Psoriasis patients frequently report feelings of stigmatization. While many studies have been done on self-stigma, perceived stigma and on the impact of stigmatization on patients with psoriasis,...Show morePsoriasis patients frequently report feelings of stigmatization. While many studies have been done on self-stigma, perceived stigma and on the impact of stigmatization on patients with psoriasis, few studies have focused on the extent and predictors of public stigma towards psoriasis. This cross-sectional study is the first study to date to focus on the extent of public stigma towards psoriasis in the Dutch population, as well as to examine the possible predictive value of four subscales of empathy as assessed by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI); perspective taking, PT; fantasy, FS; empathic concern, EC; and personal distress, PD. Respondents (N = 121) were asked to watch video vignettes, after which public stigma was measured with the Impact of Chronic Skin Disease on Daily Life (ISDL). A paired-samples t-test and multiple regression analysis were conducted. Results suggests that that there is public stigma towards psoriasis in the Dutch population (t(119) = -6.55, p < .001). A weak positive relation between personal distress (PD) and public stigma was found (B = .08, p = .04), while the other three empathy subscales (PT, FS and EC) were not found to be significant predictors for public stigma towards psoriasis (all p-values >.05). These results add to the theoretical knowledge about psoriasis and theory development and suggest that interventions against public stigma towards psoriasis might not focus on eliciting empathy, as other mechanisms would possibly be more beneficial in reducing public stigma. Future studies should replicate the study with other measurement instruments.Show less
A Jungian approach to Harry Potter would entail the idea that for the story to be complete, the characters must confront and integrate these many aspects of their psyche. However, as implied by the...Show moreA Jungian approach to Harry Potter would entail the idea that for the story to be complete, the characters must confront and integrate these many aspects of their psyche. However, as implied by the title of this thesis, not every significant character is capable of doing so for a variety of reasons. This thesis will largely concentrate on The Helper, The Villain, and The Hero; namely, Remus Lupin, Voldemort, and Harry Potter. This thesis will examine these characters’ journeys towards wholeness and will explore to what extent they are successful in completing their “quests.” By dividing this thesis into four parts, one for each character, and one for an in-depth literary examination of Jung’s theory of Individuation, this thesis will shed a light on Lupin, Voldemort, and Harry’s Shadow selves. After a comprehensive study of the seven books and an in-depth examination of these three characters, this thesis will conclude that not every character is capable of confronting their Shadow for a number of internal and external reasons. Using the characters of Remus Lupin, Tom Riddle, and Harry Potter, this study asserts that although Remus is incapable of embracing his Shadow Self and Tom is opposed to it, Harry eventually does so. Additionally, this thesis will illustrate that, much as Lily Potter’s love for Harry saved his life, it is love that enables him to embrace his whole Self; his dark and light Persona.Show less
This thesis examines the use of a patriarchal system as a default in fantasy literature, and it critically explores the possibility of creating more equal systems – such as a matriarchal one that...Show moreThis thesis examines the use of a patriarchal system as a default in fantasy literature, and it critically explores the possibility of creating more equal systems – such as a matriarchal one that is not merely the mirror image of patriarchy – within the worldbuilding of fantasy novels. It does so by comparing the patriarchal system in Mervyn Peake's Titus Groan (1946), to the matriarchal system in Samantha Shannon's The Priory of the Orange Tree (2019).Show less
An analysis of the liminal as a theme in three British fantasy novels from 1958-1974, centred around young, female characters. The thesis examines Catherine Storr’s Marianne Dreams (1958), Angela...Show moreAn analysis of the liminal as a theme in three British fantasy novels from 1958-1974, centred around young, female characters. The thesis examines Catherine Storr’s Marianne Dreams (1958), Angela Carter’s The Magic Toyshop (1967) and Doris Lessing’s Memoirs of a Survivor (1974). The liminal unveils contemporary ideologies around psychological development and the roles of children and women in society. The thesis evaluates the liminal motifs of each text against contemporary psychological, child development, feminist and literary theorists in order to explore boundaries and to reveal and deconstruct the dominant ideology in society.Show less
In this thesis, I argue that the folklore in Alan Garner’s The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and The Moon of Gomrath is an active part of the landscape in which the protagonists live (Alderley Edge,...Show moreIn this thesis, I argue that the folklore in Alan Garner’s The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and The Moon of Gomrath is an active part of the landscape in which the protagonists live (Alderley Edge, Cheshire). I use Jung and Macfarlane to define the concepts of mythology and ecocriticism. Chapter 1 focuses on locality and the concepts of time and place. Bakhtin’s chronotope links archaeology to the imagination and to literature, which results in an analysis of the development of magic through place and time. This leads to the conclusion that Garner uses maps as time-machines. Chapter 2 applies my research to The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and discusses how the book uses landscape descriptions to create an awareness of local folklore and nature. All mythical creatures have their own place in the landscape, and the protagonists are pulled into the magical world through exploring this landscape. In chapter 3 applies these concepts to The Moon of Gomrath, in which not only the mythical creatures live in the landscape, but the landscape itself comes to life as the Old Magic, based on moonlight and natural energy, is woken. Both novels allow readers to be immersed in the landscape of the area without being there, and confirm that nature speaks to the imagination.Show less
Escapism has often been touted as a core function of films. Yet despite, or perhaps because of this, escapism in film hasn't been analyzed as a theme often. This thesis explores six films with...Show moreEscapism has often been touted as a core function of films. Yet despite, or perhaps because of this, escapism in film hasn't been analyzed as a theme often. This thesis explores six films with different stances on escapism, to research what different effects and values these films have on escapism, in order to better grasp this fundamental process of film.Show less
Race in fantasy offers a ‘safe space’ to engage with racial discourse, but races are often narrowed down to one dimensional stereotypes. Guild Wars 2 is a Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing...Show moreRace in fantasy offers a ‘safe space’ to engage with racial discourse, but races are often narrowed down to one dimensional stereotypes. Guild Wars 2 is a Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game that features race in a similar way, but offers insight in various themes regarding racial discourse, postcolonialism and International Relations. Videogames more so than other popular media, have the power to be political because they allow for interactive engagement with the medium. This thesis presents the argument that engagement with fantasy games featuring racial discourse can open up valuable and critical discussions of multiculturalism, the meaning of race, Orientalism and postcolonialism in our real life societies.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Film- en literatuurwetenschap (BA)
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Dit eindwerkstuk verkent het traditionele heksbeeld – zoals dit met name door Bruegels prenten gevormd is - en de manier waarop twee recente literaire werken - Tehanu door Ursula K. Le Guin en...Show moreDit eindwerkstuk verkent het traditionele heksbeeld – zoals dit met name door Bruegels prenten gevormd is - en de manier waarop twee recente literaire werken - Tehanu door Ursula K. Le Guin en Maleficent door Elizabeth Rudnick - omgaan met stereotypische representaties van de ‘heks’ en zulke representaties op verschillende manieren doorbreken of bevragen.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Film- en literatuurwetenschap (BA)
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In deze scriptie wil ik toelichten hoe taal, essentialisme en bepaalde culturele constructies kunnen worden geanalyseerd, versterkt of doorbroken in populaire media. Ik wil dit doen aan de hand van...Show moreIn deze scriptie wil ik toelichten hoe taal, essentialisme en bepaalde culturele constructies kunnen worden geanalyseerd, versterkt of doorbroken in populaire media. Ik wil dit doen aan de hand van Ursula le Guin’s Earthsea-serie. De reden waarom ik zal betogen dat deze romanserie relevant is voor deze discussie is de manier waarop de serie omgaat met verschillende en vaak tegenstrijdige vertogen. Een belangrijk thema in deze scriptie is de (magische) werking van taal en hoe taal de wereld construeert en deconstrueert.Show less
This thesis investigates the participation of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (1996-2011) in a tradition of nominally feminist fantasy literature that challenges patriarchal values...Show moreThis thesis investigates the participation of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (1996-2011) in a tradition of nominally feminist fantasy literature that challenges patriarchal values commonly found in the genre. By close-reading the characters of Arya, Sansa, and Brienne, this thesis argues that the novels act as a subversion of common fantasy tropes while at the same time standing in opposition to nominally feminist fantasy literature that centers on female protagonists overcoming the patriarchy through skill at arms. By emphasizing the struggle of everyone living under the patriarchy, Martin's series instead highlights the need for cultural revolution in attitudes towards gender.Show less
This thesis analyses George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire from a medievalist perspective. By comparing Martin’s representation of several significant themes to his medieval...Show moreThis thesis analyses George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire from a medievalist perspective. By comparing Martin’s representation of several significant themes to his medieval and medievalist sources, we can see how he deviates from his sources to problematize the medieval. Firstly, Martin’s portrayal of women is discussed, highlighting strong female characters such as Daenerys. Another important aspect that is addressed is chivalry, discussing both the romantic side of chivalry and court life, as well as chivalry in regards to honour and righteousness. Altogether, this thesis analyses how Martin’s depiction of gender roles and chivalry may be interpreted as subverting the medieval ideals that Martin so clearly based himself on.Show less
Although the target audience of Philip Pullman’s trilogy His Dark Materials, consisting of Northern Lights (1995), The Subtle Knife (1997) and The Amber Spyglass (2000) might seem to be children...Show moreAlthough the target audience of Philip Pullman’s trilogy His Dark Materials, consisting of Northern Lights (1995), The Subtle Knife (1997) and The Amber Spyglass (2000) might seem to be children and young adult readers, the books have also attracted numerous adult readers. In this fantasy story Pullman addresses important questions regarding issues such as religion, the existence of God and the function of belief, love, and death. But beyond all these controversial and difficult discussions, this thesis argues that the story itself is best understood as permeated by a sense of loss. In each part of the trilogy, a character ends up losing a loved one, be it a parent, child, sibling, daemon or lover. In the final book, the Authority, Pullman’s vague god figure, is also killed off, resulting in a collapse of religion and the Church as an institution. His two young protagonists, Will and Lyra, travel through the world of the dead and eventually free all the souls trapped there, and these souls dissolve into elementary particles and become part of the physical world. This leads to the question of what really happens after we die, if there is no Heaven, and we simply return to the state that we were created from. This idea completely undermines what we are taught by religions such as Christianity and Islam, that there is a life after death and one will go to heaven or hell depending on their actions and choices of this life. Thus, besides a physical loss caused by death, there is also a loss of faith. Finally, this thesis will argue that through his portrayal of religion, death and love in the trilogy, Pullman presents loss as a defining element of life, and this prevalent sense of loss enables him to redefine the meaning and function of religion, death and love in the 21st century, while also putting forward a new myth that might compensate for such losses.Show less
