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In the north-western corner of inner-city Pretoria, South Africa, the business district of Marabastad stands as a prime example of the lack of humanised public space making in marginalised urban areas. Amidst the vibrant and spontaneous local community the open spaces in this urban landscape are left derelict and insufficient in providing for the needs of their users. In response to the obvious and unseen deficiencies of the area, this landscape architectural study aims to shape platforms of opportunity to support the struggling local community by building on existing social networks and, formal and informal, economical practices. The investigation and subsequent design of this dissertation are focussed around the making of an urban square that will encourage interaction between individuals as well as between the individual and his/her surroundings. / Dissertation (ML(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Architecture / unrestricted

This exploratory research focuses on identifying the roles and perspectives of community gardens in the Dallas area. Results from semi-structured interviews reveal the social and political makeup of the neighborhoods where the garden projects in this study are located. While these findings highlight the benefits of gardening in the city, they can also be contested spaces. In advocating for the proliferation of garden projects in the city, community organizations would benefit from understanding the nuances of garden initiatives and the way in which they are perceived by members of the garden, nearby residents, and policy makers.

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Föreliggande studies syfte är att undersöka hur kulturskolelärare ser på gemensamhetsskapande aktiviteter i sin pianoundervisning samt hur dessa påverkar elevers sammanhållning och lärande. I bakgrundskapitlet presenteras litteratur som behandlar positiva effekter av användning av gemensamhetsskapande aktiviteter. Litteratur som behandlar motsatta effekter saknas. Studiens teoretiska utgångspunkter utgörs av det sociokulturella perspektivet med dess fokus på appropriering, mediering, situerade aktiviteter, den proximala utvecklingszonen och scaffolding. En kvalitativ forskningsansats används med fokus på hur lärare tolkar, förstår och konstruerar gemensamhetsskapande aktiviteter. Som datainsamlingsmetod används semistrukturerade intervjuer och som analysmetod används tematisk analys. I resultatet framkommer att användning av gemensamhetsskapande aktiviteter i pianoundervisningen medför både fördelar och svårigheter. Några fördelar med gemensamhetsskapande aktiviteter är att elever lär sig att lyssna på varandra, utvecklar rytm-, puls och tempokänsla, vågar spela upp inför andra samt provar olika musikaliska roller. Några nackdelar med gemensamhetsskapande aktiviteter är att de är tidskrävande och svåra att organisera samt svåra att hitta bra notmaterial till. De gemensamhetsskapande arbetssätt som används är bland annat spel med läraren på enskild lektion, fyrhändigt/flerhändigt pianospel/spel i grupp och lekar i grupp. I diskussionen förs resonemang kring hur fördelar och nackdelar av gemensamhetsskapande aktiviteter påverkar elevernas sociala sammanhållning och musikaliska lärande. Exempelvis kan kammarmusikspel bidra positivt, då elever lär sig olika roller i ensemble och skapar en specifik stämning i den. Samtidigt kan samma aktivitet bidra till negativa konsekvenser om pianoeleven får för svår stämma eller om medlemmar i en ensemble umgås inte utanför lektionssammanhang. / The purpose of the present study is to investigate how cultural school teachers view community-creating activities in their piano teaching and how these affect students' cohesion and learning. The background chapter presents literature that deals with the positive effects of using community-building activities. There is a lack of literature that deals with opposite effects. The theoretical starting point of the study consists of the socio-cultural perspective with its focus on appropriation, mediation, situated activities, the proximal development zone and scaffolding. A qualitative research approach is used with a focus on how teachers interpret, understand and construct community-creating activities. Semi-structured interviews are used as the data collection method and thematic analysis is used as the analysis method. The results show that the use of community-creating activities in piano teaching has both advantages and difficulties. Some of the benefits of community-building activities are that students learn to listen to each other, develop rhythm and pulse as well as a sense of tempo and try different musical roles, learn to dare to play in front of others. Some disadvantages of community-building activities are that they are time-consuming, difficult to organize and difficult to find good sheet music material for. The community-creating ways of working that are used include playing with the teacher in a single lesson, four-handed/multi-handed piano playing/group playing and games in group. The discussion deals with how the advantages and disadvantages of community-creating activities affect students' social cohesion and musical learning. For example, chamber music can contribute positively as students learn different roles in ensemble and create a specific mood in it. At the same time, the same activity can contribute to negative consequences if the piano student gets too difficult parts to play or if members of the chamber music ensemble do not see each other outside the classroom.

NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) are digital assets representing real-world objects like art, music, videos, gaming items, etc., originally, they reside on a blockchain indicating a certificate of authenticity or proof of ownership deeming the uniqueness and scarcity of commodities. They have shown astonishing market attention and inconceivable price margins are being set for certain NFTs. The NFT phenomenon being in a nascent state, not much research has been conducted from the standpoint of value from the users and this thesis tries to fill the gaps in that area from a socio-economic point of view. The use of NFTs is on a rise with several companies delving in and speculated to grow even bigger bringing a transformative shift in the way businesses work today, using the blockchain technology NFTs are heralded as a new way to define ownership and property constructs. Going forward it is expected that they could be a gateway to a tokenised future through a new form of value assessment of commodities and transitioning economic functions. This dissertation ventures on to look at the value perspective from the masses on how they shape an individual's viewpoint. Through a classical economic intervention of theories as discoursed in the literature review, this research tries to infer nuances of users employing a qualitative study whereby unstructured interviews were the source for data collection and using a thematic analysis various themes are derived which are pointed out in the discussion section. The analysis gives us an indication that many people are indulged in the NFT space as a source of profit maximisation and several indications are portrayed towards community building as a means of value creation. The qualitative nature of the study relies on interpretivism and a radical structuralist paradigm shedding light on the thought process behind an individual’s behaviour, trying to understand the context of ‘value’ as perceived by the people.

This thesis analyzes the decade-long collaboration between The Silent University and Tensta konsthall, investigating its role as a lasting, solidarity driven, educational, socially engaged art project within an art institution. Utilizing qualitative methods and institutional ethnography, the study examines the relationship between The Silent University within Tensta konsthall. The research uses three guiding questions: 1) How can The Silent University and its integration into Tensta konsthall be interpreted as a socially engaged, transformative, and performative artwork?; 2) How has the implementation of The Silent University at Tensta konsthall evolved since its inception?; 3) What is the current status of The Silent University as a socially engaged project and artwork within the context of Tensta konsthall? The first question is answered by employing Umberto Eco's concept of "open" works and Claire Bishop's analysis of socially engaged art and uses secondary sources as material. The second question is approached through interviews with Fahyma Alnablsi and Emily Fahlén. Drawing from Michel de Certeau’s concepts of "tactics" and "strategies," as well as Sara Ahmed's notions of the "stranger" and community building, the second chapter explores the project's evolving dynamics and potential tensions since its establishment. In response to the third question, the discussion synthesizes The Silent University's journey at Tensta konsthall, underscoring its evolution and present condition. Findings highlight The Silent University's classification as an "open" and transformative artwork. It has transitioned from a primarily educational focus to a more socially engaged approach within the framework of Tensta konsthall. The project's sustainability is closely intertwined with Alnablsi’s involvement and engagement, thus posing both a strength and a challenge. In essence, this thesis dissects The Silent University's role within Tensta konsthall, delving into its transformative artistic, educational, and social facets, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of the interplay between socially engaged art, institutions, and community dynamics.

This thesis examines the online fan community of the HBO series The Last of Us on the social media platform Reddit. Within this study, the fans’ communication practices on the subreddit r/ThelastofusHBOseries are researched and analyzed from a community-building perspective. The subreddit was observed employing a netnographic approach. The observed communicational behavior was divided into categories. The patterns arising from this process were analyzed using discourse analysis and a theoretical framework rooted in fandom, knowledge communities, and uses and gratifications theory.  The research’s results show that the community on r/ThelastofusHBOseries provides a space for fans to connect, share their passion, and engage in meaningful discussions about the show. It embodies convergence culture, the value of mutual knowledge, and participatory practices. The use of insider language, adherence to spoiler etiquette, and organization of regular events further contribute to community building. The subreddit is a valuable platform for fans to exchange interpretations, enrich their reception experience, and foster community belonging. While extensive research has explored fan communities, there is a lack of studies on their online community-building practices. Notably, the subreddit r/ThelastofusHBOseries remains unexplored due to its novelty, alluding to the study’s relevance. Despite the limitations concerning its time frame, missing complementary methods like interviews, and possible sampling bias, the research is still a valuable snapshot, providing significant insights and findings. Future research could thus observe the community’s development over time to examine evolving communication and community building, paying a particular focus to regular events or insider language. Future research would also benefit from complementary methods.

The purpose of this study is to explore the different marketing techniques accessible to fashion independent retailers and aiming to strengthen their customer relationship and attract/create a community. It also focuses on understanding the applicability and operationalization of customer relationship management marketing techniques in a specific context, here, a fashion independent retailer. / Program: Master programme in Fashion Management

隨著全球化的發展，不論有形的資源、商品或者無形之文化、智慧資本產生劇烈的流動，使的原本受限於地理因素的時間與空間而形成的差異性逐漸降低，而過去因為差異而具有的優勢也因此而失去競爭力。因此，勢必在全球化變動與在地性發展之間再次尋求平衡，將世界關係緊密的特性轉化為助益地方發展之要素。 而「terroir」（風土條件）一詞係源於法國紅酒產製條件及其所衍生出的人文風情，涵括了從土地、氣候、技術、經驗與管理、至工藝與文化等形成階段，其亦可視為由自然資源、智慧資本（人力資源、關係資本與結構資本）、社會資本與文化資本等之組成。 其中，對於最根本之土地、生態等自然條件，其係源自於大自然（而非人為）而具有強烈的在地特質，使的因其所發展出的技術、經驗、藝匠、生活風格等人文風情同樣地擁有濃厚的在地色彩，共同產生屬於之地方之風土條件。地方透過地方居民、社群集體性且長期地經營與創造力投入，將使地方文化隨著時間的演進而持續擁有魅力。因此，藉由社區營造將地方發展為觀光城鄉，並將那份屬於社區或地方之認同感（社區感或地方感）作為發展觀光事業對內的動員力以及對外的吸引力。 由下而上地由地方發起進行風土資源盤點與整備，將風土資本之自然地理與人文社會特質藉由學習、體驗等見學活動，將以地方居民最原始的生活風貌呈現並使地方社群與到訪者近距離互動之形式發展「創意觀光」。此外，地方以風土特色吸引外地到訪者，另一方面也透過觀光使風土條件透資本轉化帶動地方經濟，並讓地方之人文風情藉由外地到訪者的參與，由文化學習與創意體驗中瞭解地方之風土，並藉此使風土間接地傳承、與宣揚而永續發展。