The Meiji period was the source of many anxieties about the modernity brought in from overseas. However, this also meant reaping the benefits of the modern life. Ukiyo-e prints were used in the Edo...Show moreThe Meiji period was the source of many anxieties about the modernity brought in from overseas. However, this also meant reaping the benefits of the modern life. Ukiyo-e prints were used in the Edo period to entertain people like modern social media and in the early Meiji period, this continued. Meiji Ukiyo-e prints showing trains, carriages, modern buildings, and schools were used to show the Japanese people around the country what positive things modernity could accomplish. These prints manufactured a positive form of modernity that had a soothing effect on people who had feelings of anxiety about the country opening up, foreigners coming in, and the political and cultural systems changing. The government could censor ukiyo-e prints and thus might even have a say in the changing topics to introduce modern things like trains and Western-style buildings. Publishers and the government's influence on the prints' topics could have made a manufactured positive modernity. Also, prints showed scenes that were either beautified scenes of reality or made up by artists to help manufacture a positive image of the Meiji period. Meiji ukiyo-e prints had the effect of creating a positive notion of reality not only for the image of Japan as a great nation to the foreign powers but also as a way to show the capabilities of Japan’s modernization skills to the nationals living in the Meiji era Japan.Show less
This thesis assesses the relation between the novelistic work of French author Michel Houellebecq and the theoretical work of French Indologist and esoteric polemicist René Guénon. While this...Show moreThis thesis assesses the relation between the novelistic work of French author Michel Houellebecq and the theoretical work of French Indologist and esoteric polemicist René Guénon. While this relationship has been noticed before, it hasn’t been addressed in a more extensive study. This work questions how the concept of ‘tradition’, which is a key idea in Guénon’s theoretical work, can be interpreted in Houellebecq’s novels, and especially his 2015 novel Soumission. To adequately address this question, the first chapter sets out to explain and contextualize Guénon’s works Introduction to the Study of the Hindu Doctrines (1921) and The Crisis of the Modern World (1927). It explains the most important concepts of Guénon’s work, particularly the semantics of ‘tradition’. The author stresses that ‘tradition’, however a supposedly a-historical notion, is embedded within Guénon’s understanding of History as a gradual disintegration of authentic spirituality. The second chapter investigates how the concept of modernity is represented in several of Houellebecq’s novels. The author uses secondary literature by Van Wesemael, Betty and Sweeney to argue how the representation of modernity throughout Houellebecq’s novels is polyphonic, both progressive and reactionary. Within Houellebecq’s critique of modernity, the third chapter explores how Houellebecq’s novel Soumission fictionally represents Guénon’s idea of tradition. It poses that the representation of traditionalism in Soumission, as an expression of the rejection of modernity that is present throughout Houellebecq’s oeuvre, could be seen as part of a general current of Guénonian influence in Houellebecq’s oeuvre. This influence however, as the thesis concludes, should always be regarded from within the limits of literary representation.Show less
In early modern Europe, authority was often legitimated by the antiquity of an institution or practice. The past played an important part in the self-fashioning of rulers, and vice versa posed a...Show moreIn early modern Europe, authority was often legitimated by the antiquity of an institution or practice. The past played an important part in the self-fashioning of rulers, and vice versa posed a problem for people trying to change or replace ancient institutions.In this context historians have coined the term ‘memory wars’, as memories become arguments justifying present actions. While the role of memory politics, aimed at remembering as well as forgetting, has been studied in the civil wars in the Low Countries and France, this has not been done for a similar conflict in Scotland. This points to a problem in the study of memory politics in early modern Europe, which is mostly based on progressive polities as France and the Low Countries. This is problematic because modernity is a point of contention among scholars studying memory practices.To overcome a possible distortion of early modern memory practices by relying on relatively ‘modern’ polities, it is necessary to compare the practices in these polities with memory practices in an early modern polity which was less developed, such as Scotland. Are economic prosperity and state formation, or a certain level of development, prerequisites for ‘modern’ memory practices?Show less
In the last century the Netherlands went through several large changes. After the Second World War, the Netherlands, as many other West-European countries, modernized which included the creation of...Show moreIn the last century the Netherlands went through several large changes. After the Second World War, the Netherlands, as many other West-European countries, modernized which included the creation of large industry, the process of destratification, secularization, emancipation of women, democratization of politics and the emancipation of minority groups like homosexuals. Supposedly, Iran went through an opposite and backward development. From the glory years of the Shah, when modernization of Iran was top priority, the country rapidly declined, in the eyes of the Dutch, into the realm of a backward religious society which the Netherlands tried to espouse for a long time. The knowledge Dutch people have about Iran is not based on individuals visiting Iran but on how the media portrays Iran and reports on Middle Eastern affairs. However, is this dichotomy between Iran, as an Eastern country, and the Netherlands, as a Western country, so clear? When looking into contemporary documentaries Iran is still portrayed as different country than the Netherlands. Portraying is focused on the religious repression, backward economy, bearded men and veiled women. When comparing the footage of contemporary documentaries with documentaries from the start of this genre in 1960, the same type of footage is shown. Has Iran not changed since then? This type of footage seems to fall under the greater themes of Orientalism and the Western narrative of modernity and have been present in the Western conception of the Middle East for very long. This research focusses on the discourses of Orientalism and the Western narrative of modernity in Iranian representation in Dutch documentaries from 1960 until 2018 and the continuity and discontinuity in this representation. This research contributes to the understanding of the development of Orientalism and the Western narrative of modernity in the 20th and 21st century.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
Conversion to Judaism is a very important topic when discussing the modern state of Israel. The Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel decides who is recognized as a Jew within the State of Israel...Show moreConversion to Judaism is a very important topic when discussing the modern state of Israel. The Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel decides who is recognized as a Jew within the State of Israel and, because of this, decides how conversions should take place. The conversion procedures the Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel supports is extremely stringent, and the Chief Rabbinate also annuls conversions they deem too lenient. This is a stark contrast to what was practiced with regards to conversion a few decades ago. Throughout Jewish history, conversion procedures were never as stringent as they are today, and annulments of conversions were unheard of. This paper seeks to explain why the stringent approach to conversion in place today arose. To do this, there will be an examination of Jewish history, religious texts, and the politics of the religious sphere of the modern state of Israel. In answering this question, this paper wants to push a two-fold theory that can be used in examining other religions. This two-fold theory examines the way religions interact with other religions, as well as how religions will interact with other cultures. The two-fold theory, thus, can be used to explain culture as being inherently intertwined with religion.Show less
In the decades before the turn of the 19th to the 20th century Dutch writer Maurits Wagenvoort traveled across both the geographical and intellectual landscapes of Europe. Struggling with being an...Show moreIn the decades before the turn of the 19th to the 20th century Dutch writer Maurits Wagenvoort traveled across both the geographical and intellectual landscapes of Europe. Struggling with being an individual within the masses of an ever expanding (literary) world around 1900, Wagenvoort looks up to the modern intellectuals, artist and dreamers of his time. Three of them in particular act as his guides through this modern quest: Walt Whitman, Friedrich Nietzsche and Lev Tolstoj. Although Wagenvoort and his work is often left out in literary histories, why is a cultural history of his wrestle -- and that of his temporaries -- with living in a modern society still relevant for the 21st century?Show less
Decolonisation and independence in Africa resulted in new beginnings, as well as imagined futures. For a number of postcolonial African nation-states, these imagined futures were rooted in a new...Show moreDecolonisation and independence in Africa resulted in new beginnings, as well as imagined futures. For a number of postcolonial African nation-states, these imagined futures were rooted in a new political ideology – African Socialism. In an attempt by a number of African leaders to find a postcolonial identity, African Socialism was thought to satisfy the demands of newly independent African nation-states.Show less
This thesis will consist of two parts and three chapters. The first part will start with an overview of women artist in Turkey between the 1830’s and the 1990’s. The 1830’s are The Tanzimat...Show moreThis thesis will consist of two parts and three chapters. The first part will start with an overview of women artist in Turkey between the 1830’s and the 1990’s. The 1830’s are The Tanzimat Period15 of the Ottoman Empire, which is the starting point of modernization in social and political life. This modernization has resulted in women becoming more visible in the social life and started to be educated in arts. The second chapter will focus on the Dream and Reality exhibition organized by Istanbul Modern Museum. I will also evaluate these exhibitions in terms of two types of museums that Eilean Hooper-Greenhill describes in her book Museums and the Interpretation of Visual Culture. Hooper- Greenhill categorizes museums in two; fist being the modernist museum and the second is the post museum. The main distinction between them is, the modern museum focuses more on crating grand narrative sand educating the society. The post museum is more about the experience of the visitor and museum aims to create a space for different perspectives and values to be discussed. One of the aims of my thesis is to contribute to the museum studies in Turkey by bringing the concept of post museum into the discourse. I will try to prove that Istanbul Modern is a post museum through its permanent collection, its temporary exhibitions and also with its educational programs. The exhibition will be analyzed in detail and compared with the 1993 Female Artists exhibition. The second part of this thesis will focus on the three major issues these women artists are focusing on: women as the symbol of modernity in Turkey; gender and body; and also identity derived from and tested against artworks from the Dream and Reality exhibition under discussion.Show less
In this thesis I will analyze the representation of modernity in the commercials of Garuda Indonesia and Malaysia Airlines between 2013 and the first half of 2015. Their commercials give an exalted...Show moreIn this thesis I will analyze the representation of modernity in the commercials of Garuda Indonesia and Malaysia Airlines between 2013 and the first half of 2015. Their commercials give an exalted perspective on the nations they represent. I will focus on what Malaysian- and Indonesian modernity looks like, how these two national ‘modernities’ overlap or differ, and hopefully this can tell us something about Southeast Asian modernity in general.Show less
This investigation is the result of a resarch on Turkish and Italian archives through which an attempt is made to revive the story of the Turkish air officers training in Fascist Italy between 1930...Show moreThis investigation is the result of a resarch on Turkish and Italian archives through which an attempt is made to revive the story of the Turkish air officers training in Fascist Italy between 1930 and 1932.Show less
Sâmiha Ayverdi represents a curious case of where the usual crude dichotomic categorisations that mark modern Turkey appear to loose validity. Having the outward appearance of a westernised ...Show moreSâmiha Ayverdi represents a curious case of where the usual crude dichotomic categorisations that mark modern Turkey appear to loose validity. Having the outward appearance of a westernised ‘republican woman’ as envisaged by the reformist Kemalist elite, Ayverdi managed to merge multiple, seemingly conflicting, personas in her person as a novelist, a public intellectual and the head of a Sufi brotherhood. This thesis seeks to evaluate Ayverdi’s memoirs in terms of their value of providing us with a counter-narrative on the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the rise of the republic and the numerous political crises that it faced throughout its existence. It is not a study of Ayverdi’s Sufi inspired religious views which have been discussed elsewhere. It is hoped this study will constitute a humble contribution to the academic discourse regarding the hybridity of Turkish intellectuals.Show less
Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
In this thesis, the use of the English language in a Dutch neo-Pentecostal congregation is explored. The use of English is connected to the church's desire to be 'modern', in relation to other ...Show moreIn this thesis, the use of the English language in a Dutch neo-Pentecostal congregation is explored. The use of English is connected to the church's desire to be 'modern', in relation to other 'traditional' churches. In addition, it enables a mediation of authority from global Pentecostal preachers, to local pastors in the NetherlandsShow less
This article aims to designate the differences between the Fifth Generation and the Sixth Generation, both of which constitute the importance of the recent Chinese cinema. By diagnosing the...Show moreThis article aims to designate the differences between the Fifth Generation and the Sixth Generation, both of which constitute the importance of the recent Chinese cinema. By diagnosing the cultural phenomena and historical trajectories, the author investigates the two clusters with a Western theoretical framework. Three representative directors among the generations and their body of work are analysed with intensive case studies.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
closed access
"Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest number of social media users. However, social media is mainly used in Indonesia (even by politicians) to spread defamation, rumors, and gossip....Show more"Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest number of social media users. However, social media is mainly used in Indonesia (even by politicians) to spread defamation, rumors, and gossip. This is inter alia confirmed by the many anonymous social media accounts only spreading defamation. Rumors and gossip, as well as technology such as mobile phones with cameras and social media, can be seen as means to bridge the gulf between the private practice and the public discourse. With the rise of technological developments available in Indonesia - such as phones with cameras, smartphones, Web 2.0 and thus social media - there appeared an increase of cases in which Indonesian politicians are discredited with their private (sexual) behavior. In this thesis of mine, I will elaborate on this trend of discrediting politicians with sex scandals via social media in Indonesia. What does this trend tell us about Indonesian society? What does it say about democracy, law, morality and Islam in Indonesia’s society? With an eye to answering these questions, with the first being my main question, I would first like to introduce and elaborate a bit upon a few topics that I will be using in my thesis when answering my main question, such as social media. Then I will continue with a chapter in which I will introduce a few case studies of sex scandals that happened in Indonesia. The subsequent chapters will be about topics concerning aspects of the Indonesian society: one chapter about democracy, one about law, and one about morality and Islam. Lastly, I will conclude and answer the main question in the conclusion."Show less
