Papers by Oliver Laband
Entremons UPF Journal of World History, 2022
An introduction to the contributions of the latest release of Entremons.
La historiadora Merry Wiesner-Hanks afirma que el género y lo global son dos lentes que, al super... more La historiadora Merry Wiesner-Hanks afirma que el género y lo global son dos lentes que, al superponerse, nos permiten crear telescopios y microscopios para escudriñar nuestros pasados. Con estas lentes podemos, por un lado, proyectar la mirada y
Les Enfants du Paradis shot during the Vichy regime in France, narrates the story of actors, thie... more Les Enfants du Paradis shot during the Vichy regime in France, narrates the story of actors, thieves and lovers in Paris throughout the nineteenth century. Garance, the principal female of the story, is the subject of attention from a quartet of suitors. Unable to settle with just one, she devotes a part of her love to each of the four men.
As the 'Angry Old Buffer' makes clear, the end of the nineteenth century was a period of great ch... more As the 'Angry Old Buffer' makes clear, the end of the nineteenth century was a period of great change, where even the identity of man and woman were thought to be under threat. Two figures that characterised this threat most clearly were the decadent aesthetics and the New Woman. Joris-Karl Huysmans' Against Nature and Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray reveal much about certain societies in France and Britain in the fin de siècle. This paper will focus on the issue of gender identity, specifically the ways both authors, who represented an alternative idea of masculinity, presented contemporary women in their work. Both Huysmans and Wilde negated women in their novels, the main characters are men who for the most part are dismissive of the women they meet. Where women do appear, they are either marginal, victims of male actions, or presented as exceptions and oddities. The paper will focus on the ways the authors presented women in their novels. Despite the backgrounds of the authors as part of the decadent movement, both depicted deeply misogynistic perceptions of women in their work. These misogynistic portrayals reflect the different ways the so called 'New Women' were perceived in their contemporary society. Traditionally 'feminine' women have no place in the novels, the only women given any genuine role are those seen to transcend the boundaries of masculine and feminine.
François-René de Chateaubriand is generally considered one of the most
influential authors in ear... more François-René de Chateaubriand is generally considered one of the most
influential authors in early French Romanticism1. The very term 'Romanticism' defies simple definition, yet scholars have generally accepted that one of its central precepts is a protest against the simple sterile reason of the enlightenment 2 , put more poetically, writers of Romanticism fought for 'the liberation of man from intellectual chains'3. The overall thesis of this short paper is that the notion that what one might now call 'dissociative disorder' was a central theme of his two novellas.
In this short paper, the question of how Sparta utilised and perfected the technology of the aspi... more In this short paper, the question of how Sparta utilised and perfected the technology of the aspis to dominate their rivals will be addressed. Sparta was considered the 'doyenne of developed hoplite warfare' 2 , ahead of its rivals, and for nearly two centuries 'no other hoplite army bested the Spartans in a critical battle' 3. The dominance was in a large part down to the intensive and unique, state-controlled upbringing which socialised its citizenry into a professional warrior elite 4. Importantly the upbringing was designed to implant the ideal of uniformity or solidarity, which will be shown as central to Spartan hegemony in hoplite warfare. The paper will be structured by first outlining the technology of the hoplite, highlighting the specialised equipment of the aspis shield and its implications for Greek warfare. By outlining the methods of war and focusing on the technological innovations of the aspis, the virtue of collectivity shall be presented as central to success in lieu with the institutions of Sparta. It will be argued that Spartan adoption of the technology of hoplite warfare was perfected through the promotion of solidarity between its citizens. Classical era hoplite warfare was a highly specialised affair in which opposing groups of heavily armoured men formed into tight formations known as phalanxes 5 .
An investigation into the effects of Tipu Sultan's reforms
in turning his kingdom of Mysore into ... more An investigation into the effects of Tipu Sultan's reforms
in turning his kingdom of Mysore into a fiscal military
state.
Theologians and the deportation of the moriscos of Spain.
Thesis Chapters by Oliver Laband
This chapter explores the place of the subordinated feminine other in the construction and mainte... more This chapter explores the place of the subordinated feminine other in the construction and maintenance of hegemonic masculinity in ancient Sparta.
This chapter focuses on the ways that religious festivals and rituals were key in fostering commu... more This chapter focuses on the ways that religious festivals and rituals were key in fostering communal masculine identity.
Chapter 2 of The Construction of Hegemonic Masculinity in the Education Practices of Sparta
The core focus of this thesis is to investigate the methods involved in the construction, replica... more The core focus of this thesis is to investigate the methods involved in the construction, replication and maintenance of hegemonic masculinity in classical era Sparta. The research concentrates primarily on the influence of educational institutions in implanting a specific masculine identity into elite Spartan boys. Studies into masculinity are relatively few and far between, especially with regard to Spartan society. The concept of social constructionism with regard to gender roles will be taken as the cornerstone of the project. This premise will be combined with historical analysis and used as the analytical framework of the study. By investigating systems designed to educate and implant an exemplary masculinity I seek to broaden our understanding of Spartan masculinity and the society based on maintaining and replicating this ideal. Studies into the effects of the Spartan education system on the construction of a masculine ideal are as yet non-existent thus providing justification of a study of this kind.
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Papers by Oliver Laband
influential authors in early French Romanticism1. The very term 'Romanticism' defies simple definition, yet scholars have generally accepted that one of its central precepts is a protest against the simple sterile reason of the enlightenment 2 , put more poetically, writers of Romanticism fought for 'the liberation of man from intellectual chains'3. The overall thesis of this short paper is that the notion that what one might now call 'dissociative disorder' was a central theme of his two novellas.
in turning his kingdom of Mysore into a fiscal military
state.
Thesis Chapters by Oliver Laband
influential authors in early French Romanticism1. The very term 'Romanticism' defies simple definition, yet scholars have generally accepted that one of its central precepts is a protest against the simple sterile reason of the enlightenment 2 , put more poetically, writers of Romanticism fought for 'the liberation of man from intellectual chains'3. The overall thesis of this short paper is that the notion that what one might now call 'dissociative disorder' was a central theme of his two novellas.
in turning his kingdom of Mysore into a fiscal military
state.