Den här platsen är ett mysterium, en helgedom : en diskursanalys av skönlitterära framställningar av bibliotek
(2019) ABMM54 20191Division of ALM and Digital Cultures
- Abstract
- The aim of this master’s thesis is to explore how literature constructs the identity of the library as mysterious, and further to show what possible consequences this view of the library could have. Questions posed in the study are: How is the library as place articulated by literary representations? What possible consequences could come from reproducing this discourse?
My theory and method is derived from Ernesto Laclau’s and Chantal Mouffe’s approach to discourse theory. Laclau and Mouffe view the world as constituted by language and suggest that different perceptions of society are formed by discourse. Discourses are for instance maintained by literature. To examine literary constructions of libraries is therefore a way of examining... (More) - The aim of this master’s thesis is to explore how literature constructs the identity of the library as mysterious, and further to show what possible consequences this view of the library could have. Questions posed in the study are: How is the library as place articulated by literary representations? What possible consequences could come from reproducing this discourse?
My theory and method is derived from Ernesto Laclau’s and Chantal Mouffe’s approach to discourse theory. Laclau and Mouffe view the world as constituted by language and suggest that different perceptions of society are formed by discourse. Discourses are for instance maintained by literature. To examine literary constructions of libraries is therefore a way of examining a public view of the library.
The method of this thesis is to observe and analyse signs that are especially important in the construction of the library as mysterious. These signs are called nodalpoints. I have found that the discourse of the mysterious library is organized by the nodalpoints ”Labyrinth”, ”Books”, ”Sanctuary” and ”Infinite”.
The mysteroius discourse counteracts the development of the library, since it portrais the library as old and dominated by books. It also gives a simplified perception of the library and what its possibilities are for the users. At the same time this view of the library can work to legitimize the library as an institution, since it reproduces a nostalgic view of the library and therefore creates emotional values.
The representations analysed in this thesis are: Jorge Louis Borges’ library universe, in his short story ”The Library of Babel”; Umberto Eco’s cloister library in his novel The Name of the Rose; and lastly Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s secret library in his novels about the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8980815
- author
- Theselius, Johan LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- This is a place of mystery, a sanctuary : a discourse analysis of library representations in literature
- course
- ABMM54 20191
- year
- 2019
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- library, public library, literature, popular culture, discourse analysis, discourse theory, Ernesto Laclau, Chantal Mouffe, mysterious, labyrinth, church, books, knowledge organistaion, ALM, library and information studies, LIS. bibliotek, folkbibliotek, skönlitteratur, populärkultur, diskursanalys, diskursteori, mystisk, labyrint, kyrka, böcker, kunskapsorganisation, ABM, biblioteks- och informationsvetenskap, B&I.
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 8980815
- date added to LUP
- 2019-07-16 13:15:51
- date last changed
- 2019-07-16 13:15:51
@misc{8980815,
abstract = {{The aim of this master’s thesis is to explore how literature constructs the identity of the library as mysterious, and further to show what possible consequences this view of the library could have. Questions posed in the study are: How is the library as place articulated by literary representations? What possible consequences could come from reproducing this discourse?
My theory and method is derived from Ernesto Laclau’s and Chantal Mouffe’s approach to discourse theory. Laclau and Mouffe view the world as constituted by language and suggest that different perceptions of society are formed by discourse. Discourses are for instance maintained by literature. To examine literary constructions of libraries is therefore a way of examining a public view of the library.
The method of this thesis is to observe and analyse signs that are especially important in the construction of the library as mysterious. These signs are called nodalpoints. I have found that the discourse of the mysterious library is organized by the nodalpoints ”Labyrinth”, ”Books”, ”Sanctuary” and ”Infinite”.
The mysteroius discourse counteracts the development of the library, since it portrais the library as old and dominated by books. It also gives a simplified perception of the library and what its possibilities are for the users. At the same time this view of the library can work to legitimize the library as an institution, since it reproduces a nostalgic view of the library and therefore creates emotional values.
The representations analysed in this thesis are: Jorge Louis Borges’ library universe, in his short story ”The Library of Babel”; Umberto Eco’s cloister library in his novel The Name of the Rose; and lastly Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s secret library in his novels about the Cemetery of Forgotten Books.}},
author = {{Theselius, Johan}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Den här platsen är ett mysterium, en helgedom : en diskursanalys av skönlitterära framställningar av bibliotek}},
year = {{2019}},
}