Naslov
The Family in Contemporary English Language Fiction 1980-2008

Autori
Matek, Ljubica.

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Ocjenski radovi, doktorska disertacija

Fakultet
Filozofski fakultet

Mjesto
Osijek

Datum
12.10

Godina
2012

Stranica
221

Mentor
Sullivan, Robert

Ključne riječi
contemporary English literature; family; nuclear; metaphorical; childless; homosexual; single-parent.

Sažetak
The aim of this thesis is to examine representations of family in contemporary English-language fiction and explain what impact the social, economic and ideological changes have on the family. So far, the term “family” has implied a very specific type of family: the traditional nuclear family. However, the analysis of the selected literary texts written in the period from 1980 to 2008 has shown that literary families are varied which points to the need to redefine the concept of family. The thesis identifies five types of families as they appear in contemporary fiction: 1) the traditional nuclear family, 2) the single parent family, 3) the childless family, 4) the homosexual family, and 5) the metaphorical family. Each of the “new” families challenges at least one of the defining notions of the traditional nuclear family, for example the importance of blood ties, heterosexuality, patriarchal hierarchy, or even procreation. Through the voices of their protagonists, contemporary authors remind us that actual – psychological and emotional – family ties are created when there is mutual love and the feelings of permanent trust and safety among the family members. Consequently, matters of sex, gender and blood ties turn out to be of secondary importance. While no single formal arrangement can guarantee the protagonists’ family happiness, the feelings of commitment and acceptance always do. In other words, contemporary authors insist on representations of different kinds of families, not because the form is important, but to show that family is not a locus of residence, but of meaning and relationships.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Filologija

POVEZANOST RADA