Martina Haag’s method of self-mockery used in her chronicles is characterized by her wish to live up to various ideals. This essay brings out the subversive power of self-deprecatory hu-mor expressed in her book Hemma hos Martina. The author’s strategies and kinds of humor are being studied, leading up to what this humor accomplishes. General theories on humor, by Mary Ann Rishel, Maria Ohlsson, Henri Bergson, Joannne R. Gilbert and Simon Critchley are being applied to find the essence of her craftsmanship in writing comedy. The analysis also goes more closely into the style and language, to give a deeper understanding of how she creates jokes, and also how she relates to her ideals through language. The main thrust of the analysis, though, builds on theories on self-deprecatory humor. Haag is included into Joanne R. Gilbert’s theory on self-deprecation and The Whiner within the field of stand-up comedy. Some American feminist critics have rejected self-deprecatory humor as being anti-feminist, stating that women applying this particular kind of humor merely reinforce stereoty-pes, and put themselves down. This paper objects to those critics, leaning on Haag’s book. I wish to show that Haag is not demeaning towards herself, but towards the cultural norms and expectations in our present society. In this context, I show how Haag manages to demystify and criticize ideal representations of women, by lampooning them and revolting against them. In this way, her book turns into a satirical critique of cultural values. My essay illustrates how Haag objectifies herself, making regular use of stereotypes. This is necessary, since these two elements are essential to most humor. Haag confirms stereotypes to make people laugh. This laughter brings about awareness in the reader, making Haag’s work a social critique of current values and norms concerning women.

Thesis (MPhil (Ancient Studies)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The question that this thesis aims to examine is how the motifs of the myth of Demeter and Persephone have been perpetuated in three modern works of fiction, which are Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood by Meredith Ann Pierce, Chocolat by Joanne Harris and House of Women by Lynn Freed. It is the aim of this work to substantiate that the issues that the ancient myth of Demeter and Persephone highlights, are still of value in this modern world and that the same human issues that women had to come to terms with then, continue to be relevant today. Briefly, the myth of Demeter and Persephone is about Demeter, the Olympian goddess of agricultural fertility, whose daughter Persephone is abducted by Hades, the god of the Underworld. The myth tells of Demeter’s grief at the loss of Persephone, and her desperate search for her daughter. Due to her grief, she stops all plants from growing which could be fatal to the mortals, and would have repercussions for the immortals that they serve. Demeter and Persephone are eventually reunited and the earth flourishes with growth once more. However for one-third of the year Persephone must descend to the Underworld to be at the side of Hades, at which time it is winter and plants do not grow. Then for two-thirds of the year she ascends to be with her mother, Demeter, and plants blossom and ripen, and it is the time of spring and summer. The impact of myth is not dead.

Den populära bokserien om den föräldralöse pojken och trollkarlen Harry Potter har väckt stor uppmärksamhet i medier och inom diverse forskningsfält. De religiösa budskap som serien sänder ut till läsare har bland annat blivit kritiserade av diverse kristna samfund i Sverige och det är denna kritik som ligger till grund för denna studie. Det övergripande syftet i denna studie är att, utifrån de motstridiga uppfattningarna angående Harry Potter bokserien, undersöka vilka symboliska uttryck för ondska och godhet som skildras i samband med de två karaktärerna Harry Potter och Lord Voldemort. Den textanalys som sedan utförs bygger på olika symbolteorier inom. Vidare är olika symboliska uttryck för begreppen ondska och godhet centrala för denna studies analys. Sammanfattningsvis går att säga att hos karaktären Harry Potter skildras både symboliska uttryck för ondska och godhet medan det hos karaktären Lord Voldemort finns starkt uttalade symboliska uttryck för ondska i boken Harry Potter och Halvblodsprinsen. Då det kommer till den kritik bokserien har mottagit från diverse kristna samfund så blandar författaren av dessa böcker symboler och deras innebörd i samband med många av karaktärerna och inte minst i skildringen av Harry Potter. Trots detta så framkommer det inte att detta sänder ut ett budskap om att typiskt onda egenskaper kan tolkas som goda utan, precis som i dessa böcker så är det varje människas egna val i avgörande situationer som definierar en människas karaktärsdrag.