The purpose of this study is to investigate binary discourses of self and other constructed by Canadian media in the representation of Saudi women. One of the modest aims of this research is to expound on the status of centralized media coverage in Canada. Drawing on Hegel’s model of dialectics, as framed by Edward Said’s Orientalism (1978) and David Nikkel’s conception of a moderate postmodernism, this research also aims at contributing to the ongoing modern-postmodern discussion by delineating and examining the ways in which dialectical analysis can aid in the deconstruction of metanarratives in Western culture. Utilizing a qualitative research design that employs multidimensional modes of textual analysis, the thesis examined the changes in the portrayal of Saudi Women through a non-probability sampling of 88 Canadian newspaper articles selected from the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and National post between 2001-2009. One major finding was that the metanarratives guiding these representations did not change significantly despite changes in narratives as brought about by several major political events. The implications of this thesis revealed what the ideological influences framing these depictions, as well as whether or not the changes that they have undergone, were self-reifying in nature. The research also highlighted the implications resulting from assessing the ontological identities of Saudi women vis-à-vis a Western framework of values.

The purpose of this study is to investigate binary discourses of self and other constructed by Canadian media in the representation of Saudi women. One of the modest aims of this research is to expound on the status of centralized media coverage in Canada. Drawing on Hegel’s model of dialectics, as framed by Edward Said’s Orientalism (1978) and David Nikkel’s conception of a moderate postmodernism, this research also aims at contributing to the ongoing modern-postmodern discussion by delineating and examining the ways in which dialectical analysis can aid in the deconstruction of metanarratives in Western culture. Utilizing a qualitative research design that employs multidimensional modes of textual analysis, the thesis examined the changes in the portrayal of Saudi Women through a non-probability sampling of 88 Canadian newspaper articles selected from the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and National post between 2001-2009. One major finding was that the metanarratives guiding these representations did not change significantly despite changes in narratives as brought about by several major political events. The implications of this thesis revealed what the ideological influences framing these depictions, as well as whether or not the changes that they have undergone, were self-reifying in nature. The research also highlighted the implications resulting from assessing the ontological identities of Saudi women vis-à-vis a Western framework of values.

Cette thèse démontre comment le patrimoine préhispanique colombien devient un enjeu de reconnaissance pour les peuples autochtones, vingt ans après l’élaboration d’une constitution multiculturelle et néolibérale. Inspirée des travaux de L. Boltanski et d’E. Claverie, l’étude de trois affaires permet de saisir comment de nouvelles revendications ethniques transforment un dispositif patrimonial qui semblait immuable depuis plus d’un demi-siècle. L’analyse s’appuie sur un travail de terrain multisitué (Marcus, 1995). Elle explore les paysages (Appadurai, 2001) patrimoniaux et autochtones du « système monde » en les reliant à trois sites où des parcs archéologiques nationaux se situent au sein ou en bordure de territoires autochtones (Teyuna Ciudad Perdida, San Agustín et Tierradentro). En retraçant la biographie sociale et culturelle des vestiges (Appadurai et Kopytoff, 1986), nous expliquons comment le dispositif patrimonial, mis en place au début du vingtième siècle, est à l’origine d'une valorisation rhétorique et esthétique des racines préhispaniques du pays, mais en aucun cas d'une reconnaissance des peuples autochtones contemporains. Ecartés de l’histoire et de la gestion patrimoniale des parcs, les leaders autochtones entendent, à la fin des années 2000, transformer les régimes de vérité et de patrimonialité qu’ils jugent injustes. L’enjeu est de légitimer leur appropriation des sites afin de justifier leurs demandes de reconnaissance identitaire et territoriale. Le droit autochtone, les principes de l’UNESCO sur la diversité culturelle et le patrimoine immatériel, la pensée décoloniale et les craintes suscitées par le tourisme, sont autant de supports mobilisés pour justifier leurs attentes. Lors des affaires, différents systèmes de légitimité s'affrontent au cours d’épreuves de justice (Boltanski, Thevenot, 1991) et de force. Ce processus renforce les frontières ethniques par un effet d’altérisation patrimoniale et modifie le régime de patrimonialité : les vestiges deviennent les supports de nouvelles pratiques ethniques, rituelles et sacrées, les autochtones acquièrent une place de partenaires dans le nouveau dispositif patrimonial et la valeur relationnelle des artefacts devient aussi importante que leur matérialité. / This thesis aims to understand how Colombia's pre-Hispanic heritage becomes a recognition issue for indigenous peoples, twenty years after the creation of a multicultural and neoliberal constitution. Inspired by the works of L. Boltanski and E. Claverie, the study of three “affairs” makes it possible to understand how new ethnic claims transform a heritage “dispositif” (Foucault, 1977) that seemed immutable for more than half a century. The analysis is based on a multi-sited field work (Marcus, 1995). It explores heritage-scapes (Appadurai, 2001), and indigenous-scapes of the "world system" by linking them to three sites where national archaeological parks are located within or bordering indigenous territories (Teyuna-Ciudad Perdida, San Agustín and Tierradentro). In retracing the social and cultural biography of the vestiges (Appadurai and Kopytoff, 1986), we explain how the heritage “dispositif”, introduced at the beginning of the twentieth century, gave rise to a rhetorical and aesthetic valorization of the country's pre-Hispanic roots, but in no way to the recognition of contemporary indigenous peoples. In the late 2000s, indigenous leaders, who were left out of the history and heritage management of parks, intend to transform the “truth regime” and “heritage regime” they consider unfair. The challenge is to legitimize their appropriation of the sites in order to justify their requests for identity and territorial recognition. Indigenous rights, UNESCO's principles on cultural diversity and intangible heritage, decolonial thinking and fears aroused by tourism are all resources used to justify their expectations. In those “affairs”, different systems of legitimacy clash during “tests of justification” (Boltanski, Thevenot, 1991) and “tests of strength”. This process reinforces ethnic boundaries through a heritage othering effect, and changes the heritage regime: artifacts become the supports of new ethnic, ritual and sacred practices, indigenous peoples acquire a place of partners in the new heritage “dispositif”, and the relational value of vestiges becomes as important as their materiality.

In Spain, in 1501 the conversion of Muslims to Christianity was thought possible, hence the decreed baptisms; by the end of the century metanoia was deemed impossible. Similarly, religious otherness was thought to be surmountable; yet, it ultimately became indelible or racialized. These construction processes helped to discursively justify the expulsions of Christians, baptized descendants of Muslims, in the years 1609-1614. The importance of language in these justifications was arrived at through the study of referential language in texts, and a trans-Atlantic comparative approach. The discursive (re)construction and (re)inscription of otherness were traced through a variety of sixteenth-century ecclesial texts. Before these communities came to be named the so-called “moriscos” there were important changes in meaning and usage of other phrases and terms, such as “new Christian” and “newly converted.” The referential language was still in transition throughout the century and the processes are easily hidden by the historiographical premature and (over)use of the term “morisco.” Moreover, the full transition toward the racialized term “morisco” occurred closer to the eighteenth century and mostly across the Atlantic. The justifications rely on these communities being non-Christian and non-Spanish: suspect and alien. “Morisco” is not often a good metonymy. The fact that “moriscos” discursively came to be considered non-Spanish and non-Christian did not mean that there was actual discernible or insurmountable otherness. Therefore, a level of difference in the peninsula was posited through the study of referential language related to Amerindians before and after baptism: especially given that Amerindians remained “indios” after baptism—an indication that difference could be overcome in the peninsula. Furthermore, an analysis of the Sistema de Castas where “morisco” was used revealed that the proliferation of categories on both sides of the Atlantic was to prevent these communities from ever reaching the status of old Christian or Spanish.

This study examines the ways in which museums and memorials within South African society commemorate events of the past. Various examples of museums and memorials are chosen and identified according to the ways in which they embody postmodern or modern thought. Postmodern and modern museums are deconstructed according to various post-structural tenets so as to arrive at a broader understanding on how they are able to remain a continuously relevant and vital part of contemporary society. / Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology / M.A. (Art History)

This thesis aims to understand the encounter between the Swedish government’s constructions of immigrated women and the women’s own identifications. By merging post-structural ontology with feminist post-colonial ideas a theoretical framework was created to meet this aim. The government’s constructions were found through discourse analysis of governmental publications and interpellation debates while the immigrated women’s stories were captured through interviews. The findings show that the government homogenizes the immigrated woman and positions her as unemployed, excluded, caring, and dependent etc., while the women recognize themselves as among other things professionals and agents. However, while the government constructs a homogeneous image of the immigrated woman, the women express very diverse identities, and the differences are significant. Thus, there is a clear discrepancy in the perceived and lived reality of immigrated women in Sweden. This could lead to a reproduction of immigrated women as belonging to patriarchal structures, which attributes the women the problem. Accordingly, the women also become the targets for the suggested solutions.

Denna uppsats undersöker samers utrymme och framställning i svenska dagstidningar. Tidigare forskning visar hur nyhetsmedia innehar en växande makt i att påverka hur olika grupper i samhället uppfattas och behandlas. Bland annat exemplifierar den tidigare forskningen hur urfolk och minoriteter begränsas i sitt mediala utrymme och framställs på ett homogent och fördomsfullt sätt. I föreliggande studie undersöks vilket utrymme den samiska befolkningen får i svensk nyhetsrapportering, vad för typ av samerelaterade nyheter som uppmärksammas samt hur samerna framställs i rapporteringen. Metoden som har använts för att besvara frågeställningarna är en innehållsanalys med både kvalitativa och kvantitativa inslag, där tidningsartiklar från tre svenska dagstidningar har studerats under tidsperioden av ett år. Resultatet visar bland annat hur samerna får ett begränsat medialt utrymme och att när de väl uppmärksammas är det ofta ett stort fokus på kulturella nyheter, medan händelser som kan anses viktiga för den samiska befolkningen marginaliseras. Därefter har resultatet analyserats utifrån den postkoloniala teorin, och därmed kunde samband urskiljas mellan Sveriges historiska relation till den samiska befolkningen och medias framställning av dem. / This paper examines the Sami peoples representation in Swedish newspapers. Previous research show that news media holds a growing power in affecting how different groups are perceived and being treated in today’s society. It shows how indigenous people and minorities are limited in the news media and portrayed in a homogeneous and biased way. This study examines to which extent the Sami population is being seen in the Swedish news media, what kind of Sami related news that are being reported and, how the Sami people are being presented. The method used to answer the thesis questions is a content analysis with complementary qualitative and quantitative elements. Articles published in three Swedish newspapers during the period of one year have in this study been examined. The result indicates that Sami culture is given a lot of space in the reported news, while other important events and questions concerning the Sami people are less visible. The result is analyzed on the basis of postcolonial theory, and connection could thus be distinguished between Sweden's historical relationship with the Sami population and the media's presentation of the group.

The purpose of this study is to investigate binary discourses of self and other constructed by Canadian media in the representation of Saudi women. One of the modest aims of this research is to expound on the status of centralized media coverage in Canada. Drawing on Hegel’s model of dialectics, as framed by Edward Said’s Orientalism (1978) and David Nikkel’s conception of a moderate postmodernism, this research also aims at contributing to the ongoing modern-postmodern discussion by delineating and examining the ways in which dialectical analysis can aid in the deconstruction of metanarratives in Western culture. Utilizing a qualitative research design that employs multidimensional modes of textual analysis, the thesis examined the changes in the portrayal of Saudi Women through a non-probability sampling of 88 Canadian newspaper articles selected from the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and National post between 2001-2009. One major finding was that the metanarratives guiding these representations did not change significantly despite changes in narratives as brought about by several major political events. The implications of this thesis revealed what the ideological influences framing these depictions, as well as whether or not the changes that they have undergone, were self-reifying in nature. The research also highlighted the implications resulting from assessing the ontological identities of Saudi women vis-à-vis a Western framework of values.

I den här studien har jag undersökt utlandsfödda studenters upplevelser av svenskt universitet. Det de har gemensamt är att de kommer från en annan bakgrund än svensk, att de studerar eller har studerat på ett svenskt universitet och att de talar god svenska. Undersökningen visar prov på hur etnicitet och identiteter skapas och synliggörs i olika situationer, och att det svenska språket och tiden i Sverige är viktiga faktorer för att förstå normer och koder. Detta material har framtagits genom att jag intervjuat personer som överensstämmer med beskrivningen, kodat materialet, intervjuat igen och sedan analyserat och jämfört med tidigare forskning. / In this study, I have examined how foreign-born students experience studying at a Swedish university. What they have in common is that they originally come from a different country than Sweden, that they study or have studied at a Swedish university and that they speak and understand the Swedish language well. The survey shows how ethnicity and identities are created and made visible in certain situations, and that both the Swedish language and time in Sweden are important factors for understanding norms and codes. The material is collected by me intervjuing individuals that falls under the above discription. Then I have analysed the material and compared it with privious, similar studies.

The UK's departure from the EU marks a pivotal moment in the history of intra-EU migration, one which foretells significant consequences for the identities and future plans of EU27 citizens who call the UK home, as they try to navigate the uncertainty and xenophobic othering sparked by the referendum result in June 2016. This thesis proposes five hypotheses on the cause-and-effect relationships that link migrant identity to subsequent decision-making in the context of Brexit, through coping strategies and other determining factors. Findings are based on thematic and comparative analysis of qualitative in-depth interviews with 22 Italian, Polish and Romanian citizens living in London, which were conducted between March 2018 and April 2019, prior to the UK's departure date and during a period of considerable uncertainty regarding their future in the country. In terms of Brexit's impact on their identity formation, xenophobic othering plays a key role in reinforcing and reconfiguring collective identities, and provokes contests to citizenship-identity hierarchies within the EU27 community in London. Despite the three nationalities' differing patterns of belonging and resulting identity reconfigurations, Brexit has broadly increased their attachment to, and solidarity through, a transnational European identity. In terms of the practical impact of Brexit on significant life-course decisions, the referendum has not triggered a 'Brexodus' or mass emigration of EU27 citizens from the UK, as emigration decisions are primarily governed by individual and circumstantial factors. Citizens who do not emigrate either face analysis paralysis and adopt avoidance tactics to delay decision-making, or they opt for instrumental naturalisation which often leads subliminally to a greater sense of belonging in the UK. Alongside the general hypotheses, this thesis also depicts the diverse attitudes and coping strategies that differentiate Italians, Polish and Romanians from one another, with regards to their distinct national and cultural backgrounds.