Gold, jewels and a cross that is able to speak: these elements are nowhere to be found in the Biblical story about the crucifixion of Christ, but they do appear in the Old English poem The Dream of...Show moreGold, jewels and a cross that is able to speak: these elements are nowhere to be found in the Biblical story about the crucifixion of Christ, but they do appear in the Old English poem The Dream of the Rood. This poem is a retelling of the Biblical story of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection and there are three characters in this poem: the Dreamer, the Cross and Christ. These characters are linked, because they all experience one or multiple physical or mental transformations. The poet intended for these transformations to be an inspiration for the reader of the poem. Especially the transformation of the Dreamer is supposed to be inspirational, because the Dreamer is the most relatable character for the reader through the focus on their human nature. The question that is discussed in this thesis is: what does the transformation of the Dreamer look like and why can it be inspirational for the reader? The suggested answer to this question is that the poet of The Dream of the Rood used the character of the Dreamer to illustrate the life-changing effect that knowledge of the Bible and following the example of Christ can have on a human being. The reader of the poem is encouraged to follow in the footsteps of the Dreamer, the first step being reading The Dream of the Rood.Show less
The thesis proposes a perspective on contemporary visual arts through the viewpoint of Plato’s notion of χώρα (chôra) – a concept, which in Plato’s philosophy is defined as a third kind of being...Show moreThe thesis proposes a perspective on contemporary visual arts through the viewpoint of Plato’s notion of χώρα (chôra) – a concept, which in Plato’s philosophy is defined as a third kind of being and is designated as a space between the World of Being and the World of Becoming, necessary for the world to originate and become manifested. The text engages with the idea of χώρα in Plato’s dialogue Timaeus, the understanding of the concept in contemporary thought in the work of the philosophers Jacques Derrida and Julia Kristeva, and investigates two distinct yet interconnected artworks – HAEM Blood Bound (2016) by Cecilia Jonsson and Cracks in Time (2009) by Michal Rovner, through the viewpoint of χώρα. In the text, art is considered equal to χώρα, as, it is argued, approaching the main features of Plato’s receptacle – the crucial aspects of ontology, motility and ‘in-betweenness’ as art characteristics could enable a rediscovery of the significance of the messages it implies for contemporary society. In this manner the research offers a different approach towards art, a prospect for widening its understanding, which, in turn, would allow examining its role and disclosing what it can contribute to the societal issues of the present-day world.Show less
This thesis explores the sustainability of the transformation of industrial heritage sites in the Netherlands. Firstly it discusses the rise of appreciation of industrial sites and the rise of...Show moreThis thesis explores the sustainability of the transformation of industrial heritage sites in the Netherlands. Firstly it discusses the rise of appreciation of industrial sites and the rise of attention towards sustainability in the construction sector. Furthermore this thesis analyses the transformation of three industrial sites in the Netherlands. It explores the cultural history of the sites and finally analysis the sustainability of the transformation of these sites. The focus is laid on the use of materials. The classification of NIBE (Nederlands Instituut voor Bouwbiologie en Ecologie) is used as a tool to examine the sustainability of the materials.Show less
This research follows the discourse of the ragged school movement across a twenty-year period, and through this provides a greater understanding of problem-formation and problem-solving. By...Show moreThis research follows the discourse of the ragged school movement across a twenty-year period, and through this provides a greater understanding of problem-formation and problem-solving. By analysing the movement using ideas of problematisation and sub-culture solidification as the theoretical framework, this thesis contends with contemporary views of the child-saving movement. Unlike the wider historiographical work on the child-savers, this work has investigated the problematising function of language that was used in ragged school material, and has shown how the rhetoric that was used sought to mobilise and involve the general public. During this research, factors such as the identification of deviants, the fluidity of categorisation, the association of broader issues, and the importance of problem solvability have been explored in a manner that had not yet been done in association with the child-saving movement. Beyond this, this work has contributed to current theories of problematisation by focusing on how a problem can be built around an intended solution.Show less
