The period of late Stalinism (1948-1953) witnessed sharp rise of anti-Jewish animosity and discrimination from the part of the Soviet regime. These tensions were caused by both domestic factors (ideological diversification of Soviet intellectual elite, escalation of Jewish nationalism, struggle for power among highest nomenclature) as well as international factors (transformation of the Soviet-Israeli relations, rise of the Cold War). The thesis analyzes, how these circumstances were reflected at that time. Therefore it tries to identify, how the image of "The Jude" was formed by the Soviet propaganda and how it changed in the given time period. As a general framework for this analysis the concept of "The Enemy" will serve which is considered to be one of the basic elements of totalitarian ideologies. The thesis examines by means of semiotic method two significant propaganda campaigns of that period, namely campaign against the "cosmopolitism" in January - March 1949 and campaign accompanying "The Doctors' Plot" during January - March 1953. It would try to identify, how the image of "The Enemy" was connected at that time with the notion of "The Jew".

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Le genre représente l'un des sujets les plus populaires dans les discussions sur les romans de Margaret Atwood. Les Testaments, le roman le plus récent d'Atwood, n’est pas d’exception. La plupart de ces études, cependant, sont dépourvues d'une étude politique dédiée analysant les systèmes et les gouvernements et leur rôle dans la création de la condition actuelle. Par conséquent, le but de cette étude est d'adopter une approche différente et de se concentrer sur le régime de Gilead en tant que système politique et de l'analyser sous le prisme d'une théorie politique dédiée. En choisissant le politique plutôt que le politique, cette recherche peut aller au-delà de l'action et enquêter sur l’incitation et le principal moteur des actions du régime de Gilead, qui ne sont pas nécessairement sexospécifiques. La recherche actuelle se concentre sur le concept de politique de Carl Schmitt et analyse les relations ami-ennemi et les raisons de sa production telles qu'elles se manifestent dans le roman. Étant donné que la théorie de Schmitt ne suffit pas à couvrir les compréhensions multidimensionnelles et radicalement différentes du politique, la lecture des Testaments basée sur la définition du terme de Hannah Arendt est nécessaire. La définition d'Arendt se concentre sur le politique comme une force de manipulation et un contrat partagé entre les individus. Elle distingue le social et le politique et explique la fonction du politique dans l'espace public et privé. Bien que le genre ne soit pas une priorité absolue pour lire Les Testaments dans cette recherche, il est également discuté en fonction de ses relations avec le politique. Les résultats indiquent que, pour Gilead, le maintien du pouvoir et de la sécurité, ainsi que la manipulation de l'espace privé pour garantir la souveraineté, importent plus que le genre. De plus, le roman, tout en discutant des horreurs genrées du régime religieux de Gilead, tente d'attirer notre attention sur l'importance d'étudier les gouvernements plutôt que les sociétés et les discours seuls. Mots-clés : politique, souveraineté, espace public, espace privé, ami, ennemi / Gender represents one of the most popular topics in discussions of Margaret Atwood’s novels. The Testaments, Atwood’s most recent novel, is no exception. Most of these studies, however, are devoid of a dedicated political study that analyzes the systems and governments and their role in creating the present condition. Hence, the purpose of this study is to take a different approach and focus on the Gilead regime as a political system and analyze it through the lens of dedicated political theory. By choosing the political instead of political, this research can move beyond the action and investigate the incentives and the main driving force behind the actions of Gilead’s regime, which are not necessarily gender-oriented. The present research focuses on Carl Schmitt’s concept of the political and analyzes friend-enemy relationships and the reasons behind its production as manifested in the novel. Since Schmitt’s theory is not enough to cover the multi-dimensional and drastically different understandings about the political, reading The Testaments based on Hannah Arendt’s definition of the term is necessary. Arendt’s definition focuses on the political as a manipulative force and a shared contract between the individuals. She distinguishes the social and the political and explains the function of the political in the public and private space. While gender is not a top priority to read The Testaments in this research, it is also discussed based on its relations to the political. The results indicate that, for Gilead, sustaining power and security, as well as the manipulation of private space for securing sovereignty, matters more than gender. Furthermore, the novel, while discussing the gendered horrors of Gilead’s religious regime, tries to attract our attention to the importance of studying governments rather than societies and discourses alone. Keywords: the political, sovereignty, public space, private space, friend, enemy

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the highest-grossing film franchise that nurtures superhero stories within their narratives. However, in recent years the franchise has undergone a substantial shift in its adversary portrayal, with introducing Russian characters. Therefore, this study’s purpose is to expand the knowledge on the construction and development of Russian enemy images within the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, by focusing on three key movies: Iron Man 2 (2010), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), and Black Widow (2021). The research utilizes a diachronic case-oriented comparative design, wherein the selected movies are analyzed through a unique analytical framework, which consists of semiotic analysis and enemy images as theory. The study’s results demonstrate that the construction of enemy images in each movie resembles an ideal type and remained somewhat similar in terms of the demarcation between ‘us’ and ‘them’, and the characterization of ‘their’ essence throughout the years. However, the study’s findings indicate two developmental shifts: first, in ‘our’ character, where similarities are observed with ‘their’ violent behavior, and second with expanding ‘their’ threat from solely physical to psychological aspects as well.

This thesis examines Finnish soldiers’ experiences on the battlefield during the Winter War (1939-1940) and the Continuation War (1941-1944) through analyzing 245 war letters written by seven individuals who fought in the conflicts. A thematic data analysis approach is employed as a method to explore the narratives within these letters. The main themes expressed in the letters are identified and analyzed using the analytical framework of ”imitation of life” as presented by Povrzanović Frykman (2008) and Maček (2009), which serves as a guiding lens through which the soldiers’ representations of war are interpreted, focusing on their efforts to maintain a sense of normalcy and continuity amidst the disruptions of war. Additionally, the construction of enemy images and gender dynamics in the correspondence are analyzed. The Finnish soldiers’ letters depict a stark contrast between the brutality of war and their attempts to preserve elements of civilian life through acts of imitation, such as focusing on certain aspects of life like food and nature. Delving into the subjective experiences and emotional narratives as presented in the war letters, this thesis provides a nuanced understanding of human dimensions in wartime existence. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on soldiers’ wartime experiences and war letters, and offers insights into the complexities of war and the enduring legacies of conflict on individual and collective memory.

Cette étude, intitulée « Représentations de l’Occupation et le parcours de l’identité féminine dans Η μητέρα του σκύλου de Pavlos Matessis », examine la collaboration sexuelle de la femme avec l’ennemi au cours de l’Occupation italo-allemande, son châtiment à la Libération et sa protestation envers la punition infligée. L’analyse des techniques narratives combinée à celle du contexte historique permettent d’approfondir les représentations de l’Occupation élaborées par ce roman et cernent la question centrale qui concerne la position tenue par ce dernier face à un événement que l’Histoire officielle a considéré comme secondaire après l’avoir frappé d’une condamnation allant de soi. Il s’ensuit de l’analyse que cette fiction au caractère éminemment dramatique combine de façon unique l’histoire à ses modes d’énonciation narrative. Sa particularité est aussi qu’elle s’éloigne sensiblement de la version officielle des événements et articule un discours différent sur un sujet tabou, celui de la collaboration sexuelle des femmes avec l’ennemi qui a été reliée à la prostitution et à la trahison de la patrie. Il fait de cette collaboration l’occasion de l’éveil de la conscience sociale du sujet et de la composition d’une identité sur la base de la libre disposition de soi et de l’auto-détermination, et considère le châtiment public comme un mécanisme de déstructuration du sujet auquel répond le silence comme forme de protestation. Il s’agit d’une œuvre « à l’écoute » de la révolte contre l’injustice de l’Histoire, qui répond dans le présent à la demande insatisfaite de la réhabilitation du sujet et défend des idéaux humanistes qu’elle place au dessus des idéaux nationaux. / The title of the present doctoral research is “Representations of the Occupation and the evolution of female identity in Η μητέρα του σκύλου [The Mother of the dog] by Pavlos Matesis”. This novel revolves around the “erotic” collaboration of a woman with the enemy during the years of the Italian-German Occupation, the public disgrace that she suffered at the wake of Liberation and her protest for the punishment that was inflicted on her. Through a methodology consisting of a narrative analysis in combination with the historical context, I examine the representations of the Occupation that the novel offers in a period that was crucial for Greek history and society, and also the historical fact of the sexual collaboration, which was judged to be of “secondary” significance by official History which filed it as self-evidently condemnable. The conclusion stemming from this research is that the novel, through a fictional narrative with strong dramatic characteristics, combines the story with its narrative ways of expression in a unique way. Its peculiarity, however, lies in its distinctive differentiation from the given facts of the dominant version and in its articulation of a discourse on a taboo subject, for literature as for Historiography, this of the erotic collaboration of women with the enemy, the official evaluation of which connects them with prostitution and national treason. Through this collaboration, which stands as a pretext for the awakening of the subject’s social conscience and the constitution of an identity on the basis of self-determination and self-designation, it sees punishment as a deconstruction mechanism of the subject but also silence as a reaction to the former. Η Μητέρα του σκύλου is a book that “listens” to the protest for the historical injustice, brings forward to the present the unfulfilled request for the subject’s moral restoration and supports the humanistic ideals, putting them above the national ones.

Thesis (MA.)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the image of Yahweh as warrior in a selection of Biblical-Hebrew psalms against the background of similar images in the broader Ancient Near East. In the psalms this image is closely linked with the emotions and experience of the psalmist. In the situation of conflict he calls on Yahweh to intervene and to destroy the enemy. It is in such circumstances that this image of Yahweh gives the necessary comfort. In order to investigate the image of Yahweh as warrior in the psalms, this study uses the Comparative Method. This method is based on the assumption that cultures and societies share certain ideas and characteristics. The specific approach within the Comparative Method is called the typological comparative approach. This approach focuses on the comparison of phenomena in cultures that are historically and geographically far removed from each other. This comparison is based on the assumption that certain cultural characteristics are universally shared. In this investigation the following psalms are analysed: 3, 21, 46, 68, 76, 83, 140, 144. The selection was made on the basis of the different literary genres within the psalms. As a background to this investigation a summary of warrior terminology and ideas in the rest of the Ancient Near East is presented. Afterwards the warrior image in the selected psalms is investigated. The investigation proceeded as follows: Chapter 1 is devoted to the research history with regard to the image of Yahweh as warrior in the Hebrew Bible; in Chapter 2 the metaphor as literary device is discussed; and in Chapter 3 the focus is on the institution of war in the Ancient Near East and the role of warriors in this regard. From Chapters 4 to 11 the warrior metaphors in the selected psalms are analysed. With each of the analysed psalms the following method is used: (1) a translation and text-critical notes; (2) a discussion of the literary genre; (3) an analysis of the poetic elements; and (4) an analysis of the warrior images. The psalmist's enemies are also Yahweh's enemies. In the psalms where he is portrayed as warrior, three characters always come to the fore, namely Yahweh, the psalmist and the enemy. While the enemy is portrayed in terms of typical hostile images, the relationship between Yahweh and the psalmist is defensive, and offensive between Yahweh and the enemy. In this study it is , also shown that when Yahweh intervenes, he saves and restores the honour of the psalmist. Yahweh is also praised for his acts of salvation in the past. This forms the basis for the psalmist call to Yahweh to intervene in his situation. He defeats the enemy by making use of different weapons. The psalmist's enemies are also Yahweh's enemies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die voorstelling van Jahwe as kryger in 'n seleksie Bybels-Hebreeuse psalms teen die agtergrond van soortgelyke voorstellings in die breër Ou Nabye Oosterse konteks. In die psalms hang hierdie voorstelling ten nouste saam met die emosies en ervarings van die digter. Die vyand stig gedurig stryd aan en soek die digter se ondergang. In sy situasie van stryd en aanvegting roep hy tot Jahwe om in te gryp en die vyand te verslaan. Dit is dan juis hierdie voorstelling van Jahwe wat in dié omstandighede 'n groot gerusstelling is. In hierdie studie word daar van die Vergelykende Metode gebruik gemaak. Hierdie metode is gebaseer op die aanname dat kulture en gemeenskappe sekere opvattings en idees met mekaar deel. Die spesifieke benadering wat binne die Vergelykende Metode gebruik word, word die Tipologies-Vergelykende benadering genoem. In hierdie benadering handel dit oor die vergelyking van verskynsels in kulture wat histories en geografies van mekaar verwyderd is. Hierdie benadering opereer met die aanname dat sekere kulturele opvattings universeel gedeel word. Die volgende psalms word in die ondersoek ontleed: 3, 21,46,68, 76, 83, 140, 144. Die seleksie is gedoen op grond van die belangrikste literêre genres in die psalms. As agtergrond tot die ondersoek, word 'n kort oorsig gebied van krygerterminologie en opvattings in die res van die Ou Nabye Ooste. Daarna is die krygerbeeld in die geselekteerde psalms ondersoek. Die ondersoek het soos volg verloop: in Hoofstuk 1 is daar aandag gegee aan die navorsingsgeskiedenis met betrekking tot die voorstelling van Jahwe as kryger in die Hebreeuse Bybel, in Hoofstuk 2 is die literêre verskynsel van die metafoor behandel en in Hoofstuk 3 is daar gefokus op die Ou Nabye Oosterse instelling van oorlog en die plek van krygers in die verband. Vanaf Hoofstuk 4-11 is die krygermetafore in die geselekteerde psalms geanaliseer. By elk van die geanaliseerde psalms word die volgende metode gevolg: (1) 'n vertaling en tekskritiese aantekeninge; (2) 'n bespreking van die literêre genre; (3) 'n analise van die styl-elemente; en (4) 'n analise van die krygermetafore. In die psalms waar Jahwe as kryger voorgestel word, tree daar altyd drie hoofkarakters na vore, naamlik die digter, die vyand en Jahwe. Die vyand word geteken in terme van tipiese "vyandsbeelde", terwyl Jahwe defensief teenoor die bidder optree en offensief teenoor die teëstanders. In hierdie studie word ook aangedui dat wanneer Jahwe ingryp, bewerk Hy redding en herstel Hy ook die digter se eer. Jahwe word geloof vir sy reddingsdade in die verlede. Dit vorm die basis vir die digter se hulpgeroep tot Jahwe om in te gryp in sy situasie. Hy verslaan die vyand deur van verskillende wapens gebruik te maak. Die digter se vyande word ook as Jahwe se vyand gesien.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.