Diversity and Sameness in the Giver Quartet

master's thesis

• Author: Aleksandra Milanović
• Mentor: Ivana Milković (mentor)
• Committee member: Marija Andraka (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Alenka Mikulec (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Ivana Milković (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Teacher Education; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-09-17, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Comparative Literature

Abstract

Differences between people can lead to unbalanced power and discrimination, or create a colorful society that celebrates diversity. Which one of those two outcomes will be the final result depends on values and beliefs that are developed from early childhood. Being surrounded by diversity can have effect on child’s development of empathy, social skills and treatment of others around them. Exposure to diversity can be direct, by having contact with different people, cultures and languages, or indirect, by reading or listening about those who are in some way different. Quality literature can be one of those sources of diversity, by portraying minorities and misrepresented groups so that they can find themselves in those texts and feel like they too belong in their society, and it can help others understand what it means to be different, and understand the perspective of someone who leads a life different from theirs. Children’s and young adult literature shows imbalance in portrayal of characters that vary in race, ethnicity, gender and disability, but examples of quality representation can still be found. Sameness, as opposed to diversity is the idea of every individual being alike, but not necessarily in a uniformed, strict kind of way. Quality examples of diversity and sameness can be found in The Giver Quartet written by and American author Lois Lowry, which provides a number of diverse characters and successfully tackles social issues that those minority groups face.

Abstract (croatian)

Različitosti među ljudima mogu dovesti to neuravnotežene raspodjele moći i diskriminacije, ali mogu i stvoriti šaroliko društvo koje slavi raznolikosti. Koji će od ova dva ishoda biti konačan, ovisi o vrijednostima i uvjerenjima koja se razvijaju od ranog djetinjstva. Okruženost djeteta raznolikostima može imati utjecaja na razvoj empatije i socijalnih vještina te budući odnos prema osobama u njihovome okruženju. Izloženost raznolikostima može biti izravna, tako da dijete ostvaruje kontakt s različitim osobama, kulturama i jezicima, ili neizravna, kroz čitanje ili slušanje o onima koji su na neki način drugačiji. Kvalitetna književnosti može biti jedan od izvora raznolikosti u životu djeteta tako da predstavi manjine i one grupe koje su često premalo ili pogrešno predstavljene. Književnosti također pomaže i onima koji sami u te grupe i ne spadaju, ali čitajući mogu bolje shvatiti perspektivnu onih koji su po nečemu drugačiji. Dječja književnost i književnost za mlade još uvijek ne odlikuje dovoljnom zastupljenosti likova raznolikih u rasi, etnicitetu, rodu i invaliditetu, ali primjeri kvalitetne predstavljenosti se mogu pronaći. Istovjetnost, za razliku od raznolikosti, predstavlja ideju potpune jednakosti među svima, što ne mora nužno biti forsirana, uniformirana jednakosti. Kvalitetni primjeri raznolikosti i istovjetnosti mogu se pronaći u romanu Davač i tri nastavka koja ga prate, američke autorice Lois Lowry, koji predstavljaju nekoliko raznolikih likova i uspješno se dotiču socijalnih problema koje manjinske grupe često susreću.

• Keywords: diversity; sameness; children’s literature; young adult literature
• Keywords (croatian): raznolikost; istovjetnot; dječja književnost; književnost za mlade
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:147:870146
• Study programme: Title: Integrated undergraduated university study with english language and german language; specializations in: English language, Deutsche sprache; Course: English language; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja (magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-07-08 10:02:12