Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A biblical truth tends to function in the politics of meaning formation, where cultural norms and values of society direct a biblical reading, which in turn further affirms and constructs social ideals. Specific to this study is the problem of the patriarchal framework that has shaped the prophetic reading of the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Feminist scholars problematize patriarchal characteristics of the text and question religious formulations of gender norms that create unequal gender relations in society. This study presents a prophetic-critical reading of the Magnificat in light of the rhetorical functions of the text. To this end, chapter two evaluates Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza‘s theories of feminist praxis to sharpen a reading lens for the exegetical chapter which follows. In chapter three, it illustrates a propagandistic character of the text, intended by the implied author, in order to free the text from a patriarchal reading. Chapter four illustrates the rhetorical functions of the text in a new contemporary context of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. This is accomplished by means of a variety of social, political, economic and religious systems of meaning formation, in the form of a letter, hypothetically addressed to a contemporary benefactor, Queen Elizabeth II. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bybelse waarheid is geneig om te funksioneer in die politiek van meningsvorming, waar kulturele norme en sosiale waardes die lees van die Bybel lei, wat op sy beurt sosiale ideale verder bevestig en vorm. Hierdie studie fokus spesifiek op die probleem van die patriargale raamwerk wat die profetiese lees van die Loflied van Maria (Luke 1:46-55) tot op hede gevorm het. Feminsitiese teoloë problematiseer die patriargale karaktertrekke van die teks en bevraagteken godsdienstige formuleringe van gender wat ongelyke geslagsverhoudings in die samelewing skep. Hierdie studie bied 'n profeties-kritiese lees van die Loflied van Maria in die lig van die retoriese funksies van die teks. Gevolglik evalueer hoofstuk twee Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza se teorië van feministiese praksis, om sodoende die lens vir die volgende eksegetiese hoofstuk te verskerp. Hoofstuk drie illustreer die propagandistiese karakter van die teks, soos bedoel deur die geïmpliseerde skrywer, om sodoende die teks te bevry van patriarchal, profetiese lees. Die laaste hoofstuk illustreer die retoriese funksies van die teks via lae van sosiale, politiese, ekonomiese en godsdienste sisteme van betekenisvorming, in 'n nuwe kontemporêre konteks van MIV/VIGS in Suid-Afrika, in die vorm van 'n brief, gerig aan 'n hipotetiese, kontemporêre weldoener, Koningin Elizabeth.

The present dissertation examines constructions of femininity in the lyrical and didactical works of Elisabeth von Braunschweig-Lüneburg (1510-1558). It shows how this widow ruler and promoter of the reformation transforms and re-interprets contemporary ideas about women and gender according to her own personal interests, and how gender roles are thus negotiated in her texts. In accordance with current theoretical ideas about subjectivity, discourse, and gender, it is shown among other things how Elisabeth von Braunschweig-Lüneburg uses established genres to further her own personal agenda, and how she manipulates contemporary notions of gender in order to create authority for herself as a political force, as an upholder of Christian virtues, and, most importantly, as a writer. The analysis is based on an understanding of subjectivity as dialogical – as a negotiation with the surrounding culture – and of gender as socially constructed. Using the theories presented by Judith Butler and Joan Wallach Scott as a basis, the study shows how Elisabeth works within the various discourses available to her in order to describe established gender roles in a fashion that challenges prevailing notions of femininity and a woman’s place in society. The study focuses on a number of aspects of femininity important in Elisabeth’s texts as well as in the cultural context in which they were written. The textual construction of woman as writer, ruler, preacher, wife, mother, and widow is examined. The dissertation presents not previously acknowledged insights into the ambivalence coloring Elisabeth’s descriptions of women and femininity.

This thesis deals with the politics of the Margrave of Meissen, William I the one-eyed (1343-1407), towards the Kingdom of Bohemia and his relationship to the ruling dynasty of the House of Luxemburg. Particular attention is paid to his marriage to Elizabeth of Luxembourg (Elizabeth of Moravia), his stays at the imperial court of Charles IV and subsequently his own expansive politics towards Wenceslaus IV. Emphasis is also given to his relationships to the other members of the House of Luxembourg, especially Margrave Jobst of Moravia. It also reflects upon the personality of Margravine Elizabeth (1355-1400), who has so far been rather overlooked in historiography. The thesis is based primarily on sources of a diplomatic nature and of Czech and Meissen provenance, but also draws upon records from chronicles and monastic annals. This thesis is also a contribution to the assessment of the politics of Wenceslaus IV and the nature of relationships between members of the House of Luxembourg. Keywords: William I of Meissen, Elizabeth of Luxembourg (Elizabeth of Moravia), House of Luxembourg, House of Wettin, Margravate of Meissen, Brandenburg, marriage contract

No description available.

No description available.

Le fanzine Requiem a été le premier périodique entièrement consacré à la science-fiction et au fantastique à paraître au Québec. Durant ses cinq années d’existence sous ce nom (1974-1979), avant de se professionnaliser et de devenir la revue Solaris, il a été l’unique lieu d’échange et de publication pour les amateurs et les amatrices de littératures de l’imaginaire du Québec. Il a donc constitué un espace où ont dû cohabiter une multitude de perspectives différentes sur la science-fiction et le fantastique. Comme le fanzine a été publié en pleine deuxième vague du féminisme et que des écrivaines féministes, Esther Rochon et Élisabeth Vonarburg, ont contribué à la revue, nous nous interrogerons sur la manière dont s’intègrent ces idées féministes à ce lieu de discussion et, plus précisément, sur la façon dont les femmes y participent. Pour rendre compte de la teneur des idées féministes et de la parole des femmes dans la revue, ce mémoire propose une analyse des différents discours qu’y sont tenus. Étant donné que l’analyse du discours implique des considérations autant rhétoriques et littéraires que sociales et politiques, nous analyserons à la fois le contexte de parution de la revue, les fictions et les textes à caractère non fictionnel (articles, chroniques, critiques littéraires) qui y sont publiés, chaque fois sous l’angle du stéréotype. Celui-ci est au centre des critiques des discours féministes dans Requiem, mais aussi un des principaux enjeux de l’intégration des femmes en science-fiction et en fantastique.

Die Arbeit mit dem Titel "Die unschuldig verfolgte und später rehabilitierte Ehefrau." Untersuchungen zur Konstruktion der Frau im 15. Jahrhundert am Beispiel der Crescentia- und der Sibillen-Erzählungen", untersucht vergleichend die Konstruktion der Frau in Erzählungen, die zum Erzähltypus der "unschuldig verfolgten und später rehabilitierten Ehefrau" gehören. Dies geschieht unter Verwendung methodischer Ansätze der Geschlechterforschung am Beispiel zweier Textreihen dieses Typus: Der Crescentia-Textreihe, der die Crescentia-Erzählungen der Kaiserchronik, der Märenbearbeitung des 13. Jahrhunderts, der Sächsischen Weltchronik, der Leipziger Hs. 1279, des Teichners, der Gesta Romanorum, Der Heiligen Leben, des Großen Seelentrost sowie Rosenplüts zugrunde liegen. Die Sibillen-Textreihe wird aus Schondochs Königin von Frankreich, einer anonymen Prosafassung des Typus sowie Elisabeths von Nassau-Saarbrücken Königin Sibille gebildet. Die Einzeltexte werden unter dem Focus der Konstruktion der Frau vergleichend interpretiert, dabei richtet sich die Fragestellung vor allem auf .Veränderungen der Handlungsspielräume der Frau, sich verschiebende Konzeptionen von Sexualität und Umgang mit Begehren, sowie Unterschiede in der Körperkonzeption der einzelnen Entwürfe. Die Interpretationsergebnisse werden in den historischen Bezugsrahmen eingebettet. Die Veränderungen in der Konstruktion der Frau verweisen auf einen kontinuierlichen und intensiven Diskussionsprozess der Geschlechterkonstruktion vor allem im 15. Jahrhundert und es wird sichtbar, dass die Reformation als angenommener Kulminationspunkt der Veränderung der Geschlechterverhältnisse in der Frühen Neuzeit relativiert werden muß. / The dissertation titled "The falsely persecuted and later rehabilitated wife. A study on the construction of women in the 15th century based on the Crescentia and the Sibille narratives, examines comparatively the construction of women in narratives of the "the falsely persecuted and later rehabilitated wife" genre. Gender studies approaches are applied in the analysis of two textseries: the Crescentia series which includes on the Crescentia narratives of the Kaiserchronik, Märe of the 13th century, the Sächsischen Weltchronik, the Leipziger Hs. 1279, the Teichner, the Gesta Romanorum, Der Heiligen Leben, the Großen Seelentrost and Rosenplüts, and the Sibille text series made up of Schondoch''s Königin von Frankreich, an anonymous prose version of the genre and Elisabeths von Nassau-Saarbrücken Königin Sibille. The texts are interpreted concentrating on the construction of women, with the main focus being the changes in the scope of action available to women, the changing perception of sexuality and understanding desire as well as the differences in the body concepts in the respective narratives. The results of the interpretation are bedded in the historical context. The changes in the construction of women indicate a continuing and intensive process of discussion of gender construction, above all in the 15th century. It also becomes clear the assumed position of the Reformation as highpoint in the changes in gender relations needs to be reevaluated.

<p>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.</p> / <p>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.</p>

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.

本論文在引介並評析德國社會學家諾爾紐曼（Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann）的「沉默 螺旋論」（the Theory of the Spiral of Silence ）。全文凡五萬餘字，共分六章 、廿三節，各章大要如次： 第一章，緒論：說明本研究動機，臚列研究問題，並略述研究方法和限制。 第二章，螺旋論：介紹此理論的概念和變項，在民意、傳播與社會理論領域所衍生的 假設及主要代表模式；界定應用範圍並依理論特質予以定位；摘要諾氏檢驗此理論所 作的研究。 第三章，沉默螺旋論溯源：據諾氏對此理論由來的說明並藉墨頓（R.K.Merton）研究 社會學理論史的方法，來追溯螺旋論的源流。 第四章，沉默螺旋之沉默與迴響：摘要其他學者所作的有關研究；分別述析此理論引 起的共鳴、所面臨的挑戰以及諾氏的回應。 第五章，沉默螺旋「典範」：簡介孔思（Thomass Kunn）的自然科學沿革結構；比較沉默螺旋論發展歷程與此結構之異同；沉默螺旋論 蔚為典範之理由。 第六章，結論：以科學哲學的角度總評沉默螺旋論之得失；建議未來研究的方向。