This thesis is an occasion to examine how normalcy – as a phenomenon constructed in society and so not natural but human-made – is reproduced as a hegemonic ideal through oppressive portrayals of disability in literature. Many of the fictional texts I analyze reproduce the privileging of normalcy. I therefore work to disturb normalcyʼs hold through critical analysis of a wide variety of currently popular fiction for youth and adults. Combining interpretive inquiry and personal narrative, I bring forward new understandings of normalcy, disability and culture. Along with showing how normalcyʼs supremacy is upheld within the book industry, and critiquing texts that do disability as usual (through both survey and close analysis approaches), I discuss at length several literary works that write disability in anti-oppressive, anti-ableist ways. To close this thesis, I discuss my own transformation as an author and scholar through disability studies.

This project explores the intersection of postwar German history, visual art, and left-wing terrorism. More than thirty years have now passed since the German Red Army Faction’s (1970-1998) most spectacular violent campaign—the so-called “German Autumn” of 1977—and yet the organization continues to elicit a variety of cultural responses from many artists. Interestingly, many films, texts, and visual artworks featuring the Red Army Faction (RAF) as their subject focus heavily on the group’s charismatic founders and on the German state’s vigorous efforts to suppress them and their successors, and yet these works pay comparatively scant attention to the individuals whom the RAF murdered. In light of this observation, I argue that the German Left’s cultural memory of the RAF was and still is marked not only by a significant ambivalence concerning the RAF (especially the founders) and the German state, but also the victims. As a means of elucidating this ambivalence, I offer close “readings” of two works of visual art that debuted at different moments in the years following the German Autumn. Gerhard Richter’s October 18, 1977 (1988) is a photorealist series that invites viewers to consider the lives and especially the deaths of the RAF’s principal members, while Hans-Peter Feldmann’s photo compilation The Dead 1967-1993 (1998) presents a sobering chronology of individuals killed either directly or indirectly as a result of the German leftist counterculture, including terrorist violence, without making an immediate distinction between perpetrators and victims. Within the framework of the larger RAF cultural memory, the works of Richter and Feldmann thus help clarify some of the causes and effects of the German Left’s suspended resolution regarding RAF terrorism. / text

With a view to conducting a study of the identity portrayal as presented in the film Paljas - and more specifically of the two youth characters, Willem and Emma - a few relevant theoretical concepts are included in this investigation, i.e. developmental psychology, film theory and narratology. By analysing and interpreting the film-related representation of the two youth characters it was possible to establish to which extent and in which way the identity portrayal of the two youth characters enhances the main theme of the film. It was, accordingly, also possible to elucidate facets of the placement of the fictional reality as represented in the film text and the reality as such in parallel correlation. According to the research method that was implemented certain aspects of different related sciences proved to be of integral importance. Such aspects included the psychological development of the child during mid-childhood years, the psychological development of the late adolescent, the application of film-related techniques pertaining to character portrayal and characterisation in narratology. During the course of this research the focus was on the identity portrayal of the two characters, Willem and Emma as youth characters in the film Paljas. An analysis of the identity portrayal of the youth characters implies that the investigation and application of narratology and film theory be incorporated in conjunction with theories pertaining to developmental psychology as specific point of focus. The research results were thus described by means of an integrated method. The children's experience of interpersonal communication at their home exercises an important influence on their identity development. The parents create the primary framework of reference for the children's attitude, value systems and convictions in connection with life in general as well as for their own sense of the self and their self-estimation. Key words: film, film text, film theory, identity portrayal, interpretation, youth characters, late adolescence, mid-childhood years, narratology, developmental psychology, Paljas, reception theory. / Thesis (M.A. (Languages))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

With a view to conducting a study of the identity portrayal as presented in the film Paljas - and more specifically of the two youth characters, Willem and Emma - a few relevant theoretical concepts are included in this investigation, i.e. developmental psychology, film theory and narratology. By analysing and interpreting the film-related representation of the two youth characters it was possible to establish to which extent and in which way the identity portrayal of the two youth characters enhances the main theme of the film. It was, accordingly, also possible to elucidate facets of the placement of the fictional reality as represented in the film text and the reality as such in parallel correlation. According to the research method that was implemented certain aspects of different related sciences proved to be of integral importance. Such aspects included the psychological development of the child during mid-childhood years, the psychological development of the late adolescent, the application of film-related techniques pertaining to character portrayal and characterisation in narratology. During the course of this research the focus was on the identity portrayal of the two characters, Willem and Emma as youth characters in the film Paljas. An analysis of the identity portrayal of the youth characters implies that the investigation and application of narratology and film theory be incorporated in conjunction with theories pertaining to developmental psychology as specific point of focus. The research results were thus described by means of an integrated method. The children's experience of interpersonal communication at their home exercises an important influence on their identity development. The parents create the primary framework of reference for the children's attitude, value systems and convictions in connection with life in general as well as for their own sense of the self and their self-estimation. Key words: film, film text, film theory, identity portrayal, interpretation, youth characters, late adolescence, mid-childhood years, narratology, developmental psychology, Paljas, reception theory. / Thesis (M.A. (Languages))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

The literature on J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is prolific. People have written on various topics dealing with issues such as translation, etymology and diverse areas concerning the language. In this essay, I examine whether linguistic features such as reporting verbs, adverbs of manner and adjectives contribute to the depiction of heroic and villainous characters. Before conducting this research, my assumptions were that there would be a great difference in the value of the words depending on the character they were associated with. I wanted to see if the heroic characters used verbs and adverbs with positive connotations, and the villainous characters verbs and adverbs with negative connotations. I also wanted to know if the adjectives describing the characters could, in themselves, clearly indicate whether a character was a hero or a villain. The results of my research suggested that the choice of particular verbs and adverbs contributed only indirectly to the depiction of the characters. Without context, it was not possible to know if the character was a hero or a villain simply by identifying the verbs and adverbs used to describe their speech. By contrast, the choice of particular adjectives did appear to indicate more clearly whether a character was hero or villain. Finally, the results of my research indicated that context, rather than the use of particular linguistic features was often the most important factor in contributing to the portrayal of characters in the novel.

Denna uppsats är en fallstudie av den Brittiska medierapporteringen runt och av rättsfallet Bell v. Tavistock mellan Oktober 2019 och Januari 2021. Uppsatsen består av en kritisk diskursanalys av de insamlade artiklarna som berörde ämnet under denna tidsperiod. Den utgår ifrån Foucaults diskursteorier samt Miranda Frickers ideer om epistemisk orättvisa för att undersöka hur de olika aktörerna, med fokus på transpersoner har porträtterats i denna rapportering. Uppsatsen har också tittat på den ideologiska vinkling som den brittiska rapporteringen har haft och hur de har valt att porträttera rättsfallet. / This paper is a case study of the British news media reporting surrounding the high court case Bell v. Tavistock with articles ranging from October 2019 to January 2021. The paper consists of a critical discourse analysis of the collected articles that discussed the case during this period. It’s based on Foucaults theories about discourse and Miranda Frickers concept of epistemic injustice to study how the different actors in the case, with a focus on transgendered individuals, have been portrayed in the media discourse. The paper has also looked at the ideological angles the british news media have had in their reporting and how they’ve chosen to portray the case.

This thesis examined the contemporary U.S. popular culture, specifically the Netflix series House of Cards, and the analysis was focused on the representation of the media reality portrayed in the first two seasons of the series. The credibility of given model situations or their exaggeration is examined based on thirteen research interviews with Czech and American journalists in March, April, and May 2020. The public trust in media, the influence of popular culture on mass society, specifics and ethics of investigative journalism, and broadly the representation of media in cinematography were presented in the first part. The analysis of the portrayal of journalists and media in the series and research interviews with experts followed. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the credibility of the portrayal of journalists. The secondary research question was focused on the public trust in media and the potential harm that the depiction in culture might cause. The views of Czech and American journalists on the portrayal of media in popular culture and the discussion about their diverse opinions are the primary asset of this thesis. The results prove that the perception of ethics and journalistic behaviour in given specific situations differ individually. Therefore, aspects such as...

The goal of this diploma thesis is to conduct a thorough research of the Czech public debate on anarcho-capitalism and anarcho-capitalists through media communication, to analyze the media representation of anarcho-capitalism using quantitative content analysis and to provide a momentary capture of speakers, actors, topics and contexts. The study first focuses on the theoretical basis of anarcho-capitalism, its practice in the Czech Republic and the theory of portraying reality in the media from a social constructivist point of view. Then it focuses on research of media reports on anarcho-capitalism or anarcho-capitalists published in the Czech print and online media from the beginning of 2010 to the end of 2020. The results show how the representation of anarcho-capitalism in the media has changed over time and present the main topics and contexts with which anarcho-capitalism was mentioned in the Czech media.

The portrayal of law in television programs on the example of the series Judge Barbara Dominika Muschaliková Abstract This diploma thesis deals with the depiction of law and lawyers in Czech serial production on the example of the TV show Judge Barbara. It analysis means the creators use to capture the judicial environment and the impressions of the judicial environment viewers get from the show. It also compares this depiction with reality and evaluates the educational potential of the show. The second part seeks to answer the question of whether it is ethically permissible for real judges and lawyers to participate in the production of these programs, draws attention to the complexities of professional advice on television production and gives future legal advisers recommendations how to proceed when asked to partipate in such project. Key words Portrayal, law, television, court proceedings, TV shows, Judge Barbara

Syftet med denna uppsats är att ta reda på hur fem olika personer med OCD upplever framställningen av OCD i komediserien Scrubs samt dramafilmen The Aviator. Vidare togs det reda på varför intervjupersonerna upplever dessa framställningar som de gör och på vilka sätt de kan identifiera sig med dem. Studiens teoretiska ramverk är representationsteori, kodning och avkodning samt självkategoriseringsteori. Uppsatsens material består av kvalitativa intervjuer med fem olika intervjupersoner som alla har diagnosen OCD. Inför besvarandet av intervjufrågorna har intervjupersonerna tittat på avsnitt från Scrubs samt på filmen The Aviator där karaktärer med OCD finns med. Resultatet visar att fyra av fem intervjupersoner kan identifiera sig med fysiska tvångshandlingar som karaktären med OCD i Scrubs utför. Framställningen av OCD i The Aviator kan samtliga fem intervjupersoner identifiera sig med där majoriteten av dem identifierar sig i känslostämningen i form av stress, frustration och ångest som huvudkaraktären med OCD bitvis uppvisar. Den första slutsatsen är att intervjupersonerna upplever en mer adekvat framställning av OCD i The Aviator än i Scrubs, då framställningen i The Aviator innefattar en betydligt större del av det psykiska och känslomässiga lidande som OCD innebär. Den andra slutsatsen är att intervjupersonernas inställning till hur OCD framställs i Scrubs och The Aviator är beroende av den utsträckning i vilken de kan identifiera sig med detta.