A suitcase concretely: Exploration of the Balkan immigrants’ in-between belonging through the lens of comics

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dc.contributorAalto Universityen
dc.contributorAalto-yliopistofi
dc.contributor.advisorHagelberg, Matti
dc.contributor.authorGeorgiev, Teodor
dc.contributor.departmentmediafi
dc.contributor.schoolTaiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulufi
dc.contributor.schoolSchool of Arts, Design and Architectureen
dc.contributor.supervisorKarhumaa, Arja
dc.date.accessioned2022-06-16T13:35:36Z
dc.date.available2022-06-16T13:35:36Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstractMigration from peripheral European territories such as the Balkans is rarely represented and discussed in popular visual culture, despite its proliferation and impact on the economy and labour markets; there is also an overall lack of representation of Eastern European immigration in comics. The following thesis tackles one aspect of migration from the Balkans by exploring the notions of belonging within the immigrant communities. It addresses the question: what are ways in comics for depicting notions of belonging within Balkan immigrant communities? Together with the theoretical component, the thesis also contains a practical part: the comics collection of short stories "A Suitcase Concretely". The theoretical framework of the thesis engages with three vectors of research – comics studies, migration studies, and Balkan studies – connected conceptually by the theme of belonging. It contextualises the project within the sub-genre of migration comics, and overviews main tendencies of comics development in the Balkans. The framework continues by providing a historical background to key Western attitudes towards the Balkans region. Finally, it highlights main theoretical discourses related to belonging, including Etienne Wenger’s modes of belonging which have been employed as an analytical reference for the analysis. In terms of research methodology, the thesis includes case studies of "Fatherland" by Nina Bunjevac (2014), "Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home" by Nora Krug (2018), and "Me & My Daddy & Zlatan" by Mattias Elftorp (2014). These comic works are discussed against Wenger’s modes of belonging, proving the applicability of his framework as a means of analysing affiliation sentiments within sequential art. After validating Wenger’s framework in the context of comics, the text analyses the practical component of the thesis "A Suitcase Concretely" against that same framework, thus involving further aspects of Balkan migration experiences. In conclusion, the thesis summarises examples of expressions of belonging conveyed through comics artform. It highlights angles that refer particularly to the notions relating to Balkan migrant communities. The expressions of belonging featured in the thesis are language, cultural participation, performance of labour, the everyday referral to objects which symbolise affiliations, notions and stereotypes, and interactions with institutions.en
dc.format.extent206
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.urihttps://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/114990
dc.identifier.urnURN:NBN:fi:aalto-202206163831
dc.language.isoenen
dc.programmeMaster’s Programme in Visual Communication Designfi
dc.programme.majorfi
dc.subject.keywordcomicsen
dc.subject.keywordeasternen
dc.subject.keywordEuropeen
dc.subject.keywordBalkanen
dc.subject.keywordbelongingen
dc.subject.keywordmigrationen
dc.subject.keywordimmigrationen
dc.subject.keywordsequentialen
dc.titleA suitcase concretely: Exploration of the Balkan immigrants’ in-between belonging through the lens of comicsen
dc.typeG2 Pro gradu, diplomityöfi
dc.type.ontasotMaster's thesisen
dc.type.ontasotMaisterin opinnäytefi
local.aalto.electroniconlyyes
local.aalto.openaccessyes
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