This thesis focuses on the representation of Jewish women in Czech Holocaust prose, providing a comparative analysis of Arnošt Lustig's The Unloved: From the Diary of Perla S., Jan Otčenášek's...Show moreThis thesis focuses on the representation of Jewish women in Czech Holocaust prose, providing a comparative analysis of Arnošt Lustig's The Unloved: From the Diary of Perla S., Jan Otčenášek's Romeo, Juliet and Darkness and Ladislav Fuks's The Cremator.Show less
Taking Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost (1667), Samir Calixto in his dance-theatre play of the same title offers a new interpretation of an old order. In his work, God is a vain tyrant, Satan a...Show moreTaking Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost (1667), Samir Calixto in his dance-theatre play of the same title offers a new interpretation of an old order. In his work, God is a vain tyrant, Satan a tragic hero, Adam a weak marionette, and Eve a brave leader who, with determination and hope, guides Adam out of the Paradise towards enlightenment and a new beautiful world. This thesis aims to examine the difference in portrayal of gender roles in the two works. The main research question seeks to explore performance of gender roles in the background of gender studies and literary criticism on Milton. The sub-questions investigate how literature influences dance and what is the relationship between the two art forms; how the physicality of dance and lack of dramatic text affect possible interpretations; and whether Eve can be seen as the embodiment of the masculine. The emergence of modern dance, particularly understood as a form not based on narrative, is described along with the notion of intermediality and postdramatic theatre. A conceptual base regarding gender theory and adaptation studies is set out with examples from Milton's poem before an in-depth analysis of Calixto's performance.Show less
Disney has been releasing Disney Princess films since 1937. They started out with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and just now, a thirteenth film has been added to the list: Moana. A distinct...Show moreDisney has been releasing Disney Princess films since 1937. They started out with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and just now, a thirteenth film has been added to the list: Moana. A distinct change in character is noticeable when looking at the princesses. The princesses from the first generation (1937-1959) have passive characters, they are submissive, enjoy domestic chores and play no active role in their own tales. They simply wait to be swept off their feet by a prince. In fact, they represented what people considered to be the perfect woman in those days. However, nowadays, that is not what we consider the perfect woman to be. The second generation princesses (1989-1998) introduced a change. They were rebellious, took agency and instead of falling for any man, they wanted the right one. However, these films still focus on finding love, as if that is all that a woman's life should be about. The most recent princesses (from 2010 onwards) are increasingly more independent and active. They do not rely on men to save them, take matters into their own hands and determine their own fate. They are progressive princesses and continue to increasingly become more proactive and independent. These new princesses provide the twenty-first-century audience with role models they can actually learn from. Disney is not there yet, but they are slowly but surely letting go of the Disney formula.Show less
Until this moment the presence of female friendship, in contrast to male friendship, in Italian literature has been very rare. That is why in this thesis the topic of female friendship in Italian...Show moreUntil this moment the presence of female friendship, in contrast to male friendship, in Italian literature has been very rare. That is why in this thesis the topic of female friendship in Italian literature will be examined, focusing on one novel in particular, “L’amica geniale”, which lends itself perfectly to analyse this phenomenon. In the first chapter of the thesis the authoress Elena Ferrante and her writings will be introduced. This is necessary because her novels have been published very recently. The second chapter is dedicated to the narratological analysis of the novel, which is necessary to get a complete overview. The analysis of “L’amica geniale” will be able to show how female friendship is related to the process of personal identity and how this is expressed in Italian literature. This is why in the third chapter the focus will be on the Bildungsroman, which is characteristic for exposing the personal development of an individual. Comparing the novel to the narrative model of the Bildungsroman will make it possible to examine which aspects and elements of the Bildungsroman are presented in “L’amica geniale”. This will give the opportunity to discuss how female friendship influences the personal development of an individual and to examine how this is exposed in the novel and in Italian literature in general. In the fourth chapter the aspects of female friendship in the novel will be examined. In the conclusion all the statements and arguments will be put into perspective.Show less
