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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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"These Violent Delights Have Violent Ends": An Intersectional Analysis of Self and Identity in Westworld

Term

4. term

Education

Publication year

2019

Submitted on

Pages

116

Abstract

This thesis is an intersectional analysis on the portrayal of self and identity in the television series Westworld (2016 - ) by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. This is done by examining three of the protagonists, namely Dolores Abernathy, Maeve Millay, and Bernard Lowe. Drawing from theories concerning self and identity, in particular Peter Weinreich’s Identity Structure Analysis, the most fundamental aspects were chosen for the analysis. By inspecting the differences in self and identity before and after the Hosts reach consciousness, it is demonstrated how the characteristics of the Western and Science Fiction have affected the Hosts’ identities. Furthermore, the thesis shows how Westworld utilises the Hosts to comment on the unjust treatment of minorities in society, since they can be categorised as being human.