The subject of this diploma thesis is the perception of female characters in various media adaptations of The Witcher from the perspective of audiences that show signs of fan affiliation. The research focuses on the two most recent adaptations, i.e. the third game The Witcher: Wild Hunt and the serie The Witcher on the Netflix platform. The research took the form of in-depth interviews with a total of nine participants and focused on the role, characteristics, relationships and motivations of female characters in order to find out how respondents perceive these areas in adaptations. The first part of the diploma thesis deals with the theoretical basis related to popular culture, audiences, game and film studies and gender in media. It also presents the world of The Witcher, the selected characters and the critique of adaptations. The next section of the thesis deals with the research methodology. The grounded theory was used as a method of work and multiple levels of coding and categorization were conducted. These categories are then presented in the empirical part of the thesis together with a demonstration of the respondents' statements followed by data interpretation and discussion. The main findings include that female characters play an important role in both adaptations from the audience's...

Not Quite the Ingenue: The Development of the Middle-Aged Female Character in Musical Theatre is an exploration of the influences which have defined the function of middle-aged female characters within the musical theatre genre. This author was cast in the role of Arlene MacNalley, a forty-three year old woman, in the University of Central Florida's fall 2006 production of the musical Baby. Preparation for performance of this thesis role required identification of the traits and factors which would be vital for a realistic and relevant portrayal of Arlene. This document provides the reader with a working definition of middle age. It also furnishes a sampling of types, or stereotypes, of middle age female characters in musicals. The major thrust of the document emphasizes researching and understanding the importance of key socio-economic events' influence on the creation, direction, or depiction of middle-aged female characters. Three distinct characters are used to develop this theory, Aunt Eller in Oklahoma!, Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! and Arlene MacNalley in Baby. Further analysis within the thesis details essential differences between the original version of Arlene and the updated 2006 version of Arlene portrayed in the University of Central Florida's production of Baby. Conclusions drawn from the research, performance and writing processes indicate an increasing significance for the middle age female character as the genre of musical theatre continues to develop.

Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular literary since it was published due to the concept of shifting social structure. Marriage is one of the most critiqued concepts by different scholars, giving their views on what would be the implication portrayed by Elizabeth Bennet and her influence on Mr. Darcy to marry for love. Marriage is considered the central theme of the novel as different characters engaged in various types of relationships. Among the female characters, Elizabeth proves that wealth and social standing are not mandatory advantages in the intricate state of marriage. Appropriately, I shall frame my discussion of Elizabeth’s situation in the context of Feminist Literary Criticism Theory. The theory advocates for a paradigm shift in women’s position in society. The research argues that Elizabeth is a forerunner of change. She survives the afflictions women faced in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in a male-dominated culture. Elizabeth contradicts other women characters in the novel who are more accustomed to social formalities. As a harbinger of change, she advocates for a feminist mindset and a transformation of the roles and positions of women in society. The multifaceted role that she plays in the novel normalizes the ideology that women deserve the same treatment as men and that they too can achieve their goals by deviating from gender norms imposed by traditions. / <p>Slutgiltigt godkännandedatum: 2022-11-14</p>

Uppsatsen tar sig – med utgångspunkt i en analys av spelet Tomb Raider (2013) – an frågan om hur karakterisering genomförs inom interaktiva dataspel. Wahlsten väljer att använda sig dels av Sonja K Foss metod för narrativ analys, dels av Ian Bogosts procedurala retorik för att visa hur karaktären Lara Croft konstrueras under loppet av spelet. Dessa två metoder används för att kartlägga verktygen med vilka spelets narrativ presenteras, såväl de interaktiva som de icke-interaktiva. Uppsatsen visar tydligt och med många exempel att det finns en spänning mellan narrativets krav och spelarens intressen som ifrågasätter idén om att interaktiva spel i första hand påverkar genom immersion - tvärt om är spelen uppbyggda på så sätt att spelaren förutsätts dels identifiera sig med huvudkaraktären, dels ta avstånd från och använda denna som ’en virtuell leksak’ under loppet av spelet. Därmed pekar också Wahlsten ut ett tämligen okänt men mycket intressant forskningsområde för retorikvetenskapen. Wahlsten är medveten om att hans val av studieobjekt inte är självklart inom retoriken, men argumenterar väl för behovet av att studier av spel/Virtual Reality är och i synnerhet i framtiden bör vara, ett centralt område inom retorikforskningen / The essay asks the question how characterization in video games is accomplished, with the subject of analysis being the video game Tomb Raider (2013). Wahlsten chooses to use the methodology of Sonja K Foss for the narrative analysis, in addition to Procedural Rhetoric coined by Ian Bogost. These two methodologies are used to map out the tools used to construct the narrative of the game, which includes interactive one as well as non-interactive ones.   The essay clearly shows that there is a definite tension between the demands of the narrative on the player that puts into question the idea of interactive games mainly influencing through immersion. On the contrary, the game is constructed in such a way that the player is expected to identify with the playable character, while also motivating the player to distance itself from the character and use it as a sort of “virtual plaything”. Wahlsten thus highlights a fairly obscure but also highly interesting field of study within the Rhetorical sciences. Wahlsten is aware the object of study is not an obvious one within the field Rhetoric, but argues for the need of studies of games and Virtual Reality, and the importance of them for Rhetorical sciences in the future.

A presente dissertação pretende realizar uma leitura dos romances do escritor português Helder Macedo, Pedro e Paula, Sem nome e Natália, considerando como ponto principal de análise a construção das protagonistas femininas. A ficção do escritor português Helder Macedo recorre a artifícios narrativos permeados por incertezas e probabilidades para compor personalidades femininas complexas, em torno das quais são construídos mundos que aliam fatos históricos e acontecimentos ficcionais. A partir desses mundos, pretende-se refletir sobre o papel da mulher na sociedade contemporânea. Para tanto, realiza-se um estudo acerca do contexto histórico, da apropriação de referências intertextuais e da representação das personagens que habitam os romances, utilizando a contribuição das reflexões realizadas pela crítica feminista, acerca das questões sobre sujeito, identidade, gênero, sexo e sexualidade. Deste modo, pretende-se interpretar as personagens femininas e a representação do sujeito feminino suscitada por elas. / This thesis aims to accomplish a reading of the novels by the Portuguese writer Helder Macedo, Pedro e Paula, Sem Nome e Natália, considering as the main point of the analysis the construction of female protagonists. The fiction of the Portuguese writer Helder Macedo uses narrative devices permeated by uncertainty and probabilities to compose complex female personalities and construct worlds that combine historical facts and fictional events. From these worlds, we intend to reflect on the role of women in contemporary society. In order to do so, we make a study of the historical context, the appropriation of intertextual references and the representation of the characters that inhabit the novels, using the contribution of the considerations made by the feminist criticism about the issues on the subject, identity, gender, sex and sexuality. Thus, we intend to interpret the female characters and the representation of the female subject raised by them.

A presente dissertação pretende realizar uma leitura dos romances do escritor português Helder Macedo, Pedro e Paula, Sem nome e Natália, considerando como ponto principal de análise a construção das protagonistas femininas. A ficção do escritor português Helder Macedo recorre a artifícios narrativos permeados por incertezas e probabilidades para compor personalidades femininas complexas, em torno das quais são construídos mundos que aliam fatos históricos e acontecimentos ficcionais. A partir desses mundos, pretende-se refletir sobre o papel da mulher na sociedade contemporânea. Para tanto, realiza-se um estudo acerca do contexto histórico, da apropriação de referências intertextuais e da representação das personagens que habitam os romances, utilizando a contribuição das reflexões realizadas pela crítica feminista, acerca das questões sobre sujeito, identidade, gênero, sexo e sexualidade. Deste modo, pretende-se interpretar as personagens femininas e a representação do sujeito feminino suscitada por elas. / This thesis aims to accomplish a reading of the novels by the Portuguese writer Helder Macedo, Pedro e Paula, Sem Nome e Natália, considering as the main point of the analysis the construction of female protagonists. The fiction of the Portuguese writer Helder Macedo uses narrative devices permeated by uncertainty and probabilities to compose complex female personalities and construct worlds that combine historical facts and fictional events. From these worlds, we intend to reflect on the role of women in contemporary society. In order to do so, we make a study of the historical context, the appropriation of intertextual references and the representation of the characters that inhabit the novels, using the contribution of the considerations made by the feminist criticism about the issues on the subject, identity, gender, sex and sexuality. Thus, we intend to interpret the female characters and the representation of the female subject raised by them.

A presente dissertação pretende realizar uma leitura dos romances do escritor português Helder Macedo, Pedro e Paula, Sem nome e Natália, considerando como ponto principal de análise a construção das protagonistas femininas. A ficção do escritor português Helder Macedo recorre a artifícios narrativos permeados por incertezas e probabilidades para compor personalidades femininas complexas, em torno das quais são construídos mundos que aliam fatos históricos e acontecimentos ficcionais. A partir desses mundos, pretende-se refletir sobre o papel da mulher na sociedade contemporânea. Para tanto, realiza-se um estudo acerca do contexto histórico, da apropriação de referências intertextuais e da representação das personagens que habitam os romances, utilizando a contribuição das reflexões realizadas pela crítica feminista, acerca das questões sobre sujeito, identidade, gênero, sexo e sexualidade. Deste modo, pretende-se interpretar as personagens femininas e a representação do sujeito feminino suscitada por elas. / This thesis aims to accomplish a reading of the novels by the Portuguese writer Helder Macedo, Pedro e Paula, Sem Nome e Natália, considering as the main point of the analysis the construction of female protagonists. The fiction of the Portuguese writer Helder Macedo uses narrative devices permeated by uncertainty and probabilities to compose complex female personalities and construct worlds that combine historical facts and fictional events. From these worlds, we intend to reflect on the role of women in contemporary society. In order to do so, we make a study of the historical context, the appropriation of intertextual references and the representation of the characters that inhabit the novels, using the contribution of the considerations made by the feminist criticism about the issues on the subject, identity, gender, sex and sexuality. Thus, we intend to interpret the female characters and the representation of the female subject raised by them.

Notre étude porte sur les personnages féminins de Marcel Proust à l'aide du « désir » de René Girard, du « don » de Marcel Mauss et des « focalisations » de Gérard Genette. La focalisation variable dans le récit facilite la compréhension de toutes les relations et en particulier des sentiments amoureux du héros pour les femmes. Il croit pouvoir réaliser ses rêves à travers ces femmes et se réjouit à l'idée de posséder les clés qui lui permettent d'entrer dans le monde qu'il recherche. Ce sera le narrateur vieillissant qui démystifiera ce sentiment. En réalité, sa satisfaction ne provient pas des femmes en elles-mêmes, mais de leurs qualités périphériques qu'il peut retrouver chez elles. Girard défend le désir des mauvais procédés, il parle également du mimétisme, de la rivalité et de la violence dans le désir qui relève de l'imagination. Le « désir girardien » définit correctement le désir maladif du jeune héros envers les femmes. Quant à Mauss, il défend une réciprocité de la reconnaissance comme « trois obligations » afin de pouvoir constituer une bonne relation sociale. Il dévoile principalement les bons procédés tels l'amitié, l'amour et l'échange de cadeaux, mais il traite aussi du sujet de la rivalité. Ces deux théories semblent contradictoires, cependant le désir et le don coexistent dans la Recherche, on les retrouve tous deux au fur et à mesure de notre relecture. La poursuite de l'amitié et de la gloire sociale du héros est défaite, pourtant toutes les pages sur l'art nous montrent la philosophie de Proust, ce qui n'est pas possible par l'amour est possible grâce à la littérature. La Recherche parle de la compréhension de la vie ce qui est un don du romancier. / My research focuses on the female characters in In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust from the perspective of the "desire" of René Girard, the "gift" of Marcel Mauss and the "focus" of Gérard Genette. The variable focus in the narrative facilitates the comprehension of all relationships, connections and in particular the passion and the varied emotional projections of the hero for these women. He believes that his dreams will come true through these women. It will be the narrator, another "me" of the hero, who will demystify this feeling. In fact, his satisfaction is not in regard to the women themselves, but to the peripheral qualities that he can find from these women. Girard defends the desire of bad processes, he talks about the mimicry, rivalry and violence in desire which is also from the imagination. Girard's theory of mimetic desire composed of envy, jealousy and helpless hatred corresponds exactly to the unhealthy desire of the young hero for these women. The theory of Mauss regarding mutual recognition as being composed of "three obligations" which constitute a good social relationship. He defends not only the good processes like friendship, love and gift exchange, but also the topic of rivalry. It might seem that these two theories are contradictory, but Desire and the Gift coexist in fact in this novel, we can find them in our new interpretation. The hero's pursuit of friendship and social glory is defeated, however all pages on art shows us the philosophy of Proust, which is not possible by love is possible through literature. In Search of Lost Time is a gift of the author, it's a comprehension all about life.

This thesis Gender in compulsory reading - Old Greek Myths and Legends: Gender analysis of the writing deals with literary representation of gender issues in mentioned writing, written by Eduard Petiška. The very analysis is based on analysing of gender topics and issues we are interested in and focused on. These topics are compared and showed using examples from particular myths and legend. The question whether these topics are influenced by patriarchal order in the society is the crucial for this thesis. Despite the variability of Petiška's writing, which is necessarily caused by variations of ancient and continuously construated stories; some patterns and systems are there to be found and explored by contemporary gender theories, mostly by feministic literature criticism. In this thesis the method of resisting reading according to Judith Fetterley is used. The deconstruction of the text and its hidden values which are based on male domination and the reconstruction of it in order to show the new perspective at the same moment are the main goals of resisting reading. The characters from the legends are used in context of archetypal criticism method. Considering the literature-critical perspective, the method of close reading is chosen. The question of relations and using of power, considering...

isiZulu text / Esahlukweni sokuqala, besingenisa ucwaningo lonkana futhi sethula nenjongo yalolu cwaningo ukuze ofundayo asheshe abe nesithombe ngokuzolandela ezahlukweni ezilandelayo. Sizamile ukuveza isisekelo nokubaluleka kwalolu cwaningo njengoba sivezile ukuthi isicwaningwe kakhulu imibhalo yabesilisa ngakho-ke sizoke sibheke eyabesifazane neyabesilisa sicubungula ukuthi yibaphi abethula abalingiswa besifazane kangcono kunabanye. Sibe sesibheka nezindlela zokuhluza imibhalo. Kuso lesi sahluko sethule isakhiwo socwaningo lapho siveze zonke izahluko nokuthi yini umongo wesahluko ngasinye. Esahlukweni sesibili, bese singena-ke sigxila kuzo izindlela zokucubungula imibhalo ezikhethelwe lolu cwaningo. Kulolu cwaningo sigxile kakhulu kuyiwumanizimu nesemiyothikhi. Sizichazile-ke lezi zindlela zokucubungula imibhalo. Isemiyothikhi inezimpawu eziningi ezithinta abalingiswa emibhalweni esiyivezile sayichaza kafuphi. Esahlukweni sesithathu, sibe sesiqala wona umshikashika wokucubungula imibhalo engamanoveli ebhalwe ngabesifazane. Kuningi ebe kade singakubheka emanovelini kodwa ngoba injongo yalolu cwaningo lwethu ukubheka ukuthi abesifazane bethulwe kanjani nezinto ezibathintayo sisebenzise izimpawu ezimbalwa. Sibone kuzosiza ukuqale siyifingqe indaba yonke bese sidingida lezo zinto esizibone zithinta abesifazane enovelini. Esahlukweni sesine, sicubungule amanoveli abhalwe ngabesilisa ngenhloso yokuthola ukuthi bavezwe kanjani abesifazane ngababhali besilisa. Besifisa ukubona ukuthi ukonakala okuye kuvezwe ngabesilisa emibhalweni ngabesifazane kukuliphi izinga. Esahlukweni sesihlanu, bese sisonga, sincoma sibuka esikwenzile esahlukweni ngasinye. Kubuye kwabaluleka ukuba sibheke ukuthi empeleni yibaphi ababhali phakathi kwabesifazane nabesilisa abaveza abalingiswa besifazane kangcono sisho nezizathu ezenza sithi uhlobo lwababhali oluthize lubethula kangcono abalingiswa besifazane. Ake sijeqeze kancane khona ukwethulwa kwabalingiswa sesisonga lolu cwaningo lwethu. / Chapter 1 is introducing the research and introduces its aim so that it could be easy for the reader to depict what the whole study will be about. This chapter has also laid the background to the study as it has been said that lot of research has been done with books written by males. The focus will be on both male and female writers trying to find out who portrays female characters better. We therefore looked at the ways of analyzing literature and the structure and the gist of each chapters. Chapter 2 we engaged in theory or the ways of analyzing literature that is used in this research. The study will mostly embark on womanism and semiotics which have been described. Chapter 3 focuses on analyzing novels written by female writers Msimang Nelisile, Shange Maphili, Langa Zakithi and Zulu Nelisiwe. The focus is on the women portrayal. The chapter starts with a summary. Chapter 4 has its focus on analyzing novels written by male writers Molefe Lawrence and Wanda Mjajisi. The aim was also to find out how women are portrayed by male authors. We wanted to find out the extent of the corruption of female characters as portrayed by males in their literature. Chapter 5 this chapter summarizes and appreciates what has been done in other chapters. There was also a need to compare between the male and female writers, who portrayed females better than the other and give reasons for that judgment. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)