The aim of this essay is to examine Scottishness in the television series Outlander, to see if it has the potential to contribute with national identities, despite being a large-scale American production which tends to present stereotypical representations. The depiction is of the Scottish Highlands in the 18th century when the Highland culture was diminished. Using a semiotic approach, I analyse visual signs and find key elements which are used to represent the Highland culture. The series is based on a romantic plot and has stereotypical elements in representing Scotland and its culture. However, I argue that despite the stereotypical representations, the ethnic group in question still can gain national emotion from the depiction. This, because of Scotland’s already romanticized history and heritage culture today. The study comes to the conclusion that a popular media representation, like Outlander, can have an impact on a nation’s identity and even politics, by reconstructing historical legends in a modern world and bringing forth a sense of belonging-ness in excess of the stereotypes accompanied.

abstract: Using a critical textual approach and a feminist lens, this paper analyses the television adaptation, Outlander, and its depictions of sexual violence. The nature of adaptation and how the adaptation process can lead to incidental as well as intentional alterations in the storytelling are addressed throughout the paper. The analysis is done in two parts, the first exploring emergent themes such as the use of bodies’ geographic location, scars, and nudity to depict messages about power, the impact of the adaptation’s choice to promote Jamie’s perspective, and the use of cinematic techniques as narrative devices. The second half of the analysis covers how notable characters and events are framed by the show to promote a division between pure evil (embodied by Capt. Randall) and the heroes of the story, Claire and Jamie, whose problematic behaviors are minimized or promoted by the narrative. Many of the scenes in the show can be read multiple ways, sending different or even contradictory messages. However, despite the positive critical response to the show, this paper argues that Outlander still reinforces the notion that female characters are natural victims, and undermines the trauma of their assaults, in contrast to the focus given to the rape of Jamie, the heterosexual male lead. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Communication 2019

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur våld och övergrepp iTV-serierna Game of Thrones och Outlander skildras samt ta reda på hur enåskådare upplever detta våld. Med fokus på fyra våldsexplicita scener ur TVserierna har en kvalitativ undersökningsmetod genomförts, där mediestudenterpå högskolan Dalarna har intervjuats om deras upplevelser, känslor ochreflektioner i samband med våldsgestaltningen. I resultatet framgår det attsamtliga respondenter känslomässigt reagerade på våldet som gestaltades. Detvisar också på hur TV-serierna har valt att gestalta våld och övergrepp på tvåskilda sätt, där Outlander i jämförelse med Game of Thrones visar en merexplicit representation av våldet. Slutsatsen är att samtliga respondenter ficknågon typ av negativa känslor och reaktioner utav scenerna, där majoritetenkände obehag, avsky eller blev upprörda av materialet. Det framkommer även islutsatsen att de utvalda scenerna fick respondenterna att kognitivt engagera sig,där etiska ställningstaganden, värderingar och självreflektioner uppstod isamband med våldsgestaltningen. Det verifieras även att respondenternaindirekt har blivit påverkade av genusstrukturer och karaktärernas gestaltning avgenus.