Human-nature connection is recognized for its importance for our well-being, development of our environmental identity, and potentially leading to pro-environmental behaviour due to the support of an individual’s intrinsic values. However, the fostering of this connection is not supported and being implemented within society at large. This research set out to explore the causes of the weak relation to nature and identify potential design interventions to enable the recuperation of nature as part of our identity.  For this exploration, Speculative Design and Transition Design were chosen. In particular, Design Fiction as a method was adopted, not only it allowed us to speculate the future, but also materialise and explore the human-nature connection in ‘objects’. Transition Design was used due to its flexibility to explore interdisciplinary research and solutions, providing ground for the 'constructed reality’ and enabling the built-up of a roadmap towards this preferable future.  Drivers that caused this problem were identified, and it showed how they are closely intertwined and influenced by, or are a result of, each other. One of these is how control and illusion of control plays a role in our weak human-nature connection. Through qualitative fieldwork, some of the ‘characteristics of nature’ and factors that influence human-nature connection were mapped, and they were embodied into objects situated in a ‘constructed reality’. These material objects have taken the form of home products in a product catalogue (‘diegetic prototype’) as human-nature connection can potentially be fostered at home as well as in nature.  The response showed a potential in how a speculative ‘diegetic prototype’ can influence a person's sense of identity in relation to nature. Proving that the ‘diegetic prototype’ has an actual effect on the sense of identity would be impossible due to the complex nature of identity development as many different factors play a role. This research also provided a list of factors for designers to explore with regards to enhancing our human-nature connection through design. It has also shown the potential role of food and home in establishing human-nature connection, on which further research is needed.

Ever since the introduction of sound in film, sound effects have played a big part in the experience of the film audience. Acousmatic sound effects are diegetic sounds that lack a visual source on screen, and they are frequently used in horror films. This research explores the relationship between familiarity with sound effects and the emotional response in the audience. An experiment was conducted where two test groups watched an excerpt from a horror film where acousmatic sounds were a big part of the soundtrack. One of the test groups watched a version where there were reoccurring familiar acousmatic sounds, and the other group watched a version with random un-familiar acousmatic sounds. Data was collected through self-report and physiological measurements. The results suggest that there is a dissonance between the conscious and unconscious emotional experience of suspense and fear. The physiological measurements indicate a higher emotional arousal in the group that watched the unfamiliar version of the stimuli, while the self-report propose a stronger conscious build-up of suspense leading to a stronger experience of fear in the group watching the familiar version. Further research directions based on the result of this research are presented.

In this study, we will explore how a restricted user interface affects the player experience in survival horror games. To test this, we created a digital survival horror game. The restricted user interface in the prototype resides in the player controller who has access to five different user interface elements. These elements are health, revolver, flashlight, compass and a watch. The results showed that the restriction and making the user interface diegetic did affect the player experience. This was presented through dividing the participant's experiences with the prototype in four categories: Challenge, Analytical, Safety and Control. Participant’s enjoyed the added challenge from the restricted user interface which also helped promote the horror experience. As a drawback, a restricted user interface resulted in participants having a harder time learning the game and understanding certain game mechanics and elements. / I denna studie så kommer vi undersöka hur ett begränsat användargränssnitt påverkar spelupplevelsen i överlevnadsskräckspel. För att testa detta så skapade vi ett digitalt överlevnadsskräckspel. Det begränsade användargränssnittet i prototypen befinner sig på den spelbara karaktären som har tillgång till fem olika användargränssnitts element. Dessa element är hälsa, revolver, ficklampa, kompass och klocka. Resultaten visar att begränsningen och genom att göra användargränssnittet diegetisk påverkade spelupplevelsen. Detta var presenterat genom att dela upp deltagarens erfarenheter med prototypen i fyra olika kategorier: utmaning, analytisk, säkerhet och kontroll. Deltagare gillade ökningen i utmaning från det begränsade gränssnittet som även hjälpte stärkte skräckupplevelsen. En nackdel med ett begränsat gränssnitt var att deltagare hade det svårare att lära sig spelet samt förstå vissa spelmekaniker och spelement.

M. Mus. (Composition) by Coursework and Research, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / The aim of this Research Report is to highlight the overt and more subtle roles that contemporary film music plays in the final presentation of a film. An analysis of selected examples by the renowned film music composer, Hans Zimmer, illustrates the techniques and musical tools that he uses to achieve certain effects which influence the way different scenes are perceived by the viewer/listener. Much of the debate revolves around the degree to which the music plays either an obvious or less obvious role in the multi-media modality of film and the techniques that the composer applies to achieve his/her desired dramatic result. I have drawn on the writings of current film music theorists in order to interrogate the interaction between music and some of the other art-forms that coalesce in the creation of the final film product.

I den här undersökningen utforskar vi hur användande av smarttelefoner skulle kunna se ut inom en nära framtid. Med designfiktion som grundpelare och förhållningssätt, verklighetsproducerar vi diegetiska prototyper som med sina utseendemässiga egenskaper och funktionaliteter, berättar om en möjlig framtida värld av smarttelefonanvändning. De diegetiska prototyperna är sprungna ur ett fiktivt scenario, baserad på tidigare forskning om aspekter kring användning av smarttelefoner, smarttelefonens tekniska utveckling och dess estimerade roll i en nära framtid. Med Scenariometoden, en egentillverkad metod som vi kallar “Lager-på-lager” och Bleeckers (2009) framställning av designfiktion, kan vi utgå från dessa aspekter för att fantisera och spekulera kring hur det en dag skulle kunna se ut. Löwgren och Stoltermans (2004) bok “Design av informationsteknik” bidrar med metodologi som bistår oss med verktyg för att realisera vår designfiktiva verklighetsproduktion, där fokuset ligger på idégenerering och ifrågasättande samt en abstrakt bild av hur designsituationer börjar, som vi använder som ett förhållningssätt under hela gestaltningsarbetet. Vi får inte bara inblick i hur smarttelefonanvändning skulle kunna se ut inom en snar framtid, men även hur designfiktion kan användas i en spekulerande undersökning, där vetenskapliga fakta, design och fiktion möts och blir ett. / In this Bachelor thesis we explore what smartphone usage could be like in the near future. With design fiction as the central method of approach, we create real life diegetic prototypes that, with their appearance and functionalities, tell of a possible future world of smartphone use. Our diegetic prototypes come from a fictitious scenario, based on aspects derived from science fact, containing smartphone use, the smartphone’s technological evolution and estimated role in the near future. With Scenariometoden (“The scenario method”), our own method Lager-på-lager (“Layer-on-layer”) and Bleecker’s (2009) interpretation of design fiction, we can base our fantasy and speculation on these aspects, to imagine what it one day could be like. Löwgren and Stolterman’s (2004) book “Design av informationsteknik” contributes methodology that assists us with tools for realizing our design-fictional reality production, where the focus is on idea generation and questioning as well as an abstract picture of how design situations begin which we use as an appliance throughout the design work. We not only get an insight into what smartphone use could be like in the near future, but also how design fiction can be used in speculative study, where science fact, design and fiction meet and become one.

Denna studie har undersökt effekterna som spatiala och diegetiska användargränssnitt har på känslan av närvaro i VR-miljöer för att lokalisera fallgropar och bidra till att fastställa uppdaterade designkonventioner vid utveckling av VR-applikationer. Introduktionen ger en överblick över hur arbetet gått till och vad frågeställningen varit. I bakgrunden förklaras och definieras viktiga termer samt fokus för arbetet. Därefter beskrivs metoden som nyttjades under undersökningen. Två artefakter togs fram i samband med undersökningen. Utvecklingsprocessen av dessa artefakter beskrivs i kapitel 4: genomförande. Artefakterna kombinerades med semistrukturerade kvalitativa intervjuer och observationer för att samla in data till slutsatserna. Från datan som samlades in kunde det utläsas att det diegetiska användargränssnittet verkade ha en positiv inverkan på användarnas känsla av närvaro i VR-miljön samtidigt som det spatiala var lättare och effektivare att använda. Framtida forskning kan använda denna studie som stöd för att utforska användargränssnitt i fler genrer, användningsområden och applikationer inom VR.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Esta dissertação trata das visualidades buscadas no campo da arte contemporânea utilizando como linguagem o videogame e sua estética, que se formam como transfigurações das ideias de um mundo estruturado em códigos, uma informação entre os signos que convivem no cotidiano do homem comum. Neste caráter, o trabalho artístico aliado ao videogame propõe estados de percepção estética e interação com o espectador como forma estrutural da obra, como a obra em si. Unir a arte com o videogame para alcançar a mistura entre artista, obra e espectador / This dissertation deals with visualities sought in the field of contemporary art, using as the videogame as language and its aesthetics, formed as ideias of a visual transfigurations of a world structured in codes, an information between signs in daily living of the common man. In this character, the artwork coupled with videogame proposes levels of aesthetic perception and interaction with the viewer as a structural form of the work, like the work itself. Linking the art with the videogame achieve the combination between artist, work of art and the viewer

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Esta dissertação trata das visualidades buscadas no campo da arte contemporânea utilizando como linguagem o videogame e sua estética, que se formam como transfigurações das ideias de um mundo estruturado em códigos, uma informação entre os signos que convivem no cotidiano do homem comum. Neste caráter, o trabalho artístico aliado ao videogame propõe estados de percepção estética e interação com o espectador como forma estrutural da obra, como a obra em si. Unir a arte com o videogame para alcançar a mistura entre artista, obra e espectador / This dissertation deals with visualities sought in the field of contemporary art, using as the videogame as language and its aesthetics, formed as ideias of a visual transfigurations of a world structured in codes, an information between signs in daily living of the common man. In this character, the artwork coupled with videogame proposes levels of aesthetic perception and interaction with the viewer as a structural form of the work, like the work itself. Linking the art with the videogame achieve the combination between artist, work of art and the viewer

Summary in English / The purpose of this research is to make a literary appreciation of the detective story in Tshivenda. Chapter 1 is the introductory chapter which discusses the aim of study, the definition of detective story, methodology, detective noels in Tshivenda, background information regarding the authors, summaries regarding selected novels and the scope of research. Chapter 2 is devoted to the plot structure of the two detective novels, and outlines the diegetic and meta-diegetic stories. The elements of mystery and dramatic irony are also discussed. Chapter 3 concentrates mainly on the setting of the two selected detective novels and its influence on the crimes committed, the lives of the characters and the tools that are used. Chapter 4 deals with the depiction of the victims, suspects and detectives in the selected detective stories. Chapter 5 concludes the study and summarises the main findings of the appraisal. / African Languages / M. A. (African Languages)

Ce mémoire interroge la place qu’occupe le personnage historique, Joris-Karl Huysmans (1848-1907) dans le roman Soumission (2015) de Michel Houellebecq. Située en France en 2022, l’histoire met en scène François, spécialiste de Huysmans. Afin de cerner le rôle de Huysmans dans l’histoire, nous nous sommes intéressée à l’amitié que François exprime pour lui, leurs affinités et leurs divergences. Les polémiques suscitées lors de la parution du roman nous ont poussé à également considérer la moralité de l’histoire. L’aspect temporel du roman, situé dans un futur proche, est important car il laisse supposer une comparaison. Ainsi, notamment la notion de politique-fiction - anticipation de faible amplitude -, ainsi que des concepts narratologiques empruntés à Genette - transtextualité, voix et mode -, ont fourni des outils d’analyse. De même, la recherche de Viard sur la vision politique de Houellebecq, et sa conception comtienne de la religion, a servi de guide. En premier lieu, nous avons ainsi montré que Houellebecq a créé l’illusion d’une réalité possible dans un cadre familier aux lecteurs, puis, en deuxième lieu, nous avons constaté que le narrateur est autodiégétique et la focalisation interne, ce qui nous a permis de faire le rapprochement entre le héros et la vie et l’oeuvre de Huysmans. Plus loin, l’association des caractéristiques de la politique fiction avec les fonctions testimoniale et idéologique du narrateur ont fait apparaître la figure de Huysmans comme plus largement le représentant de la décadence de la modernité. La vision antilibérale et critique exprimée par François rappelle donc le désenchantement dans la littérature « fin de siècle » dont Huysmans était un grand représentant. De plus nous avons constaté que si François et Huysmans ne partagent pas la même vision de la religion, ils partagent le même idéal conservateur de la femme et du couple. Enfin, ces éléments réunis, nous en sommes arrivée à la conclusion que plutôt que nihiliste, la moralité exprimée serait altruiste. / This essay interrogates the part played by the historical figure, Joris-Karl Huysmans (1848-1907) in Michel Houellebecqs novel Submission (2015). The story, set in France in 2022, revolves around François, specialist in Huysmans. In order to establish Huysmans role, we have focalized on François’s friendship, expressed by him, their affinities and their differences. The polemics brought on when the novel was published has also made us consider the moral of the story. The temporal aspect is important since it underscores a comparison between a plot set in the future and a historical figure. Here especially one notion of political fiction – speculation in a nearby future – has proven useful. It was furthermore the case of concepts in the field of narratology developed by Genette, intertextuality and metatextuality, voice and mode. Moreover, we have been guided by Viards theory regarding Houellebecqs political view as well as his vision on religion, inspired by Auguste Comte. Considered all together, this shows that Houellebecq has created an illusion of reality taking place in a familiar environment to which readers can relate. Further on, the narrator being homo-diegetic with an internally focalized perspective, makes it possible for us to conciliate the life of the hero with the life and works of Huysmans. We have also seen that the notions of political fiction, combined with the testimonial and ideological functions of the narrator, relates to the character of Huysmans as a representant of the decadency of modernity. Moreover, François’s anti-liberal and critical vision of France has a clear affinity with the disenchantment expressed in the 19th century, fin de siècle literature, of which Huysmans was a principal figure. We argue that although François and Huysmans don’t share the same vision of religion, they share the same conservative ideal of femininity and the couple. This all together has led us to the conclusion that the moral of the story rather than nihilistic is altruistic.