This thesis is about power relations behind the development of historically themed videogames set in the Global South. The thesis has taken into account games released in the Western World as well...Show moreThis thesis is about power relations behind the development of historically themed videogames set in the Global South. The thesis has taken into account games released in the Western World as well as in the Global South between 2000 and 2020. The main argument is that historically themed videogames set and developed in the Global South do not have the power to add to, differ from or change the representations made about their countries in the Western World.Show less
Several studies have shown that media play a huge role in constructing national identities. These studies are often carried out in the context of ‘othering’, since a collective dissociation of ‘the...Show moreSeveral studies have shown that media play a huge role in constructing national identities. These studies are often carried out in the context of ‘othering’, since a collective dissociation of ‘the other’ in many cases strengthens the feeling of nationalism. Studies on how African media play a role in the formation of national identities are scarce, however. A regularly used example of ‘the other’ is the refugee and one of the largest refugee-hosting countries world-wide is Uganda. This thesis therefore studies how the New Vision, one of the biggest Ugandan newspapers, covers news on refugees and how the New Vision then contributes to the construction of a national identity in Uganda. Three methods were used: a participatory research in the form of an internship, a discourse analysis of text and finally a discourse analysis of pictures. The results show that the New Vision focuses on the idea that the government does everything in its power to help refugees and portrays ‘the Ugandan’ as very welcoming towards refugees.Show less
The agon is the democratic political arena in which all social groups are meant to participate in. Historically, however, certain social groups have been systematically denied this access to the...Show moreThe agon is the democratic political arena in which all social groups are meant to participate in. Historically, however, certain social groups have been systematically denied this access to the agon. Using Chantal Mouffe's theory of agonism and antaongism I will explore a new term, anti-agonism, to demonstrate how certain groups violently deny other groups this access. The two key periods involved are political protests surrounding Selma (1965) as well as key protests surrounding Ferguson (2014). Anti-agonism is always based on the othering and dehumanization of others, in this case it is othering of African Americans by White Americans, specifically police and state officials. This framing of African Americans as the Other allows for anti-agonism to thrive. This paper aims to reframe the conflict, illustrating that the problem is not whether disenfranchised social groups attempt to access the agon peacefully or through violence, but the response to that is problematic. While disenfranchised groups are othered, it remains difficult for them to partake in the political arena.Show less
¬This paper examines political discourse in the scope of states’ responses to the global refugee situation around 2015 where the “inhumane treatment of people has become socially acceptable”. It...Show more¬This paper examines political discourse in the scope of states’ responses to the global refugee situation around 2015 where the “inhumane treatment of people has become socially acceptable”. It examines both the blatant and covert ways in which discourse and rhetoric have been used by politicians as tools for maintaining power and order (particularly in the securitization of refugee issues) in the modern era. Through two speeches by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the Australian context is utilized as a case study to challenge this dominant narrative which reinforces the historically inequitable relationship between the Global North and South. This critical discourse analysis examines commonly drawn upon themes in postcolonial literature of “othering” that is being attributed to refugee persons. This intersectional study utilizes the framework of [what the author has deemed] the three C’s of colonialism, including: Conquest, Civilization, and Christianity. This paper aims to expose the significance of soft power notions in International Relations such as discourse and rhetoric.Show less
This thesis investigates various ways the other versus national self -setting is constructed in three Russian blockbuster movies: Flight Crew (2016), Viy (2014) and Legend no. 17 (2013). The...Show moreThis thesis investigates various ways the other versus national self -setting is constructed in three Russian blockbuster movies: Flight Crew (2016), Viy (2014) and Legend no. 17 (2013). The theoretical framework of othering will be employed as a device to analyze the movies. It is suggested that the varying others in various contexts of these movies each cause different aspects of Russian national identity to resurface and be emphasized. As especially mass-produced blockbuster movies are the major form of entertainment for a significantly wide audience, it is argued that they can provide valuable insight into how post-Russian national identity is being negotiated in Russia.Show less
European states have increasingly come to make use of surveillance technologies to control people’s mobility at –and beyond- the external EU borders. The use of surveillance technologies and...Show moreEuropean states have increasingly come to make use of surveillance technologies to control people’s mobility at –and beyond- the external EU borders. The use of surveillance technologies and techniques at state borders, however, does not stop at the geographical borderlines of a territory: the state’s focus has shifted from an emphasis on border control to a more general focus on the control or management of people’s mobility. Not all people, however, are faced with the same level of surveillance. All those regarded as (potential) deviants and/or as ‘not-belonging’, are being treated as an ‘Other’; and consequently, are subjected to intensified surveillance (Walby 2005: 184). In this thesis, I have investigated if and how these various intensity-levels of state surveillance affect people’s right to freedom of movement. In doing so, I have tried to find (an) answer(s) to the following question: How does the use of surveillance technologies at the border, as conducted by the EU, influence people’s degree of mobility?Show less
This thesis examines the cinematic cyborg as a figure which embodies technophobic fears expressed in film. By exploring the cyborg's representation, I will show how its portrayal in film expresses...Show moreThis thesis examines the cinematic cyborg as a figure which embodies technophobic fears expressed in film. By exploring the cyborg's representation, I will show how its portrayal in film expresses these technophobic fears, which are, as I will show, interwoven with xenophobia. The cyborg is viewed here as a figure in which technophobia and xenophobia collide. I will examine the so-called preferred meaning expressed in my case studies, which are eight films featuring a cyborg protagonist released in a period of three decades. Moreover, I will compare these messages to see if and how the expressions of technophobia differ and whether they change over time.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Within the field of critical museology, western museums are considered to be the social institutions which demonstrate the politics of domination, especially through presenting non-western cultures...Show moreWithin the field of critical museology, western museums are considered to be the social institutions which demonstrate the politics of domination, especially through presenting non-western cultures, and they also generate social inclusion, exclusion and different identifications based on the concept of race or class (Bulter 2000, Fujitani 1997, Sachedina 2011 and Strong 1997). This research on the special exhibition: Longing for Mecca: The pilgrim’s journey will focus on how social inclusion of Islamic communities in Dutch society is made by the exhibition in Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde. The concept of social inclusion implies at least three things in the case: displaying the underrepresented (Dutch Muslim communities) in the national system of representation (Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde), collaborating with local communities, and being more accessible for those communities. This research is based on the three implications of social inclusion of Longing for Mecca exhibition to demonstrate how social inclusion has been imagined and generated by museum staff, and to point out advantages and conflicts that the implications contain. Furthermore, I will also explain how these implications intertwine with visitor experiences that broaden the meaning of visiting Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde.Show less
