http://hdl.handle.net/10362/5111 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:57:51 GMT 2013-06-19T21:57:51Z http://hdl.handle.net/10362/6035 Title: FROM NON-PLACE TO PLACE: A STUDY OF EUROPEAN PUBLIC SPACE AS A SPACE OF IDENTITY Authors: Libera, Chara Dalla Abstract: The objective of this dissertation is to analyse the role of public places, in its literal sense, in modern society and to identify the processes that relate people to these settings. The dissertation will be divided into three parts and each one will develop independently an aspect of the topic under analysis, even though they are all in relation one with the other, as a theoretical evolution of the inspiring idea that I will attempt to demonstrate. First of all, I will consider the studies undertaken by sociologists and anthropologists who investigated the concept of space in what concerns its characteristics and its relation with society. I will take a general theoretical view of the studies about the different interpretations in the definition of space, and then I will focus specifically on these theories in relation with public space and with the correspondent social context. In fact, one assumption underlying this study is that public places reflect the dynamics that constitute society, so that their fundamental characteristics change with the evolution of society. The social context under consideration is the contemporary one, which with its specificities, led to a redefinition of the concept of public places and to the production of new ones. The transformation in the habits and in the paradigms of reference of contemporary society have produced a major change in the role and in the perception of public space. The use of sociological and anthropological analysis will contribute to define the historical framework and to outline the determining elements that produced these mutations in the structure of contemporary society. The implications of globalization and the shift in the notions of space and time will be two relevant aspects to be considered and investigated Description: Master Erasmus Mundus Crossways in European Humanities Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10362/6035 2010-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10362/5939 Title: Constructing the National Canon in Ireland and Macedonia: The Function of Folklore in the Plays The Countess Cathleen and The Land of Heart’s Desire by William Butler Yeats, and Proud Flesh and The Black Hole by Goran Stefanovski and Their Role in Strengthening National Identity Authors: Pamukova - Saveska, Gordana Abstract: The approach to canon formation adopted in this analysis will be to discuss it as a matter of institutionalisation of literature in relation to education and theatre, and in that respect it will be treated more as a phenomenon that distributes cultural ideologies, rather than as something that represents aesthetic principles. Following Raymond Williams who defines art as a set of socio-cultural relationships and the social practices that derive from them, as well as that at given historical circumstances different forms of artistic production are considered to be art, or simply significant works of art perceived as high culture, while others are subordinate, or marginalized forms of (artistic) production, we can argue that it is impossible to detach not only the definition of art, but also its production and reproduction (by means of its canonization), from the ongoing sociocultural and political processes, and that the construction of the canon, and especially the national canon, depends largely on the social context. Description: Erasmus Mundus Masters “Crossways in European Humanities” June 2011 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10362/5939 2011-06-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10362/5701 Title: THE MAKING OF THE IMMIGRANT IDENTITY IN THE PRESS: Constructing the Immigrant Imagined Community Authors: Guerreiro, Ana Sofia Abstract: On this thesis we present a study concerning the impact of the press on the making of the immigrant imagined community by youngsters in France and Portugal. Three hypotheses were initially put forward: 1. French articles will generate a more negative construction of the immigrant imagined community; 2. articles that discuss education will generate a more active reaction in the participants, as they are primarily related to adolescents; 3. content perceived as negative will have a stronger influence in the shift in the participant‟s viewpoint than content perceived as positive. The survey group consisted of 63 participants. The participants were presented with an article from a quality newspaper addressing criminality, employment or education in relation to immigration, and were subsequently required to fill in a questionnaire. Frequencies were used to establish a comparative analysis between the vocabulary patterns in the articles and the vocabulary introduced by the participants. A percentage analysis was used to identify the impact of the articles on the participants. The thesis is comprised of a literature review, research methodology, and a discussion of the findings. The findings were discussed in accordance with the topic of the article and the cultural background of the participants. The results showed that youngsters from both France and Portugal prefer deflating to neutral and praising vocabulary, constructing an overall negative immigrant imagined community. Although youngsters draw from the general vocabulary patterns in the articles, the attributes chosen do not match those predominant in the articles. Education articles are those which generated the greatest consensus but also the least impact on the participants. Content perceived by the participants as negative had a stronger impact on the participants‟ viewpoint than content perceived as positive or neutral. These results indicate that negative depictions of the immigrant in the press will have a strong impact in the making of the immigrant imagined community by youngsters. Description: A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Arts Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10362/5701 2010-06-01T00:00:00Z