Syftena med denna uppsats har varit flera. Dels att genomföra en undersökande genrediskussion av svensk chick-lit i stort där det som uppfattats som den huvudsakliga kritiken av genren omformulerats till frågeställningar. Huvudfrågan har därmed varit att ta reda på om svensk chick-lit är intressant, men också om den har några litterära kvaliteter och om den är en feministisk backlash. I uppsatsen arbetas även en definition av svensk chick-lit fram, samt empiriskt grundad teori ur materialet. Avsikten är att detta arbete ska kunna verka som förebild för andra utredningar av nya och marginaliserade genrer. En undersökning av vilka principer biblioteken, här representerade av Umeåregionens bibliotek, utgår från vid inköp av skönlitteratur i stort och chick-lit i synnerhet har också genomförts. / The aims of this paper have been more than one. One aim is to conduct an investigative genre discussion of Swedish chick lit as a whole, where what is conceived as the main critique of the genre is reformulated into questions. The main questions here are if Swedish chick lit is of interest, if it possesses any literary qualities and if it constitutes a feminist backlash. This paper also draws up a definition of Swedish chick lit and empirically grounded theory from the material. The intent is for this paper to serve as a model for other analyses of new and marginalized genres. A study of the principles adopted by libraries, here represented by libraries in the Umeå district, in fiction purchases as a whole and purchases of chick lit in particular, has also been carried out.

The object of this essay is to map the discourses of good versus bad mothering in four selected novels by Marian Keyes, and to analyze how they relate to hegemonic Western discourses of motherhood.  The analytical approach is based on Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe’s discourse theory. In the essay I identify six central discursive structures in Keyes’ fictive representation of good and bad mothering. The explored structures deal with the proper social conditions for mothering, the mother’s unique role and function, mothering and professional pursuits, the rejection of children, depression and aggression in the mother, and mothering and substance abuse. They are described and contextualized with the aid of Laclau and Mouffe’s terminology and perspective on discursive struggle. The conclusion is that Keyes’ literary discourse connects good mothering with sustained maturing and individuality in the mother, while suggesting that bad mothering is related to relinquished integrity and personal potential.

No description available.

Une nouvelle forme de roman sentimental est apparue durant les années 1990, faisant suite à la parution de Bridget Jones’s Diary destinée à la fois aux femmes (chick-lit) et aux hommes (lad-lit). Ces deux types de fiction se distinguent du roman sentimental sériel par leur narration et leurs thèmes qui n’avaient jusqu’à présent jamais été évoqués puisqu’ils offrent aux lecteurs un reflet de notre société actuelle. La thèse analyse ce nouvel avatar du roman sentimental et en dégage les spécificités aussi bien sur le plan narratif que thématique ainsi que les liens qu’il entretient avec le genre, sans négliger son aspect commercial. / When Helen Fielding published Bridget Jones’s Diary in the middle of the 1990s, she gave birth to a new kind of romantic fiction written for women (chick-lit) and men (lad-lit). The difference with formulaic novels such as Mills and Boon, lies in the narration, characterisation and themes related to our times and society, that no romance writer had dealt with so far. The plots focus on men and women's every day lives. The thesis analyses the specificities of chick-lit regarding its narration and themes, the links with women’s fiction from earlier generations and the genre as well as its influence on mainstream novels.

Abstract Both Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) and Bridget Jones’s Diary (Helen Fielding) have been thoroughly examined by literary critics. When discussed from a feminist perspective, critics are ambiguous as some claim that the novels work against feminist values rather than the reverse. This essay aims to add to the existing discussion, with focus on narration, specifically the narrative authority heroines Elizabeth and Bridget claim. Thus, it is situated within feminist narratology, examining the discourse of the narrative rather than the story. Analysis is conducted with Alison Case’s concept feminine narration, where women traditionally have been narrative witnesses without authority. Through acts of plotting and preaching, authority is claimed by which the narrator can control the meaning the reader is meant to derive from the narrative. I argue that Elizabeth and Bridget both assert narrative authority throughout their stories, thus breaking gendered conventions by claiming agency in traditionally male positions. Additionally, the comparative analysis enables discussion on “Chick lit” literary status, which has been questioned by critics.             Analysis shows that both Elizabeth and Bridget assert narrative authority throughout their stories, by acts of plotting and preaching. Often, both heroines meet male characters attempting to usurp narrative authority by assuming the role of master-narrator, a figure who traditionally possesses more authority. By avoiding these attempts, Elizabeth and Bridget escape the position as narrative witnesses and claim authority, thus directing the readers towards the intended meaning of respective narratives. Furthermore, the comparative analysis opens up for a broader discussion of issues women have faced, and continue to face, throughout time.

No description available.

This thesis investigates the reception of middle literature novels among critics in Swedish newspapers and at Swedish libraries. Works by three authors were chosen as representatives for middle literature: Helen Fielding, Nick Hornby and Tony Parsons. The investigation is based on interviews with librarians at the Gothenburg City Library, the total purchased number of books at public libraries in Sweden and analysis of Swedish newspaper reviews. The result is compared with theories by literary sociologists as Jofrid Karner Smidt, Janice Radway, Erland Munch-Petersen and Staffan Bergsten among others. It was found out that literary scientists and critics had a different way of looking at middle literature. Scientists regarded it as something positive and strengthening for female readers. Literary critics, on the other hand, looked upon middle literature as depraved and retrogressive. The very word middle literature first appears in Swedish newspapers in 1997 and it has been given several names. Middle literature novels were found to have some characteristic features: humour, identification, journalistic language and an urban environment. These novels were entertaining, well written, realistic and gave a picture of the present generation. The librarians had difficulties characterizing middle literature novels and to determine whether it was light literature or not. The reviews of the novels differed. Some were positive, some were negative but no one was unconcerned. Critics were more positive to middle literature than the librarians at the City Library in Gothenburg were. What made the literature so popular turned out to be facts that were its characteristics. Even if the librarians had a tendency to recommend other better novels, they thought it was better reading light novels than not reading at all. For them, middle literature fulfilled its purpose better in English, their original language, as an educational tool. They decided to buy this literature mainly for that purpose from that on. The chosen novels were all purchased in high numbers by Swedish libraries, in English as well as translated into Swedish. They regarded requests of books by the patrons but checked out reviews very carefully. The request for quality was high and was even more important. / Uppsatsnivå: D

<p><!--StartFragment--></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">My thesis deals with the novel </span><em><span>Ladies</span></em><em><span lang="EN-GB">,</span></em><span lang="EN-GB"> written in 2007 by the Swedish author Mara Lee. When published, it was received as a book belonging to the chick lit genre but still got good reviews. This combination is really unusual and awoke my interest in the novel. My thesis is therefore an analysis whether </span><em><span lang="EN-GB">Ladies</span></em><span lang="EN-GB"> can be considered a chick lit novel or not, and in what way it is similar to or differs from the genre.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">I start my thesis with an overview of former research of chick lit and what earlier was called trivial literature. Here Lisbeth Larsson’s <em>En annan historia</em>, </span><em><span lang="EN-GB"><span>[</span></span></em><em><span lang="EN-GB">Another Story</span></em><em><span lang="EN-GB"><span>]</span></span></em><em><span lang="EN-GB">,</span></em><span lang="EN-GB"> Janice Radway’s <em>Reading the Romance</em> and Suzanne Ferriss’ and Mallory Young’s anthology <em>Chick Lit The New Woman’s Fiction</em> were necessary to understand the background of the genre.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">After the research overview I continue with a narratological analysis, using the concepts of Maria Nikolajeva’s <em>Barnbokens byggklossar </em></span><em><span lang="EN-GB"><span>[</span></span></em><em><span lang="EN-GB">The Bricks of the Children Book</span></em><em><span lang="EN-GB"><span>]</span></span></em><span lang="EN-GB"> to look at the structure of a chick lit story. After finishing my chick lit genre analysis I try to complete my own definition of the genre.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">I find the themes love, sexuality and body focus in </span><em><span lang="EN-GB">Ladies</span></em><span lang="EN-GB"> especially interesting and therefore choose to look closer into how these areas are represented in the book. By using Judith Butler’s concepts the heterosexual matrix, the represented gender and Tiina Rosenberg’s hetero normativity I analyse the representation of the themes. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">In the final discussion I compare my different analyses and my conclusion shows that </span><em><span lang="EN-GB">Ladies</span></em><span lang="EN-GB"> can’t be considered belonging to the chick lit genre. The biggest difference lies in how love and sexuality are represented in the book compared to chick lit novels. Whereas chick lit in many cases confirms gender stereotypes and conservative norms, </span><em><span lang="EN-GB">Ladies</span></em><span lang="EN-GB"> actually, according to my analysis, questions them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">In the end I am finally doing a short reflection about the novel and the author using Pierre Bourdieus concepts about symbolic resources and ”habitus”. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><!--EndFragment--><p> </p>

<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">My thesis deals with the novel </span><span>Ladies</span><span lang="EN-GB">,</span><span lang="EN-GB"> written in 2007 by the Swedish author Mara Lee. When published, it was received as a book belonging to the chick lit genre but still got good reviews. This combination is really unusual and awoke my interest in the novel. My thesis is therefore an analysis whether </span><span lang="EN-GB">Ladies</span><span lang="EN-GB"> can be considered a chick lit novel or not, and in what way it is similar to or differs from the genre.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">I start my thesis with an overview of former research of chick lit and what earlier was called trivial literature. Here Lisbeth Larsson’s En annan historia, </span><span lang="EN-GB"><span>[</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Another Story</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span>]</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">,</span><span lang="EN-GB"> Janice Radway’s Reading the Romance and Suzanne Ferriss’ and Mallory Young’s anthology Chick Lit The New Woman’s Fiction were necessary to understand the background of the genre.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">After the research overview I continue with a narratological analysis, using the concepts of Maria Nikolajeva’s Barnbokens byggklossar </span><span lang="EN-GB"><span>[</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">The Bricks of the Children Book</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span>]</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"> to look at the structure of a chick lit story. After finishing my chick lit genre analysis I try to complete my own definition of the genre.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">I find the themes love, sexuality and body focus in </span><span lang="EN-GB">Ladies</span><span lang="EN-GB"> especially interesting and therefore choose to look closer into how these areas are represented in the book. By using Judith Butler’s concepts the heterosexual matrix, the represented gender and Tiina Rosenberg’s hetero normativity I analyse the representation of the themes. </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">In the final discussion I compare my different analyses and my conclusion shows that </span><span lang="EN-GB">Ladies</span><span lang="EN-GB"> can’t be considered belonging to the chick lit genre. The biggest difference lies in how love and sexuality are represented in the book compared to chick lit novels. Whereas chick lit in many cases confirms gender stereotypes and conservative norms, </span><span lang="EN-GB">Ladies</span><span lang="EN-GB"> actually, according to my analysis, questions them.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">In the end I am finally doing a short reflection about the novel and the author using Pierre Bourdieus concepts about symbolic resources and ”habitus”. </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span> <!--EndFragment-->

This papers purpose is to compare the female protagonist as a subject and reader in Madame Bovary, Watermelon and Bridget Jones´s diary. The aim is feministic, where Judith Butler’s concepts of subjectivity and performativity have been used besides the method of close reading. These novels are pioneering works of each genre; the realistic novel and chick lit. Emma Bovary loses her subjectivity and turns in to a passive object when she is desired and looked at by men. Instead dead objects gets animated, which produces an extremely objectifying portrait of Emma. This culminates with the depiction of her suicide. Surprisingly Emma’s position as a subject, if she ever has one, appears through her reading. The performativity of the texts gives her power and agency to try to change her life within the limits of the bourgeoisie marriage. The protagonists of Watermelon and Bridget Jones´s diary are two female subjects in a modern society, who loves reading. Despite their different opportunities to live fulfilling lives, as compared to Emma, they tend to objectify themselves in relationship to men. They also emphasize the importance of love and having a man in their life, which is according to the genre. Interpreted through Butler, an explanation could be that the power of submission not only sets the outer limits, it also influences our internal desires. These chick lit-novels also discuss literature and cultural hierarchy, where the protagonists tend to prefer popular literature. Watermelon also contains an opening for subversion, depicted by Claire’s achieved independency at the end of the novel, and through some gender-parodies. Most of all, these two chick lit-novels tend to reiterate and consolidate a traditional gender-order through their performativity, although ironizing over the same. Keywords: Reading, genre, realistic novel, chick lit, feminism, Judith Butler, subjectivity, performativity, Madame Bovary, Watermelon, Bridget Jones´s diary. / Uppsatsens syfte har varit att analysera och jämföra den kvinnliga protagonisten som subjekt och läsare i tre romaner; Madame Bovary, Vattenmelonen och Bridget Jones dagbok. Metoden har varit närläsning och den teoretiska ingången feministisk och normkritisk. Judit Butlers teorier har varit tongivande, inte minst begreppen subjekt och performativitet. Resultaten visade bland annat att Emma Bovary tenderar att förlora sin roll som subjekt och förvandlas till ett passivt objekt när hon blir betraktad och åtrådd av män. Istället animeras döda ting som får liv och börjar agera som subjekt, vilket skapar en extremt objektifierad gestaltning av Emma som kulminerar i gestaltningen av hennes självmord. Om det alls går att finna någon subjektsposition hos Emma, uppstår den paradoxalt nog genom hennes läsning. Texternas performativitet skapar förvisso orimliga förväntningar på kärleken, men får även Emma att förändra sitt liv inom de snäva ramar 1800-talets borgerliga äktenskap innebär. Protagonisterna i Vattenmelonen och Bridget Jones dagbok är två kvinnliga subjekt som lever i ett modernt samhälle och liksom Emma älskar de att läsa. I dessa romaner förs även en diskussion kring litteratur och kulturella hierarkier. Alla tre protagonister i de undersökta romanerna kan kategoriseras som passionerade läsare och de föredrar att läsa populärlitteratur. I Vattenmelonen och Bridget Jones dagbok har protagonisterna helt andra förutsättningar till självförverkligande och att leva ett självständigt liv, jämfört med Emma Bovary. Trots detta tenderar både Claire och Bridget att objektifiera sig i sina relationer till män. De verbaliserar ofta vikten av kärlek och att ha en man i sitt liv, vilket också är genretypiskt. Tolkat enligt Butler (och Foucault) är förklaringen till detta ”frivilliga” förtryck att underordning inte enbart skapas genom yttre begränsningar, utan även genom påverkan av människors inre, via internaliserade drömmar och önskningar. I Vattenmelonen finns trots allt en subversiv ansats, vilken gestaltas genom Claires nyvunna självständighet i slutet av romanen, samt i förekomsten av ett antal genusparodier. Mest av allt tenderar dock dessa två chick lit-romaner att återupprepa och befästa traditionella genusmönster, trots att de samtidigt ironiserar över dessa.