This paper applies Karl Marx’s definition of alienation to art produced by artificial intelligence system Dall-E. This is achieved by examining Dall-E’s productions through the lens of historic...Show moreThis paper applies Karl Marx’s definition of alienation to art produced by artificial intelligence system Dall-E. This is achieved by examining Dall-E’s productions through the lens of historic texts, namely Walter Benjamin’s text on ‘The Work of Art in the Age of Technological Reproducibility’ and Leo Tolstoy’s book ‘What is Art’, further supported by contemporary literature on artificial creativity in relation to the remaining role of the artist. The resulting analysis indicates that Dall-E’s production process is divided as framed by Marxist definitions, thereby making it difficult to trace artistic mastery. In the following section, the analysis of creativity results in the idea that alienation in Dall-E is better understood as a shaded artistic freedom. Contrastingly, in the final section Dall-E shows that it can overcome its own alienating aspects by becoming universal and multi-usable, aligning democratic results.Show less
Humanity’s excessive consumptive behaviour is the primary cause of ecological destruction. Yet, neither lowering consumption nor production levels seem to be addressed in environmental policies and...Show moreHumanity’s excessive consumptive behaviour is the primary cause of ecological destruction. Yet, neither lowering consumption nor production levels seem to be addressed in environmental policies and thus remain notably high. Therefore, this dissertation investigates the psychological roots of humanity’s ecologically destructive consumptive behaviour. My hypothesis is that ecological alienation and self-alienation are the main, compounding factors of ecologically destructive consumptive behaviour. Ecological alienation leads to devaluation of nature. As environmental values are paramount to sustainability-driven behaviour, devaluation of nature decreases the prevalence of such behaviour. Additionally, I argue that humanity’s excessive consumption is driven by consumptive addiction whereby individuals substitute their authentic physical, mental and emotional needs with consumption; and that this consumptive addiction is rooted in self-alienation. I suggest that ecological alienation and self-alienation are themselves rooted in the modern industrial worldview and its related value systems, and that these factors influence and reinforce each other. Ultimately, what is necessary to counter ecologically destructive addictive consumptive behaviour might be exactly what runs the risk of being indefinitely destroyed because of it: humanity’s reconnection with nature.Show less
Over the last 30 years, the Moroccan migration waves in the Netherlands contributed to a change of ''the Dutch culture’’. The arrival of this group has influenced this dynamic process. The...Show moreOver the last 30 years, the Moroccan migration waves in the Netherlands contributed to a change of ''the Dutch culture’’. The arrival of this group has influenced this dynamic process. The integration policies of the government changed as well over time. Since 9/11 and the murder of politician Pim Fortuyn and director Theo van Gogh, the political debate in the Netherlands seems to be entirely focused on how the ‘national identity’ is threatened by Muslim fundamentalism and the alleged failure of the ethnic integration policy of a multicultural society. In the current Dutch political climate, Dutch-Moroccan youth are often labelled as a root problem, paired with a lot of negative (media) attention. The (mostly) negative appearance of Dutch-Moroccan youth in the public sphere also affects the formation of their identity. Aside from being subjected to many negative stereotypes, this group received little academic nor media attention within the Dutch society. Trying to break from the negative stereotypes, Dutch-Moroccan rappers use hip-hop music as a tool to resist. This research analysed Dutch-Moroccan rap music to understand the process of identity formation. Through this research, the main question is answered of what the role is of Dutch Moroccan rap music in the process of identity formation among Dutch Moroccan youth in the Netherlands. This provided a deeper understanding of how the analysed Dutch Moroccan rappers present themselves, and represent others. The analysis of the lyrics provided an insight into the individual story of the analysed Dutch Moroccan artists: Appa and Salah Edin.Show less
This thesis deals with the meta theatrical devices Shakespeare uses throughout Hamlet, and the effects these devices have on the viewers of film adaptations of this play. The meta theatrical and...Show moreThis thesis deals with the meta theatrical devices Shakespeare uses throughout Hamlet, and the effects these devices have on the viewers of film adaptations of this play. The meta theatrical and meta cinematic distances the audience. The alienation of the audience allows them to reflect upon the events in a way that would not be possible without employing Brecht’s theory of alienation. THis thesis will examine the meta-theatrical elements in Hamlet, and show how these can be applied to alienate the audience.Show less
