analysis are oriented around two key concepts—“futurology” and “futurity”—which are considered in relation to Don DeLillo’s Cosmopolis and Nathaniel Rich’s Odds Against Tomorrow.Show less
This thesis explores John Milton's complex and seemingly ambivalent stance on warfare through The Tenure, Eikonoklastes, The Second Defense, Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes....Show moreThis thesis explores John Milton's complex and seemingly ambivalent stance on warfare through The Tenure, Eikonoklastes, The Second Defense, Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes. It argues that Milton's definition of war is complex. Milton understands two distinct forms of warfare: righteous and unrighteous warfare. In line with these distinct forms, Milton also holds two distinct opinions. To a modern reader this may appear paradoxical, but within Milton's own perception, this idea is consistent.Show less
This research looks at the role and characterization of non-binary characters in SF TV. With the focus specifically on the shows Another Life and Nightflyers, this paper analyses both human, non...Show moreThis research looks at the role and characterization of non-binary characters in SF TV. With the focus specifically on the shows Another Life and Nightflyers, this paper analyses both human, non-human, and post-human figures of the genre and the possible implications. The overall research has shown that science fiction tends to erase non-binary identities, and that is no different here: despite the existence of non-binary characters, their gender identity is erased from the story.Show less
An analysis of the liminal as a theme in three British fantasy novels from 1958-1974, centred around young, female characters. The thesis examines Catherine Storr’s Marianne Dreams (1958), Angela...Show moreAn analysis of the liminal as a theme in three British fantasy novels from 1958-1974, centred around young, female characters. The thesis examines Catherine Storr’s Marianne Dreams (1958), Angela Carter’s The Magic Toyshop (1967) and Doris Lessing’s Memoirs of a Survivor (1974). The liminal unveils contemporary ideologies around psychological development and the roles of children and women in society. The thesis evaluates the liminal motifs of each text against contemporary psychological, child development, feminist and literary theorists in order to explore boundaries and to reveal and deconstruct the dominant ideology in society.Show less
This thesis examines the difference in representation of Native Americans and white American settlers in six American western films from 1911 to 2017. Where it might be reasonable to think that the...Show moreThis thesis examines the difference in representation of Native Americans and white American settlers in six American western films from 1911 to 2017. Where it might be reasonable to think that the position of the Native American in the eyes of the general American public is ameliorated, the events of 9/11/2001 might prove this not to be the case.Show less
This MA Thesis discusses the way in which Toni Morrison’s Beloved and Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing represent the notion of the transmission of the traumas of slavery. Both Beloved and Homegoing represent...Show moreThis MA Thesis discusses the way in which Toni Morrison’s Beloved and Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing represent the notion of the transmission of the traumas of slavery. Both Beloved and Homegoing represent the notion that traumas need to be narrated, and witnessed by others, or they will continue to have a negative impact on multiple generations, not only the generations of the present, but also those of the future. They do, however, differ significantly in the way in which they portray the notion of transmission of trauma. In Beloved, Denver is mostly traumatized not by being enslaved but by living with a mother who is traumatized by slavery, whilst in Homegoing the recurrent tropes of a black necklace, fire, and fear of water in the stories of the various generations suggest that the collective trauma of slavery is transmitted from one generation to the next. This is a significant difference, because it suggests the novels engage differently with the question central to the scholarly debate on transmission of trauma: can trauma be transmitted or is it the traumatized parent who creates a traumatizing atmosphere for the child?Show less
