This thesis examines the evolution of zombie symbolism in George Romero's Living Dead series (1968-2009), reflecting post-World War II neoliberal capitalist societal changes and shifting cultural...Show moreThis thesis examines the evolution of zombie symbolism in George Romero's Living Dead series (1968-2009), reflecting post-World War II neoliberal capitalist societal changes and shifting cultural fears and values regarding power, class, and race in the United States. Initially depicted as mindless, flesh-eating monsters, Romero’s zombies gradually evolve into complex, sympathetic beings, contrasting with the devolution of human survivors into unsympathetic creatures driven by one-dimensional desires. This contrast critiques neoliberal societal and economic developments over the decades, providing a unique perspective on American culture and its embrace of developing capitalist ideology. Utilizing Nietzsche's concept of transvaluation, the thesis explores how Romero's zombies transcend their traditional roles to become adaptive symbols that critique contemporary American societal issues, including racism, consumerism, class inequality, and human coexistence.Show less
Since the year 2020, queer people in the Southern States of the US have been increasingly affected by, political, cultural, and religious aspects, which could potentially lead to an impact on their...Show moreSince the year 2020, queer people in the Southern States of the US have been increasingly affected by, political, cultural, and religious aspects, which could potentially lead to an impact on their well-being. In this research, ethnography, with methods of interviews and participant observation, has been used to investigate how LGBTQ+ identifying individuals have perceived these factors to affect their well-being. It was found that the American ideology with its traditional norms and values, religion and its deeply rooted exclusionism, and polarizing politics that hold strong links to religious values, have had a profound, negative influence on the wellbeing of queer people in the South. Support for the LGBTQ+ community and acceptance of homosexuals and transsexuals have been declining rapidly. The tragic death of the 16-year-old non-binary teenager Nex Benedict has, according to the research participants, demonstrated this decline in a horrifying manner. The aim of this research has therefore been to bring these matters into the light, to initiate a pathway towards change, and put an end to the suffering of queer people from the Southern States of the United States of America.Show less
Swear words are present in all languages and cultures. Studies show that swear words are culturally specific, based on tabooization or demonization of language and events in certain cultures. In...Show moreSwear words are present in all languages and cultures. Studies show that swear words are culturally specific, based on tabooization or demonization of language and events in certain cultures. In the United States, slavery has been demonized, and certain swear words were used to obtain power over other people, namely slaves. This thesis aims to explore the offensiveness of the swear words used in movies about slavery in the United States and the Netherlands. The offensiveness of these swear words was rated using a survey in English for Americans and a Dutch translation of this survey for people from the Netherlands and Flanders. The results show that adjectives and the use of the singular or plural form can influence the offensiveness of swear words. However, context has the most significant influence. In the translation of swear words in the movies Django Unchained and 12 Years a Slave, the choice has often been made to translate the swear words consistently. The offensiveness rating shows that this might not always be the closest equivalent in terms of connotation.Show less
