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Fragmented Bodies, Framed Desires: The Male Gaze from Animation to Live-Action
No full textThis thesis aims to analyse the visual construction and representation of feminine bodies
in two influential series targeted at young girls: the animated series Winx Club (Rainbow S.p.A.
2004–2019) and its live-action adaptation Fate: The Winx Saga (Netflix 2021–2022). It
explores how visual techniques such as character design, framing, camera angles, and
movement, reinforce or challenge Laura Mulvey’s male gaze theory. Additionally, the research
examines whether the male gaze theory holds analytical value when applied to animated media.
Through close comparative analysis informed by feminist film theory, postfeminist media
studies, and adaptation theory, the thesis reveals that Winx Club more explicitly reinforces the
male gaze, while Fate employs more restrained techniques yet still upholds gendered visual
norms. Ultimately, these findings demonstrate how patriarchal aesthetics continue to shape
representations of femininity across different media forms. By examining the male gaze in these
popular series, the thesis calls for a re-evaluation of the visual narratives presented to young
audiences and encourages greater critical awareness of how media influences girls’ perceptions
of identity, power, and what it means to be seen
Event-based Near-eye Gaze Tracking using a Spiking Neural Network
No full text—This work introduces GazeSCRNN, a novel spiking
convolutional recurrent neural network designed for event-based
near-eye gaze tracking. Leveraging the high temporal resolution,
energy efficiency and compatibility of Dynamic Vision Sensor
(DVS) cameras with event-based systems, GazeSCRNN uses a
spiking neural network (SNN) to address the limitations of tra
ditional gaze-tracking systems in capturing dynamic movements.
The proposed model processes event streams from DVS cameras
using Adaptive Leaky-Integrate-and-Fire (ALIF) neurons and a
hybrid architecture optimized for spatio-temporal data. Extensive
evaluations on the EV-Eye dataset demonstrate the model’s
accuracy in predicting gaze vectors. In addition, we conducted
ablation studies to reveal the importance of the ALIF neurons,
dynamic event framing, and advanced training techniques, such
as Forward-Propagation-Through-Time, in enhancing overall
system performance. The most accurate model achieved a Mean
Angle Error (MAE) of 6.034° and a Mean Pupil Error (MPE) of
2.094 mm. Consequently, this work is pioneering in demonstrat
ing the feasibility of using SNNs for event-based gaze tracking,
while shedding light on critical challenges and opportunities for further improvement.
Index Terms—Gaze tracking, Spiking neural network, Event
based vision, Neuromorphic computin
Sanctuary cities and local autonomy: when is resistance to national migration laws justified
No full textInspired by the recent events in the United States and the Netherlands, where local communities and their governments oppose nationally imposed migration laws, this thesis explores the moral responsibilities of local government towards immigrants and whether they can legitimately refuse to enforce such migration laws. The focus lies on the debate on American sanctuary cities—cities that resist national deportation policies to protect undocumented immigrants—and whether such resistance, as well as opposition to more inclusive national migration policies, can be justified.
Through a literature review of debates on global justice, the ethics of migration, and the legitimacy of sanctuary cities, this research analyses two case studies that illustrate the practical consequences of applying these theoretical arguments in political contexts. The aim is to assess under what conditions local governments ought to comply with national laws, whether restrictive or welcoming.
Based on this review, it is argued that refugees and long-term immigrants cannot justifiably be deported, while other immigrants may be refused entry if their arrival threatens cultural preservation. Sanctuary practices are legitimate only when national policies are unjust or when the national government refuses to cooperate and deliberate with local authorities. Other justifications for sanctuary or anti-sanctuary actions lack sufficient moral grounding. Specifically, Dutch municipalities opposing the Dispersal Act in the case study are not justified, as less disruptive alternatives exist and the needs of refugees outweigh local objections
De relatie tussen populisme en klimaat perceptie – In hoeverre wordt de perceptie van klimaatverandering onder de Nederlandse bevolking beinvloed door een rechts-populistische attitude
No full textKlimaatverandering vormt een urgente mondiale uitdaging, maar publieke percepties hierover verschillen sterk. In Nederland lijkt de maatschappelijke steun voor klimaatbeleid onder druk te staan, mede door de opkomst van rechts-populistische denkbeelden en toenemend wantrouwen in wetenschap en instituties. Deze scriptie onderzoekt in hoeverre populistische attitudes samenhangen met de manier waarop burgers klimaatverandering waarnemen en steunen.
Aan de hand van een kwantitatieve survey onder 224 Nederlandse respondenten is geanalyseerd hoe verschillende dimensies van rechts-populisme: zoals anti-elitisme, nationalisme en soevereiniteit, denken verband houden met aspecten van klimaatperceptie, waaronder de mate van geloof in menselijke invloed, de ervaren urgentie en steun voor beleid. Ook is specifiek gekeken naar Generatie Z als mogelijk afwijkende groep in het politieke en maatschappelijke landschap.
De bevindingen tonen aan dat bepaalde populistische houdingen sterk samenhangen met klimaatscepsis en lage steun voor klimaatmaatregelen, waarbij institutioneel wantrouwen een belangrijke verklarende rol speelt. Dit onderzoek biedt inzicht in de sociaal-politieke factoren die het maatschappelijk draagvlak voor klimaatbeleid beïnvloeden en draagt bij aan de bredere discussie over hoe duurzaamheidsdoelen (SDG’s) gerealiseerd kunnen worden binnen een gepolariseerde samenleving
Trained to Stay: How MLMs Turn Learning into Escalation of Commitment
No full textMore and more people are drawn to training programs by Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) companies like IM Academy, enticed by promises of personal growth, skill development and financial freedom. While these programs appear to offer valuable learning opportunities, their primary function is to strengthen participants’ commitment to the MLM system, encouraging ongoing financial investment and active recruitment of new members. Many participants get trapped in a cycle of increasing investment and losses, unable to accept the gap between promises and reality. This thesis applies Escalation of Commitment theory to explore why participants struggle to disengage. Using a qualitative multi-method approach combining interviews and desk research, and applying Gioia’s methodology, it uncovers the dynamics within MLM’s organizational design that actively drive escalation. Findings show that MLMs deliberately employs positivity-enhancing strategies to shape belief systems and sustain participant commitment. These strategies operate via uplines reinforcing belief, strategically designed content and training, and an immersive learning environment. This conditioning reduces cognitive dissonance and triggers self-justification, prompting participants to rationalize continued involvement. This thesis concludes that persistence in MLMs is not simply the result of individual choice, but is the outcome of being trained to stay through learning programs that fuel escalation of commitment
Scratching Matter – The Social Communication of Violence in Graffiti from Roman Pompeii (c.1-79 CE)
No full textFinancial Misconduct: Investor Reactions Across Industry Contexts
No full textThis study examines how investors respond to financial misconduct and to what extent the industry context, particularly the difference between consumer-oriented and institutional sectors, influences these responses. Based on an event study analysis of 689 observations of listed US companies that reported financial misconduct between 2010 and 2024, cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) are analysed around the time of disclosure. Contrary to previous literature, no systematic negative price reactions to the disclosure of misconduct are found. Regression analysis also shows that companies in consumer-oriented sectors are not penalised more severely than their institutional counterparts when controlling for company characteristics such as size, profitability and penalty amount. These findings suggest that investors do not base their investments on cases of financial misconduct, and also do not react differently in consumer-facing sectors compared to institutional-facing sectors. This sheds new light on how financial markets evaluate ethical missteps by companies
De onverklaarde levenswereld - Een verklaring aan de hand van Husserls Crisis voor de opkomst van de complottheorie
No full textBijna honderd jaar geleden legde Edmund Husserl een crisis van de wetenschappen bloot. De wetenschappen zouden niet gebouwd zijn op een grond van ware kennis, waardoor de directe ervaring van de mens niet langer verklaard wordt. Hij riep de fenomenologie in leven om radicaal terug te vragen naar de wijze waarop dingen aan de ervaring verschijnen, waarmee er een nieuwe gronding voor de wetenschappen zou ontstaan. In deze scriptie wordt uiteengezet dat van diezelfde crisis nog steeds sprake is. Er wordt door sommigen gegrepen naar complottheorie om de onverklaarde ervaring toch radicaal te kunnen verklaren. Ik concludeer met een aanbeveling van een nieuwe vorm van dialoog om de kloof tussen traditionele wetenschap en complottheorie te kunnen overbruggen
Chance and Deliberate Restraint within Epicurean Science
No full textThis paper re-examines the scholarly debate on the nature of chanceevents within the Epicurean cosmos, through a historiographical critique of key scholars: Jean-Marie Guyau (1878/2022), Philip DeLacy (1969) and A.A Long (1977/2006). While these scholars dispute whether chance-events in the cosmos oppose determinism, their reliance on extratextual speculation renders their disagreement fundamentally methodological rather than exegetical in nature. This observation, as argued by this paper, provides sufficient ground for a new exegetical interpretation. Central to this interpretation is the claim that Epicureans deliberately restraint themselves from a deep inquiry into the nature of chance-events, since it is superfluous to the pursuit of ‘mental tranquility’ (ἁταραξία). In conclusion, this paper maintains that the absence of textual support for the scholarly positions should not be considered as a lacuna requiring to be filled, but should rather be seen as deliberate and consistent with the overall aim of Epicurean science
Colonial Missionary Education Legacy on African Literacy
No full textAbstract
This paper investigates the persistent legacy of Christian missionary work in Africa on current literacy rates. Missionaries were responsible for the majority of education during colonial times. Geographical or institutional barriers, such as disease burdens or governmental restrictions, often confined missionaries. A new dataset was built using the exact geographical locations of the Protestant missions in 1903 and Catholic missions in 1924. These are combined with detailed geographical raster data and demographic data. This paper shows that countries with more missions, and districts near missions are associated with higher current literacy rates. Using this detailed geographical data, it is also determined what factors could have driven mission placement selection, and how this led to a disparity in development paths over time