|
|
Avengers and their Fandom Perception
ŠURANSKÁ, Barbora
The Bachelor thesis on the topic Fandom Perception of Avengers have been focused especially at the final product of a specific fandom, in the form of shared fan art on social media. The first part is focused on the theoretical side of fan. I pay attention to its history and gradual progression. I'm trying to introduce the fan studies that have a tradition at universities of the United States of America and slowly making their way here in the field of media, television and cultural studies. In the next two chapters, I define the categories of fandom and types of fans and non-fans, about expend level of the activity. Then, based on typical fan activities by marked academics, I wrote down several practices. At the end of the theoretical part I discuss the three most important works wrote by Henry Jenkins, Matt Hills and Paul Booth, on which are build fan studies and are often quoted. In the second part, I will take a closer look at two works focused on the hypersexuality of female comic books characters from The Hawkeye Inititative website and a "race" man, Black Panther by Reginald Hudlin, Afroamerican author. I will analyze a video about physics milestones Marvel Universe filmed by the University of Minnesota physicist Jim Kakalios, who uses some scenes to explain various facts in his lectures. After that I will look at the main headline scenes that led to the end of the four phases of the Infinity Saga, popular conspiracy theories of forums such as Reddit, and at the finish add a few examples from Czech fan work on YouTube and shared art on Facebook, etc.
|
|
|
The role of conspiracy theories in American political culture. A case study of QAnon
Klofáč, Jan ; Hornát, Jan (advisor) ; Pondělíček, Jiří (referee)
Conspiracy theories can no longer be considered a fringe matter affecting only a few individuals. Their power has been greatly amplified by the development of information technology, allowing unknown individuals to reach the masses of people on an unprecedented scale. Conspiracy theories are not a new phenomenon, and American society has been influenced by conspiracy theories from the very beginning. Fear of conspiracies and conspiratorial thinking have played a significant role in American history. According to the conventional wisdom of conspiracy theorists, there has been a constant infiltration of enemies into key institutions of American society, which is predisposed to trust conspiracy theories because of its traditional values. Conspiracy theories are a tool of political propaganda, and QAnon has functioned the same way in American society. Thanks to the Internet and social media, which have contributed significantly to the distortion of shared reality, QAnon has managed to influence American society and become an influential conspiracy theory that has reached the highest levels of the American political scene. This bachelor thesis addresses the ques- tion of what specific qualities have helped QAnon become a mainstream conspiracy theory and how the tendency of American society to believe...
|
|
|
Media representation of historical milestones and related conspiracy theories in mainstream and alternative media in Slovakia
Bernátová, Miriama ; Cebe, Jan (advisor) ; Končelík, Jakub (referee)
The Diploma thesis named Media representation of selected events and related conspiracy theories in mainstream and alternative media in Slovakia is focused on media representation of historical events related to Slovak public officials, namely the death of Milan Rastislav Štefánik and the death of Alexander Dubček, which are the subject of various conspiracy theories. The theoretical part of the thesis focuses on placing the phenomenon of conspiracy theories in the context of media studies, followed by the division of the Slovak media structure into mainstream and alternative based on the available sources. Last but not least, theoretical part contains overview of available information regarding selected events. Subsequently, the representation of the events in selected Slovak digital media (aktuality.sk, dennikn.sk, sme.sk, hlavnespravy.sk, kulturblog.sk, zemavek.sk) is examined using frame analysis in order to map the frames through which the events are mediated and also the identification of individual conspiracy theories related to them. In terms of methodology of analysis, a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches was used. As a result, the analysis offers an overview of the media representation of both events through the identified thematic categories, the individually assigned...
|
|
|
Denying Scientific Facts as a New Form of Revisionism
Matesová, Julie ; Špelda, Petr (advisor) ; Karásek, Tomáš (referee)
Modern society has been plagued by revisionism since the 19th century. It has permeated historical milestones of the 20th century and has recently found a new footing thanks to social media. One of its facets is science denial, once a harbinger of things to come, it now presents new security challenges. This thesis makes an argument that further research is needed into the effect of science denial and its roles within the socio-political landscape. Not only to better understand and prepare for its imminent entry into mainstream discourse but to develop an effective tool to counter it. The Flat Earth movement represents one of the revisionist groups that have recently garnered a wide audience, mainly thanks to creating a well-oiled machine spurring a convincing mix of science denial and anti-establishment conspiracy theories. While social media has bowed to legislative pressure to police content, the denialists' hydra-like efforts remain predominantly unchecked. Unobstructed, Flat Earthers maintain a vice-like grip on establishing their alternative reality with their own future goals. The modern Flat Earth movement is thus examined by Hansson's unifying framework for the qualification and characterization of science denial movements both epistemologically and from a sociological perspective,...
|
|
|
Conspiracy Theories and Politics in Slovakia: How Conspiracy Thinking Relates to Political Opinions and Preferences
Kondrótová, Katarína ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
Conspiracy Theories and Politics in Slovakia: How Conspiracy Thinking Relates to Political Opinions and Preferences Katarína Kondrótová Abstract (English) Conspiracy theories have become a fashionable buzzword, appearing across the internet, the media, and political speeches with great frequency. However, there are many misconceptions associated with them, making them more divisive and mysterious than they need to be. The present contribution seeks to remedy that by providing a deep dive into conspiracy theories. It examines the multitude of their possible definitions and conceptualizations, their existence across history, as well as past research findings about why they appeal to us. In the second half, conspiracy theories are presented through new research regarding their relation to political and ideological preferences of Slovaks. The findings are in line with past studies, showing a relationship between stronger conspiracy beliefs and extremist thinking, preference of authoritarian policies, and low faith in authorities. A regression analysis also uncovered a strong correlation between conspiracy beliefs and the political party the respondents had voted for, as well as their preference of the politics and ideologies of 'the West' (EU, USA) or 'the East' (Russian federation).
|
|
|
The media image of the Velvet Revolution in terms of conspiracy theories
Mrnková, Kamila ; Cebe, Jan (advisor) ; Končelík, Jakub (referee)
The topic of this diploma thesis is the media image of the Velvet Revolution related to various conspiracy theories. This view can be traced in Czechoslovak (and later Czech periodicals) on the basis of predetermined storylines. The specified period for the analysis of individual elements of these theories is from November 17, 1989 to about mid-1993, or earlier if the periodical ceased to be published. The period of the Velvet Revolution is a fundamental period of our republic, which at this time underwent an economic, political, social transformation… And few aspects of everyday life remained the same as before the revolution. Because this change took place so suddenly and so quickly, a lot of rumors, misinformation, and conspiracy theories began to spread to explain to some extent what had happened, especially if they did not like the officially recognized version of events. It is these alternative explanations of the events of that time that are the subject of this work. I will analyze them in a total of 7 titles, in Rudé právo, Lidové noviny, Studentské listy, Respekt, Květy, Špígl and Analýza 17 listopadu by Miroslav Dolejší. First, I will introduce the theoretical basis of concepts such as conspiracy theory, misinformation, ect., with which I will continue to work. I will also outline the...
|
|
|
Parakratos in Post-Civil War Greece: Reality and Interpretation
Karasová, Nikola ; Králová, Kateřina (advisor) ; van Steen, Gonda (referee) ; Brunnbauer, Ulf (referee)
Based on a historiographical, archival and media analysis, this doctoral thesis explores the phenomenon of parakratos (translated as deep state or parastate) in post-civil war Greece (1949-1967). Research perspectives are fourfold: Firstly, parakratos is discussed in the context of academic debates on parapolitics and the concepts of the dual state, the security state and the deep state; and presented as a Cold War parallel power mechanism, analogical to Italy and Turkey. Secondly, parakratos is analysed as part of domestic political reality through the prism of the historical events documented in Greek historiography. In this sense, the thesis concentrates on the emergence and operation of clandestine military groups and parastate ultra- nationalist organisations against the backdrop of the Greek political, legal and social environment. Both phenomena are elaborated on through the lens of the inefficient Greek political and administrative system, a deeply divided society, the politicisation of the public space, and the persistence of clientelist networks constructed upon political loyalties. Third, the parakratos is examined on an interpretative level as a term and concept employed in Greek historiography. Focusing on its presumed roots, actors, purposes and relations with the state, three...
|
|
|
Conspiracy theories as quasireligion
Hlaváčová, Kateřina ; Kostičová, Zuzana (advisor) ; Gebelt, Jiří (referee)
Conspiracy theories are an old-new phenomenon which has gained its importance and specific character over the last three centuries. Unofficially, they have become an alternative tradition of the interpretation of historical events connected with an alternative form of spirituality, known as conspirituality. This manner of the interpretation usually holds the power when the consensually accepted worldview loses its plausibility for the concrete person or group. Conspiracy theories are the verbalization of a certain way of thinking and action which depends on it. Most often, they are manifested in the form of myths. That is understood as one of the dominant structures, commonly connected with traditionally perceived religion. From this point of view and in terms of the function associated with conspiracy narratives, conspiracy theories are examined as functional and structural equivalents of religion. These functions are especially the defense of the order (nomos), differentiation of the outer reality or the explanation of the presence of Evil in the world. In addition, they can also become a medium or tool of social actors in power relations. This thesis represents the complementary overview of the contemporary approaches in the study of religion discourse, which deals with unconventional religiosity...
|
|
| |
|
|
Possible World of Rumour
Soukalová, Kateřina ; Šalanda, Bohuslav (advisor) ; Šubrt, Jiří (referee)
This thesis describes and explains rumours as sociological phenomenon. It deals with circumstances under which rumour arises, how it spreads and how it persists in society. It also deals with the prerequisites for understanding the transmission and any believing in rumour. Emphasis is placed on understanding the rumours without negative connotations which is mostly attributed to it. The theory of fictional worlds brings idea that rumour should not be always fictional, fictitious and a priori negative, but rather should be considered as possibly true, especially in terms of the phenomenon, which it refers. It does not matter how many different variations of the rumour story exist, since all create a frame of reference through which is better spread the rumour; adoption of the rumours is not a sign of fiction, but rather a prerequisite to embed among people. The thesis promotes the view that a rumour is spread mainly due to its content and message, which is mainly a warning. The aim is not to pass the exact story, but to warn about a phenomenon that occurs in society. It is not important wheather the rumour is true in each detail, because the only important aspect is truth of phenomenon which the rumour refers to. Keywords Rumour, theory of possible worlds, conspiracy theories, contemporary legend,...
|
guest ::
