This research aims to enhance Simulation-Based Training (SBT) applications to support training events in the absence of live instruction. The overarching purpose is to explore available tools for integrating intelligent tutoring communications in game-based learning platforms and to examine theory-based techniques for delivering explicit feedback in such environments. The primary tool influencing the design of this research was the Generalized Intelligent Framework for Tutoring (GIFT), a modular domain-independent architecture that provides the tools and methods to author, deliver, and evaluate intelligent tutoring technologies within any training platform. Influenced by research surrounding Social Cognitive Theory and Cognitive Load Theory, the resulting experiment tested varying approaches for utilizing an Embodied Pedagogical Agent (EPA) to function as a tutor during interaction in a game-based environment. Conditions were authored to assess the tradeoffs between embedding an EPA directly in a game, embedding an EPA in GIFT’s browser-based Tutor-User Interface (TUI), or using audio prompts alone with no social grounding. The resulting data supports the application of using an EPA embedded in GIFT’s TUI to provide explicit feedback during a game-based learning event. Analyses revealed conditions with an EPA situated in the TUI to be as effective as embedding the agent directly in the game environment. This inference is based on evidence showing reliable differences across conditions on the metrics of performance and self-reported mental demand and feedback usefulness items. This research provides source modality tradeoffs linked to tactics for relaying training relevant explicit information to a user based on real-time performance in a game.

Using the account from the royal wardrobe as a source to discover the gift giving practices at the court of Gustav Vasa (Gustav I of Sweden), this thesis studies how material culture was part of the state formation process in 16th century Sweden. By analyzing the king’s gifts the study traces the informal networks that functioned as a base of power for the king’s reign. But it also exposes the material stuff as part of these network and thus part of that power. The thesis argues that to fully understand the political and social transformations that took place during the dynamic 16th century, it is mandatory not only to analyze the individuals who were part of that process, but also the material things they had at their disposals and how the things functioned as part of that process. The conclusion is that the king’s gift giving was due to carefully strategic considerations and part of a highly political strategy, and that the objects given acted as part in a process where – in the century to come – the aristocracy became a more distinguished group, both materially, culturally and socially.

Thesis (MPhil (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Internet has long stimulated thought and discussion around the idea of an alternative economy based on reciprocal exchange. To date, however, the benefits of this gift economy have been largely limited to the realms of cyberspace. Despite the dramatic changes in social interaction and exchanges facilitated by online networking, and the evolution of what may be referred to as a ‘high-tech gift economy’, the potential of the Internet to really revolutionize economic systems has been limited, as the gifting involved did not extend beyond the realms of cyberspace. By contrast to this global, virtual, gift economy that has developed online, this thesis explores the way in which Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), traditionally renowned for enhancing global reach, can be used to build and strengthen local exchange systems using community currencies. The research focuses specifically on the emergence of an alternative online currency, the Community Exchange System (CES), which originated in Cape Town towards the end of 2002, and has since spread to be used by 218 exchanges in 29 countries. Particular attention is paid to the pilot exchange that was launched in Cape Town, namely the Cape Town Talent Exchange (CTTE). The thesis proposes that web-based community currencies can provide an alternative to the current economic system, allowing for a relationship-centred approach to exchange that can be likened to a type of gift economy, centred on the principle of reciprocity, and fostering a spirit of abundance over scarcity. By doing so it is proposed that what Karl Polanyi (1944) referred to as the ‘great transformation’ of the 20th century, characterised by a shift in emphasis from human relationships to market price mechanisms, may be reversed in the ‘network society’ (Castells, 1996), in which principles of reciprocity and gift exchange are re-embedded in ‘relationship economics’ (Deragon, 2007). Part A provides a review of literature pertaining to online anthropology and the concept of a reciprocal gift ‘e-conomy’, the social dimension of economics, and the theory of ‘money’ and alternative currencies. Part B provides an overview of research findings pertaining to the CES as example of an alternative community currency operating a web-based platform, beginning with an introductory overview of the CES and CTTE, followed by a look at issues pertaining to reciprocity, and speculation on possible futures for this and similar web-based community currency systems. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Internet prikkel al lank idees en gesprekke oor ‘n alternatiewe ekonomie gebaseer op, ‘geskenk-handel’. Tot dusver is die voordele van hierdie ’geskenk-ekonomie’ egter beperk tot die dimensies van die kuber-ruimte. Ondanks dramatiese veranderinge in sosiale verkeer, uitruil en handel wat deur die aanlyn-netwerke bewerkstellig is, en die evolusie van wat as ‘high-tech geskenk ekonomie‘ beskryf kan word, was die potensiaal van die Internet om werklik ekonomiese sisteme om te keer, beperk. In teenstelling met die globale, virtuele geskenk/uitruil-ekonomie wat aanlyn ontwikkel het, ondersoek hierdie tesis die manier waarop Informasie en Kommunikasie Tegnologieë, tradisioneel bekend vir hul globale reikwydte, gebruik kan word om plaaslike uitruilsisteme te bou en te versterk. Die navorsing lê klem op die ontstaan van ‘n alternatiewe aanlyn-geldeenheidsisteem, die Gemeenskaps Uitruil Sisteem (‘Community Exchange System’ CES), wat aan die einde van 2002 in Kaapstad ontstaan het. Dit het sedertdien uitgebrei na 218 uitruilskemas in 29 lande. Spesiale aandag val op die loods uitruilskema wat in Kaapstad begin is, te wete die Cape Town Talent Exchange (CTTE) (Kaapstadse Talent Uitruilskema) Die verhandeling voer aan dat ‘n web-gebaseerde gemeenskapmark ‘n alternatiewe ekonomiese sisteem kan teweegbring. Dit kan lei tot ‘n benadering tot uitruil wat verhoudings-gesentreerd is, vergelykbaar met ‘n soort geskenk-ekonomie wat toegespits is op die beginsel van wederkerigheid. So kan ‘n oorvloed-bewustheid, pleks van skaarsheidsbewustheid bevorder word. Dit word aangevoer dat dit waarna Karl Polanyi (1944) as die ‘Groot Transformasie’ van die 20ste eeu verwys het, gekarakteriseer deur ‘n klemverskuiwing van menslike verhoudings na markgedrewe meganismes, kan terug verander na ‘n ‘netwerk-gemeenskap’ (Castells, 1996). Hierin is die beginsels van wederkerigheid en geskenk-uitruil ingebed in 'n tipe ‘verhoudings-ekonomie’ (Deragon, 2007). Deel A gee ‘n oorsig van die literatuur oor aanlynantropologie en die konsep van ‘n wederkerige geskenk ‘e-ekonomie’, die sosiale dimensie van ekonomie, en die teorie van ‘geld’ en alternatiewe betaalmiddele. Deel B gee ‘n oorsig van navorsingbevindings ten opsigte van die CES en CTTE as voorbeeld van ‘n alternatiewe gemeenskapsbetaalmetode wat van ‘n webgebaseerde platform gebruik maak. Dit word, gevolg deur opmerkings oor wederkerigheid (en) spekulasie oor die moontlike toekoms daarvan en van soortgelyke Internet-gebaseerde gemeenskapsbetaalsisteme.

La présente thèse poursuit l'objectif général de mieux comprendre l'expérience de la transplantation d'organe de la perspective de dyades comprenant un donneur et un receveur d'une donation vivante de rein. Pour ce faire, nous proposons une exploration en profondeur de la trajectoire de transplantation et des enjeux relationnels des donneurs et des receveurs. Un second objectif, qui s'est développé au cours de la recherche, est de contribuer à une meilleure compréhension des enjeux entourant la recherche qualitative impliquant des dyades. Cette thèse est présentée sous la forme de trois articles. Le premier article vise, par le biais de la méthode du méta-résumé, à dresser un portrait le plus complet possible du processus de donation tel qu'il avait été examiné à ce jour par les écrits empiriques qualitatifs disponibles, et à mettre en lumière les aspects qui avaient encore peu été appréhendés par les chercheurs, notamment l'importance de considérer conjointement au sein d'une même recherche des donneurs et des receveurs d'une donation vivante de rein. Le deuxième article a pour but d'explorer en profondeur l'expérience vécue pour des dyades de donneurs et de receveurs en contexte de donation vivante de rein, et en particulier la trajectoire de transplantation ainsi que les enjeux relationnels. Des entrevues qualitatives ont été menées auprès de cinq dyades (donc cinq donneurs et cinq receveurs). L'analyse phénoménologique interprétative des données recueillies propose un portrait de la trajectoire de transplantation, soit (a) l'expérience de la maladie du receveur, (b) l'expérience d'offrir et d'accepter un rein, (c) la période des tests, (d) la transplantation d'organe à proprement parler et finalement (e) la période post-transplantation. Un apport particulièrement significatif de l'analyse et de l'interprétation de nos données est la mise en relief que le processus de transplantation est mieux compris lorsque l'on considère le contexte social et interpersonnel plus large dans lequel évolue chaque dyade donneur-receveur, et en ce sens, la décision de donner ou d'accepter un rein peut être appréhendée comme un prolongement du rôle social auquel la personne adhère par rapport à autrui dans sa vie quotidienne. Le troisième article, qui a émergé des leçons acquises en réalisant la recherche effectuée dans l'article précédent, vise à décrire et discuter des défis éthiques et des impacts des décisions méthodologiques dans le cadre de recherches qualitatives impliquant des dyades de personnes se connaissant. Sur la base de nos propres défis empiriques et des écrits scientifiques disponibles, des réflexions et recommandations sont suggérées à différents stades d'un processus typique de recherche qualitative, soit (a) le recrutement, (b) le consentement à participer, (c) la collecte de données, (d) la validation des transcriptions par les participants, (e) l'analyse de données, et (f) la dissémination des résultats. Une réflexion en amont des enjeux entourant ces étapes est susceptible de faciliter l'entreprise de recherches qualitatives impliquant des dyades. En conclusion, les résultats de notre analyse soulignent l'importance du rôle social et du contexte interpersonnel plus large dans lequel évoluent les donneurs et les receveurs dans la façon dont ils parviennent à donner une signification à leur expérience. Enfin, si la recherche qualitative impliquant des dyades est en émergence, des défis éthiques et des décisions méthodologiques rigoureuses doivent être considérés en amont. / The global objective of this thesis is to help develop a better understanding of how living kidney transplantation donors and recipients experience the donation process as an interactive dyad. To address this objective, we suggest an in-depth exploration of the transplant trajectory and of the relational issues at play between donors and recipients in the context of a living kidney donation. A secondary objective, which developed along the way, is to contribute to a better understanding of how to conduct qualitative research with dyads. This thesis is comprised of three articles. The first article is a meta-summary that aimed at aggregating results pertaining to both donors and recipients of a living kidney donation to offer a complete picture of the donation process and to highlight avenues that warrant further research, namely looking at both donors and recipients as an interactive dyad within the same study. The objective of the second article was to provide a better understanding of how living kidney transplantation donors and recipients experience the donation process as an interactive dyad, and in particular the transplant trajectory and the relational issues involved. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with five dyads (five donors and five recipients). An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the data suggests that the transplant process can be naturally broken down into five phases of the transplant process: (a) the experience of the disease, (b) the experience of offering and accepting a kidney, (c) the screening period, (d) the surgery, and (e) the post-transplantation period. We found that for each donor-recipient dyad, the transplantation process reflects the unique larger social and interpersonal context within which the dyad evolves, and in this sense, the decision to donate or accept a kidney becomes a reflection of the social role one adheres to with respect to another being in everyday life. The third article emerged from the lessons we learned in conducting the research described in the second article and describes both the ethical challenges and methodological decisions involved in conducting qualitative research with dyads who have shared a common experience. Based on our experience and on the available literature, we offer reflections and recommendations that follow the typical chronology of the research process: (a) recruitment, (b) consent to participation, (c) data collection, (d) transcript validation by participants, (e) data analysis, and (f) result dissemination. Reflecting ahead upon issues at each of these stages is likely to be beneficial in conducting rigorous qualitative research involving dyads. In conclusion, our results underline the importance of the unique larger social and interpersonal context within which dyads evolve and achieve a sense of meaning with respect to their own experience of the donation process. Last, as qualitative research involving dyads continues to evolve, ethical challenges and rigorous methodological decisions should be reflected upon ahead of time.

L'enjeu de cette recherche ethnologique consiste à saisir quelques traits et expressions de la socialité vietnamienne à travers l'étude de la circulation non marchande dans un village au Nord du Vietnam. La première partie vise à définir les manifestations concrètes, la nature et le fonctionnement de la circulation non marchande telle qu'elle se déploie dans le village. La deuxième partie s'attache à analyser les significations et les fonctions sociales de ce système de prestations symboliques. La description ethnographique de ce système montre qu'il s'affirme comme un dispositif de transferts ritualisés, selon lequel les agents sociaux donnent, lors d'occasions définies, à celui qui en a besoin au moment où il en a besoin. Ce système de dons cérémoniels est fondé sur l'entraide, la réciprocité des gestes et l'entretien de dettes morales. L'examen des rapports sociaux en jeu dans la circulation des dons permet de dresser une carte de l'organisation des relations sociales selon les degrés de proximité relationnelle. Cette étude se termine sur la fonction sociale de ces prestations réciproques, qui consiste à inaugurer et à perpétuer des relations tình cảm, c'est-à-dire des relations chargées d'affection spontanée et morale à la fois. En tant que dons d'alliance qui participent à réguler les relations personnelles, nous estimons que les transferts cérémoniels incarnent l'« instant fugitif où la société prend » (Mauss, 1999 : 275) en milieu rural au Nord du Vietnam. La conclusion tente une généralisation du propos à travers la description du giao lưu, qui consiste à se rencontrer et à échanger en vue d'actualiser, de sceller et de renforcer des relations sociales. / The following ethnological research aims at grasping a few characteristic features of the Vietnamese principles of sociality, through the study of non-commercial transactions taking place in a village located in the Northern Vietnam. The first part of the doctoral thesis lists the forms, the practices and the nature of non-commercial transactions occurring in the village. The second part analyses the social meanings and functions of those symbolics transactions. The ethnographic description of the system shows that most of the transactions occurring are ritualized : on defined occasions, villagers give a gift to someone else in need and at the moment when they need it. Those non-commercial transactions can be defined as a system of ceremonial gif-giving based on mutual aid, gesture reciprocity, and moral debt. The study of the connections between the gifts given and the social relations involved in the transactions allow us to map out the organization of the social relations according to the degrees of closeness. This study ends with the analysis of the social function entailed by mutual gifts. Their role is mainly to create and strengthen tình cảm, relationships, that is to say relationships filled with spontaneous and moral feelings. Because those « bonding gifts » participate to the regulation of the personnel relationship in the village, we can consider that they embody that «fleeting moment when society sets » (Mauss, 1999: 275) in rural area in Northern Vietnam.

Ending colonialism requires the revitalization of not only indigenous systems of law, but also the indigenous legalities of which they form part. This means that Canada’s unique form of liberal constitutionalism cannot serve as the constitutional framework within which indigenous law is revitalized. Rather, we shall have to advert to the fact that indigenous law was and is generated by unique indigenous legal processes and institutions, which find their authorization in unique indigenous constitutional orders, which are in turn legitimated by indigenous peoples’ unique and varied creation stories. Through the gifts of diverse Anishinaabe writers and orators, and through work with my circle of elders, with aadizookaanan, in community, and on the land, I present one view of Anishinaabe legality. I give special emphasis to its earth-centric ‘rooted’ form of constitutionalism, which is characterized by mutual aid and its correlate structure, kinship. In the second half, I examine the problem of colonial violence in contemporary indigenous-settler relationships. I identify two principles necessary for indigenous-settler reconciliation and I consider how commonly proposed models of indigenous-settler relationship fare against them. I conclude that one vision of treaty, treaty mutualism—which is a form of rooted constitutionalism—is non-violent to indigenous peoples, settler peoples and to the earth. Finally, I consider counter-arguments on themes of fundamentalism, power, and misreading. / Graduate

本研究從廣義的社區傳播觀點出發，探討傳統社會結構限制下的社區已婚女性，如何展現她們的能動性從家庭「走出來」，並且成為社區大學和在地社區產生連結的中介角色。在已婚女性的個人能動性方面，研究者發現根據女性所擁有的資源差異，會影響她們自我定位協商的方式。其中自主性內隱的女性，使用了「以退為進」的戰術，有意識或無意識地鬆動了傳統「賢妻良母」的自我定位。而在女性發揮能動性的過程裡，她們也展現出一種默會知識樣貌──同理心和禮物經濟。這些默會知識的運用，使她們得以在家庭和社大的場域，扮演橋樑般的角色，在情感層面上建立起對班級、社大與社區的集體認同，以及可被用於即時動員的人際網絡。而她們也會以自己的知識經驗為基礎，將社大的理念轉化為她們所認可的具體行動。 / The idea of "Community Communication" is not limited to the use of community media. In a broader perspective, interpersonal communication in everyday life should also be identified as a sphere of community communication. Therefore my research focused on the interpersonal communication of four married women who took courses in Chi-Mei Community University. From their cases, the agency of married women who lived under traditional social restraints was distinctively uncovered. As long as these female students found their own way out of domestic life, they voluntarily became mediators in community communication. They helped Chi-Mei staff not only in running courses more smoothly but also in building rapport with local inhabitants successfully. All these female students identified themselves with the roles of "wives and mothers." However, based on the different resources they acquired, they developed various tactics in the re-negotiation of self-identities during the post-parental period. In one case where the husband had more power over his wife, the wife swiftly came up with strategic approaches that instead helped her gain the advantages over her husband (sometimes even without his knowing it). With this kind of wit cultivated from daily communications, while studying in Chi-Mei Community University, these married women even foster certain tacit knowledge which can be defined as "empathy" and "gift economy". By making use of tacit knowledge, these women translated the concepts advocated by Chi-Mei staff into real actions. And they were able to mobilize their family members and friends in taking these actions as well. Yet they did not associate their voluntary contributions with the abstract concepts, but attributed the actions to their sense of belongings as a community with Chi-Mei and the people whom they admired. These female students actually underestimated their importance in community mobilization. In fact, after Typhoon Morakot seriously damaged southern Taiwan in August 2009, the community networks fostered by women’s interpersonal communication played crucial roles in delivering materials to those victims in need. This was a good example of how the loosely connected networks could be activated at some critical moment while community mobilization is urgently required.

Sammanfattning Den som är under arton år är omyndig, vilket innebär att denne inte får råda över sina tillgångar och ingå avtal med bindande verkan enligt FB 9 kap. 1§. Vanligtvis är den omyndiges föräldrar både vårdnadshavare och förmyndare för sitt barn. Det är förmyndares ansvar att förvalta barnets tillgångar. Överstiger värdet på dessa tillgångar åtta gånger prisbasbelopp eller har tillgångar ett särskilt ursprung och karaktär enligt FB 13 kap. 2§, står föräldraförvaltningen under överförmyndarens tillsyn. Det ger ett sakrättsligt skydd för barnets egendom i situationer när föräldrarna har råkat på utmätning eller konkurs. Understiger tillgångar denna gräns eller saknas krav på särskild överförmyndarkontroll står det föräldrarna fritt att bestämma hur de tillgångarna kan användas eller placeras enligt FB 13 kap. 1§. Dock stadgas det i FB 13 kap. 1 och 7§§ att barnets tillgångar skall hållas separat och det som inte används för barnets behov skall göras räntebärande. Föräldrar har underhållsplikt för sina barn enligt FB 7 kap. 1§ efter vad som är skäligt med hänsyn till barnets behov och föräldrarnas samlade ekonomiska förmåga samt den omyndiges tillgångar och sociala förmåner. Staten tilldelar varje barn bosatt i Sverige det allmänna barnbidraget. Bidraget är avsett för barnets uppfostran och uppehälle men utbetalas till barnets vårdnadshavare. Hur det allmänna barnbidraget skall användas står föräldrarna fritt så länge barnets behov är tillgodosedd. Storleken på det allmänna barnbidraget täcker endast en del av de kostnader som det innebär att ha ett barn i familjen. Detta är för att föräldrar har det primära försörjningsansvaret, medan statens ansvar är sekundärt. Föräldrar har således dispositionsrätt över det allmänna barnbidraget och kan välja att antingen använda hela beloppet eller att placera det på ett separat bankkonto för att säkra barnets ekonomi i framtiden. På vilket sätt hanteras detta konto avgör om tillgodohavandet kan sakrättsligt skyddas mot föräldrarnas borgenärer vid utmätningsärenden. / Abstract A person under the age of eighteen is underage, which means that he cannot reign over his own assets and cannot conclude legally binding agreements according to FB 9 chapter 1§. Usually it's the parents that have custody and guardianship of their child. It is the guardian's responsibility to manage the child's assets. If the value of the assets exceeds the eight base amount or if the assets have a particular origin (inheritance, legacy or gift) or character according to FB 13 chapter 2§ then parents conduct is the subject of the overguardian’s supervision. It obtains protection for the child's property against parents’ creditors in situations when parents are facing foreclosure or bankruptcy. If the underaged’s assets value is below that limit or if there’s no requirements for overguardian’s supervision, the parents can freely determine how these assets can be used or place money into a bank account according to the FB 13 chapter 1§. However, FB 13 chapter 1 and 7§§ requires that the child's assets shall be separated from parents property and what isn’t used for the child's needs shall bring interests. Parents have a duty of alimony for their children as stated by FB 7 chapter 1§ out of consideration for child’s reasonable needs and parents' overall economic capacity along with the child's own assets and social benefits. The state assigns each child resident in Sweden the universal child allowance which is intended for the child's upbringing and living expenses, but it is paid to the child's guardian. The parents decide freely way the universal child allowance is to be used, as long as the child's needs are satisfied. The amount of the universal child allowance covers only a part of the costs of having a child in the family. This is because the parents have the primary maintenance obligation, while the state's responsibility is secondary. Parents thus have disposition over the universal child allowance and may choose to spend either the whole amount for the child's needs or to place the amount in a separate bank account to secure the child's economy in the future. The way this account is managed determines whether the money can be protected against parental creditors at execution issues.

MOTA, Leonardo de Araújo. Pecado, crime ou doença? representações sociais da dependência química. 2008. 246f. Tese(Doutorado em Sociologia) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Ciências Sociais, Programa de Pós- Graduação em Sociologia, Fortaleza-CE, 2008. / Submitted by Liliane oliveira (morena.liliane@hotmail.com) on 2011-11-29T14:26:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2008_TESE_LAMOTA.pdf: 1319771 bytes, checksum: 279a1019c97308784b859d9c0d70aecc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Josineide Góis(josineide@ufc.br) on 2012-01-09T12:51:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2008_TESE_LAMOTA.pdf: 1319771 bytes, checksum: 279a1019c97308784b859d9c0d70aecc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-01-09T12:51:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2008_TESE_LAMOTA.pdf: 1319771 bytes, checksum: 279a1019c97308784b859d9c0d70aecc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Drug addiction is a relevant social problem in the contemporary society, affecting thousands of individuals, and ignoring distinctions of social class, gender, race or religious beliefs. Considering that most of the research addressed to this phenomenon comes from medicine and psychology, the aim of this dissertation was to incorporate this field in the realm of social sciences, analyzing addiction as a phenomenon with various social meanings. Although this work doesn't concentrate on the biological and psychological variables of the object, the focus of this research was to analyze how certain social representations (sin, crime and disease) are associated with drug addiction and influence the social construction of labels and stigma of this particular type of transgression. The field research was accomplished mostly, in centers for recovery of addiction and mutual help groups such as Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Using qualitative methodologies such as participant observation, interview and focal groups. The subjects of the research were addicts and alcoholics in recovery, therapists, doctors, social workers, policemen and clerics, all of them involved directly with problems related with abuse of licit and illicit drugs. It was verified that addiction is more defined as a disease, but it’s a special kind of pathology that also incorporates representations of religion, moral and law. The subject of the solidarity among addicts was also approached, as well as the presuppositions of the gift, considered an important element of recovery and sociability. / A dependência química é um problema social relevante na sociedade contemporânea, atingindo milhares de indivíduos, ignorando distinções de classe social, gênero, etnia ou credo religioso. Considerando que a maioria das pesquisas endereçadas a este fenômeno se origina dos saberes médicos e psicológicos, a intenção desta tese é incluir este campo no âmbito das ciências sociais, privilegiando uma abordagem compreensiva da dependência química, analisando-a como um fenômeno polissêmico que possui estreito vínculo com o social. Embora este trabalho não menospreze as variáveis biológicas e psicológicas do objeto, o foco desta pesquisa foi averiguar como determinadas representações sociais (pecado, crime e doença) estão associadas ao abuso de drogas e influenciam na construção social de rótulos e estigmas relacionados a esta forma de transgressão. A pesquisa de campo foi realizada, majoritariamente, em clínicas de recuperação de dependentes químicos e grupos de ajuda mútua como Alcoólicos Anônimos e Narcóticos Anônimos, utilizando metodologias qualitativas como observação participante, entrevista e grupo focal. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram dependentes químicos em processo de recuperação, terapeutas, médicos, assistentes sociais, policiais e religiosos, todos envolvidos diretamente com problemas relacionados ao abuso de drogas lícitas e ilícitas. Constatou-se que a dependência química é cada vez mais definida como uma doença, mas trata-se de uma patologia complexa que também incorpora representações da religião, da moral e do direito penal. Também foi abordada a questão da solidariedade entre dependentes químicos, alicerçada nos pressupostos da dádiva, como recurso de recuperação e sociabilidade.

La marchandisation de l’art se traduit par une dérive progressive de l'esprit de collection. Elle est notamment perceptible dans le désir de plus-value des collectionneurs, qui va de pair avec le fait que l'aura de la valeur artistique et esthétique d'une œuvre est fonction du prix qu'elle atteint en tant que marchandise de luxe dans les salles de vente. La valeur de l’art s’en est trouvée assujettie à un marché capitaliste dont les guerres ont paradoxalement favorisé la mondialisation. Ce marché de l’art, qui est en cours de restructuration permanente, favorise chez les artistes une course à la « starification » et à des cotations tout particulièrement ambivalentes. Faut-il en conclure que la marchandisation a pris le pas sur l'artistique, le prix sur la valeur de l’œuvre, le lucre sur l'esthétique ? Cette thèse défend l'idée que la force, et la ruse des œuvres d'art, se manifestent dans leur capacité, à se jouer du milieu religieux, idéologique ou imagologique dans lequel elles voient le jour. Cette force se révèle aujourd'hui dans l’aptitude du geste créateur, qui relève — Marcel Mauss l'a bien vu — fondamentalement du don et du contre-don, à faire voler en éclat les illusions engendrées par la marchandisation. En permettant à l’imaginaire de s’incarner à l’égal du réel, l’artiste ouvre le champ infini des possibles. C'est pourquoi la vie des œuvres d'art n'en finit pas de rendre le cosmos cosmétique, quitte à se servir du « lucre » comme d'un appât habile à stimuler le marché, dont se sert in fine, sa « main invisible ». / The commodification of art results in a gradual drift of the collection spirit. This is particularly noticeable in the desire of collectors for added value, which goes hand in hand with the fact that the aura of the artistic and aesthetic value of work depends on the price it has achieved as a luxury commodity in the sales rooms. The result was a subjugation of the value of art to a capitalist market whose wars paradoxally favored globalization. This art market, which is undergoing permanent restructuring, favors artists’ quest for « starification » and particularly ambivalent ratings. Must we conclude that commodification has overtaken the artistics, that the price is now beyond the value, the profit beyond the aesthetic ? This thesis defends the idea that force and cunning of works of art are manifested in their opportune ability to trifle with the religions, ideological or imaginary environment in which they emerge. This force is today identified in the aptitude of the creative gesture, which – Marcel Mauss saw clearly – is fundamentally a gift and a counter-gift, to smash to pieces the illusions engendered by the commodification. And strong work links the imaginary to the symbolics to become « real ». By making the imaginary equal to the real, the artist opens the infinite field of possibilities. This is why the life of works of art never ceases to make the cosmos cosmetic, even if it uses the « lucre » as a bait skilful enough to stimulate the market, which is, in fine, manipulated by its « invisible hand ».