Bachelor thesis | Film- en literatuurwetenschap (BA)
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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
Arthur Wellesley ontwikkelde in 1809 zijn defensieve terugtrekkingstrategie om te voorkomen dat het Franse invasieleger onder leiding van André Masséna het Britse leger van het Iberisch...Show moreArthur Wellesley ontwikkelde in 1809 zijn defensieve terugtrekkingstrategie om te voorkomen dat het Franse invasieleger onder leiding van André Masséna het Britse leger van het Iberisch schiereiland zou verdrijven. Deze strategie omarmde de terugtrekking van de Britse en Portugese legers achter de zwaar versterkte linies van Torres Vedras. Deze scriptie onderzoekt of Wellesley's strategie succesvol was of niet, door de ogen van zijn generaals.Show less
In this study, conceptual transfer among the conceptualization of liquid containers of Dutch/Japanese bilingual users when using their first language (L1) has been examined. A naming task was...Show moreIn this study, conceptual transfer among the conceptualization of liquid containers of Dutch/Japanese bilingual users when using their first language (L1) has been examined. A naming task was performed with adult Dutch monolingual users, Japanese monolingual users and Dutch/Japanese bilingual users. No statistical evidence could be found of bilingual users to significantly differ from their monolingual counterparts during a naming task in their L1. Therefore, according to this study, it seems unlikely that bilingual participants undergo strong effects of backwards transfer. Nevertheless, there were indications of small-scale effects of conceptual transfer which could provide an interesting starting point for future research on conceptual transfer among Dutch/Japanese bilinguals.Show less
The focus of this thesis is belief. Belief here is defined as the human act of believing in the validity of a thing, concept or creature, without a necessity of empirical evidence to sustain the...Show moreThe focus of this thesis is belief. Belief here is defined as the human act of believing in the validity of a thing, concept or creature, without a necessity of empirical evidence to sustain the conviction. Human society itself is founded upon belief as it requires humans to believe in abstract concepts that maintain human society such as mercy, justice, and honour. According to Grunner (227), religion is of central importance in the Discworld novels, particularly in The Last Hero, Pyramids, Reaper Man and Hogfather. Pratchett lays emphasis on the necessity of belief and the nature of religion to be a societal tool, belief rather than religion is the central focus of these novels. Pratchett holds that belief is a necessary capacity for the human condition; that the ability to believe is humanity’s defining characteristic. Thus belief – and the humans that express it – always hold authority over the religion – and the Gods that inhabit it – that it happens to create. The evidence for the argument presented above is found in the relationship between the Divinities and humans. The Discworld is inherently polytheistic, as many religions exist and all their gods exist in varying degrees of manifestation and power. These Gods are part of the Divinities class. Other members are Anthropomorphic Representations (henceforth ARs) and Auditors. The nature of Divinities is further explored in chapter three. For now, it suffices to say that the relationship of humans to their belief is mediated through the Divinities as on the Disc. What is believed in must exist. Thus, the relationship between Gods and humans reflects on the nature of human belief whereas the relation between Auditors and ARs reflects on the human capacity to create their social reality. Both these relations will be discussed in chapter four. It is through the relations between Gods and humans, humans and ARs, and Auditors and ARs that this thesis seeks to prove its argument.Show less
Rwandan president Paul Kagame is a much debated political figure. By many world leaders he is seen as the hero who liberated Rwanda of the genocide in 1994 after which he and his government brought...Show moreRwandan president Paul Kagame is a much debated political figure. By many world leaders he is seen as the hero who liberated Rwanda of the genocide in 1994 after which he and his government brought development and prosper to the country. Yet, reports on his human right violations inside Rwanda and, perhaps more visible, in neighbouring Congo, raise questions about his violent rule. Strong censorship and reconciliation policies have been set in place to protect the Rwandan government and Kagame himself, making him an untouchable leader, but a voice of criticism on his rule grows. This thesis explores the theory of authoritarian rule, discussing how Kagame's political actions in Rwanda and Congo display elements of a personalist rule.Show less
Based on the resent Venezuelan economic crisis turned political crisis, this paper discusses how this transition influenced the treatment of protesters. To analyse these events and their...Show moreBased on the resent Venezuelan economic crisis turned political crisis, this paper discusses how this transition influenced the treatment of protesters. To analyse these events and their interconnectivity, politicisation and militarisation were consulted. Moreover, the effects of continues politicisation on Venezuela's public security were discussed in connection with an increase in militarisation. Through this research securitisation was identified as the connecting element for an increase in militarisation as a result of continues politicisation.Show less
This thesis deals with the repatriation of Rwandan refugees to Rwanda. In the following paper, Megan Bradley's Theory of Just Return is applied to a new case study, the situation of Rwandan...Show moreThis thesis deals with the repatriation of Rwandan refugees to Rwanda. In the following paper, Megan Bradley's Theory of Just Return is applied to a new case study, the situation of Rwandan refugees in Uganda and their return to Rwanda. By focusing on the policies implemented to facilitate the reintegration of the returnees, this thesis explores the new relationship between state and returnee as well as the importance of redress in repatriation.Show less
This thesis sets to find out what kind of marketing strategies the Hillsong Church uses and how this influences its popularity. The goal of this thesis is to look for the success of Hillsong Church...Show moreThis thesis sets to find out what kind of marketing strategies the Hillsong Church uses and how this influences its popularity. The goal of this thesis is to look for the success of Hillsong Church not only in its music, but in Hillsong as a whole, as a company selling a religion with the use of marketing strategies such as branding and glocalization. To put Hillsong in the context of today’s religion landscape and what this means for the kind of marketing strategies it used and must use to be popular.Show less
Comparing corruption with an infectious disease, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption refers to corruption as “an insidious plague that has a wide range of corrosive effects on...Show moreComparing corruption with an infectious disease, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption refers to corruption as “an insidious plague that has a wide range of corrosive effects on societies” (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2004, iii). With this in view, corruption is considered to be systemic to Mexico. Corrupt behaviour on highest political and economic levels is passed down across society and excludes the poorest from access to social and public services, economic participation and support. Given the stagnating poverty level, with an estimated 47,3% of people living in poverty in 2016, corruption is seen as a major impediment to economic and social development in Mexico (CONEVAL 2016; Castro and Nevárez 2015, 220-1). Although the Mexican government has, time and again, made efforts to introduce binding anti-corruption laws, these legislative changes have proved inefficient due to weak rule of law and the lack of transparency in the political administration (Davis 2008, 55-6, Tromme and Otaola 2014, 573). The structural digitisation of bureaucratic processes in the public sector is seen as a possible means to curb corruption by establishing transparency, efficiency and the rule of law (Boucher 2017 12; Kshetri and Voas 2018, 12; Hughes 2017, 661-3). Yet, in the Mexican case, although a collective political will to implement such strategies for structural digitisation is visible, there is adverse evidence to the effectiveness of such efforts as systemic corruption seems to be perpetuated at individual level, undermining collective efforts. Given these circumstances, Blockchain technology has recently emerged as a technological solution to many of these issues related to corruption. In fact, the technology has been ascribed the potential “to fundamentally shift the way in which society operates” (Wright and De Filipi 2016, 2). As such, the proposed paper hypothesises that a government-led application of Blockchain technology in public administration and services could indeed facilitate a structural eradication of the prevalent systemic corruption in Mexico. Based on this assumption, a practical framework is suggested for the structural implementation of Blockchain technology in Mexico’s public administration and services.Show less
The purpose of this thesis is to use a new lens through which to analyse terrorist recruitment tactics. This will be done by examining how Al-Shabaab has manipulated the collective memory of the...Show moreThe purpose of this thesis is to use a new lens through which to analyse terrorist recruitment tactics. This will be done by examining how Al-Shabaab has manipulated the collective memory of the Kenyan ‘military intervention’ through their tweets during the Westgate terrorist attack of 2013. In order to answer this question, the tweets will be analysed through the field of memory studies, paying special attention to postmemory, collectivisation of memory, false memory creation and the establishment of imagined communities. This thesis concludes that Al-Shabaab and other terrorist organisations on a more global level are able to acquire recruits through manipulating how memories are represented in social media. By mediating the narrative of the Kenyan intervention in Twitter, Al-Shabaab is able to transmit the memory to a larger audience ensuring the continuity of their struggle against Kenya throughout varying social spheres and different generations.Show less
This Thesis has analyzed whether and to what extend the US occupation of Iraq can be considered as just. A just occupation would satisfy all principles set forth by jus post bellum. The research...Show moreThis Thesis has analyzed whether and to what extend the US occupation of Iraq can be considered as just. A just occupation would satisfy all principles set forth by jus post bellum. The research question was answered using a qualitative analysis based on a collection of secondary sources, which were analysed using the jus post bellum framework proposed by Orend (2006). The thesis came to the conclusion that the US occupation of Iraq was highly unjust as America failed to satisfy and in some cases clearly violated key principles set forth by jus post bellum. Most importantly the principle of rehabilitation was violated both on the political as well as military level. However, also the jus post bellum principles of Rights Vindication; Discrimination; Punishment #1 and #2; and Compensation were not satisfied if not violated. The failure to follow a just post bellum in Iraq, may explain the prolonged conflict that ensued in Iraq following the US led invasion.Show less
