Techn. Univ., Diss.--Berlin, 2007.

This essay has a focus on self description and alcoholism as a literary function in Alex Schulman’s Glöm mig. Similarities between the book Alcoholics Anonymous (Stora Boken) and the twelve step programme (Tolvstegsprogrammet) is based on how the narrative could be characterized by the authenticity of the disease portrayal. The connection between the narrative and Alcoholics Anonymous is compared with how the main characters are portrayed and how alcoholism functions in the book. The study reveals that the story could most likely be percieved as an accurate portrayal of alcoholism as a disease, due to certain cirumstances. The connection between the testimonies of alcoholism as a disease in Alcoholics Anonymous and the narrative is an important parallel as it can strengthen the story’s credibility. It’s possible to interpret the story as a testimony from someone in close relationship to an alcoholic. An authentic story like this occurs frequently in Swedish contemporary literature and could be one of the reasons behind the novel’s commercial breakthrough. The privileged position of the author should be considered as a contributing factor leading to the positive public reactions when the novel was published. It should also be considered as having an impact on the reader’s perception of the autobiographic novel’s credibility. It’s probable that, due to these circumstances, the line between a true story and a fictional one, could be dissolved for the reader. In connection with the circumstances with Schulman’s authorship, a number of factors that may impact the reading of the book, have been presented. These are explained in comparison to other authors with similar backgrounds, who have been publishing books about similiar topics.

Denna rapport utforskar forskningsfrågan hur uppfattar erfarna spelare det avsiktliga utövandet av sekvensbryt i relation till deras upplevande av ett spels narrativ? då granskning av tidigare forskning kring ämnet sekvensbryt väckt frågor kring spelares åsikter om ämnet och huruvida utövandet av sekvensbryt är motsatt viljan att uppleva spelnarrativ. En studie utformades med ändamålet att samla spelares åsikter kring sekvensbryt. För att åstadkomma detta skapades ett textspel kallat Sequerience som gav spelare möjligheten att utöva sekvensbryt och detta användes i kombination med en enkät där de kunde reflektera över ämnet. Studien spreds online och till kanadensiska universitetskretsar och totalt deltog 11 personer. Dessa svar var tillräckliga för att etablera att det finns spelare som kan avsiktligt utöva sekvensbryt med viljan att uppleva ett spels narrativ i behåll. Vid framtida studier kan ett större deltagarantal ge djupare insikt i de olika ställningar som spelare kan ha gentemot sekvensbryt i relation till upplevandet av narrativ. / This report explores the research question how do skilled players perceive the intentional act of sequence breaking in relation to their experiencing of a game’s narrative? as examination of earlier research has raised questions concerning players’ opinions on the matter and whether the act of sequence breaking is counter to the desire to experience game narratives. A study was designed in order to collect players’ opinions on sequence breaking. This involved the creation of a text-based game called Sequerience wherein players were given the opportunity to perform sequence breaking, combined with a survey collecting the players’ thoughts on the subject. The study was spread online and to Canadian universities, with a total of 11 participants. The responses were sufficient to establish that there are players who may intentionally perform sequence breaking while maintaining the desire to experience a game’s narrative. In future studies, a larger amount of participants may give deeper insights in the various perspectives players may have on sequence breaking in relation to the experiencing of narratives.

Denna studie undersökte användandet av en fiktiv maskotkaraktär som verktyg för destinationsutveckling. Arbetet utgick från ett samarbete med Platåbergens Geopark, i syfte att förenkla förmedlingen av en bredd av ämnen och platser till en helhetsbild, speciellt målgruppen barn. Grundläggande teori för arbetet är termerna fokalisering (Genette 1980) och pedagogiska agenter (Haake 2009) samt studier av fiktion och stereotyper. För att utvärdera maskotkaraktären och lämpliga attribut utfördes fem gruppintervjuer med observation där deltagare diskuterade bilder; föreställande maskotkaraktären och attribut menade att representera karaktärsrollen och Platåbergens Geopark.  Resultatet påvisar att en majoritet av utvalda attribut (både från karaktärsdesignen och separata bilder) förstärkte maskotkaraktärens syften. Dess pedagogiska roll stärktes av fakta-fokuserade attribut och kroppsspråket som tolkades vänligt. Fokaliseringen blev tydligare då klädseln och bilder föreställande verktyg var anpassade till aktiviteter som kan kopplas till geologer, geologi eller Platåbergens Geopark. Fokaliseringen påvisade en tendens att vara starkare för de utan tidigare kunskap om geoparken.

<p>This thesis discusses the representation of bodies in todays non-fiction television in Sweden. I have chosen to focus on deviant bodies (sexual, deformed or unhealthy) on display in reality-shows and documentaries on SVT, TV4 but especially on the commercial channels TV3 and Kanal5. Also discussed are the viewers emotional and bodily reactions. Altough these shows are different from one another in many respects, I argue that there is also a common thread between them. From a sociological and cultural perspective, and with help of some historical examples, I try to illustrate how we view these shows and what their function is. I conclude that the body is a site of powerstruggle and that these shows have many different levels of meaning. We cathegorize and value these deviant bodies but also our own. It is about making creating a ”us and them” and in the long run it has to do with making class and identity. The voyeuristic pleasure in watching these people displayed on TV is made possible from the safe distance of our livingroom.</p>

This thesis discusses the representation of bodies in todays non-fiction television in Sweden. I have chosen to focus on deviant bodies (sexual, deformed or unhealthy) on display in reality-shows and documentaries on SVT, TV4 but especially on the commercial channels TV3 and Kanal5. Also discussed are the viewers emotional and bodily reactions. Altough these shows are different from one another in many respects, I argue that there is also a common thread between them. From a sociological and cultural perspective, and with help of some historical examples, I try to illustrate how we view these shows and what their function is. I conclude that the body is a site of powerstruggle and that these shows have many different levels of meaning. We cathegorize and value these deviant bodies but also our own. It is about making creating a ”us and them” and in the long run it has to do with making class and identity. The voyeuristic pleasure in watching these people displayed on TV is made possible from the safe distance of our livingroom.

Denna studie visar vad 4-5-åringar har för uppfattningar om stjärnorna och solen, vad de tror att stjärnorna och solen är för något och vad de har för tankar om fenomen kring dem. Genomförandet av studien bygger på kvalitativa intervjuer i samband med att barnen målar. Metoden har gjort det möjligt för barnen att uttrycka sina egna tankar. Resultatet visar att det finns många uppfattningar inom området hos barn 4-5 år. En del uppfattningar är realistiska, en del fiktiva. Ett barn förklarar att stjärnorna nästan är som blommor medan ett annat barn beskriver dem som något som finns i rymden och bara syns när det är natt. Slutsatsen är att barn kan lära sig saker som anses svåra, bara de har intresset. Barnen menar att de inte fått sina kunskaper från förskolan utan från föräldrar och syskon. Slutsatsen av detta är att barnen har ett intresse för rymden, att de ställer frågor för att få veta saker. / This study shows 4-5 year-olds perceptions about the stars and the sun, what they think the stars and the sun is and what their thoughts of them are. Implementation of the study is based on qualitative interviews in connection with painting. The method has made it possible for the children to express their own thoughts. The result shows that there are many perceptions in the field of children 4-5 years. Some ideas are realistic, some fictitious. One child explains that the stars are almost like flowers, while another child describing them as something that exists in space and only visible when it´s night. The conclusion is that children can learn things that are considered difficult only they have an interest in it. The children say that they have not received their knowledge from preschool but from parents and siblings. The conclusion is that the children have an interest in space, they are asking questions to get to know things.

Freie Univ., Diss.--Berlin, 2007.

Zugl.: Tübingen, Univ., Habil.-Schr., 2005

Zugl.: Hamburg, Univ., Diss., 2007