People belonging to sexual minorities and people who do not conform to gender stereotypical roles still have a disadvantaged position in society. To promote inclusivity, it is important to... Show morePeople belonging to sexual minorities and people who do not conform to gender stereotypical roles still have a disadvantaged position in society. To promote inclusivity, it is important to understand how individuals are socialized into heteronormativity: everyday ways in which heterosexuality and traditional gender roles are positioned as normal and natural. In this dissertation, I examine the extent to which individuals (adolescents in particular) are socialized with heteronormativity by the national context in which they live, by Dutch schoolbooks and within Dutch families.Individuals appear to be socialized with heteronormativity in different ways: at the national level, progressive laws appear to be important, in school textbooks gender stereotypical patterns, underrepresentation of women and exclusion of sexual minorities, and within families the transmission of gender stereotypical and homophobic attitudes from parents to children. It appears that there is still a long way to go to achieve inclusion based on gender and sexual orientation. It seems important to continue to investigate both conscious and unconscious heteronormative messages and to address them in policy. More representation of counter-stereotypical role models and the normalization of public expressions and relationships of lesbian women and gay men seem necessary. Show less
This dissertation deals with Hegel’s theory of the sublime (das Erhabene). I focus specifically on die heilige Poesie (sacred poetry), a form of art that he identifies with the Judaic Psalms and... Show moreThis dissertation deals with Hegel’s theory of the sublime (das Erhabene). I focus specifically on die heilige Poesie (sacred poetry), a form of art that he identifies with the Judaic Psalms and which I claim to be the core of Hegel’s approach to sublimity. I claim that Hegel’s apparent lack of interest in the sublime must be clarified and interpreted in the light of his comments on the heilige Poesie. But to fully elucidate this, it is necessary to move beyond the domain of Hegel’s aesthetics: we should turn to his early practical dispute, before 1800, with Kantian morality in order to reconstruct and fully elucidate Hegel’s attitude toward sublimity. Show less
Political parties take positions and make decisions on many policies that directly influence important parts of the lives of their voters. These policies include issues like raising the retirement... Show morePolitical parties take positions and make decisions on many policies that directly influence important parts of the lives of their voters. These policies include issues like raising the retirement age, lending money to large companies that face bankruptcy, or deploying soldiers to Afghanistan. But do political parties take into account the policy preferences of the general public and their own voters when making such decisions? And to what extent do interest groups influence political parties’ positions and decisions on these policy issues? This dissertation studies these important questions across a range of wealthy, Northwestern European democracies with strong democratic credentials, covering dozens of political parties, policy issues and even more interest groups and other policy advocates. Show less
Do interest groups help or hinder democratic policymaking? While interest groups are often understood as transmission belts which work as important intermediaries between the public and the... Show moreDo interest groups help or hinder democratic policymaking? While interest groups are often understood as transmission belts which work as important intermediaries between the public and the policymaking level, their involvement is not without risk. Unequal opportunities and undue influence may bias the interest group landscape towards special interests.The latter, less optimistic perspective on interest group involvement is one that reflects public concerns as lobbying has a rather negative reputation amongst the general public. It is crucial for the study of interest groups as well as representative democracy to know the extent to which these stances on lobbying are warranted. Do groups actually represent the public and can contribute to democratic legitimacy? More specifically, can groups act as transmission belts of public preferences and how could they do so?Understanding these mechanisms is important for understanding how groups can help strengthen the extent to which governments respond to public demands. It is the dissertation’s aim to contribute to these debates, paying particular attention to the extent to which interest groups inform policymakers about what the public wants. Show less
In deze thesis wordt het argument verdedigd dat de manier waarop geometrische patronen als decoraties functioneren precies laat zien hoe representatie werkt. Het argument ontvouwt zich onder... Show moreIn deze thesis wordt het argument verdedigd dat de manier waarop geometrische patronen als decoraties functioneren precies laat zien hoe representatie werkt. Het argument ontvouwt zich onder meer door middel van een uitgebreide analyse van het recente ‘core knowledge’ paradigma uit de cognitieve psychologie. Core knowledge onderzoekers stellen dat culturele fenomenen zoals muziek, taal en visuele patronen, geworteld zijn in aangeboren kennissystemen bijvoorbeeld op het gebied van geometrie en nummer. Hieruit wordt duidelijk dat iedereen over dezelfde mentale bouwstenen beschikt om abstracte patronen te herkennen en te maken. Een analyse van onderzoek uit de antropologie en de semiotiek toont aan dat ook het vermogen om abstracte tekens als representatie van een ander object, lichaam of idee te zien, in elk mens aanwezig moet zijn. Met behulp van theorieën over representatie uit de kunstgeschiedenis, zoals die van Leon Battista Alberti en Gottfried Semper, wordt ten slotte duidelijk hoe het maakproces verloopt door middel waarvan abstracte tekens representaties worden. Geconcludeerd wordt dat als zodanig geometrisch decoratieve patronen op z’n minst en per definitie altijd naar een menselijke maker verwijzen en daarmee naar intentionaliteit. Show less
The Our Lady Cathedral in Tournai is today one of the most remarkable churches of the Low Countries. In the Middle Ages, it was the mother church of the most northern bishopric of France.... Show more The Our Lady Cathedral in Tournai is today one of the most remarkable churches of the Low Countries. In the Middle Ages, it was the mother church of the most northern bishopric of France. The early 12 Century Cathedral was built during a highly turbulent chapter in the history of the bishopric. After five centuries in personal union with the diocese of Noyon, and a long struggle for independence, Tournai recovered its own bishop in 1146. The architecture of the new early 12 Century Cathedral was to represent the venerable age of the Church of Tournai and its original independence. The triconchos (trefoil) ground plan points to the martyrium churches: it recalls the ideal of the early Church and its local saintly founder. The impressive group of five towers refers to the future, being a prefiguration of the Holy City Jerusalem that will descent on earth at the end of time. The strength of the Cathedral as a representation of the episcopal see of an independent bishopric of Tournai was visualised in the attribute of Eleutherius, the new patron saint: a model of the group of five towers forms a concise summary of the architecture of the Cathedral. Show less
Cinema and society interact. This given becomes fascinating when socio-politically sensitive issues are adapted in films that confront spectators with the frames of reference they use to make sense... Show moreCinema and society interact. This given becomes fascinating when socio-politically sensitive issues are adapted in films that confront spectators with the frames of reference they use to make sense of society. This thesis studies how North-American and European films depict political torture in the context of the ‘War on Terror’. It starts from the debate that was held in the political and public domain concerning the actual torture of suspects of terrorist activities, and analyses political torture in film as a fictionalised, stylised form of such violence. In this way, it shows how public debates, politics, and art convene in cinema to engage with contemporary realities we, as societies, find difficult to witness and process. The analyses focus on War on Terror films made between 2004 and 2012. They incorporate ethical, political, and moral questions about the use of political torture, while addressing the West’s share in the geopolitics of the War on Terror. Ultimately, contributions are made to the fields of film narratology and cultural theory, as well as to current debates about the role of cinema in society: cinema as art object, as commercial artifice, and as commentary on socio- politically sensitive issues. Show less
Franklin Roosevelt is often viewed as the first modern media president; he modernized the radio address and the press conference, made use of modern public opinion polls, and was the first... Show moreFranklin Roosevelt is often viewed as the first modern media president; he modernized the radio address and the press conference, made use of modern public opinion polls, and was the first president to leave a presidential library and museum. Roosevelt was also a modern media politician in the sense that he carefully -- and very successfully -- managed his future image. This research looks at Roosevelt's methods for doing this and their long-term effects. On the other hand, it studies post-2000 representations of Roosevelt, in order to assess deviations between the public image Roosevelt projected and the public image exists today. Show less
This study analyses representations of female victims in post-Suharto media. In focusing on the discourse of female victimisation, it also underlines the import of the fall of the New Order regime... Show moreThis study analyses representations of female victims in post-Suharto media. In focusing on the discourse of female victimisation, it also underlines the import of the fall of the New Order regime and the opening of the media world in Indonesia at the same time. It selected notably prevalent and influential issues among media producers, feminist activists, social scientists, policy makers, and general audiences that emerged during the period of study (1998-2004). Based on observations at women’s NGOs and other institutions that are concerned about women, interviews and informal conversations with individuals engaged in projects related to mediation of women, and content analysis of numerous media presentations, both mainstream and alternative, this study finds that the context of reformasi (reform) has been a major factor influencing the changes that affected women and the media, and most importantly, on the burgeoning of the discourse of female victimisation. The representations of various images of female victims discussed in this study provide examples of how the opening of the media during the initial processes of reformasi prepared the ground for, and was partly boosted by, women’s abundant use of the media to express their ideas and protests. Show less
Chinese Feng-Shui and Indian Vāstu-Shāstra are two of the world’s best-known and longest-enduring systems of geomancy which have, for centuries, informed architectural practice of their respective... Show moreChinese Feng-Shui and Indian Vāstu-Shāstra are two of the world’s best-known and longest-enduring systems of geomancy which have, for centuries, informed architectural practice of their respective cultural spheres. Albeit developed in different geo-cultural contexts and reinforced by their distinct religious and philosophical convictions, these two systems are based on comparable expressions of architectural Do’s & Taboos. Mores specifically, the Do’s & Taboos of both traditions reflect three important common concerns: the configuration of built spaces, the orientation of built spaces and the spatial hierarchy of built spaces. On the basis of the paradigm of ‘architecture as a representation of realities’, this book is the first of its kind to provide a comparative and structural analysis of the meanings of the Do's & Taboos in two different architectural traditions. It paves the way for a deeper understanding of the shared socio-cosmic realities articulated through the built spaces of global architectural traditions. Show less
The main question that I address in my thesis is how we can best conceive the contrast between a priori and empirical truths. My response is realist and naturalist in character: I suggest that the... Show moreThe main question that I address in my thesis is how we can best conceive the contrast between a priori and empirical truths. My response is realist and naturalist in character: I suggest that the essential feature of a priori truths is that they consist in the obtaining of some realistically understood conditions in the domain of representations within human heads, rather than in the obtaining of those conditions that they typically purport to be about. This representationist constual cannot be reconciled with the received referentialist understanding of truth. Accordingly, my thesis can be seen as a case against standard referentialism about truth. After a detailed exposition and appropriate generalisation of Benacerraf__s dilemma about mathematical truth, I argue for two major claims. First, I demonstrate that among the most striking characteristics of our paradigm a priori beliefs about causally inert entities there are some, which cannot be suitably explained from a referentialist perspective, so that perspective must be wrong. Second, I argue that if we adopt an alternative, use-theoretic notion of truth, then the suggested representationist construal of apriority can meet all major explanatory adequacy conditions, and thus qualifies as a viable characterisation of the subject. Show less
This book is a study of Dutch mosque designs, objects of heated public debate. Until now, studies of diaspora mosque designs have largely consisted of normative architectural critiques that reject... Show moreThis book is a study of Dutch mosque designs, objects of heated public debate. Until now, studies of diaspora mosque designs have largely consisted of normative architectural critiques that reject the ubiquitous ‘domes and minarets’ as hampering further Islamic-architectural evolution. The Architectural Representation of Islam: Muslim-Commissioned Mosque Design in The Netherlands represents a clear break with the architectural critical narrative, and meticulously analyzes twelve design processes for Dutch mosques. It shows that patrons, by consciously selecting, steering and replacing their architects, have much more influence on their mosques than has been generally assumed. Through the careful transformation of specific building elements from Islamic architectural history to a new context, they literally aim to ‘construct’ the ultimate Islam. Their designs thus evolve not in opposition to Dutch society, but to those versions of Islam that they hold to be false. Show less
The Rhetoric of Two Museums and the Representation and Canonization of Modern Art (1935-1975): The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Museum of Modern Art in New York Museums of modern art have... Show moreThe Rhetoric of Two Museums and the Representation and Canonization of Modern Art (1935-1975): The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Museum of Modern Art in New York Museums of modern art have determined the course of modern art history. Their contributions to the representation and canonization of modern art have been shaped by how they have presented art in their (temporary) exhibitions and publications. They have provided the public with a verbal and visual story of modern art. In order to provide greater insight into the process of the creation of the museums__ stories, this book uses __rhetoric__ to deconstruct their stories of modern art. Rhetoric is used as an analytical model to investigate the communications of modern art museums. Their goals are to communicate their stories and to persuade their various audiences of the importance of modern art. The principal strategies of classical rhetoric ethos, pathos and logos are used as the main entries for this book. Two influential museums are compared: the Museum of Modern Art (New York) and the Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam). The differences in their goals, financing, audiences and positions in their societies, have determined their different persuasive strategies. By analyzing these museums as orators and deconstructing their verbal and visual rhetoric, the process of representation and canonization is clarified. Show less
Under the impetus of “reservations” -an elaborate government policy of affirmative action- over the past six decades hundreds of thousands of Indian untouchables -individuals ranked extremely low... Show moreUnder the impetus of “reservations” -an elaborate government policy of affirmative action- over the past six decades hundreds of thousands of Indian untouchables -individuals ranked extremely low in the Hindu caste hierarchy- have managed to secure highly valued civil service jobs. The question explored in this study is why these untouchable bureaucrats are not much inclined -as those who introduced reservations had hoped and anticipated they would- to use their new-found positions of power and influence to extend special help to untouchable clients outside bureaucracy. In an effort to account for this puzzling phenomenon of unrepresentative bureaucracy the author conducted prolonged ethnographic fieldwork in a dust-level rural development bureaucracy in north India. He introduces the reader to a complex and vibrant local universe in which an array of actors, factors and considerations conspire to simultaneously limit untouchable bureaucrats’ opportunities and motives for acting as active representatives of untouchable interests and constrain untouchable clients’ possibilities for claiming special treatment. Affirmative action in civil service recruitment, it is concluded, seems to be of doubtful use as a social engineering tool, at least in the case of stigmatized ethnic minority groups in patronage democracies. Show less
This research is about the representatives of the count of Holland and Zeeland in the Habsburg period (1483-1558).The questions which are addressed concern who the representatives of the count... Show moreThis research is about the representatives of the count of Holland and Zeeland in the Habsburg period (1483-1558).The questions which are addressed concern who the representatives of the count were, how they acquired their office, what their duties were and how they performed them, and what this meant for the relationship between the prince and his subjects. In a society which could not yet fully function with strict rules imposed by the centre, the officers played the role of brokers, smoothing the relations between prince and subjects through the use of informal means. The first half of the sixteenth century saw a stricter living by the rules, formalisation of procedures and the separation of the different spheres of influence, slowly carried out and sometimes reversed again in a complicated dance between prince, Council and States. During that process the foundations which held the relations between sovereign and subjects together, the possibilities of princely officers to act as intermediaries, were gradually eroded. Those foundations were needed more than ever in a time when taxes, trade impediments and the prosecution of heretics caused most feelings of resistance among the subjects. When William of Orange led the Revolt in 1568, the count lacked a group of Holland officials who could form a successful counterpoise. Show less
