| Abstract [eng] |
The master‘s thesis “Narratives of National Identity in Contemporary Lithuanian Songs: the Interaction Between Postcolonialism and Globalization” analyzes contemporary Lithuanian songs that reveal Lithuanian identity. The case of Lithuania is chosen because over the past three decades, Lithuania has not only reestablished the independence but also integrate into Western world, fully becoming a member of various international organizations. Those rapid political and economical changes raise the question if and how national identity was impacted by them. The thesis is based on postcolonial and globalization theories, as Lithuania experienced both processes in the recent decades. Postcolonial theory highlights the importance of liberation, the formation of own national discourse and critical reflection on colonial experiences. Although postcolonial theory was originally develop based on non-European postcolonial societies, it can be also used to understand USSR domination and oppression. Besides that, globalization theory is used to understand contemporary society, technological development and the increasing connections between different cultures. It can be said that both those theories are analyzing processes that inevitably transform national identities. The main objectives of thesis are: 1. To analyze postcolonial and globalization theories to understand how identity is conceptualized within those theories. 2. To develop methodological principles for discourse analysis based on the theoretical approaches. 3. To analyze discourse, embedded in contemporary Lithuanian songs, examining how identity is articulated and how identity narratives correspond to the identity elements identified in theories. 4. To reveal how Lithuanian identity is understood and expressed within the context of transformation based on postcolonialism and globalization. The findings of the analysis demonstrate that postcolonialism and globalization together provide a productive theoretical framework not only for revealing the discourse of contemporary Lithuanian identity, but also for understanding transformative changes that shaped Lithuanian society. The analysis reveals that postcolonial and globalization elements often coexist and operate together in tame discursive space, revealing a hybrid Lithuanian identity in which experiences od decolonialization and globalization are intertwined. |
