This thesis concerns the study of ethnic minority groups and their national identity formation process as a result of their collective experience during, and understanding of, World War One. The groups observed are Black Americans and German Americans from the United States, as well as the Irish from Great Britain. Each groups’ identity progression and understanding of the war differed from their counterparts, while having still exhibited similarities of which highlight how different forms of nationalism played a role in the lives of ethnic minorities. A Marxist theoretical framework of nationalism and tradition is applied through the works of Benedict Anderson, Eric Hobsbawm and Terrance Ranger. The results convey how American nationalism served to further solidify a greater sense of American national identity for the respective ethnic groups, though through a process of apathy and coercion. British nationalism revealed how its version of the phenomena lacked sufficient proximity to the respective group, thus resulting in the Irish rejection of the British nation and its form of identity. These results further illustrate how both nations were in many ways sovereign and limited in their ability to form a political and social community with these groups. Lastly, it is revealed that the internal differences in each group followed a universal trend wherein those group members who served in combat roles during the war, inhibited a greater sense of national identity than those who did not see combat. This result serves as the foundation for my new theory, known as the Fog of War Complex.

This thesis examines the multifaceted strategies employed in Pressbyrån's 2023 Cinnamon Bun Campaign, which gained nationwide attention in Sweden for its humorous approach. The campaign aimed to depict the Swedish cinnamon bun, a staple of the Swedish fika tradition, in an extravagant and luxurious light. Focusing on the interplay between humor and luxury, the study uses a multimodal analysis, utilizing Semiotic and Social Semiotic approaches to understand the visual material and its conveyed meanings. Using a theoretical framework that includes Stuart Hall's (1973) encoding and decoding model and Marxist theory, the research examines how the campaign commodifies the cinnamon bun, imbuing it with social value within capitalist culture. The investigation also places the campaign within Swedish cultural traditions and explores the intersection of humor, luxury, and cultural contexts. The literature review covers perfume advertisements, humor in advertising, and the commodification of cultures, providing a comprehensive background for the analysis. The analysis identifies visual cues and luxury codes within the campaign's posters and discusses their impact on audience perception. It also explores how humor through parody intersects with cultural contexts, particularly in challenging Swedish norms of moderation (lagom) through exaggerated luxury. The findings reveal that the campaign strategically uses visual elements reminiscent of luxurious perfume advertisements, creating a humorous dissonance between the perceived extravagance of the bun and its ordinary consumption. The study highlights the complex dynamics between humor, luxury, and cultural contexts in advertising. While humor effectively captures attention, its efficacy in enhancing brand recall remains uncertain. Nonetheless, Pressbyrån's campaign serves as a compelling case study, offering insights into the intricate relationship between consumer culture, tradition, and humor in advertising.

This work explores the connections between the constructed representations of places based on local histories, the processes of tradition reinvention and the strategies of regional development in two Russian regions. This analysis also outlines the context created by the external to the regions influences and the associated with them local conditions.

This work explores the connections between the constructed representations of places based on local histories, the processes of tradition reinvention and the strategies of regional development in two Russian regions. This analysis also outlines the context created by the external to the regions influences and the associated with them local conditions.

This work explores the connections between the constructed representations of places based on local histories, the processes of tradition reinvention and the strategies of regional development in two Russian regions. This analysis also outlines the context created by the external to the regions influences and the associated with them local conditions.

The three centennial celebrations sponsored by the W.A.C. Bennett Social Credit government in 1958, 1966/67 and 1971 were part of a process of self-definition and province building. Post-war state development in British Columbia certainly included expanding and nationalizing transportation, building ambitious mega projects, and encouraging resource extraction in the hinterlands. The previously unstudied centennials were no less important to defining post-war British Columbia by creating the infrastructure on which cultural and hegemonic province building could take place. Using the methodologies and theories of Cultural Studies this study attends to both the discursive and material elements of these occasions. It uses the voluminous records of the three Centennial Committees, newspaper articles, government reports, and documents from community archives to reveal that that these elaborate and costly centenaries served the government’s desire to build an industry-oriented consensus in BC’s populace. The government - and its Centennial Committees - sought to overcome regional disparities and invite mass participation by making the celebrations truly provincial in nature. Each community, no matter its size, had a local centennial committee, was funded for local commemorative projects, was encouraged to write its history, and enjoyed traveling centenary entertainments. All communities benefited from cultural amenities, the province’s capital assets grew, the province started to undertake heritage conservation and residents gained a new appreciation for their history. Invented traditions - limited and constructed historical re-creations and motifs – helped overcome regional differences. British Columbians were presented with images and narratives of explorers, gold-seekers, and pioneer-entrepreneurs who opened up the interior with ingenuity and bravery, as well as a mythic, popular “old west” narrative that all citizens, no matter region, could rally around. A trade fair and tourism promotion reinforced the tradition of industry especially for manufacturers and small business. By and large, British Columbians in 1958 – particularly white males who found an anti-modern release in centennial events – accepted and legitimized this industry-oriented consensus. In the two later centennials new counter-hegemonies challenged this consensus. First Nations had opposed the colonial narrative in 1958, but by 1966/67 and 1971 they were more vocal and politically active. Other British Columbians opposed the development agenda of the centenaries; youth, environmentalists and labour argued that the celebrations were a waste of time, money, and energy when more pressing issues of environmental degradation and unemployment were present. The government’s static Centennial Committee was ill equipped to address these challenges. It offered superficial amends, such as creating Indian Participation and Youth Subcommittees, but ultimately could not repudiate the hegemony on which it, and Social Credit, was based.

A ‘Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria’ – CFS – é uma prática cultural que marca o início das comemorações da ‘Semana da Pátria’ em Porto Alegre no final da década de 1930. A partir de 1938, a CFS foi editada anualmente pela Liga de Defesa Nacional (LDN) com o apoio de dirigentes esportivos porto-alegrenses. Foram esses dirigentes que idealizaram a CFS em Porto Alegre, após assistirem a “Corrida de Revezamento da Chama Olímpica” na cerimônia de abertura dos Jogos Olímpicos de Berlim em 1936. Este estudo busca compreender a participação dos clubes esportivos porto-alegrenses na construção de representações da identidade nacional brasileira através da invenção da ‘Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria’ no período de 1938 a 1947. Para tanto, utilizaram-se fontes impressas e orais. As fontes impressas primárias se restringem aos documentos e obras da LDN; entre as principais fontes impressas secundárias estão a Revista do Globo e o jornal Correio do Povo. Foram realizadas duas entrevistas que constituem as fontes orais. A Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria (1938-1947) foi uma tradição inventada em Porto Alegre, institucionalizada pela LDN com o apoio social feito pelos clubes esportivos. A justificativa de sua realização se deu através de ligações históricosagradas e sua fixação através da repetição anual nas cidades. A CFS buscava engendrar ‘valores’, associados à construção da identidade nacional brasileira. Dessa forma produziu no imaginário porto-alegrense a representação de coesão e unidade nacional em razão do formato de percorrer a nação e ter como ponto de culminância sempre a cidade de Porto Alegre. No contexto esportivo, produziu a representação de que os clubes esportivos identificados como ‘estrangeiros’ foram ‘abrasileirados’ devido à participação de dirigentes esportivos e atletas na CFS. / The 'Nation Torch Relay' – NTR – it is a cultural practice that marks the beginning of the celebrations from 'Nation’s Week’ in Porto Alegre city by the 1930's end. From 1938, the NTR has annually been edited by the National Defense League (NDL) with portoalegrenses sports leaders support. There were those leaders who idealized the NTR in Porto Alegre, after they watched the "Olympic Torch Relay" at Berlin Olympic Games opening ceremony in 1936. This study aims to understand the participation of portoalegrenses sports clubs in the construction of representations from the Brazilian national identity through the invention of the 'Nation Torch Relay' in the period from 1938 to 1947. For this purpose, printed and oral sources were used. The printed primary sources are limited to NDL’s documents and works; among the main printed secondary sources are Globo’s Magazine and Correio do Povo newspaper. There were two interviews, which are the oral sources. The ‘Nation Torch Relay’ (1938-1947) was an invented tradition in Porto Alegre city, institutionalized by NDL with social support from the city’s sports clubs. The justification of its achievement was made by historical and sacred’s links and its fixation through annual repetition in the cities. The NTR aimed to pass 'values'; and they were associated to the construction of Brazilian national identity. Thus, it produced in the porto-alegrense imagination, the representation of national cohesion and unity because of the way it roams about the nation and has as a point of culmination Porto Alegre city. In the sports context, it produced the representation that sports clubs identified, as 'foreigners', were 'adopted Brazilian ways and manners' due to athletes and sports leaders participation in the NTR.

A ‘Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria’ – CFS – é uma prática cultural que marca o início das comemorações da ‘Semana da Pátria’ em Porto Alegre no final da década de 1930. A partir de 1938, a CFS foi editada anualmente pela Liga de Defesa Nacional (LDN) com o apoio de dirigentes esportivos porto-alegrenses. Foram esses dirigentes que idealizaram a CFS em Porto Alegre, após assistirem a “Corrida de Revezamento da Chama Olímpica” na cerimônia de abertura dos Jogos Olímpicos de Berlim em 1936. Este estudo busca compreender a participação dos clubes esportivos porto-alegrenses na construção de representações da identidade nacional brasileira através da invenção da ‘Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria’ no período de 1938 a 1947. Para tanto, utilizaram-se fontes impressas e orais. As fontes impressas primárias se restringem aos documentos e obras da LDN; entre as principais fontes impressas secundárias estão a Revista do Globo e o jornal Correio do Povo. Foram realizadas duas entrevistas que constituem as fontes orais. A Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria (1938-1947) foi uma tradição inventada em Porto Alegre, institucionalizada pela LDN com o apoio social feito pelos clubes esportivos. A justificativa de sua realização se deu através de ligações históricosagradas e sua fixação através da repetição anual nas cidades. A CFS buscava engendrar ‘valores’, associados à construção da identidade nacional brasileira. Dessa forma produziu no imaginário porto-alegrense a representação de coesão e unidade nacional em razão do formato de percorrer a nação e ter como ponto de culminância sempre a cidade de Porto Alegre. No contexto esportivo, produziu a representação de que os clubes esportivos identificados como ‘estrangeiros’ foram ‘abrasileirados’ devido à participação de dirigentes esportivos e atletas na CFS. / The 'Nation Torch Relay' – NTR – it is a cultural practice that marks the beginning of the celebrations from 'Nation’s Week’ in Porto Alegre city by the 1930's end. From 1938, the NTR has annually been edited by the National Defense League (NDL) with portoalegrenses sports leaders support. There were those leaders who idealized the NTR in Porto Alegre, after they watched the "Olympic Torch Relay" at Berlin Olympic Games opening ceremony in 1936. This study aims to understand the participation of portoalegrenses sports clubs in the construction of representations from the Brazilian national identity through the invention of the 'Nation Torch Relay' in the period from 1938 to 1947. For this purpose, printed and oral sources were used. The printed primary sources are limited to NDL’s documents and works; among the main printed secondary sources are Globo’s Magazine and Correio do Povo newspaper. There were two interviews, which are the oral sources. The ‘Nation Torch Relay’ (1938-1947) was an invented tradition in Porto Alegre city, institutionalized by NDL with social support from the city’s sports clubs. The justification of its achievement was made by historical and sacred’s links and its fixation through annual repetition in the cities. The NTR aimed to pass 'values'; and they were associated to the construction of Brazilian national identity. Thus, it produced in the porto-alegrense imagination, the representation of national cohesion and unity because of the way it roams about the nation and has as a point of culmination Porto Alegre city. In the sports context, it produced the representation that sports clubs identified, as 'foreigners', were 'adopted Brazilian ways and manners' due to athletes and sports leaders participation in the NTR.

A ‘Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria’ – CFS – é uma prática cultural que marca o início das comemorações da ‘Semana da Pátria’ em Porto Alegre no final da década de 1930. A partir de 1938, a CFS foi editada anualmente pela Liga de Defesa Nacional (LDN) com o apoio de dirigentes esportivos porto-alegrenses. Foram esses dirigentes que idealizaram a CFS em Porto Alegre, após assistirem a “Corrida de Revezamento da Chama Olímpica” na cerimônia de abertura dos Jogos Olímpicos de Berlim em 1936. Este estudo busca compreender a participação dos clubes esportivos porto-alegrenses na construção de representações da identidade nacional brasileira através da invenção da ‘Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria’ no período de 1938 a 1947. Para tanto, utilizaram-se fontes impressas e orais. As fontes impressas primárias se restringem aos documentos e obras da LDN; entre as principais fontes impressas secundárias estão a Revista do Globo e o jornal Correio do Povo. Foram realizadas duas entrevistas que constituem as fontes orais. A Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria (1938-1947) foi uma tradição inventada em Porto Alegre, institucionalizada pela LDN com o apoio social feito pelos clubes esportivos. A justificativa de sua realização se deu através de ligações históricosagradas e sua fixação através da repetição anual nas cidades. A CFS buscava engendrar ‘valores’, associados à construção da identidade nacional brasileira. Dessa forma produziu no imaginário porto-alegrense a representação de coesão e unidade nacional em razão do formato de percorrer a nação e ter como ponto de culminância sempre a cidade de Porto Alegre. No contexto esportivo, produziu a representação de que os clubes esportivos identificados como ‘estrangeiros’ foram ‘abrasileirados’ devido à participação de dirigentes esportivos e atletas na CFS. / The 'Nation Torch Relay' – NTR – it is a cultural practice that marks the beginning of the celebrations from 'Nation’s Week’ in Porto Alegre city by the 1930's end. From 1938, the NTR has annually been edited by the National Defense League (NDL) with portoalegrenses sports leaders support. There were those leaders who idealized the NTR in Porto Alegre, after they watched the "Olympic Torch Relay" at Berlin Olympic Games opening ceremony in 1936. This study aims to understand the participation of portoalegrenses sports clubs in the construction of representations from the Brazilian national identity through the invention of the 'Nation Torch Relay' in the period from 1938 to 1947. For this purpose, printed and oral sources were used. The printed primary sources are limited to NDL’s documents and works; among the main printed secondary sources are Globo’s Magazine and Correio do Povo newspaper. There were two interviews, which are the oral sources. The ‘Nation Torch Relay’ (1938-1947) was an invented tradition in Porto Alegre city, institutionalized by NDL with social support from the city’s sports clubs. The justification of its achievement was made by historical and sacred’s links and its fixation through annual repetition in the cities. The NTR aimed to pass 'values'; and they were associated to the construction of Brazilian national identity. Thus, it produced in the porto-alegrense imagination, the representation of national cohesion and unity because of the way it roams about the nation and has as a point of culmination Porto Alegre city. In the sports context, it produced the representation that sports clubs identified, as 'foreigners', were 'adopted Brazilian ways and manners' due to athletes and sports leaders participation in the NTR.

This work explores the connections between the constructed representations of places based on local histories, the processes of tradition reinvention and the strategies of regional development in two Russian regions. This analysis also outlines the context created by the external to the regions influences and the associated with them local conditions.