https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/131517 Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:45:05 GMT 2026-09-07T15:45:05Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148608 Title: Rereading Martin Amis : character, reputation, morality Abstract: This dissertation begins with the observation that, although Martin Amis was once at the centre of British literary culture, he has remained underrepresented in recent academic criticism. In response, it reassesses his fiction by taking character as a central, though not exclusive, critical concern, considered alongside the questions of reputation and morality that shape both his writing and its reception. This approach is informed by two developments: the renewed attention prompted by Amis’s death in 2023, and a broader critical return to issues surrounding character (and characterisation) in contemporary literary studies. Taken together, they help motivate a reconsideration of Amis’s literary standing through close readings of selected novels from across his career. Accordingly, the first chapter examines how Amis constructs the postmodern self in The Rachel Papers (1973), Money (1984), and London Fields (1989), analysing how these novels engage with and complicate postmodern conventions. The reading then turns to Night Train (1997) and Yellow Dog (2003) to explore Amis’s treatment of meaning and moral seriousness, and how these novels begin to suggest a broader emotional range in his portrayal of character. At the same time, this shift accompanies a change in tone and style, as Amis responds to the critical reassessment of postmodernism and its limits. Finally, the third chapter focuses on The Zone of Interest (2014) and Inside Story (2020), where questions of memory, history, and ‘late style’ shape a deeper emotional investment in his characterisation. These core readings are complemented by reference to Amis’s short stories and nonfiction, which help contextualise the novels within the broader context of his writing. Bringing the study to a close, the conclusion offers a final general reflection on what is overlooked when certain writers or methods fall out of critical view, and attempts to reaffirm the case for renewed scholarly attention to Amis’s fiction. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148608 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148607 Title: Kafka at work : refractions of the Kafkaesque across the second half of the twentieth century Abstract: This dissertation investigates the evolving influence and cultural significance of the Kafkaesque in the second half of the twentieth century, tracing its literary refractions across a diverse range of texts and discourse, with a particular focus on Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, J. M. Coetzee’s Life & Times of Michael K, and Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Unconsoled, as it examines how the Kafkaesque persists and adapts across divergent geopolitical and narrative terrains. Beginning by acknowledging that the term has transcended its literary origins to become a widely recognised descriptor for situations marked by absurdity and bureaucratic oppression, this study first sets out to explore the roots of the Kafkaesque, arguing for a historically and theoretically grounded understanding of the term, and revisiting Kafka’s own texts to distil key thematic and formal elements. Through close reading of the three case studies, it will then demonstrate how Kafka’s legacy is not merely replicated but reconfigured, with Heller employing it for social commentary through satire set against a military backdrop; Coetzee engaging it as a vehicle for political critique under apartheid; and Ishiguro invoking it to map psychic fragmentation and existential drift. Subsequently, the study will delve more deeply into the possible reasons behind the pervasiveness of the Kafkaesque during this time. It engages with thinkers such as Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, Walter Benjamin, Hannah Arendt, and Theodor Adorno to contend that the enduring resonance of the Kafkaesque stems from its attuning to the ideological mechanisms of modernity and postmodernity. Ultimately, it concludes that the Kafkaesque remains of vital relevance to this very day, uniquely equipped to articulate the entanglements of power, selfhood, and systems that continue to define contemporary life. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148607 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146867 Title: Visual culture in Malta as a mirror and an agent of change : from Italian unification to Maltese independence Abstract: imperial ideals. The influence permeated many aspects of Maltese imagery, especially architecture, public monuments, and other forms of state-sponsored art.8 These competing influences resulted in a distinct visual lexicon in Malta, reflecting the island’s efforts to assert its identity in the face of external pressures and internal changes. Visual art served not only as a form of creative expression but also as a means of encoding and contesting the era’s complex realities. Fine art and popular imagery became sites for subtle and profound debates about belonging, authority, and cultural resilience. Malta’s imagery reflects these interactions, providing insights into how art can serve as a bridge between competing traditions and ideologies. In Malta, the visual arts functioned as a dynamic space where external pressures met local traditions, resulting in works that absorbed, resisted, and transformed these influences. [...] Description: M.A.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146867 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145387 Title: The emotional state of nurses who provide end-of-life care in a geriatric setting Abstract: As the demand for end-of-life care in geriatric settings continues to grow, nurses play a vital role in providing compassionate, patient-centred care while managing their own emotional well-being. This delicate balance between professional responsibilities and personal emotional investment often exposes nurses to significant emotional strain. Forming close relationships with patients and their families while witnessing patient deterioration and death can lead to profound emotional challenges. At the same time, the opportunity to offer comfort, dignity, and support at the end of life provides a deep sense of fulfilment, shaping the emotional experiences of nurses in complex and meaningful ways. This study adopts a qualitative approach to explore the emotional state of nurses who provide end-of-life care in long-term geriatric settings. It investigates how nurses navigate grief, maintain emotional boundaries, and cope with the pressures of their role. Additionally, it examines the impact of patient relationships on their emotional health and how they balance empathy with professional detachment. The study also considers the role of relationships and institutional support in promoting emotional resilience. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews, the research captures the nuanced emotional experiences of nurses working in this specialised field. It highlights both the challenges and rewards inherent in end-of-life care and identifies effective coping strategies employed by nurses. Finally, the study offers practical recommendations to enhance emotional support for nursing staff, improve workplace well-being, and strengthen the overall quality of end-of-life care in geriatric settings. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145387 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z