Thesis (doctoral)--Rijksuniversiteit te Leiden, 1996. / Text in English and Kikuyu with English translation, summary in Dutch. Includes bibliographical references (p. [288]-308) and index.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2004. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 265-272). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (M.A.)--Acadia University, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-111). Also available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

This study explores the interaction between feminist science fiction and feminist theory, focusing on the body and embodiment. Specifically, it aims to demonstrate that feminist science fiction novels of the 1990s offer an excellent platform for exploring the critical theories of the body put forward by Judith Butler in particular, and other feminist/queer theorists in general. The thesis opens with a brief history of science fiction's depiction of the body and feminist science fiction's subversions and rewritings of this, as well as an overview of Judith Butler's theories relating to the body and embodiment. It then considers a wide range of feminist science fiction novels from the 1990s, focusing on four key areas; bodies materialised outside patriarchal systems in women-only or women-ruled worlds, alien bodies, cyborg bodies and bodies in cyberspace. An in-depth analysis of the selected texts reveals that they have important contributions to make to the consideration of bodies as they develop and expand the issues raised by theorists such as Butler, Elisabeth Grosz, Luce Irigaray and Julia Kristeva.

This research expresses female character portrayal in various drama works written by males. Chapter one is a general introduction that gives the key to this study, the motivation that leads to the selection of this topic; a literary review on the portrayal of female characters in literary works written by males; the scope of study, the basic composition of the ensuing chapters and the definitions of terms that are of paramount importance for this research. Various literary theories are used in Chapter two for the analysis of the research texts. These literary theories include womanism, gender and feminism which expose the social effects caused by the negative perception of females in social life and the negative portrayal of female characters in male dramatic writings. Other literary theories include onomastics as a literary theory, which exposes the relationship between the name giver of a person and the power the name gives to its bearer, as well as psychoanalysis as a theory which proved to be unavoidable, since this study analyses the personal behaviour of the individual characters within their literary environment. Chapter three depicts the general victimization of female characters in male drama works and exposes the various effects of the attitudes of male writers towards female characters in terms of gender role. Chapter four shows a general stereotypical portrayal of female characters in male written drama texts. This chapter shows the impact of stereotyping on female characters from drama works that puts them in a vulnerable position, showing that it is risky to become a victim of ill-treatment in their communities and the literary world. Chapter five deals with the psychological literary review of female characters, showing them as being suicidal and murderers who easily take their own lives and those of other people. Chapter six is a general conclusion of the works which includes observer remarks from other literary researchers of the literature.

This dissertation examines the constructions of gender and national identity in four of Alan Warner's novels: Morvern Callar, These Demented Lands, The Sopranos, and The Man Who Walks. I argue that Warner uses gender identity as the basis for the examination of a Scottish national identity. He uses the metaphor of the body to represent Scotland in devolution. His pregnant females are representative of "Scotland Expecting," a notion that suggests Scotland is expecting independence from England. I argue that this expectation also involves the search for a genuine Scottish identity that is not marred by the effects of colonization. Warner's male characters are emasculated and represent Scotland's mythological past. The Man Who Walks suggests that his female characters' pregnancies result in stillbirths. These stillbirths represent Scotland's inability to let go of the past in order to move towards a future independent nation.

No description available.

No description available.

This dissertation offers an examination of Delany's critical trajectory from structuralism to poststructuralism and postmodernism across a gamut of genres from SF to sword-and-sorcery, pornography, autobiography and literary criticism. Delany's engagement with semiotics, Foucault and deconstruction form the theoretical focus, together with his own theories of how SF functions as a literary genre, and its standing and reception within the greater realm of literature. The impact of Delany as a gay, black SF writer is also examined against the backdrop of his varied output. I have used the term 'dislocation' to describe Delany's tackling of traditional subjects and genres, and opening them up to further possibilities through critical engagement. Lastly, Delany is also examined as a postmodern icon. A frequent participant in his own texts, as well using pseudonyms that have developed into fully-fledged characters, Delany has become a critical signifier in his own work. / English Studies / M. A. (English)

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis the potential of Eben Venter’s novel Ek stamel ek sterwe (1996) as a subversive text is investigated. The primary goal is to illustrate how Eben Venter depicts the stigmatisation of homosexuality, aids and death, but more specifically the death of a homosexual individual who has aids, in society. The secondary goal is to investigate the ways in which Venter depicts the impact that the heteronormative ideal has on homosexual individuals by means of the regulation of norms. Judith Butler’s theorisation of sex, gender, identity and performativity is used as a lens with which Ek stamel ek sterwe is read. The finding is that Ek stamel ek sterwe is a novel with subversive potential and the implications that this has is discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word die potensiaal van Eben Venter se roman Ek stamel ek sterwe (1996) as ’n ondermynende teks ondersoek met as primêre doel om die wyse na te gaan waarop Eben Venter die stigmatisering van homoseksualiteit, vigs en die dood, maar ook spesifiek die dood van ’n homoseksuele individu en ’n vigslyer, in die samelewing uitbeeld. Die sekondêre doel is om ondersoek in te stel na die maniere waarop Venter met die roman die impak van die heteronormatiewe ideaal se regulering van norme op veral homoseksuele individue uitwys. Judith Butler se teoretisering oor geslag, gender, identiteit en performatiwiteit, sowel as die ondermyning van heteronormatiewe norme, word as lens gebruik waarmee Ek stamel ek sterwe gelees kan word. Daar word uiteindelik tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat Ek stamel ek sterwe wel as ’n ondermynende teks beskou kan word en die implikasies hiervan word bespreek.