The intention of this essay is to inquire into the (re-)constitution of gendered/sexed identities in a gothicistic discourse. The used material is the work Atlantica, chapter 5, vol. 2, written by the Swedish historian/Medical professor Olof Rudbeck. I have chosen this chapter for its description of mythological characters relationship with the earth, the sun and the moon. A description based on a concept of strength and reproduction as gendered characteristics. How does gendered subjects positions appear in Rudbecks rewriting of mythology? How can these gendered positions transcend and what are the limits of this transcendence? How can this transcendence be understood in the text? I have used Judith Butlers theories about performativity, gender as a subjection that makes us more or less understandable as humans, constituted by structural frames. I have also used Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffes discourse analysis, both as a theory and a method, to located subjects positions as “the warrior” and ”the reproduction/parenting”. The warrior is coded by a nationalistic thought of a gothic inheritance, a position that is framed with constituted masculinity. Characters described as female can take this position but will still be understood as female. Characters describes as males that fail to stay in this position transcend into a position as females. This transcendence is by Rudbeck described with the term “hermaphrodite” as an allegorical description rather than an actual position.

The aim of this essay is to study the historical process of the academic gardens in Uppsala. Which works in different ways in relation to the university, Uppsala university. The history of the academic garden in Uppsala is varied, with the exemplified gardens individually expressing different garden contextual ideals. From the 17th century academy gardens and Sweden's first botanical garden created by Olof Rudbeck d.ä (1630-1702), through the world-renowned botanist Carl von Linné (1707-1778) to today's version of the academic garden at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. By studying general change processes of the university, a basis is provided for understanding its built environment and gardens in the long run. The essay also aims to shed light on important components of the academic garden and how they have changed over time. The essay shows that although the academic garden varies in terms of plant material, scale and purpose, it possesses similar elements throughout history. All gardens covered in the essay possess qualities important to the general Swedish garden history and indicate a number of foreign influences.