Master of Visual Arts / This thesis is an exploration into the ether of the digital aesthetic. It attempts to capture a segment of the continually morphing space then deconstruct and analyse it through electronic and new media art. Herein you will find a questioning of technology and control within electronic and new media art as an investigation into better understanding the current media image and visual culture that so powerfully influences the modern social construct. By nature this argument has existed for some years but only now with advancements in technology and more affordable realisation of ideas by media artists, the topic of the digital aesethetic, technology and control has become relevant for popular debate. As war lingers in our minds, terrorism hits headlines, and experiements in cloning human DNA take place, the technology that society demands can only necessarily be seen as a major contributing factor to today's strange times. However, strange or not, the questions I wish to discuss; Does technology determine contemporary society or do we determine technology? Where does the control exist?

The thesis deals with gender issues. It is divided into two parts, theoretical ? based on literature review and practical ? based on research. The theoretical part deals with the concept of gender as a social construct. It is focused on manifestation of gender stereotypes in various aspects of girl?s and woman?s life. The first chapter defines the most important terms (gender, sex, socialization, identity) and is followed by a chapter dealing with gender stereotypes related to female and male social constructs (of femininity and masculinity). The next part describes manifestation of gender roles, (differences and behaviour) in family. The following chapter shows the picture of woman which is presented in the media (magazines for women, advertisement, publications for children). The last chapter describes manifestation of gender roles in school environment. The practical part presents results of the quantitative and qualitative research. The quantitative research is based on questionnaire investigation. The qualitative research was conducted through controlled interviews. Both types of research were focused on gender problems ? whether the girls participating in the research realize the effects of gender roles and how they perceive them. The result of this research is that girls are aware of pressure based on gender differences. They realize the conflict between their wishes and reality, but they fully respect the traditional gender division of the worl into the male and female world and they lead their lives in accordance with the traditional gender stereotypes.

Данная работа посвящена теме: «Изучение терроризма как социально-сконструированного явления», ее актуальность заключается в применении теории социального конструктивизма как основного методологического подхода к проблеме изучения взаимосвязи между образным восприятием терроризма, идентичностью респондентов и стратегиями антитеррористической борьбы. В теоретической части представлен обзор основ теории социального конструктивизма и особенности современного терроризма как социального конструкта. В эмпирической части использован следующий психодиагностический инструментарий: опросник актуальности и опасности основных глобальных угроз, основанный на исследовании «Глобальные угрозы: Чего боится мир?» Гардиан, тест Куна-Макпартленда «20 определений» и тест на стратегии конфликтного поведения Томаса- Килмана. Методы математической обработки применены корректно. Получены следующие выводы: 1) Образное восприятие террориста можно разделить на два кластера — негативный контекст-зависимый, куда входит образ маньяка- убийцы и солдата поневоле; и позитивный контекст-независимый, включающий образ прагматика-специалиста и романтика-идеолога. 2) Преобладание негативного контекст-зависимого кластера связано с дезинтегрированной картиной самоопределения, где социальное и универсальное Я (как часть общества и человечества) противопоставляется Террористу-нечеловеку. 3) Склонность к более позитивному восприятию терроризма связано с возможностью компромисса как антитеррорисической стратегии борьбы, в то время как контекст-зависимость восприятия коррелирует со стратегией соперничества. 4) Установлены существенные различия между восприятием терроризма студентами, получающими теоретическую подготовку в области международной безопасности и студентами практико-ориентированных направлений подготовки. Студенты-международники склонны к более позитивному и гибкому кластеру образов и компромиссу, в то время как у студентов Военного центра преобладает иррациональный негативный контекст- зависимый образ терроризма и соперничество как основная антитеррористическая стратегия. / The work theme is «Evaluation of Terrorism as Socially Constructed Phenomenon», its scientific value is underlined by applying the theory on Social Constructivism as the main methodological framework in order to reveal the correlation between perception of terrorist patterns, respondent personal identity and counterterrorism conflict strategies. The methodological part represents an overview of the Social Constructivism theoretical background and focuses on particular details of modern terrorism as a social construct. In the empirical part there were used following psychodiagnostic tools: questionary on importance and personal risk of the international threats based on the Guardian survey «Global Threat: What's the World scared of?»; Kuhn and MacPartland's Twenty Statements Test; and Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument. The mathematical analysis procedure was used adequately. The following results were obtained: 1)The perception of the terrorist patterns can be divided into two clusters, first – a negative contextdependent images encompassing maniac-killer and necessarily solder, and second – a positive context-independent images consisting of pragmatic-specialist and romantic-ideologist figures. 2)The domination of the negative context-dependent cluster is connected with disintegration of the self-determination patterns where social and universal identities (I as a part of community and I as a part of mankind) are build in opposition to a nonhuman-terrorist image. 3)The inclination for more positive interpretation of the terrorism patterns is related to a compromise as a possible counterterrorism strategy, meanwhile the context-dependent perception is attributed to a competition conflict behavior. 4)The significant discrepancy was identified between the terrorist patterns perceived by students with theoretical international security background and by practice-oriented students. Students of International Relations tend to evaluate the terrorist image in more flexible and positive way favoring the compromise rather than students of the Military Center who is pron to the irrational negative context-dependent images and prefer the competition as the main conflict strategy for counterterrorism struggle.

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the shift of media picture of violent sexual techniques in years 1990-2011 in Czech Republic during the media and society liberalization of new liberal state. Theoretical part of the document is based on the theory of social construction based reality and the media messages construction (gatekeeping, agenda setting, news values). Analysis is based on the Newton Media Search data resource → electronic database collecting publishing material from major media in Czech. 937 articles published between 1998 and 2011 containing keywords were analysed. Quantitative analysis was based on the development of frequency of publication articles with the keywords from BDSM area. Qualitative analysis based on semiotic a discourse analysis was also made to prove the shift of theme media presentation. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

This Master's degree thesis evaluates the change in medial presentation of violet sexual acts in the period between 1996 and 2011. The change is inspected using newspaper articles gathered from the Newton Media Search database. Theoretical work is based on the Theory of Construction of Social Reality and the Mechanism of News Construction (gatekeeping, agenda setting, news values and framing). The analysis was performed on 937 articles published in the period from 1996 to 2011. The change of discourse was nalaysed using two-phase research method. This discourse was evaluated based on many criteria, among them periodicity of articles that focus on violent sexual pratcics. Qualitative analysis was used for trimming the number of relevant articles with hypothesis futher evaluated using quantitative discourse analysis. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

En este estudio se buscó describir la masculinidad desde la perspectiva de escolares varones de una institución educativa pública en Lima Norte. Para alcanzar este objetivo, se desarrolló un estudio cualitativo aplicando la técnica de la entrevista inestructurada con profundidad a 11 escolares, cuyas edades fluctúan entre los 15 a 17 años (M = 15.9). Los principales resultados indican que los adolescentes conciben la masculinidad tomando en consideración el rol hegemónico a partir de lo estipulado y respaldado por sus experiencias sociales. Sin embargo, reconocen que algunas pautas no se adaptan a las demandas del actual entorno social. A partir de ello, la masculinidad se complementa con la individualidad de cada adolescente. Esto le permite poner en manifiesto nuevas formas de entender la masculinidad basada en la igualdad de género. Se concluye que los adolescentes comprenden la masculinidad como un constructo social que se encuentra en constante cambio, entre lo social-tradicional y las experiencias personales que surgen desde las demandas actuales. / This study sought to describe masculinity from the perspective of male schoolchildren from a public educational institution in the North of Lima. To achieve this objective, a qualitative study was developed by applying the unstructured interview technique in depth to 11 students, whose ages fluctuated between 15 to 17 years (M = 15.9). The main results indicate that adolescents thematize masculinity taking into consideration the hegemonic role based on what it is stipulated and supported by their social experiences. However, they recognize that some guidelines are not adapted to the demands of the current social environment. From this notion, masculinity is complemented by the individuality of each adolescent. This allows them to reveal new ways of understanding masculinity based on gender equality. It is concluded that adolescents understand masculinity as a social construct that is in constant change, between the social - traditional and the personal experiences that arise from the current demands. / Tesis

Various researches across the world have established that graffiti writing is a universal social practice. The actual occurrence or manifestation of graffiti is however far from being universal cross-culturally. It varies based on a wide array of social variables. This research therefore set out to interrogate the occurrence of graffiti writing as a unique social practice in Zimbabwean urban areas. Three Zimbabwean urban areas (Harare, Chitungwiza and Gweru) were specifically sampled for the collection of graffiti inscriptions on various surfaces which included toilet walls, durawalls as well as road signs. Graffiti data collected from the various surfaces was complemented by reader feedback contributions from The Herald and Newsday. Focus group discussions provided a third tier of data aimed at establishing participants’ multiple reactions towards the practice of graffiti. Analysis of data was done based on three significant sections of participants’ attitudes towards graffiti, urban street protest graffiti as well as educational graffiti collected from various toilet surfaces in urban areas. Participants’ attitudes towards graffiti revealed varied reactions towards the practice of graffiti. The reactions were partly influenced by the participants’ ages as well as levels of education and maturity. Age and maturity proved to be predictors of the extent to which participants were willing to be pragmatic in so far as the appreciation of graffiti writing is concerned. Older and more experienced and mature participants were thus willing to look past the ‘deviant’ nature of graffiti writing to consider the various pressures that force writers to take to the wall. Urban street protest graffiti is a term coined in this research to capture the unique type of graffiti that is written on various surfaces along streets in urban areas. This highly textual graffiti is drastically different from the post-graffiti commonly found in Western urban cities and is aptly referred to as street art. Urban street protest mainly manifested itself in Zimbabwean urban areas in two main themes of protest inscriptions directed towards the operations of Zimbabwe’s electrical energy supplier (commonly referred to by its former name of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority - ZESA) as well as through political inscriptions. Political inscriptions expose a high degree of nuances that have not been hitherto discussed in literature on political graffiti inscriptions. The research analysed how graffiti writing can be employed for both pro-hegemonic and anti-hegemonic purposes. Inscriptions in high schools and tertiary institutions highlighted a differential construction of discourse on a gendered basis. Inscriptions in female toilets indicated a tendency of graffiti writers to perpetuate dominant educational, health, traditional and religious discourses which assert male dominance. The inscriptions show a major preoccupation with restricting or policing of female sexuality by fellow students mainly through the discursive usages of social corrective Shona labels such as hure (prostitute) and gaba ([big] tin). These are labels that are virtually absent in graffiti inscriptions in male toilets which is suggestive of a situation whereby female inscriptions are conservative. A consequence of such conservatism in inscriptions in female toilets is that no new sexualities are reconstructed and negotiated through discourses in discursive spaces provided by the inherently private nature of toilets in general. Thus, cultural and religious normative expectations are regarded as still weighing heavily on female high school writers in the construction and negotiation of sexuality and gendered behaviours, attitudes, norms and values through discourses constructed through graffiti. In contrast, male inscriptions highlight a major subversion of dominant discourses on abstinence and responsible sexual behaviours and attitudes. Corrective social labels such as ngochani (gay person) are mainly employed to pressure males into indulging and engaging in heterosexual behaviours. Discourses constructed through graffiti inscriptions in male toilets also demonstrate how sexuality is constructed through debate on the appropriateness of marginalised sexualities such as masturbation and homosexuality. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)

The purpose of this thesis is to make a plot of generations changes in motherhood. The aim of the theoretical part is to introduce possible views on motherhood. It gives us a look at materhood like a social construct and a biological instinct. This part is also dealing with their reciprocal combinations. Another parts of this section is to introduce motherhood like a social role and motherhood like a sense of identity. The aim of the practical part is to collect information from mothers of three generations about their own experiences with motherhood. The interview was according to The Grounded Theory. The particular aims of this section are to discover important areas of motherhood for women of all generations, find out the generation changes in this areas and evaluate the impact of this changes on the final image of motherhood. The generation changes and important areas of motherhood are compared and discussed with theoretical findings from the first part. The conclusion of this work thesis is focused on importance of these generation changes on the final image of motherhood.

Various researches across the world have established that graffiti writing is a universal social practice. The actual occurrence or manifestation of graffiti is however far from being universal cross-culturally. It varies based on a wide array of social variables. This research therefore set out to interrogate the occurrence of graffiti writing as a unique social practice in Zimbabwean urban areas. Three Zimbabwean urban areas (Harare, Chitungwiza and Gweru) were specifically sampled for the collection of graffiti inscriptions on various surfaces which included toilet walls, durawalls as well as road signs. Graffiti data collected from the various surfaces was complemented by reader feedback contributions from The Herald and Newsday. Focus group discussions provided a third tier of data aimed at establishing participants’ multiple reactions towards the practice of graffiti. Analysis of data was done based on three significant sections of participants’ attitudes towards graffiti, urban street protest graffiti as well as educational graffiti collected from various toilet surfaces in urban areas. Participants’ attitudes towards graffiti revealed varied reactions towards the practice of graffiti. The reactions were partly influenced by the participants’ ages as well as levels of education and maturity. Age and maturity proved to be predictors of the extent to which participants were willing to be pragmatic in so far as the appreciation of graffiti writing is concerned. Older and more experienced and mature participants were thus willing to look past the ‘deviant’ nature of graffiti writing to consider the various pressures that force writers to take to the wall. Urban street protest graffiti is a term coined in this research to capture the unique type of graffiti that is written on various surfaces along streets in urban areas. This highly textual graffiti is drastically different from the post-graffiti commonly found in Western urban cities and is aptly referred to as street art. Urban street protest mainly manifested itself in Zimbabwean urban areas in two main themes of protest inscriptions directed towards the operations of Zimbabwe’s electrical energy supplier (commonly referred to by its former name of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority - ZESA) as well as through political inscriptions. Political inscriptions expose a high degree of nuances that have not been hitherto discussed in literature on political graffiti inscriptions. The research analysed how graffiti writing can be employed for both pro-hegemonic and anti-hegemonic purposes. Inscriptions in high schools and tertiary institutions highlighted a differential construction of discourse on a gendered basis. Inscriptions in female toilets indicated a tendency of graffiti writers to perpetuate dominant educational, health, traditional and religious discourses which assert male dominance. The inscriptions show a major preoccupation with restricting or policing of female sexuality by fellow students mainly through the discursive usages of social corrective Shona labels such as hure (prostitute) and gaba ([big] tin). These are labels that are virtually absent in graffiti inscriptions in male toilets which is suggestive of a situation whereby female inscriptions are conservative. A consequence of such conservatism in inscriptions in female toilets is that no new sexualities are reconstructed and negotiated through discourses in discursive spaces provided by the inherently private nature of toilets in general. Thus, cultural and religious normative expectations are regarded as still weighing heavily on female high school writers in the construction and negotiation of sexuality and gendered behaviours, attitudes, norms and values through discourses constructed through graffiti. In contrast, male inscriptions highlight a major subversion of dominant discourses on abstinence and responsible sexual behaviours and attitudes. Corrective social labels such as ngochani (gay person) are mainly employed to pressure males into indulging and engaging in heterosexual behaviours. Discourses constructed through graffiti inscriptions in male toilets also demonstrate how sexuality is constructed through debate on the appropriateness of marginalised sexualities such as masturbation and homosexuality. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)

Cette recherche a pour objet l'analyse des politiques de la réforme éducative en Haïti, de 1979 à 2013. Nous considérons, en effet, une action publique en éducation comme une figure exemplaire des politiques publiques. Nous adoptons une approche analytique flexible suivant quatre grandes étapes cycliques, à savoir : la mise à l'agenda, la programmation, la mise en œuvre et l'évaluation. Dans cet ordre d'idées, nous développons notre argumentation en deux grandes parties. Dans la première partie, nous exposons les trois aspects suivants : 1) les hypothèses relatives au profil actuel et historique d'Haïti ; 2) les hypothèses relatives à notre approche plurielle d'analyse des politiques publiques ; 3) les deux groupes d'impératifs contradictoires dans les arrangements politico-administratifs des politiques éducatives en Haïti. Dans la seconde partie, nous essayons de réaliser une analyse interprétative des résultats de nos deux enquêtes qualitative et quantitative. Nous tentons de mettre en évidence la "démocratisation uniforme" de l'enseignement en Haïti, au cours des trois dernières décennies. En guise d'ouverture pour des recherches ultérieures, nous maintenons une approche constructiviste des problèmes publics. A notre sens, le système éducatif haïtien est un "construit social" qui résiste aux politiques de la réforme éducative, de 1979 à 2013. Il nous semble donc pertinent de chercher à approfondir les grands enjeux de la "déconstruction" et de la "reconstruction" pour favoriser la "démocratisation égalisatrice" de l'enseignement en Haïti. / This research dealt with the public policy analysis of educational reform in Haiti from 1979 to 2013. I regarded public action in education as an illustrative example of public policy. Then I adopted a flexible analytical approach that contains four cyclic stages, namely: the agenda setting, programming, implementation and evaluation. In this vein, I developed the argumentation in two parts. In the first part, I presented the following three aspects: 1) hypotheses relating to current and historical profile of Haiti; 2) hypotheses relating to the pluralistic approach to public policy analysis; 3) the two groups of conflicting requirements in the political-administrative arrangements of educational policies in Haiti. In the second part, I tried to do an interpretative analysis of the results of both qualitative and quantitative research. I tried to emphasize the "uniform democratization" of education in Haiti during the past three decades. As an opening for further research, I maintained a constructivist approach to social problems. In my view, the Haitian educational system was a "social construct" that resisted the policies of educational reform from 1979 to 2013. So it seems appropriate to go deeper into the major issues of the "deconstruction" and "reconstruction" in order to promote the "equalizing democratization" of education in Haiti.