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Get Rich or Die Tryin'

En undersökning av kapitalismen som modern mytologi i samtida självhjälpslitteratur


The purpose of this thesis is to investigate whether or not capitalism, viewed here as the system that is currently the dominant economic system in the Western world, can be seen as a modern myth or not. An author, Brian Tracy, of several popular self-help books is the target of this investigation and the language he uses in his books have been scrutinized in order to see whether or not he uses a religiously influenced, and more importantly, myth-creating language. In order to do so, Bruce Lincolns theories of myth have been used in correlation with Stefan Arvidssons definition ov myths. Also of interest is whether or not Tracy in his books uses any of the instruments of power defined by Michel Foucault to support his claims.The investigation shows that capitalism indeed can be seen as a modern myth. This claim is supported by the facts that Tracy not only uses a language heavily influenced by Christian texts and belief but furthermore because he descirbes himself and the people he claims to have helped in a way that strongly resembles the narratives of myths. With the help of Foucault's theories I have also shown that Tracy works as an agent of capitalism who, perhaps involuntarily, strenghtens capitalism's claim as the dominant economic system in the Western world.

Författare

Tobias Kullberg

Lärosäte och institution

Linnéuniversitetet/Institutionen för kulturvetenskaper, KV

Nivå:

"Kandidatuppsats". Självständigt arbete (examensarbete ) om minst 15 högskolepoäng utfört för att erhålla kandidatexamen.

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