La présente recherche s'intéresse aux usages et aux stratégies sociales d'appropriation du téléphone portable par des cadres tunisiens, âgés de 25 à 40 ans, issus de milieux ruraux, et récemment installés dans un milieu urbain. Sur le plan méthodologique, nous avons privilégié les méthodes qualitatives empruntées aux sciences humaines, notamment la recherche documentaire, l'observation non participante et l'entretien semi-directif. Nous avons constitué notre ± population ¿ par l'application de la technique dite boule-de-neige. Dix-huit Tunisiens, dont sept femmes et onze hommes, ont livré au total 72 heures d'entretien (deux fois deux heures en moyenne). En plus des entretiens, le matériau de recherche comprend des notes d'observation, un dossier de la presse écrite tunisienne et les images des campagnes publicitaires de deux fournisseurs téléphoniques (l'un privé, l'autre public), de l'an 2000 à 2006. L'analyse de nos entretiens et de nos observations s'est faite à l'aide d'un logiciel de traitement de données qualitatives (le QSR NVIVO) tandis que les articles de presse et les images publicitaires furent soumis à l'analyse discursive. Le résultat de nos analyses porte à conclure que les stratégies d'appropriation du téléphone portable, chez cette population migrante, se caractérisent par la ± négociation ¿ et qu'elles se situent à l'intérieur de stratégies sociales plus larges d'accommodement entre ce que les répondants nomment des valeurs ± traditionnelles ¿ et ± urbaines ¿. Ces stratégies sont dévoilées, en partie, à travers l'analyse du discours des répondants sur la technologie en général, et le téléphone portable en particulier, et en partie par leurs réactions aux discours correspondants de la presse écrite et de la publicité commerciale. Comme nous avons tenté de le soutenir, le lien annoncé par maints auteurs entre technologie et modernité passe, dans ce cas précis, par des stratégies d'appropriation qui sont, d'une part, de l'ordre de l'expérience sociale - celle de la migration qui est remise en mémoire par un travail d'adaptation à la vie urbaine -, et, d'autre part, de l'ordre du discours. Bref, ce lien passe par des stratégies d'appropriation qui se rattachent à un épiphénomène, celui de la migration interne à des fins d'intégration à la classe moyenne tunisienne et de promotion sociale.

This study investigated the communication rules in the family structures of the Maasai and the Akamba cultures with the aim of comparing the core symbols emanating from the rules. The researcher used the qualitative design to identify and compare the communication rules of the rural Maasai of the Rift Valley Province and the rural Akamba of the Eastern Province of Kenya. The study focused on male and female adult individuals in family situations who were familiar with the traditional expectations of their cultures. Data was collected through focus group and in-depth interviews. From the data it was concluded that although the Maasai and the Akamba are from two different ethnic groups of Africa, namely the Nilo-Hamitic and Bantu respectively, the core symbols of their communication rules that are similar far outnumber those that are different. This phenomenon was noted when comparing the different levels of relationship within the family structures, namely, communication between spouses, communication between parents and children, and communication between siblings. One of the important findings of this study is that there are more similarities than differences in the cultures of the Maasai and the Akamba at family level. Therefore, the similarities of core symbols could imply that ethnic differences should not lead to the assumption that cultural practices will be significantly different. However, similar cultural practices or core symbols might not necessarily rule out conflict, as was indeed the case with the Maasai and the Akamba.Another finding was that the most outstanding core symbol in both cultures was respect, which was the fulcrum of most of the other core symbols in the communication rules. / Communication Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)

This study investigated the communication rules in the family structures of the Maasai and the Akamba cultures with the aim of comparing the core symbols emanating from the rules. The researcher used the qualitative design to identify and compare the communication rules of the rural Maasai of the Rift Valley Province and the rural Akamba of the Eastern Province of Kenya. The study focused on male and female adult individuals in family situations who were familiar with the traditional expectations of their cultures. Data was collected through focus group and in-depth interviews. From the data it was concluded that although the Maasai and the Akamba are from two different ethnic groups of Africa, namely the Nilo-Hamitic and Bantu respectively, the core symbols of their communication rules that are similar far outnumber those that are different. This phenomenon was noted when comparing the different levels of relationship within the family structures, namely, communication between spouses, communication between parents and children, and communication between siblings. One of the important findings of this study is that there are more similarities than differences in the cultures of the Maasai and the Akamba at family level. Therefore, the similarities of core symbols could imply that ethnic differences should not lead to the assumption that cultural practices will be significantly different. However, similar cultural practices or core symbols might not necessarily rule out conflict, as was indeed the case with the Maasai and the Akamba.Another finding was that the most outstanding core symbol in both cultures was respect, which was the fulcrum of most of the other core symbols in the communication rules. / Communication Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)

This thesis, titled “Normative Media Theory and the Rethinking of the Role of the Kenyan Media in a Changing Social Economic Context,” is a theoretical study that discusses the role of normative media theory in shaping and guiding debate on the role of the media and attendant policy making processes in a changing Kenyan social economic context. This is done against the background of acknowledgment of the general state of flux that characterizes normative media theory in a postmodern, globalized and new media landscape. The study thus extensively describes the Kenyan media landscape, with a view to demonstrating how it has and is continuing to be transformed by a variety of developments in the social economic set up of the Kenyan society. In order to provide a theoretical basis for explaining these developments, the study then indulges in an extensive theoretical discussion that presents a synthesis of current arguments in the area of normative media theory. This discussion fundamentally brings to the fore the challenges which characterizes normative media theory in a changing social economic context and therefore the inability of traditional normative theory to account for new developments in the media and society in general. In an attempt to integrate normative media theory and practice, the study then discusses (against the backdrop of theory) the views and opinions of key role players in the Kenyan media landscape, in regard to how they perceive the role of the media. Particular attention is given, inter alia, to matters such as media ownership, media accountability processes, changing media and communication technologies, a changing constitutional landscape, the role of the government in the Kenyan media landscape, the place of African moral philosophy in explaining the role of the media in Kenya, and the growth of local language radio. Finally, on the bases of theory, experiences from other parts of the world and the views of key role players in the Kenyan media landscape, the study presents several normative guidelines on how normative theory and media policy making in Kenya could meet each other, taking into account the changes occasioned by globalization and the new media landscape. These proposals are essentially made to enrich general debate on the role of the media in Kenya, as well as attendant media policy making efforts. / Communication / D.Litt. et Phil. (Communication)

This study sought to examine linguistic and discursive strategies used to construct messages reflective of the implementation of the HIV and AIDS policy for Zimbabwe of 1999 by government and private newspapers. Such analysis was perceived to be important since media content has a bearing on Zimbabweans‘ perception and attitudes regarding HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and control. The study was aimed at comparing messages from newspapers with views by the people of Zimbabwe regarding the implementation of the policy. Findings reveal that empowerment programmes particularly those targeting women and children are lagging behind as Zimbabweans, literature and newspaper data sources testify. In addition, information sources concur that cultural (For example, stigmatisation, polygamy, religious practices, spouse inheritance) and structural (For example, patriarchy, masculinity, bureaucracy, politics) are stumbling blocks that negatively affect the implementation of the policy. Further, even though private and government newspapers do not fully agree on the portrayal of human agents, there is a general consensus between newspaper reports and Zimbabweans that people still face socio-economic and econo-political challenges that militate against the smooth implementation of the HIV and AIDS policy. Government newspapers tend to downplay aspects which reveal inadequacies of government activities. The study notes this as betrayal of use of ideological squares both by government and private newspapers whereby certain aspects regarding the implementation of the policy are either downplayed or highlighted to influence perception. The study reveals that newspaper reports used nominalisation, quantification, positive politeness, thematisation, rhematisation, intertextuality, euphemism, proverbs, idioms, action verbs, metaphors and citation of experts as linguistic and discursive strategies both for agenda setting and building purposes regarding the implementation of the HIV and AIDS policy. Other devices used particularly in the encoding of Operation Murambatsvina are, claptraps, deictic referencing, personal pronouns, adjectives and direct speech. The study attributes problems regarding the Zimbabwean HIV and AIDS intervention model to the top – down approach inherent in the policy. Hence, the call for an adoption of an unhu/hunhu/ubuntu inspired bottom – up HIV and AIDS intervention model in Zimbabwe. This would inculcate pro-family, pro-village, pro-nation/people and ―servant leadership‖ (Mangena and Chitando, 2011) values in the fight against the pandemic through the embracing of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). Unfortunately, such values largely continue to elude the radar of the current top – down HIV and AIDS intervention model cuurently in use in Zimbabwe. / African Languages / D. Litt et Phil. (African Languages)

The thesis presents rich empirical analysis of the role of public relations in facilitating participation in social change in the Arab Gulf. The focus is on what public communication approaches are used and how they are regarded from the perspectives of the key social actors. It presents an historical and sociological background of public communication and media in the Arab Gulf. Moreover, it provides in-depth analysis of two empirical case studies in the Arab Gulf: Ghiras, the national drugs prevention programme in Kuwait, and Be Free, the voluntary anti-child abuse programme in Bahrain. This thesis relates the practice of public communication in the Arab Gulf society to Arabic culture and ethics. The thesis uses a qualitative constructivist paradigm to “re-construct” the multiple realities initially constructed by social actors in the cases to provide original insights on the role of public communication and public relations in social change in the Arab Gulf. It presents a new perspective of 'social change' in the two cases that is tied to Islamic ethics. Besides, it re-constructs original Arabic-oriented understanding of 'relational' and 'persuasion' approaches, which differs from the Western paradigm. One of the key contributions of the thesis is its adaptation of relevant Western communication models to the empirical Arab Gulf cases to identify some of the crucial factors of the practice and role of public communication in the Arab Gulf. The unique contribution of this thesis is that it develops a greater understanding of alternative cultural context that might contribute to the adaptations of existing theory and therefore a first step towards new models. It introduces a theoretical framework for other scholars to develop an Arabic public communication ethics theory and to build up a cultural model of the practice of public communication and public relations in the Arab Gulf. The thesis generates key theoretical implications that contribute to the theoretical discussion on the value and role of media, public relations, social marketing, and public communication in the Arab Gulf society at the age of globalisation.

Master thesis Intercultural Communication (Republic of Korea) defines the basic definitions and approaches to culture and intercultural communication. Theoretical passage is concluded with the test of intercultural sensitivity that combines theoretical and practical approach. Next chapter is devoted to facts about the Republic of Korea: an overview of important historical events, political and economic characteristics and religion. The key passage - intercultural communication in the praxis is mostly based on the personal experience with Korean culture and on opinions of Koreans for their own cultural values and society. Korean society is based on traditional values which determine a set of rules which may not been even noticed. The content of this paper should contribute to avoiding the missteps while staying in the Korean culture.

<p>U.S. rhetoric that embraces immigration is juxtaposed with the lived experiences of Latinx immigrants, the country’s largest immigrant group. Intergenerational research shows how immigrants’ social mobility depends on socioeconomic and environmental factors, impacting occupational attainment. Immigration policies portray immigrants negatively—contrasting deserving/good with undeserving/bad. This study uses d/Discourse (i.e., everyday talk/societal understandings) to investigate how immigrants from different generations make sense of policy, immigrant portrayals, and their lives through the lens of “calling.” Here, calling is used to understand differences across generations, rather than positioned as an individual pull toward an occupation. Specifically, this study answered three questions: (1) What occupational and intergenerational d/Discourses are perceived by immigrants?; (2) Whose interests are served by these d/Discourses and who is marginalized?; (3) How do immigrants experience “callings” across generations? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with different generations of immigrants (N=36). Generational and intergenerational sensemaking themes are identified using d/Discourse, while critical discourse analysis is used to explain inequalities and in whose interests d/Discourses are created. The main theoretical contribution of this study suggests that callings can be enacted and fulfilled intergenerationally. Within immigrant families, first-generation immigrants often hold visions of who their children (second-generation immigrants) will become. This vision often includes high educational attainment, a prestigious occupation, and documentation in the United States. Second-generation immigrants felt a pressure to perform well in school and validate the sacrifices made by their parents. They recognized that the visions for their future constructed by their first-generation parents were riddled with tensions. The occupational decisions of the second-generation immigrants often tried to find a middle ground between fulfilling their parents’ vision but also practicing in occupations that they were personally interested in. Several barriers made the path to fulfilling intergenerational callings more difficult. Second-generation immigrants recognized the privileges they held that their parents did not, including language barriers and acceptance into the country tied to documentation and acceptance based on racial models in the United States. While first-generation immigrants accepted these challenges as part of their intergenerational calling, the second-generation struggled to do the same. Finally, in fulfilling intergenerational callings many immigrants unintentionally reproduced deservingness narratives. In short, this study contributes theoretically and practically by challenging immigrant portrayals and viewing callings as intergenerational but filled with internal and external challenges.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T18:15:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Patricia Assuf Nechar.pdf: 10906984 bytes, checksum: 97da991672c8c278888afe1f3880ac7a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-11-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The purpose of this Master s thesis is to study the social media s discourses regarding the fat body, especially those circulating in blogs associated with the plus size universe. Inserted in the field of communication and following the processes of creation in media and culture line of research, this study focuses on mapping out and conducting a critical analysis of the processes of creating and building a body image that questions and subverts the hegemonic representations and discourses. Nowadays, the body is a frequent object of discussion in the media. Two types of discourses prevail: in the mass media, the discourse takes on an imperative note, preaching the importance of having a perfect body. In the digital media, however, it is possible to notice the emergence of a counter discourse that defends other types of bodies, which escape the rules that govern the ideal body . This Master s thesis aims to map out the multiplicity of images and discourses emerging in the cyberspace. The concept of cyberspace adopted was the one defined by Leão: a gigantic, almost endless maze of interactions typical of contemporary times, a network composed of hardware, software, people and groups. The research focuses on the following topics of discussion: daily life, body acceptance, fashion, health, self-esteem, prejudice, and respect. The theoretical frameworks adopted were: process analysis and criticism theories (Salles and Leão); body, image and power (Foucault); social networks (Costa); communication devices (Prado); body images (Sant Anna, Ortega and Vigarello). The methodology consisted of literature review; identification, selection and analysis of documents published in the social networks included in the study; image research (iconology) associated with art projects related to the concept of obese bodies; and mapping of images and imaginary as a method of knowledge production (Leão). Grounded in the idea of image, talk spaces and power (Foucault), the research shows the importance of building an imaginary. Through the analysis of documents published in these networks (photographs, records of discussions, among others), it was possible to map out the complexities of the issues involving the authors and groups in the plus size universe. Among the findings, the mapping of images and discourses conducted in this research shows that the creation of an alternative, subversive and politically engaged imaginary is essential to promote the freedom of expression and communication regarding the body that does not conform to established standards / Esta dissertação de mestrado tem como objeto de estudo os discursos das redes sociais em relação ao corpo gordo, em especial, aqueles que circulam no ciberespaço, nos blogs do universo Plus Size. Inserida no campo da comunicação, na linha de pesquisa processos de criação nas mídias e na cultura, nossa pesquisa tem como foco o mapeamento e análise crítica dos processos de criação e construção de uma imagem do corpo que problematiza e subverte as representações e os discursos hegemônicos. Atualmente, o corpo é objeto de discussão frequente no universo das mídias. Observa-se a predominância de dois tipos de discursos: nas mídias de massa, os discursos assumem um caráter imperativo e pregam a valoração de um corpo ideal. Nas mídias digitais, no entanto, é possível observar a emergência de um contra-discurso que defende a valoração de outros tipos de corpos que fogem às normatizações que regem o corpo ideal. Nesse contexto, esta dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo cartografar as imagens e discursos que emergem no ciberespaço, em suas multiplicidades. Entende-se o conceito de ciberespaço tal como foi definido por Leão: um labirinto gigantesco e quase-infinito de interações da era contemporânea, uma rede composta por hardwares, softwares, pessoas e grupos. Entre os temas que circulam nas discussões elencamos: cotidiano, aceitação do corpo, moda, saúde, autoestima, preconceito e respeito. A pesquisa tem como referencial teórico: teorias de análise e crítica de processos (Salles e Leão); corpo, imagem e poder (Foucault); redes sociais (Costa); dispositivos comunicacionais (Prado); imagens do corpo (Sant Anna, Ortega e Vigarello). A metodologia é composta por revisão bibliográfica; coleta, seleção e análise de documentos das redes sociais elencadas; pesquisa imagens (iconologia) vinculada a projetos artísticos que se relacionam com o conceito de corpos obesos; e cartografia de imagens e imaginários como método de produção de conhecimento (Leão). Fundamentada na ideia de imagem, espaços de conversações e poder (Foucault), a pesquisa demonstra a importância da construção de um imaginário. Através da análise dos documentos que circulam nessas redes (imagens fotográficas, registros de discussões em rede, entre outros) foi possível mapear as complexidades das questões de natureza relacional que constituem os autores e os grupos do universo plus size. Entre os resultados alcançados, a cartografia de imagens e discursos desenvolvida em nossa pesquisa demonstra que a criação de um imaginário alternativo, subversivo e politicamente engajado é fundamental na valoração aos direitos de expressão e comunicação vinculados ao corpo situado fora dos padrões estabelecidos

This dissertation examines the activities and texts of four groups of activists who use culture jamming as a tactic to challenge dominant ideologies as they advocate for progressive social, cultural and economic change. Culture jamming, as defined here, is a practice whereby texts critical of the status quo are created through the appropriation and/or mimicry of the aesthetics and/or language that are a part of popular, or at least widely experienced, culture. Exploring the work of the Yes Men, the Adbusters Media Foundation, the Billboard Liberation Front and the Illegal Art exhibit, I argue that through their culture jamming these activists take critical theory into practice as a part of their goal is to raise the critical consciousness of the public. Confronting the issues of globalization, consumerism, and the political economy of the media in the United States, these culture jammers aim to highlight aspects of domination and oppression in their view results primarily from the corporate control of culture and politics. Using theories of ideology and hegemony developed by Karl Marx, Antonio Gramsci, Stuart Hall, and Raymond Williams to guide my analysis, I trace how each of these groups develop, present, and promote their critique. I steer clear of discussing the effectiveness of these culture jammers, focusing instead on the actions they take and theorizing some of the possible challenges and limitations they face in light of their own experiences. Differing requirements of cultural capital and deeper contextual information for most, if not all, of these culture jamming activities can make them especially complex forms of activism. What becomes clear is that culture jamming may be a tactic best suited to the maintenance of an activist community of people who already hold a critical position, as the jammer’s challenges to dominant culture and ideologies can be lost because of the form of the critique, or marginalized or otherwise ignored by the mainstream media. / text