published_or_final_version / Literary and Cultural Studies / Master / Master of Arts

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 56-58).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 56-58). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Divinity School, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Senior Honors thesis--Regis University, Denver, Colo., 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 22, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Bibliography: pages 166-172. / The reason for this study was to determine if there is any connection between nostalgia and the debunking effect in the work of N.P. van Wyk Louw Starting with a thorough explanation of the term nostalgia to establish any implications the word might have. They can be summarised as: A longing for a simple life without loneliness where the person will feel at home. A desire to reach a better understanding of God and the primordial as the source of all life. Nostalgia develops as a result of a interrelationship between the past, present and the future and an interrelationship between the abstract and concrete aspects of nostalgia. In short: Nostalgia is a desire to establish an Utopian existence. It was found that the secondary literature on the topic is of a limited nature. The literature relating to Van Wyk Louw concentrates mostly on Nuwe Verse and Tristia and especially on the type of language used in "Klipwerk" and the fact that the author resided in the Netherlands while writing these two books. To outline the developement of nostalgic tendencies, the theme-poem of every book was looked at and it was found that Alleenspraak, Die Halwe Kring and Gestaltes en Diere encompasses the desire aspect of nostalgia, while Nuwe Verse and Tristia have a bearing on the remembrance aspect. The study of the love-, monologue- and prophet-figures showed that the search for certainty and unity leads has a debunking effect. Innocence brings the primordial into play which was studied using the poem "Die Swart Luiperd". The study showed that it is impossible to return to origin of life. With the debunking of the abstract aspects of nostalgia, attention was given to the earthly aspects. In this regard it was also found that the human being is isolated. Lastly, the poem "Groot Ode" was looked at to see if the poet has any answer to the debunking effect of nostalgia. Here irony was suggested as an answer to the debunking effect of nostalgia and as something that would make nostalgia bearable.

The emotion of nostalgia, defined as ¡§a sentimental longing for the past¡¨. Studies have indicated that nostalgia, as a positive and social emotion, have the potential to reduce the negative impact of social exclusion on empathy. This research mainly proposes two types of nostalgia (historical vs. personal) and examines the effects of product type and type of self-construal on nostalgia advertising. The present study uses experimental design with a 3 (nostalgia advertising:non-nostalgia vs. historical-nostalgia vs. personal nostalgia) x 2 (product type: publicly consumed product vs. privately consumed product) x 2 (self-construal: independent self vs. interdependent self) factorial design. Twelve different scenarios are established through fictitious product ads, and the ad effects are measured by attitudes toward the ad, attitudes toward the brand, and purchase intentions to observe the response under different scenarios. The results indicate that the nostalgia advertising is more effective than the non-nostalgia advertising, which is consistent with previous studies. There is an interaction effect between the type of nostalgia and product type. The personal nostalgia is more effective than the historical nostalgia in promoting a privately consumed product. Finally, when the interdependent self is activated, consumers show more favorable attitudes toward a privately consumed product promoted with personal nostalgia. In contrast, when the independent self is activated, no difference of advertising effects between historical and personal nostalgia in public or private product consumption contexts.

Beyond these next four pages lies a product of my travels into the past without ever leaving the present. My experiences with nostalgia are elusive yet frequent, which drove me to attain a greater understanding of this subconscious tendency. Learning that these reminiscent reveries affect humanity at large, I found it odd that the limited literature on the subject includes only speculation regarding its purpose and utility. Consequently, I struggled in my search for a method to accomplish creative research. Quickly discarding the obvious, familiar stimuli summoning recollection, I then grew interested in the unfamiliar stimulating the nostalgic occurrence. With this as a jumping point, I wanted to simultaneously play with the idea of making my contemporary self, whom is so inclined toward the cinematic arts, meet with my past self (accompanied with my childhood interests). Film, already capturing a reality, already representing a representation, I found no better medium to facilitate the expansion of such a concept. My goal was to wipe away the fog on the window to the past and remember what I witnessed. In effect, utilizing this newfound knowledge of nostalgia to create a film of my past that evokes others to ponder their own. This thesis functions to share the memory of my experimental experience.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Comparative Literature / Master / Master of Philosophy

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