The thesis The Vacation House as a Planning Dilemma deals with how the processes that generate meaning in space proceed in parallel both in everyday life and in the planning realm. Multiple dwelling, or having two homes, can be seen as a dilemma—one in which the planning system’s attempts to conquer an unruly reality conflicts with the ways people live. The vacation house phenomenon is not a neutral concept, but rather influences and is influenced by a variety of contexts. This ambiguity is problematic for practitioners of spatial planning, a field that strives for unequivocal concepts. My interest is primarily directed at the relationship between the intentions in Swedish legislation and their practical application in planning. These legislative and planning spheres are also influenced by what actually happens in a physical space and by the conceptions we have of the life to be lived in it. The purpose of the thesis is to create the conditions for a discussion of how a planning dilemma like multiple dwelling can be understood based on how the various actors in a space create meaning and on the internal competition among them for the preferential right of interpretation over concepts. The thesis actualizes several scientific issues for us to address: How is the concept of multiple dwelling contextualized in material space? How does the housing market portray conceptions of vacation living? How do municipal planners view having two homes? How do environmental and urban planning laws view multiple dwelling? I use Henri Lefebvre’s three-part dialectic of spatial theory in this thesis as a tool for general classification, to analyze spatial processes over time, and to clarify the relationships between the different elements of a space and different actors’ actions in a space. The focus of my analysis of the field of planning is the various kinds of representations made by experts. My analysis of such constructions is conducted at the level of discourse. In order to understand how such spatial representations are constructed and how they compete with one another, I have taken a discourse analytical perspective inspired by Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe. The results of my thesis have shown that problem solutions lead to different planning constructions depending on the underlying conception of the vacation house, whether the vacation house is conceived as the Other Home or the secondary home. My analyses have shown that modernism’s striving for systematization and functional separation doesn’t work, at least as applied to housing. We must question the premise of functionally distinguishing between housing forms as a means to conserving natural resources. / fritidshus, planeringsdilemma, fysisk planering, lagstiftning, dubbel bosättning, miljöbalken, annonser, fastighetsmäklare, Lefebvre, Laclau, Mouffe

本研究主要目的有二：一是探討陳水扁支持者（扁迷）對阿扁之情感與認同，二是檢討傳統迷文化理論和Laclau與Mouffe論述理論在分析扁迷現象時的可能缺失，並提出一個新的整合性理論架構。以深度訪談作為方法、傳統迷文化理論作為背景理論，本研究發現扁迷們透過身體實踐，表達自己對阿扁本人與其背後符號意義的支持；這些意義包括台灣國族意識、公平正義、偶像特質與青年認同。除上述意義之外，「為了自己」、「為了社群」是扁迷支持阿扁更核心的驅力；前者顯現在扁迷的各種認同與防衛機制上，後者則展現在其政治理念成形時的親身傳播中。然而，傳統迷文化理論卻無法解釋阿扁符號意義與扁迷情感／認同的變遷過程，Laclau與Mouffe的空符徵架構雖然得以適切說明意義與認同改變時遭遇的符號與自我分裂，但亦無法真正指出符號變遷時的關鍵因子。本研究認為，唯有整合此二理論、強調符號論述的開放性與主體之能動性，並體認符號文本、個體與社群三者缺一不可的緊密相關性，才能真正完整地說明、解釋此一政治迷（扁迷）現象。同時考量上述條件，我們將獲得一個新的、三重三元性（3 x 3）的整合式理論架構；而任何得以此架構解釋分析之個體行為，我們稱之為「道德實踐」。這不僅強調個體進行道德抉擇的能動性，亦強調其背後以各種符號秩序中介的社群規範。扁迷作為一種道德實踐，並不在正當化扁迷所認同之價值體系為一普遍性道德「內容」，而在說明扁迷，在本質上，即為一種道德實踐「形式」。 / Two aims the present research has. The first is to investigate the feelings and identifications of President Chen Shui-Bian’s (A-Bian) supporters (Bian’s fans). The second is to discuss the suitability of applying traditional fan culture theory and Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory in explaining this political-cult phenomenon, and to propose a novel, integrated one. Using in-depth interview as research method and fan culture theory as base, the present research suggests that through body practices, Bian’s fans actualize their support toward A-Bian and various symbolic meanings behind him. These symbolic meanings include Taiwan nationalism, justice, idol characteristics and youth identifications. Besides these meanings, ‘for self’ and ‘for the community’ are more the core motives of supporting A-Bian. The former could be observed in the identifications and defense mechanisms of Bian’s fans, while the latter is concluded both from the importance of interpersonal communication, and from the role of communities in the political-ideas modeling of Bian’s fans. As for the theoretical discussion, traditional fan culture theory fails to explain the conversion of A-Bian symbols and that of Bian’s fans’ identifications. Although Laclau and Mouffe’s idea of empty signifier can properly illustrate the symbolic and self divisions in those conversions, it still fails to designate the key element triggering this process. The present research suggests that only combining these two theories (that is, stressing not only on the openness of structures as Laclau’s discourse theory does, but also on the agency of subjects like fan culture theory does), and recognizing the intimate connection among symbols, subjects and communities, can we thoroughly and really understand this political-cults phenomenon. Considering the principles above, we shall eventually infer a new, integrated, triple-triplets (3 x 3) theory. Every action explainable by this frame could be termed as ‘moral practice’ not only for stressing on the agency in subject’s moral decision making, but also for emphasizing the significant role of social norms behind it. Regarding being Bian’s fans as a moral practice is not justifying the values they hold to any universal ethic contents, but illustrating that being Bian’s fans is essentially a form of moral practicing.

Title: The Lilja case – a study about discourse and media representations of violence within ice hockey The purpose of this study is to examine the discourses that influenced the debate in Swedish sport media around the professional ice hockey player Jakob Liljas 10-game suspension and subsequent assault conviction by the Swedish legal system. The aim is to see how Lilja’s violence was defined and what voices were the most prominent in the debate. The study is based on a theoretical framework consisting of Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory and Agamben’s ideas of the Homo Sacer and the State of Exception. Using Laclau and Mouffe, an analytical toolbox was assembled to deconstruct the discourses present in the debate. The analysis found two dominant discourses within the debate: a sports discourse and a law discourse. The study found two nodal points that defined how the discourses treated Lilja’s violence; the nodal point “crime” within the law discourse, and the nodal point “rule violation” within the sports one. The sports discourse argued against the legal process maintained that Lilja had already received a sufficient punishment through his suspension. The law one was centred around the premise that legal action was required to properly punish Lilja. The analysis found that the sports discourse unsuccessfully tried to position the sport of ice hockey as a State of Exception where the laws of regular society should not apply. There were also similarities between the underlying masculine norms that informed how the sports discourse treated player health and Agambens Homo Sacer, how people’s life worth is reduced in order to justify certain conditions imposed on them. While a true State of Exception or Homo Sacer does not exist in this scenario, as Lilja was ultimately convicted according to the rules of the law discourse, it is interesting that ideas that align with these concepts were well represented in the medial debate.

samenvatting Dit proefschrift vormt een poging van een discourstheoretische literaire analyse van het werk van Charlotte Mutsaers (1942). Charlotte Mutsaers schriftuur wordt vaak grillig genoemd. In dit proefschrift heb ik onder meer aangetoond dat de grillige, niet-lineaire schriftuur bij Mutsaers eerst en vooral een kritische dimensie heeft. Mutsaers ontregelt taal en de resulterende vreemde taal daagt de bestaande orde uit. Gevestigde hiërarchieën zoals die tussen mens en dier kunnen hierdoor op losse schroeven worden gezet. In deze analyse worden diverse ontregelende procédés zoals het rizomatische schrijven, het anagram, de opsomming, de digressie en de associatie nader onder de loep genomen. Als referentiekader dient de discourstheorie van Ernesto Laclau en Chantal Mouffe. De discourstheorie helpt om de kritische dimensie van Mutsaers schriftuur beter aan het licht te brengen. Résumé Cette dissertation est une analyse littéraire de lécriture de lauteur néerlandaise Charlotte Mutsaers (1942). Le style de Mutsaers est souvent caractérisé de grillig, c'est-à-dire capricieux, chaotique. Toutefois, on na jusqu'à présent que rarement spécifié en détail en quoi cette écriture est si capricieuse. Dans ce travail, jai essayé détablir un inventaire des stratégies discursives dérégularisantes dans luvre de Mutsaers. Jai observé des techniques comme lécriture rizomatique, lénumération, lanagramme, la digression et lassociation. Par son écriture volontairement désordonnée (doelgerichtige grilligheid), Mutsaers propose des logiques alternatives à ses lecteurs. Pour Charlotte Mutsaers écrire revient toujours à provoquer. Comme cadre théorique, jai utilisé, entre autres, la théorie du discours dErnesto Laclau et de Chantal Mouffe. Cest surtout le côté critique de luvre de Mutsaers qui est examiné en profondeur dans ce doctorat. summary This thesis offers a literary analysis of the work of the Dutch author Charlotte Mutsaers (1942). Mutsaers style is often called grillig, a word meaning chaotic or capricious. In this analysis I have tried to show to what extent this chaotic, digressive style of writing is, first and foremost, a critical one. With her associative, non-linear, rhizomatic style Mutsaers subverts many hierarchies, such as that between humans and animals. I have analysed some of these subversive techniques: rhizomatic writing, association, enumeration, digression and anagram. The theoretical framework of this analysis is provided by the discourse theory of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe. This theory helps to emphasize the critical, subversive dimension of Mutsaers work.

Lacan is an influential figure of 20th Century thought. Being a psychoanalyst, a linguist and at the same time a philosopher, in his theory he combines all three of these disciplines. Even in his later works, he tried to combine his theory with mathematical formalization. His theory influenced three important political thinkers: Laclau, &amp / #381 / i&amp / #382 / ek and Badiou. The purpose of this dissertation is mainly to examine Lacan&rsquo / s thought and its impasses which could be found especially in the political applications of his theory. First I start with a critical reading of Lacan&rsquo / s own works. I try to figure out the idealizations, presuppositions and blind spots hidden in his work. I develop my critical reading by focusing on the works of Laclau, &amp / #381 / i&amp / #382 / ek and Badiou. The main argument of this dissertation is, such a critical reading of these philosophers will lead us to a general questioning of Lacan&rsquo / s theory and the legitimacy of its applications. Lacan&rsquo / s use of the impossibility as a founding principle and his passion for formalization cause several idealizations, like the idealization of the neutrality of the signifier, the idealization of the non-represented and so on. These problems are extended and transformed into other ones in his disciples&rsquo / works. For Laclau, the problem is transformed into a purely content-free understanding of elements of democracy which ends up with paradoxical results. For &amp / #381 / i&amp / #382 / ek and Badiou, because of their insistence on a political theory based on the impossible real, their subversive theories end up with a theory which take the form of messianic discourses. What I propose is a reconsideration of the role of the theory on the understanding of human reality: in principle every theory excludes some portions of the richness of human life-world, therefore every theory must have a retrospective and critical stance against its own founding principles. This cannot be done by formalized theories which keep the formal structure of itself untouchable.

Syftet för denna studie är att undersöka vilka vithetsdiskurser som artikuleras visuellt och verbalt i högstadieskolans bildundervisning i konsthistoria, samt att undersöka hur elever förhåller sig till dessa diskurser i det bildarbete som genomförs i anslutning till momentet. Dessutom syftar studien till att diskutera bildlärarens uppdrag att lyfta frågor om etniska maktrelationer och samtidigt överföra ett nationellt kulturarv, enligt aktuella styrdokument. Studiens övergripande frågeställningar är: Vilka vithetsdiskurser artikuleras och reproduceras, visuellt och verbalt, i det material som introducerar momentet konsthistoria i högstadieskolans bildundervisning? Hur förhåller sig elever till dessa diskurser i det bildarbete som genomförs i anslutning till momentet? De teoretiska utgångspunkterna är diskursteori, socialsemiotik, och intersektionell vithetsteori. Materialet består av ett introduktionsmaterial som en bildlärare använt när denna introducerat momentet konsthistoria för en klass i årskurs 9, intervjuer med åtta elever från denna klass och åtta bilder som dessa elever arbetat med i anslutning till momentet. Materialet analyseras med diskursanalys. Resultat, analys och tolkning visar att presentationen reproducerar en vit, västerländsk, hegemonisk konsthistorieskrivning i sin presentation av området. Vithetsdiskursen förblir omarkerad genom att inte artikuleras alls. Eleverna förhåller sig till denna diskurs genom att uppfatta den artikulerade konsthistorien som den enda giltiga och nödvändiga för att ingå i en västeuropeisk och nationell gemenskap. Dessutom markeras vithetens hegemoni i det praktiska bildarbetet genom att synliggöra hur hegemonin reglerar hur elever blandar (vit) hudfärg. Resultatet leder till en diskussion om aktuella styrdokument och hur bildlärare kan använda normkritisk (bild)pedagogik för att markera vitheten som norm och därigenom motverka exkludering.

The thesis called Qualitative Analysis of Media Discourse of the Far-right Blog cz.altermedia.info deals with the discourse analysis of the Czech version of an international project Altermedia.info. Discourse analysis aims at differences between the discourse of the founding editor and the current one and analyses the neo-fascist nature of the blog. The theoretical framework of the analysis is based on the postmarxist theory of discourse introduced by Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe. The theoretical part of the thesis summarizes the findings of researchers who are engaged in discourse analysis (structuralism, poststructuralism, Michel Foucault, Louis Althusser, Norman Fairclough, Teun van Dijk). The thesis also examines how specific meaning is constructed within the nationalist discourse of Altermedia and to what extent a new team of authors contributed to the change of discourse. The analysis identifies the main nodal points, which are involved in the construction of discourse, and examines the antagonistic processes within the two different editors. Discursive analysis reveals particular inclination of the current discourse of Altermedia for the neo-Nazi ideology, and thus indicates the fundamental antagonism between the founding editors and current one.

This thesis discusses the Indignados movement, which arose in Spain in 2011, in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. It makes the observation that the Indignados, and many other movements similar to it (like Occupy Wall Street, the Arab Spring, or the Global Justice Movement), gather large amounts of people, but are still struggling to be recognised as political subjects, as influential forces in the political environment. Many times, they are criticised for being too dispersed or too emotional, and lacking the cohesiveness to formulate concrete political aims. The Indignados can therefore be seen as challenging democracy and how political subjectivity is accorded, both in theory and practice. This leads this thesis to inquire into some of the theoretical underpinnings of democracy, and in particular political subjectivity. Its main research question is therefore: Can the Indignados spur a new reading of democracy?To further understand how we can conceive of the political subjectivity of an emotional and dispersed protest movement, this thesis turns to two approaches, social movement theory as well as deliberative democratic theory. After having examined extant literature on the matter, the thesis concludes that both of these approaches employ a distinct separation between emotion and reason, where political subjectivity is almost always hinged upon the latter. In addition, affect is seen as disjointed from signification, and therefore from political articulation. In order to circumvent this theoretical stalemate, this thesis turns to theories of radical democracy, and more specifically to the works of Ernesto Laclau. It argues that Laclau’s juxtaposition of Lacanian psychoanalysis and Derridian deconstruction opens up possibilities for a form of political subjectivity based on affect instead of reason alone. As such, Laclau’s theory of hegemony can shed light on those instances where affect and emotions play a central part in the creation of political subjectivity. In analysing Laclau’s theory, I respond to different analytical challenges that question the viability of explaining movements such as the Indignados through a theory of hegemony. Current observations point to that contemporary movements are not hegemonic (which place too much emphasis on verticality), but rather horizontal and networked. In order to address this critique, this thesis constructs a framework of the hegemonic project. This framework emphasises two commonly overlooked features of Laclau’s theory: the affective and transient nature of hegemony, which stresses the connection between affect and signification. Through two sets of empirical data – ethnographic fieldwork material and social media analysis – the thesis shows how the Indignados exhibit clear instances of verticality, albeit of an affective nature. This hegemonic, affective verticality speaks of two ways in which the movement can construct political subjectivity: viscerally (through unity in affective practices) and virtually (through social media).

Uppsatsens syfte är att undersöka värden som yrkesroll och värdskapet som praktik inom en svensk kontext, med målsättningen att studera arbetsförhållanden, anställningsvillkor och arbetsuppgifter, samt på en övergripande nivå de diskurser som värdar är aktiva inom. Studien presenteras i fyra delar, varav en fallstudie av konsthallen Artipelag är dess utgångspunkt. Dessutom presenteras en historisk tillbakablick på konsthallen Rooseums värdmetodik under åren 1988-1995, en rikstäckande enkätundersökning med 35 medverkande konsthallar och museer samt en undersökning av aktivt värdskap som metod, där verksamheten på Bonniers Konsthall och Göteborgs Konsthall utgör primära exempel. Intervjuer, deltagande observationer, interna dokument och externt kommunikationsmaterial har i huvudsak utgjort studiens källmaterial och metod, och diskursteorin utifrån Ernesto Laclau och Chantal Mouffe dess teoretiska ramverk. De tre perspektiven värdskap som ritual, värdskap som pedagogik och värdskap som service verkar som organiserande princip för undersökningen, men utgör även dess resultat. Perspektiven representerar tre aspekter av värdskapet, vilka belyser dess rituella och diciplinerande verkan i utställningsrummet, dess pedagogiska potential och avsikt samt dess serviceorienterade profil och upplevelseekonomiska anknytning.

The aim of this thesis is to analyze the difference between post-BLM media discourse surrounding urban music in the US and UK music periodicals. It follows the Interpretivist paradigm, assuming the social constructionist epistemological position, the idealist ontology and the abductive logic of inquiry. The core for the research as well as analysis is the Discourse Theory and its key concepts developed by Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe. It is both applied in a theoretical and methodological manner. The analytical framework is then also enriched by the attempt to use of the postcolonial theory of Orientalism by Edward Said, and his notion of Othering. The tentative conclusion of the study is that the US and UK media articulate signs emerging around the word urban differently, creating different chains of equivalence. However, considering the nations and their histories differ, it is a rather surprising finding that the differences are almost not apparent and only appear if looked upon very closely. Implications of researching the phenomenon of music labeled as urban, even though not directly arising from this particular study, are advancing the awareness behind the complexities of the term urban and its use within various, mostly creative, industries, which may cause setting the wheels slowly in motion towards a possible industrial, or even a societal change.