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Item SCOTUS as a political actor: a new development?(2023-06-29) Stam, DirkThe Supreme Court has seemingly become a more partisan and politicized institution in recent years. In this thesis I will determine whether this is the case through a historical analysis of the powers of the Supreme Court and the ways it uses them, an analysis of the political or partisan implications of its actions through written (dissenting and concurring) opinions and the Court’s role as a policymaker, and finally a closer look at the perceptions of the Supreme Court by the American public with a statistical overview.Item Space, Belonging and Identity in Outlander(2023-08-15) Vandemeulebroucke, AliceIn this thesis, I suggest that the space of Scotland created by the TV series Outlander based on the novels of Diana Gabaldon, is a mystical space of belonging and cultural identity turned towards a romanticised past. The strength of this space lies in the fact that it creates a powerful emotional connection for 21st century viewers who are then drawn to make the pilgrimage to Scotland and personally experience the Outlander universe. First, I offer an examination of my suggested theory of ‘space’ and then focus on precursors to Gabaldon whose literary works also drew visitors to Scotland and its romanticised history. Second, I analyse how this concept of ‘space’ can be applied to understanding the power of various narrative locations. Third, I study the use of Scottish material and non-material culture and how they enhance the emotional connection of fans to this space of cultural identity and visceral belonging to Scotland. Finally, I explore how the Outlander effect has influenced Scottish heritage and tourism.Item “You Are the Only Real Superpower I Ever Had” The Humanity in the Representation of Superpowered Characters with Dissociative Identity Disorder in M. Night Shyamalan’s Split and Disney’s Moon Knight(2023-08-15) Aluy, MilouThis bachelor thesis analyses how M. Night Shyamalan’s Split (2016) and Disney’s adaptation of Marvel’s Moon Knight (2022) represent Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) – formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder. The theoretical framework establishes how illness narratives – and DID and other mental illness representations – have a history of negativity due to their incapability to represent people with illness with humanity. From then on, this paper analyses the level of humanness in Split and Moon Knight through their depictions of their systems as well as their use of superpowers and violence. The analysis shows that Split continues the tradition of representing DID with little humanness, causing fear and dehumanisation of the disorder, while Moon Knight gives its DID characters a lot of humanness, thus humanising them by portraying the mental condition with sympathy and understanding. Key words: Dissociative Identity Disorder – illness narratives – Split – Moon Knight – humanity – focalisation – representationItem The Depiction of Mother and Baby Homes in Irish Contemporary Fiction: Everyone is vulnerable, but is there hope for the future?(2023-08-15) Boers, MorgaineThe Irish Mother and Baby homes have recently sparked animated discussion of the treatment of unmarried mothers in twentieth century Ireland. These women were often sent to institutions, away from the public eye, in order to maintain the nationalist image of a pure, independent Ireland. In the present, many victims of this system are speaking up about their experiences, leading to government investigations into their treatment. However, authors have also responded, by depicting the institutions within their novels, instigating conversations about the abuse that took place. More recently, Irish authors are shifting towards a more hopeful depiction of the future, wherein healing from past trauma may be possible. This thesis discusses the novels Small Things Like These (2021), by Claire Keegan, and The Paper Bracelet (2020), by Rachael English, and analyses their depiction of the Mother and Baby homes.Item Adaptations and the Neo-Regency for a Contemporary Audience(2023-06-15) Gils, van, SanneThrough the neo-Regency, there is a resurgence of the Regency period. Audience expectations greatly influence such popular media, and Regency-set narratives thus have to keep up with modern ideologies while simultaneously holding on to some period-accurate aspects. The first seasons of the series Sanditon, based on Jane Austen’s unfinished novel, and Netflix’s Bridgerton, originally a book series by Julia Quinn, can shed light on the changes made in neo-Regency texts for a modern audience. In these texts, the protagonists, side characters, and antagonists all reflect complex, real experiences within a Regency setting. They depict various female identities and sexual relations, representing a broad audience that wants to see relatable reflections of themselves on screen, but also seeks entertainment in the beauty of the Regency period. The female gaze and desire are centred to create a safe space for women’s voices, which returns their stories and the power to them.