Subversiv eller normativ? En komparativ analys mellan två bokserier för barn i åldrarna 9–12

Abstract

This paper examines how gender and sexuality is performed in Ingelin Angerborn’s book series called ‘Mebel-trilogy’ compared to Jesper Lundqvist’s so called ‘Ghost school-series’ [Spökskolan-serien]. Both book series are in the genre of ghost/horror/adventures/thriller and Lundqvist’s books are published by a norm critical publishing house. By conducting performative reading the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how sexuality and gender is constructed through the characters actions, relationships, spoken words and intimacy. Furthermore, this paper examines whether there are any differences between books published by a norm critical publishing house and a traditional. To do so, this paper leans on Judith Butler’s concepts of performativity, normativity, subjectivity and the heterosexual matrix together with concepts of homosociality and Wanye Brekhus’ concepts of the marked and unmarked. At first the analysis of the two book series is presented separate and then in a comparative analysis. The result is laid out in the different ways sexuality and/or gender is produced and reproduced and it shows several heteronormative actions, relationships and/or manifestations in both book series.