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
French erotic colonial postcards depicting Algerian women are seldom but a yellowed reminder of a painful past - they encapsulate a constellation of signifiers, histories, and mythical identities...Show moreFrench erotic colonial postcards depicting Algerian women are seldom but a yellowed reminder of a painful past - they encapsulate a constellation of signifiers, histories, and mythical identities.The thesis explores the many fantasies and phantasms of the colonial postcards, not merely for analytical purposes, but rather with the quest of redefining identity for the depicted women as subjects, rather than objects.Show less
Hoe heeft het beeld van de bevolking van koloniale gebieden in Nederlandse politieke teksten en reisdagboeken zich ontwikkeld tussen 1800-1830 en hoe is dit beïnvloed door de Verlichting en contact...Show moreHoe heeft het beeld van de bevolking van koloniale gebieden in Nederlandse politieke teksten en reisdagboeken zich ontwikkeld tussen 1800-1830 en hoe is dit beïnvloed door de Verlichting en contact met de lokale bevolking?Show less
