Virtual worlds are online communities that enable user interaction via avatars in a computer-based simulated environment. In recent years, the fast growth of virtual worlds and their enormous potential for various applications have attracted much attention. Though the uses of virtual worlds are becoming numerous in diverse fields, the core issue for their development from the perspective of gamers is to maximize user immersion. This paper tackles the issue from the perspective of game designers and explores the immersive dimensions of users via an experiment. The experimental platform is a specific virtual world, Second Life, and a particular gaming situation, dancing. The main manipulation involves altering the graphic realism level of both the avatar¡¯s appearance and the dancing environment. The research aims to find out whether there is a correlation between graphic realism and user immersion and, if there is, what element(s) or degrees of realism will lead to different levels of user immersion.

Officially in 1934, socialist realism emerged in Soviet society as the new cultural aesthetic, providing an artistic framework for all forms of cultural productionart, music, architecture and literature. In the realm of childrens writing, socialist realism had particularly interesting effects on the themes and formulas that were utilized by authors. Though once thought to represent the tsarist and peasant past, the Party encouraged the use of traditional folk elements to popularize the new overtly Soviet tales, despite the apparent unorthodoxy. Similarly, authors were encouraged to reintroduce the hero, also seemingly unorthodox in what was a theoretically collective society. Nonetheless, heroic themes and characters emerged to recognize achievements in industry and the drive for modernization, encourage vigilance against internal and external spies and saboteurs, propagandize the Soviet war effort against Germany, and honour Soviet soldiers for their sacrifices. Soviet childrens books demonstrated to youth the communist qualities of selflessness and devotion to the collective, and about the dangers of idleness. Children learned that the Soviet Union was to be the new Soviet family, replacing the bond of blood kinship. The leader cult filtered down to childrens books and Stalin made a significant appearance as the father of all heroes. This thesis argues that the Party recognized the value of childrens literature for shaping the character development of young readers. Popular in their own right, childrens books were not able to avoid the manipulation and control of the Party, which employed them as tools of propaganda. However, it is difficult to separate the extent of their genuine popularity from their appeal as propaganda.

Much has been written on the security implications of the "Rise of China," yet there is little consensus, posing a problem for policymakers. I highlight the areas of disagreement, arguing that the lack of consensus is a product of different theoretical positions. Since there is not an obviously correct theoretical position, policymakers must make decisions based on significant uncertainty. I argue that policymakers ought therefore reject costly and decontextualized theories, such as offensive realism, while still maintaining openness to theoretical knowledge.

Studying the last century and a half of Ukrainian linguistic history reveals relentless attempts to stifle the development of Ukrainian as well as to suppress translation activities under both the tsarist and Soviet regimes. Exploring the morphological evolution of the Ukrainian language discloses evidence of terminological inconsistencies due to the lexical russification of Ukrainian during the Soviet regime, leading to inconsistencies between the standard of Ukrainian used in the Soviet Union versus that used in the diaspora. Additional examination of Ukrainian linguistic history discloses political motives for banning translations, refusing the right to translate, censoring translations, and punishing translators who rejected the mandatory Soviet literary norm of Socialist Realism. In order to further understand the implications of translation practices in the Ukrainian SSR, it is important to examine the language policies, political agendas and translation practices prior to and throughout the Soviet regime. This thesis explores and analyses the russification of Ukrainian through translation policies designed to fulfil Soviet political and ideological agendas. It compares power differentials between Russian and Ukrainian, as well as between Russian and other minority languages in translation, and examines the resulting terminological inconsistencies. It shows unequivocally how translation, transliteration, and censorship were used to foster linguicide and assimilate Ukrainian minorities, from the late tsarist era to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

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Officially in 1934, socialist realism emerged in Soviet society as the new cultural aesthetic, providing an artistic framework for all forms of cultural productionart, music, architecture and literature. In the realm of childrens writing, socialist realism had particularly interesting effects on the themes and formulas that were utilized by authors. Though once thought to represent the tsarist and peasant past, the Party encouraged the use of traditional folk elements to popularize the new overtly Soviet tales, despite the apparent unorthodoxy. Similarly, authors were encouraged to reintroduce the hero, also seemingly unorthodox in what was a theoretically collective society. Nonetheless, heroic themes and characters emerged to recognize achievements in industry and the drive for modernization, encourage vigilance against internal and external spies and saboteurs, propagandize the Soviet war effort against Germany, and honour Soviet soldiers for their sacrifices. Soviet childrens books demonstrated to youth the communist qualities of selflessness and devotion to the collective, and about the dangers of idleness. Children learned that the Soviet Union was to be the new Soviet family, replacing the bond of blood kinship. The leader cult filtered down to childrens books and Stalin made a significant appearance as the father of all heroes. This thesis argues that the Party recognized the value of childrens literature for shaping the character development of young readers. Popular in their own right, childrens books were not able to avoid the manipulation and control of the Party, which employed them as tools of propaganda. However, it is difficult to separate the extent of their genuine popularity from their appeal as propaganda.

The curiosity of different beliefs to “tragedy” between the two worlds, Eastern where tragedy is unpleasant and Western where tragedy is praised as high art form since Ancient Greek. The reason that they are very different as two ends from one point and how to present them directly to understandable stage in art forms itself are questioned. This essay is a research into philosophical living and belief relates to tragedy in Eastern and Western views toward tragedy in art forms. The way tragedy has been put differently and the way people treat this feeling. There is a border which is deep-seated into each cultures. The relation of time is used to explain tragedy in Ancient Greek. Western tragedy is big enough to play a main role while Eastern tragedy play a part of the whole in one legend or story. The study of Andy Warhol’s method “Traumatic Realism” which is relevant to starting question explains the direction of using repetition as presentation in order to bring viewers get into trauma at its surface. Picasso’s painting “Tragedy”, Edward Gorey’s storytelling illustration “The Hapless Child”, and Marina Abramovic’s performance “Balkan Baroque”, are used to discuss their techniques and statements based on tragedy from different forms. There is a touching point from Warhol’s and Abramovic’s works. Conclusion talks about the method to present tragedy right there in the work. Selections of pictures are used to tell direction of tragedy in the work. Hierarchy of perception and changing of time in works are explained by Ancient Greek tragedy philosophy and Warhol’s repetition. Feeling is gradually changed. Traces can be found. Time is taking it away.

The aim of this study is focus on China’s activities/policies in oil trade and security for keeping its own development. In this study, we try to analyze China’s activities and policies in oil trading through liberalism and realism, and to show out how China acted in global market related to oil consumption, production and trade in order to satisfy China’s oil requirements. In international political theories, the concept of realism and liberalism are almost completely opposite. The cases of activities and relevant data which we selected with China on oil trade are picked and analyzed by historical analysis and quantitative researches. That can ensure the credibility, applicability and correctness of data. After analysis, the findings show that Chinese central government guide by realism more than liberalism when it process the issues with oil trade. China considers from the perspective of their own interests and focus on how to maximize their own interest. From the surface, the partners of China also received interests, but the main target of China is ensure the security of the oil, and maintain the stability of the domestic energy consumption.

The study of Russia ¡§New Oriental diplomacy¡¨ Abstract Purpose of the thesis is to study after the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, Russia, the country's foreign policy from the one-sided, ¡§Pro-Western¡¨ policies, transferred to "Double-headed Eagle", "New Oriental diplomacy". The Russian and Asian countries increase the proportion of interaction, hope to be deepened in Asia regional influence, and then rebuild Russia's prestige in the world's great powers. Russia's the main objectives of "New Oriental diplomacy" is through the Russian Far East, Siberia area and the Asian countries, geographical proximity, and develop cooperation in security and economic-related policies. The approach of the thesis is realism, trying to analyze of Russia's "New Oriental diplomacy" in Asian security and economic cooperation. "New Oriental diplomacy"¡¦s safe side by taking part in the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization", with Member States in combating the three forces, to consolidate the Russian national security. "New Oriental diplomacy"¡¦s economic side by Russia's rich resources to promote cooperation with Asian countries, showing the oil pipeline and natural gas-related development. Finally, the thesis of Russia's "New Oriental diplomacy" for the Far Eastern Siberia, and East Asian countries jointly regional development, boosting Russia's economic success, more deep interaction with Asian countries to increase Russia's influence in Asian countries.

Thesis--Stockholms högskola. / Summary in English. Bibliography: p. [376]-392.