Essays
Academic writing
Over the past few years, I've spent a lot of time writing about media. This was the subject of the essays I wrote for my bachelor's degree Media and Culture at Utrecht University and my master's degree in Film Studies at the University of Amsterdam. If you are interested in receiving a pdf document of one of my essays, please let me know by sending an email to maenserink@gmail.com.
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“Believing Oz, becoming blind: the uncritical myth of the magician and technician” (2024)
In this essay about the film Oz the Great and Powerful, I argue that the character Oz is depicted as the prosperous myth of the ancient Greek god Hermes. I relate this to modern culture and current developments in AI. I believe that the representation of the myth lacks a critique and a future perspective for the techno-wizard, the combination of the technician and the magician. This results in an ineffective approach to the powerful figures who drive the developments of AI.
“Twisting the plot: how the usage of genre conventions shapes the spectator’s comprehension of the film Bodies Bodies Bodies” (2022)
The film Bodies Bodies Bodies uses conventions of the slasher and black comedy genres. In my analysis, I discuss the genre conventions of the film within the tradition of cognitive film theory. Apparently, the plot of Bodies only refers to a slasher film. However, the anticlimactic ending of the film ignores this development. Instead of the revelation of a serial killer, the viewer is confronted with a humorous, disturbing and critical view on contemporary youth culture. I am convinced that by twisting the plot, the seemingly unoriginal Hollywood slasher film turns into a clever and surprising work.
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“No room for redemption: the Kānaka Maoli in the colonized ‘getaway’ of The White Lotus” (2024)
This essay on season 1 of the popular series The White Lotus contributes to the academic discussion on settler innocence in Hollywood narratives of Hawaii. Through my analysis of the subplot of the characters Paula and Kai, I aim to show that the series’ narrative ultimately limits Kai’s agency. This reflects the broader dead end created by settler colonialism, in which indigenous self-determination and sovereignty are impeded and white settlers are absolved of their role in ongoing colonization.
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“Cyber Prostitution Versus Virtual Relationships: How Women with Snapchat Premium Accounts are both Judged and Praised for their Sexual Expression” (2024)
For my bachelor thesis I chose to research within the subject of new media philosophy. I have always been interested in the social developments concerning new media. Nowadays, unique circumstances for connections are emerging at a rapid pace, the consequences of which are unknown. In my research I zoom in on the phenomenon of Snapchat Premium, the sale of pornographic images by female sex workers via the platform Snapchat. The observations from the analysis are linked to literature on female sexual expression, including feminist theories, stereotypes and tropes. In addition, it is discussed how Snapchat as a platform facilitates the functioning of Snapchat Premium. The aim of this analysis is to show that it is virtually impossible for women with a Snapchat Premium account to express their sexuality in a 'correct' way.