In 1910 Elia Volpi bought the Palazzo Davanzati in Florence. The antiquarian renovated the former merchant palazzo into an old Florentine home and filled it with artworks and furniture from the...Show moreIn 1910 Elia Volpi bought the Palazzo Davanzati in Florence. The antiquarian renovated the former merchant palazzo into an old Florentine home and filled it with artworks and furniture from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century. Question in this thesis is whether Volpi used sources to create his reconstruction of the medieval Renaissance interior and if he used sources, which kind of sources he used.Show less
Verbal irony has been a topic of study for several decades and conclusive answers to what it is and how language users correctly understand each other’s ironic expressions are difficult to provide....Show moreVerbal irony has been a topic of study for several decades and conclusive answers to what it is and how language users correctly understand each other’s ironic expressions are difficult to provide. Saying the opposite of what you actually mean does not seem the most effective way of communicating at first sight, but it has proven to be used over and over again without much misunderstanding. Several theories have been proposed in the past few decades that try to explain the concept of verbal irony (among others Grice 1975; Wilson & Sperber 1992; Giora 1997; Tobin & Israel 2012). Most theories on verbal irony share the idea that irony is best defined as an utterance with a literal evaluation that is implicitly opposite to its intended evaluation (Burgers & Van Mulken 2013: 184). According to Giora and others (see for example Giora, Drucker & Fein 2014), constructions (form-meaning pairs) can even be interpreted ironically by default, when the interpretation that springs to mind first is the ironic interpretation, whether presented in isolation or in a context biasing towards that ironic interpretation. This claim is based solely on experimental research with constructed examples (among others Giora et al. 2015; Giora, Givoni & Fein 2015; Giora et al. 2018). However, to support the claim of default ironic interpretation actual language data should be involved, but such corpus studies on ironic constructions are rare. This study builds on two previous studies investigating Dutch ironic constructions on Twitter (Walles 2016; Stevens 2018), and it extends the scope to ironic constructions in English. By comparing three corpora each containing 2,000 tweets with one of the three hashtags #irony, #not, and #sarcasm with a corpus containing 15,000 general English tweets, 30 words and 22 phrases appeared to occur significantly more often in the ironic tweets. These words and phrases were used to compile a new corpus, containing one hundred tweets for each word or phrase. An analysis of the tweets showed that only four were used ironically significantly more often, namely 'classy', 'I’m shocked', 'what a surprise', and 'yeah right'. Exploring the ironic meaning of these four constructions from a constructionist point of view is fruitful, since their ironic meaning can be better understood as these constructions are considered as one unit to which the ironic meaning is assigned. These constructions underwent subjectification: its ironic evaluation has become part of the conventional meaning of the construction and the usage of the construction is expanded to a wider range of communicative contexts in which it conveys an ironic attitude (Verhagen 2000). This gradual conventionalization of the ironic evaluation explains why certain constructions are used more frequently with an ironic intent than others: those constructions have progressed further in the conventionalization process and the ironic meaning has become more closely attached to the construction (Claridge 2011). Nevertheless, the four ironic constructions in the Twitter corpus could not be classified as default ironic constructions, as there are still cases in which they are used literally. The notion of default ironic interpretation is problematic, as the analysis of actual language data do not support the view that one particular construction is always and only used ironically.Show less
The Deacons for Defense and Justice were formed in 1964 by a group of African American men from Jonesboro, Liousiana, who were fed up with the daily threat of Klan-violence. The organization gained...Show moreThe Deacons for Defense and Justice were formed in 1964 by a group of African American men from Jonesboro, Liousiana, who were fed up with the daily threat of Klan-violence. The organization gained reputation for being armed and willing to shoot back at attackers, which was in contrast with the nonviolent strategy as preached by activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. However, as the Movement was progressing, more armed African American organizations were established and the Deacons' faded away against the background of more radical groups such as the Black Panther Party. The Deacons' role within these late years of the Civil Rights Movement is what has been researched in this Master Thesis.Show less
Connecting Kaurismäki to irony is not surprising, but is surprisingly enough, not so much scholarly researched in the past. Irony appears in different disguises, largely depending on the function...Show moreConnecting Kaurismäki to irony is not surprising, but is surprisingly enough, not so much scholarly researched in the past. Irony appears in different disguises, largely depending on the function of it; what the ironist wants to achieve. Applying it can originate from an urge to complicate a matter of discussion but can also be applied to translate the oppositional stance the ironist wants to reveal. In the case of the enigmatic Kaurismäki his intentions or motivations in his choice of theme and subject are essential to the humour he adapts in telling his stories, but always remains somewhat vague. This thesis provides an image of how irony prevails and functions in his cinema on the base of a series of comparative case studies linked to three of his films: I Hired a Contract Killer (1990), The Man Without a Past (2002) and The Other Side of Hope (2017). It eventually sets out an idea of a filmmaker who, by applying irony, both distances though simultaneously engages himself with his audience in his own wayward fashion.Show less
This thesis is a study of Early Modern German medical information in Early Sixteenth century London print culture. The study focusses on information transference from the Continent to the British...Show moreThis thesis is a study of Early Modern German medical information in Early Sixteenth century London print culture. The study focusses on information transference from the Continent to the British Isles.Show less
Following mass demonstrations in Brazil for the impeachement of Dilma Rousseff and the increasing relevance of local city governments in global politics this paper examines and analyses the...Show moreFollowing mass demonstrations in Brazil for the impeachement of Dilma Rousseff and the increasing relevance of local city governments in global politics this paper examines and analyses the possible effects of 'glocal' governing on the Brazilian population. This paper takes the city government and population of São Paulo as Case Study.Show less
The Crimean Tatar identity has been under a major threat since the Russian annexation of Crimea which took place in 2014. Accounts of human right violations have been reported on several occasions....Show moreThe Crimean Tatar identity has been under a major threat since the Russian annexation of Crimea which took place in 2014. Accounts of human right violations have been reported on several occasions. This thesis looks at Crimean Tatar resistance and opposition in response to pro-Russian discrimination and oppression. This is done by firstly examining key historical periods of Crimean Tatar activism and political movements in relation to their history of discrimination by the Russians. Theories on the construction of identities in ethnic minorities are then linked to the current state of Crimean activism. This thesis finds that Crimean Tatar unity in activism is shaped by a shared history of repression which corresponds to the concept of cultural politics. The Crimean Homeland has also played an important role in forging the Crimean Tatar identity and has contributed to solidifying Crimean Tatar resistance.Show less
This paper has primarily attempted to determine whether neoliberal economic policy is making a return to Brazil, and secondarily what the most likely explanation for this could be. The elections of...Show moreThis paper has primarily attempted to determine whether neoliberal economic policy is making a return to Brazil, and secondarily what the most likely explanation for this could be. The elections of October 2018 provided the context to perform an analysis on this subject: the two candidates competing in the second round of elections, Jair Bolsonaro and Fernando Haddad and their visions on economic policy for Brazil have been analyzed through the method of content analysis. The programas de governo or governing programs of both candidates has served as the main subject of the study. Additionally articles in journals and interviews have been taken into consideration. Neoliberal economic policy in this paper is defined as a specific set of economic policies associated with the Washington Consensus. Although the Washington Consensus contains a total of ten advised economic reforms, the analysis in this paper will focus on specifically three, namely privatization, trade liberalization and austerity. This will be followed by a demonstration of a ‘retreat’ of neoliberal economic policy worldwide at the hand of the trade policies of the Trump administration in the United States and the change of direction made by International Financial Institutions. Thirdly, the political situation of the last years in Brazil will be described in order to provide the reader with the necessary context for the analysis. Fourthly, the turn to neoliberal economic policy under the current Temer administration will be demonstrated to establish that neoliberalism has returned to Brazil, albeit in the form of a government with near to no public support: favorable views of the (neoliberal) reforms among the candidates under study would be a strong indication a continuation of this policy under a new president is likely. This has been researched through the programas de governo, articles and interviews. Lastly, two possible explanations have been considered. The paper will conclude that it is indeed likely that Brazil, now with a candidate enjoying significant public support, will continue on the path of neoliberal economic policy. This return to neoliberal economic policy will be concluded to be due to a form of crisis management in Brazil.Show less
The thesis focuses on medicine policy in the PRC from 1949 until 1962. The aim of the research is to decide whether or not deteriorating Sino-Soviet relations have contributed to the remarkable...Show moreThe thesis focuses on medicine policy in the PRC from 1949 until 1962. The aim of the research is to decide whether or not deteriorating Sino-Soviet relations have contributed to the remarkable change in Chinese medicine policy that took place throughout the designated time period. The author analyzes all available issues of both English and Chinese versions of the leading Chinese Medical Journal to demonstrate policy change, political development and a change in Sino-Soviet relations.Show less
With Jordan's poor economy prior to the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War and the subsequent influx of more than 1 million Syrian Refugees into the nation, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has...Show moreWith Jordan's poor economy prior to the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War and the subsequent influx of more than 1 million Syrian Refugees into the nation, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has suffered economically from their arrival. The worsening of the demographic imbalance, increasing the water scarcity further, and impacting the high unemployment rates of the nation, it is hard to see how Jordan could possibly benefit from the refugees. However through the careful and efficient use of the investments made into the refugee camps and into Jordan as well by the international community, Jordan can turn this burden into a boost for both the Jordanians and the Syrian refugees.Show less
Heinrich Kaufringer, ein Märenautor aus dem Mittelalter. Wie geht er mit den Geschlechterrollen in seinen Mären um? Drei Mären werden in dieser Bachelorarbeit verwendet: drei listige Frauen, die...Show moreHeinrich Kaufringer, ein Märenautor aus dem Mittelalter. Wie geht er mit den Geschlechterrollen in seinen Mären um? Drei Mären werden in dieser Bachelorarbeit verwendet: drei listige Frauen, die unschuldige Mörderin, der feige Ehemann.Show less
Unrecognized states seek legitimacy, both domestic and international. The most recent unrecognized state is the Russian backed 'Donetsk People's Republic' (DNR) in South-Eastern Ukraine. The DNR...Show moreUnrecognized states seek legitimacy, both domestic and international. The most recent unrecognized state is the Russian backed 'Donetsk People's Republic' (DNR) in South-Eastern Ukraine. The DNR presents itself with their 'state' media, published on-line in Russian and English. This thesis analyzes the media with the help of Analyzing the articles published, it becomes clear the legitimation strategies of the DNR focus on highlighting the differences between the DNR, which is portrayed as the victim, and Ukraine, which is portrayed as the agressor. The strategy is based more on discrediting Ukraine than promoting the DNR. Such a strategy may be relatively successful, given that local attitudes are relatively anti-Ukrainian due regular shelling and the predominance of Russian news media in the region. The English language articles follow the same line. However, these articles do not reach a wide audience and the effect on international legitimacy is negligible.Show less
This thesis goes into blockchain technology as a possible solution to the lack of effectiveness in contemporary humanitarian aid delivery. The literature review lays out the contemporary...Show moreThis thesis goes into blockchain technology as a possible solution to the lack of effectiveness in contemporary humanitarian aid delivery. The literature review lays out the contemporary humanitarian aid supply chain and the bottlenecks that hold back the effectiveness. The supply chain is divided into three separate chains and problems inherent to that specific chain are analyzed. Blockchain and its potential for the humanitarian aid industry is outlined and applied to the within- case study of the use of blockchain technology by the United Nations World Food Programme. The case study analyses the solution that blockchain has to offer to the bottlenecks in practice. This thesis concludes with stating that blockchain has the potential to increase effectiveness in certain parts of the contemporary humanitarian supply chain.Show less
This thesis looks into the motivations behind Hezbollah's military support for Syria's president Assad, despite its ideological opposition to repression and initial support for the Arab Spring. It...Show moreThis thesis looks into the motivations behind Hezbollah's military support for Syria's president Assad, despite its ideological opposition to repression and initial support for the Arab Spring. It compares these findings to the existing literature on the nature of Hezbollah. It is found that pragmatic considerations concerning Hezbollah's own security and its weapons supplies through Syria were its main motivators, despite ideologically charged rhetoric. In the literature, this reality is best reflected by those that acknowledge the duality of Hezbollah's ties to Lebanon and aims of integration into Lebanese politics on the one hand and its ties to Iran and fight against Israel on the other.Show less
The Dutch television programme Langs de Oevers van de Yangtze (“Alongside the Yangtze Shores”; 2016) was a great success in the Netherlands with a million viewers weekly and a nomination for two...Show moreThe Dutch television programme Langs de Oevers van de Yangtze (“Alongside the Yangtze Shores”; 2016) was a great success in the Netherlands with a million viewers weekly and a nomination for two Dutch television awards (Lips, 2018). The programme concerns Chinese modern lifestyle and it is spoken in both Dutch and Chinese, the latter being subtitled in Dutch. Since this programme has a focus on Chinese culture, it is relevant for the audience to have a full grasp of the meaning of the Extralinguistic Cultural References (ECRs). Preliminary academic research has shown a gap in the study of both written and subtitled translation of ECRs from Chinese into a Germanic language. The aim of this research is therefore to investigate which translation strategies were used for the translation of cultural references in the subtitles of Langs de Oevers van de Yangtze. All the ECRs in the program have been categorized based on the taxonomy of ECRs provided by Nedergaard-Larsen (1993) and the translation strategy for each ECR has been determined according to Pedersen’s taxonomy for ECRs in subtitles (2011). The results showed that for the categories geography, society and culture, most of the used translation strategies are source-oriented, whereas for the history category both source-oriented strategies and target-oriented strategies are used the same number of times. For the categories society and culture the most used strategy is direct translation. Direct translation is also the most used strategy in the category history along with the translation strategy generalization. For the category geography, the most used translation strategy is retention. In addition, the results showed that the subtitler also uses the Dutch commentary as a strategy in translating ECRs.Show less
Research master thesis | African Studies (research) (MA)
open access
Abstract Inspired by personal experience, this research analyzes the challenges and paradoxes of belonging of the Rastafari returnees in Ethiopia. With a biblically and historically buildt identity...Show moreAbstract Inspired by personal experience, this research analyzes the challenges and paradoxes of belonging of the Rastafari returnees in Ethiopia. With a biblically and historically buildt identity, the Rastafari have formed a strong identity and view Ethiopia as Zion. However, the whistle that signaled repatriation is the 500 acres land grant given by His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I to the black peoples of the world, mainly those in the west, as a token of gratitude for reaching out to Ethiopia and its people during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. The Rastafari people returned to Ethiopia, the Promised Land, fulfilling their “homecoming.” The research examines the multi-dynamic facets of the Rastafari community’s confrontations on their journey of striving to make a home and feel at home, thereby unravelling the consistent conditions that facilitated the contradicting relationship of the community with Ethiopia and Ethiopians. In order to do so, the research identifies the challenges and investigates how these are manifested and how the paradoxes of the community are demonstrated. Capitalizing on the opportunity of meeting the global Rastafari, the research curiously inquires whether the challenges faced by the community in Ethiopia are shared by Rastafari elsewhere. Furthermore, the study cross-examines the applicability of the directive issued by the Ethiopian government. In the absence of full integration, the research investigates whether the community in Ethiopia is leveraging on its international connections. To respond to these questions, the study makes use of Horst Moller’s theories on identity of (MacLeod, 2014), Nyamonjah’s belongingness (2006), the homeland-diaspora relationship examined by Wingrod and Levi (2006), and the zones of transit identified by Akinyoade and Gewald (2015). The research was conducted through an ethnographic approach in the Rastafari community in Ethiopia, with the researcher being a quasi-member of that community. Open interviews and participant observation are what the researcher immersed herself into in order to collect data. The personal experience and some specific quotes of the informants are compartmentalized to form the themes of the subjects included. This research-at-home also brings the personal experience to the text with the intention of enriching and deepening the experience of the reader. Unexpected events gave way to methods of unintended findings that perfectly and coherently suited the thesis, as it provides information on whether the experience of the Rastas in Ethiopia is shared by other Rastafari in Africa and globally. These events further helped to bring a fresh knowledge by thoroughly assessing the practicality of the directive concerning the Rastafari, which was issued by the Ethiopian government. The apparent persistence of the trans-nationality of the Rastafari cannot go unchecked. Therefore, the researcher shares the data collected in this regard. I conclude that the post-repatriation era of the Rastafari in Ethiopia is crammed with consistent tribulations, ironies, and paradoxes perpetuated by the state, by local Ethiopians and by the returnees themselves. However, this research equally concludes that, despite the challenges the Rastafari face in their daily lives, they are determined to stay ‘home.’Show less
Bachelor thesis | Film- en literatuurwetenschap (BA)
closed access
Deze studie bespreekt de verhouding tussen dieren en menselijke personages in drie verschillende romans: In ongenade van J.M. Coetzee, De ondraaglijke lichtheid van het bestaan van Milan Kundera en...Show moreDeze studie bespreekt de verhouding tussen dieren en menselijke personages in drie verschillende romans: In ongenade van J.M. Coetzee, De ondraaglijke lichtheid van het bestaan van Milan Kundera en Niemands bruid van Meg Rosoff. Het eerste hoofdstuk bevat een bespreking van belangrijke momenten uit de geschiedenis van het denken over mens en dier in het Westen, gevolgd door een bespreking van theorie over de mens-dierverhouding in de literatuur. In de hedendaagse discussie over de verhouding tussen mens en dier lijkt men zich nog af te zetten tegen de benaderingen van de relatie tussen mens en dier uit het verleden. In het verleden werd het dier namelijk overwegend beschouwd als inferieur aan de mens. Met deze vergelijking van drie romans hoop ik een bijdrage te leveren aan de discussie binnen de Animal Studies. In het tweede hoofdstuk worden de drie romans geanalyseerd. De deelvragen behandelen de aanleiding van dierbeschrijvingen in de romans; de verhouding tussen de visie op de relatie tussen mens en dier van de hoofdpersonages ten opzichte van de visie hierop van de roman als geheel; de ruimte die het dier biedt aan de lezer voor een andere invalshoek op het verhaal. In het derde hoofdstuk worden de romans vergeleken. De filosofische kern van de roman De ondraaglijke lichtheid van het bestaan ontvouwt zich in het plot. Deze structuur houdt ook in dat de dierbeschrijvingen steeds onderdeel uitmaken van filosofische weerspiegelen van het personage Tereza of van de externe verteller. De dierbeschrijvingen waarbij Tereza focaliseert zijn veelal gemotiveerd in haar herkenning van eigenschappen of omstandigheden bij zichzelf of bij het personage Tomas. De toegevoegde waarde van het dier lijkt in verschillen te liggen die zij tussen dier en mens ziet. Deze verschillen geven haar besef van een potentieel aanwezige andere wereld, en kan haar tot filosofische inzichten brengen over eigenschappen die dier en mens delen, zoals hun kwetsbaarheid. Ook kan het verschil betekenen dat zij bij de dieren iets aantreft wat zij bij mensen niet kan vinden, zoals de rust die hun cyclische tijdsbeleving met zich meebrengt. Daarenboven weerspiegelt de externe verteller op metaniveau over het gedrag en de beweegredenen van Tereza, en hoe zij zich tot dieren verhoudt. Voor het andere hoofdpersonage genaamd Tomas lijkt het dier minderwaardig aan de mens. Hij beschouwt de hond die hij voor Tereza heeft uitgezocht bijvoorbeeld geheel in de geest van de functie die hij aan het dier heeft toebedeeld: de band tussen hem en Tereza vergroten. Aan het begin van de roman In ongenade het hoofdpersonage David hij dieren als gelijkwaardig aan de mens te zien, maar als totaal anders. Mens en dier leven in zijn visie langs elkaar heen. In de loop van het verhaal gaat hij zich steeds meer in de dieren herkennen. Hier wil hij echter eerst niet aan, omdat hij dat ook zijn status, als iemand die in ongenade is gevallen, moet aanvaarden. Een symptoom hiervan is dat David geen aansluiting vindt bij andere personages. De afstand tussen David en andere menselijke personages is hierdoor vergroot. Aan het einde van de roman gaat David zich aan de dieren hechten. De dieren lijken echter niet meer functies te hebben dan die van abstractie, symbool en metafoor. De dieren zijn wel belangrijk in zoverre zij een proces in gang zetten bij het hoofdpersonage, maar dit wordt veroorzaakt door de gelijkenissen die het hoofdpersonage David ziet in de dieren. De dieren zetten daar wel een belangrijk proces in gang bij het hoofdpersonage, maar dit komt door gelijkenissen die het hoofdpersonage David ziet in de dieren. De dieren lijken niet meer functies te hebben dan die van abstractie, symbool en metafoor. In Niemands bruid staat de visie op de mens-dierrelatie voor het hoofdpersonage Pell in dienst van de mogelijkheden die het dier geeft om haar eigen keuzes te maken. Pell begrijpt dieren beter dan mensen, maar ze behandelt de dieren in haar gedrag niet als gelijken en blijft wel hun baas. Ze lijkt haar talent om dieren te begrijpen in te zetten om meer aansluiting te vinden bij mensen. Pell kijkt bijvoorbeeld hoe dieren op specifieke mensen reageren, om te zien of de mensen te vertrouwen zijn. Ook analyseert en beschrijft zij de overeenkomsten tussen dieren en mensen. Pells paard Jack is een dierlijke belichaming. De geschiedenis van het dier wordt beschreven, en zijn focalisatie wordt meermaals weergegeven. In zijn geschiedenis fungeert het dier als spiegel voor het personage Pell dat zich afzet tegen de rol die haar is toebedeeld door haar omgeving. In haar positie is Pell bovendien radicaal anders dan haar menselijke omgeving te noemen: zij zet zich af van de mensen, die zij als vreemd en onbetrouwbaar ervaart, en ze vindt herkenning bij dieren. De visie van de roman zelf is dat iemand, bijvoorbeeld door middel van dieren, kan leren om eigen keuzes te maken in het leven en als volwassene een plaats te vinden in de wereld.Show less
Research master thesis | Literary Studies (research) (MA)
closed access
Videogame scholar James Paul Gee has wondered on numerous occasions whether videogames have the capacity to inspire “a sort of embodied empathy for complex systems.” In this thesis I take that...Show moreVideogame scholar James Paul Gee has wondered on numerous occasions whether videogames have the capacity to inspire “a sort of embodied empathy for complex systems.” In this thesis I take that question one step further and ask whether they can do so for virtual ecosystems. In other words this thesis explores whether what makes up the environmental orientation of videogames, among other things, is a sense of embodied empathy for the ecosystems they simulate, and from what procedural, narrative, and visual conditions this sense of empathy may be derived. In order to provide a more substantial theoretical ground from which to launch my inquiry, I develop Gee’s understanding of embodiment according to Gordon Calleja’s concept of “incorporation,” which helps me clarify how videogames involve players in ecosystems in ways that are medium-specific. Additionally, I reconceptualize the notion of empathy according to Robert Pogue Harrison’s “garden of care,” from which I distil a particular kind of emotional and ethical response to the environment, one that I conclude features differently in each of the games I single out for analysis: Fate of the World, Waking Mars, and Stardew Valley. This response, which is founded on responsibility and engagement plays an important role in their environmental orientation by establishing a relationship of care between the player and the game environment. The nature of this relationship however, is different in each encounter, depending on the way the game environment manifests itself, and how openly it solicits care.Show less
