Master thesis | Classics and Ancient Civilizations (MA)
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Several Greek tragedies revolve around the exposure of corpses and the conflict this creates between characters who support or oppose this lack of burial. Such a conflict is often between a ruler...Show moreSeveral Greek tragedies revolve around the exposure of corpses and the conflict this creates between characters who support or oppose this lack of burial. Such a conflict is often between a ruler who outlaws the burial to punish an enemy and an individual or citizen who tries to protect the body of a loved one from mutilation and dishonour. The opposition of the individual can be construed as a direct challenge of the authority of the ruler. In this thesis, burial conflicts in Sophocles’ Antigone, Sophocles’ Ajax and Euripides’ The Suppliant Women are therefore analysed as power struggles to answer the question why the conflicts arise in the first place and what role power plays in their resolution or escalation. This is done by systematically looking at the motives and justifications of the characters throughout the plays to see how they influence the outcome of the narrative.Show less
This thesis offers an insight into the hardships of Japan’s largest minority group, the Burakumin. Whilst the generally accepted explanation for their social ostracism is that they are descendants...Show moreThis thesis offers an insight into the hardships of Japan’s largest minority group, the Burakumin. Whilst the generally accepted explanation for their social ostracism is that they are descendants of Japan’s former feudal outcaste community, this narrative, when held up to the light, contains sporadic, ambiguous and unempirical building blocks. All the same, it remains the master narrative in most of the discussion, even in those who are inherently victimized by it and those who wish to end this discrimination, such as Buraku activist groups. What this thesis will attempt to research then, is in how far this Buraku master narrative influences Buraku self-identity and the possible solutions to the Buraku issue.Show less
In the context of the current 2011 uprising across the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, the Syrian conflict is the only one that has been described by different media, academic analysts and...Show moreIn the context of the current 2011 uprising across the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, the Syrian conflict is the only one that has been described by different media, academic analysts and even some politicians as a sectarian struggle. This paper questions the accuracy of this assumption by raising doubts regarding the fair distribution of power and resources within Syria during the period of Bashar Al-assad’s rule, and suggesting that this may be the main reason behind the 2011 uprising. I study the reforms introduced in the year 2000 and later by Bashar Al-assad and argue that the 2011 struggle over power in Syria results not from sectarianism, but from different economic and political variables. The situation exploded in March 2011 in reaction to the limitations and restrictions on the economic and constitutional reforms instituted during the time of Bashar’s rule from late 2000 up to 2012.Show less
The main focus of this study is the use of English on the covers of Japanese girls’ fashion magazines. A lot has been written about the use of English in Japanese media and other sources, with most...Show moreThe main focus of this study is the use of English on the covers of Japanese girls’ fashion magazines. A lot has been written about the use of English in Japanese media and other sources, with most authors stating that borrowing in Japan is mostly limited to loanwords. What I intend to provide is a thorough explanation of existing linguistic theories on loaning behavior, followed by the application of these theories on my research data which I have taken directly from the covers of Japanese girls’ fashion magazines. What I intend to prove is that the language borrowing behavior that takes place, goes further than simply loaning words. First of all there is a division between conventional loanwords and unconventionally used English words. More importantly, there are more complex ways in which English is borrowed and bent, such as through creative word hybrids or even the alteration of grammatical structures. A thorough introduction on linguistic theories will be provided, followed by a step-by-step guidance through examples from the data, looking beyond the eye-catching slogans and delving deeper into the linguistic characteristics of these code-switching behaviours.Show less
In the wake of the Asian financial crisis Indonesia was faced by a political transition, when president Suharto was forced to resign in May 1998 after an authoritarian rule of more than thirty...Show moreIn the wake of the Asian financial crisis Indonesia was faced by a political transition, when president Suharto was forced to resign in May 1998 after an authoritarian rule of more than thirty years. This event was of tremendous historical significance as it marked the beginning of a democratization process, leading to general elections in 2001 and the first presidential elections in Indonesian history three years later. The thesis focusses on the foreign policy of Indonesia in the post-Suharto period. More specifically an answer is given to the following research question: to what extent do democratic values shape Indonesian foreign policy? In order to answer this question the thesis uses the policy towards Myanmar during the presidencies of Megawati Sukarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as a case study. As the theoretical framework used for this thesis, the value-action framework, argues that the content of foreign policy depends on the actors involved, the investigation is split into three parts. In the first part, the policy during the Megawati presidency on the bilateral level, within ASEAN and the UN is investigated. This process is repeated for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's presidential terms in the second and third part.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
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In my thesis I will look at two areas in Indonesia which are popular tourism destinations for both Indonesian and foreign tourists and which have experienced and still experience a considerable...Show moreIn my thesis I will look at two areas in Indonesia which are popular tourism destinations for both Indonesian and foreign tourists and which have experienced and still experience a considerable amount of tourist influx. Tana Toraja and Bali are both areas to which tourists are attracted because of the culture they can find there, including for example rituals, architecture and art performances. The tourists visit these places to see and experience something that is different from their daily lives, to break through the daily grind and experience something new. This is in accordance with the definition Valene Smith gives of a tourist: "a temporarily leisured person who voluntarily visits a place away from home for the purpose of experiencing a change" (1977: 2). The tourists, or guests, visit a place of which its inhabitants can be called the host community and of course there takes interaction place between these two groups of people. Tourism is a powerful medium affecting culture change and I want to examine in how far tourism affects culture in these two areas. Tourism growth in Tana Toraja and Bali started in the 1970s, during Suharto's Orde Baru, and these areas were explicitly named in the First and Second Five Year Plan and encouraged for tourism development. In the years after this the tourist influx in both areas grew exponentially, especially in the 1980s and 1990s, but it decreased in the years from 1997 because of political instability in Indonesia, and of course the Bali bombings in 2002 can't be ignored. So my time-frame will be from the 1970s until now, with the exception of some background information from before that time. In the case of Bali, when looking at tourism and cultural change, it is important to realize what this 'Balinese culture' actually is. Because in earlier times, Balinese culture has been influenced and inspired significantly by Western art and artists (and the other way around), like Walter Spies, and the kind of art that came about then still exists in the Bali of today. Culture is not something static, it is always subject to change and thus ever changing. So I will not discuss one 'kind of culture' in Tana Toraja and Bali respectively, but look at the process of culture change over time. Culture change doesn't always have to be because of outside influences, like tourism, but it can also happen from the inside. From what I've read until now, this is an important point concerning Tana Toraja. My thesis will not just be a one-way analysis of the positive and negative influences of tourism on these areas, but it will also be about how the hosts react and adjust themselves and their culture to the growing tourism in their homeland. There are different effects of tourism on the host community concerning religion, commercialization, the staging of culture, culture becoming art, cultural revivalism, self-image and pride, and I want to examine whether these things are taking place in Bali and Tana Toraja and if Bali responds differently to tourism then Tana Toraja and if so, why this could be. I already found that in Tana Toraja, as a result of nascent tourism, the ancestral religion or Aluk To Dolo has actually been granted legitimacy by the Ministry of Religion, which is interesting. I expect something similar happens in Bali to Hinduism. This is of course already a religion recognized by the Indonesian government, but as with Aluk To Dolo I believe it has gained a lot more political (on the national level) and outside interest and 'prestige' because of tourism. Besides that, the growth of commercial tours to Tana Toraja has supported a renewed interest in local ritual and artistic tradition, as is also true in Bali. Commercialization of religious rites in both areas is almost inevitable and I will further examine in what ways this is taking place. I will include the political context where necessary and the process of modernization and globalization also plays an important role. My expectation is that the effects of tourism in Tana Toraja in most cases parallel those in Bali, although in Bali on a bigger scale than in Tana Toraja, considering the amount of tourists visiting Bali every year. This may have the consequence that the process of culture change in Bali takes place more swiftly, and more gradually in Tana Toraja.Show less
By analyzing the use of the theme and motif of conspiracy in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol mostly, and by comparing them to texts of the same genre – Libra and The Crying of Lot...Show moreBy analyzing the use of the theme and motif of conspiracy in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol mostly, and by comparing them to texts of the same genre – Libra and The Crying of Lot 49 – this thesis seeks to understand what sets Brown apart from other authors of conspiracy novels and therefore indirectly makes him such a successful novelist. The methodology used within this thesis is a genre-based approach, that is, it will analyse the work of Dan Brown in the context of the literary tradition of novels using conspiracy (theory) as a theme or employing it as a main motif. Moreover, it will study the work of Brown in its contemporary cultural context along the lines of Schneider-Mayerson’s analysis of conspiracism in Post-9/11 popular fiction, reflecting a fear of terrorism and conspiracy which is present still today.Show less
This thesis analyzes Stephen Owen’s and Yang Guobin’s different English translations of Wenxin Diaolong, a Chinese classic literary theoretical work, mainly focusing on the complexity of its text...Show moreThis thesis analyzes Stephen Owen’s and Yang Guobin’s different English translations of Wenxin Diaolong, a Chinese classic literary theoretical work, mainly focusing on the complexity of its text-types and the different strategies used by two translators in translating Chinese cultural terms. The complex text-type of this work together with the polysemantic and never clearly defined characters of Chinese cultural terms cause the difficulties of its English translation. Owen and Yang have different focuses in translating Wenxin Diaolong. Owen focuses on retaining nuance of the original meaning and Yang on preserving the original literary elegance. In this thesis, Newmark’s and Wang’s translation theories are used as theoretical background to analyze the complexity of Wenxin Diaolong and the different focuses of two translators. Moreover, the complexity of this case at the same time reveals the limitations of their theories.Show less
This thesis argues that there is a hegemonic and inflexible discourse on Tibetan identity, though there are examples of dissent. This identity discourse constructs a narrative on ‘Tibet’ which...Show moreThis thesis argues that there is a hegemonic and inflexible discourse on Tibetan identity, though there are examples of dissent. This identity discourse constructs a narrative on ‘Tibet’ which Tibetans claim. In turn, by claiming ‘Tibet’, Tibetans are claiming their own identity. ‘Tibet’ is represented by the government in exile. This constitutive relationship between ‘Tibet’ and ‘Tibetanness’ results in a narrativising of history and an Othering of Shugden practitioners and Chinese, in order to define a coherent national identity.Show less
Research master thesis | Literary Studies (research) (MA)
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When confronted with laws that ignore, reinforce or legitimise violence, the possibility to judge seems to be put into question, since there are no rules to rely upon to avert that violence. On the...Show moreWhen confronted with laws that ignore, reinforce or legitimise violence, the possibility to judge seems to be put into question, since there are no rules to rely upon to avert that violence. On the other hand, judgment is crucial since it might be a way to counter such circumstances of corrupt law and stop ongoing injustice. This paradoxical issue is prominent in the case study of this thesis, the documentary film "The Act of Killing" (Joshua Oppenheimer, 2012). Dealing with the mass killings of Indonesia in 1965/66, the film opens a case that has been concealed since its occurrence and never taken to court. This is despite the events being characterised as ‘crimes against humanity’ by human rights organisations. I propose that by documenting how the perpetrators of the killings re-enact their deeds by means of stage-play, the film poses a theatrical trial that at the same time evokes, eludes and performs judgment or evaluation of the killings. Drawing back on theory by Hannah Arendt and Gilles Deleuze, I argue that the film stimulates political judgment that is informed by the tension between critical distance and affect, which may be a productive method for citizens to deal with mass atrocities and present corruption. Moreover, exceeding the realms of structured societies, the film as a work of art performs an ‘immanent evaluation’ that acknowledges victims and perpetrators equally and challenges clear boundaries in favour of a continuous becoming of bodies. As such it allows us to productively and reparatively rethink the notion of judgment outside the confinements of law as ambiguous and ongoing process.Show less
In steden over de hele wereld komt steeds meer stadslandbouw voor. Deze ontwikkeling loopt parallel met de extreme groei van grote steden in de vorige eeuw. Omdat stadslandbouw geen rekening houdt...Show moreIn steden over de hele wereld komt steeds meer stadslandbouw voor. Deze ontwikkeling loopt parallel met de extreme groei van grote steden in de vorige eeuw. Omdat stadslandbouw geen rekening houdt met de officiële planning van steden, was stadslandbouw aanvankelijk in een groot aantal steden verboden. Deze houding van stadsbesturen tegenover stadslandbouw is sinds de jaren ‘80 aan het veranderen; steeds meer steden vormen een publiek beleid dat stadslandbouw stimuleert. Steden doen dit vooral met het oog op twee doelen: het verminderen van ecologische problemen, zoals het afvalprobleem, en het bestrijden van sociale problemen, zoals armoede. Dit onderzoek is specifiek gericht op de vraag of stadslandbouw als overlevingsstrategie kan dienen voor arme stedelijke huishoudens. Daarbij wordt gekeken naar de mate waarin stadslandbouw in het levensonderhoud van deze huishoudens kan voorzien en of stadslandbouw de voedselzekerheid van deze huishoudens verbetert. De stad die als casestudy wordt bestudeerd, Mexico-stad, heeft sinds het eind van de jaren ‘90 verschillende overheidsprogramma’s uitgevoerd die stadsboeren financieren en begeleiden. Verschillende onderzoekers hebben kritiek op de manier waarop Mexico-stad stadslandbouw promoot. Uiteindelijk blijkt echter dat stadslandbouw zeker in min of meerdere mate in het levensonderhoud voorziet van boeren in Mexico-stad. Daarentegen is er geen bewijs voor de aanname dat deze boeren een betere voedselzekerheid zullen hebben. De rol van stadslandbouw in Mexico-stad kan volgens critici vergroot worden door concreet praktijkonderzoek naar de invloed van stadslandbouw op arme stedelijke huishoudens.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Film- en literatuurwetenschap (BA)
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De animatiefilm Shrek gebruikt humor op een manier die doet denken aan het vulgair modernisme. In deze scriptie wordt het begrip vulgair modernisme van Henry Jenkins toegelicht en in relatie gelegd...Show moreDe animatiefilm Shrek gebruikt humor op een manier die doet denken aan het vulgair modernisme. In deze scriptie wordt het begrip vulgair modernisme van Henry Jenkins toegelicht en in relatie gelegd tot de films uit de Shrekreeks. In hoeverre kan de zelfbewuste en zelfreflexieve humor die de Shrekfilms kenmerkt begrepen worden als een vorm van vulgair modernisme, zoals gedefinieerd door Jenkins en Hoberman, of hebben we te maken met iets nieuws. En waarin verschilt het zelfbewustzijn van deze films dan van het zogenaamde vulgair modernisme?Show less
In dit bachelor eindwerkstuk is gekeken naar de invloed van sociale achtergrond van een individu op de educatie die dat individu zal krijgen en welke invloed die educatie heeft op een succesvolle...Show moreIn dit bachelor eindwerkstuk is gekeken naar de invloed van sociale achtergrond van een individu op de educatie die dat individu zal krijgen en welke invloed die educatie heeft op een succesvolle carrière. De nadruk ligt hier op de overgangsjaren van het primaire onderwijs naar het secundaire onderwijs en het secundaire onderwijs naar het tertiaire onderwijs. Aan de hand van statistieken van het Japanse ministerie van onderwijs en resultaten uit onderzoeken van vooraanstaande Japanse en niet-Japanse academici wordt geconstateerd dat kinderen uit welvarende gezinnen meer kansen hebben dan hun arme tegenhangers. Dit fenomeen wordt sociale immobiliteit genoemd. Zo zien ouders die zelf hebben gestudeerd het nut van een goede opleiding in en zijn zo een veel grotere stimulerende factor voor hun kinderen dan ouders zonder universitaire opleiding. Ook hebben welvarende gezinnen meer geld te besteden aan onderwijs in de vorm van juku, buitenschoolse onderwijsinstanties. In deze scriptie wordt ook ingezoomd op de vorm van het Japanse onderwijssysteem, zoals de hierboven genoemde juku en het fenomeen examenoorlog en wat er door de jaren door de Japanse overheid is ondernomen om ieder individu gelijke kansen te bieden. Er wordt geconcludeerd dat het Japanse onderwijssysteem ondanks hervormingen niet voor ieder individu gelijke kansen biedt.Show less
This thesis examines in what way the modern South Korean National Identity is represented in contemporary Korean cinema that takes the colonial past as its subject. The Korean colonial past still...Show moreThis thesis examines in what way the modern South Korean National Identity is represented in contemporary Korean cinema that takes the colonial past as its subject. The Korean colonial past still is a sensitive and much discussed historical subject and modern film representations of this often present biased views. Cinema is taken to be a preeminent way of representing the past that not only tells us a lot about present-day views on a subject, but also influences these views. Firstly a theoretical framework is provided in which the importance of both modern-day national identity and the influence of cinema on this form of identity is discussed. In light of this framework six contemporary South Korean films are discussed with a division placed between male representations and female representations of national identity. Throughout this discussion it becomes clear that in an attempt to reshape the national identity and historical memory of Korea to a more positive one, these films place a heavy emphasis on the masculine spirit of the nation and often neglect to include female agency in the fight against Japan.Show less
De Europese overheid heeft geprobeerd de economische crisis zo goed mogelijk te lijf te gaan. De Amerikaanse visie hierop is nogal kritisch. In welke mate is er sprake van ´Amerikaans Oriëntalisme'?
