Research in the relationship between second language (L2) production and study abroad has largely focused on establishing a connection between exchange studies and the success rate of second language acquisition. This Bachelor's thesis investigates L2 production by studying L2 English speakers' attitudes regarding the target language culture in relation to their production of a regionally typical phoneme by formulating the research question “How does cultural identification with the target language environment influence L2 phonetic production in the L1 language community?” in hopes of contributing to sociophonetic studies. This is done by conducting a qualitative study based on the phonetic production of rhoticity and the experiences of nine Swedish former exchange students to the United States. The study draws on existing research that highlights the saliency of rhoticity, as well as provides insight into the importance of identity in language use and into the relevance of motivation and the establishing of social networks for L2 gains during study abroad. To provide a framework for understanding these issues, the Social Network Strength Scale is applied. The results and data analysis suggest that, opposite to expectation, there is no clear relationship between cultural identification and L2 phonetic production for speakers who are no longer immersed into the L2 environment. However, the results establish a possible connection between maintaining a dense social network with native speaker members of the L2 community, as well as of having an awareness and capacity to understand the L2 culture, and a higher percentage of phonetic production of sounds typical for the L2 environment.

The goal of the present study was to examine the relationships between gender schema, level of cultural identification, and body dissatisfaction in African American men. The first hypothesis under study was that men with a low identification to African American culture would report higher dissatisfaction with their body than those with a high cultural identification. Secondly, it was hypothesized that men with a large discrepancy from their culture’s description of an “ideal man” would also report higher body dissatisfaction than those with low or no discrepancy. Lastly, it was hypothesized that an interaction between variables would occur and that men who were less identified with their African American culture and reported themselves as not matching their culture’s masculine ideal would have higher levels of body dissatisfaction than men who were highly identified with their African American culture and reported themselves as strongly matching their culture’s masculine ideal. Participants were 42 college and post-graduate African American males that were recruited from a Southern university. Participants were assessed using the Body Assessment (BA), Body Satisfaction Questionnaire (BSQ), Physical Appearance Comparison Scale (PACS), Physical Attractiveness Scale (PAS), Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS), and the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). Results supported all three hypotheses: men lower in cultural identification with a high masculine discrepancy reported higher body dissatisfaction than those higher in cultural identification with a lower masculine discrepancy. The importance of these findings is that, as the idealized physical image of masculinity becomes more ubiquitous, it is likely that men who measure themselves against this ideal will have greater difficulty achieving self-acceptance and struggle for an unrealistic (and often unhealthy) level of control. Such a struggle for control could lead to engagement in behaviors that could potentially contribute to poor health such as pathological or disordered eating, excessive exercise, and abuse of performance-enhancing substances including food supplements and anabolic steroids. Limitations and suggestions for continued research are also discussed.

FundaÃÃo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Cearà / Esta pesquisa verificou de que modo cinco receptores dos vÃdeos da TV Janela, projeto da ONG Instituto de Desenvolvimento Social (IDS), se identificam com as representaÃÃes positivas acerca do âmorador do Pantanalâ (comunidade surgida em 1990 na periferia sul de Fortaleza - CE), apresentadas pelas produÃÃes audiovisuais. Os vÃdeos do projeto apresentam, de modo geral, um morador unido, de luta, trabalhador e, por isso, vitorioso e feliz, em contraposiÃÃo ao imaginÃrio de violÃncia e misÃria construÃdo pela mÃdia convencional acerca do local. O objetivo da TV Janela à melhorar a auto-estima das cerca de trezentas pessoas que assistem mensalmente aos vÃdeos, em telÃo montado na rua. A pesquisa buscou compreender uma etapa especÃfica do processo comunicativo (a recepÃÃo) atravÃs dos conceitos de comunidade, representaÃÃes sociais e identificaÃÃes culturais. Ela teve carÃter qualitativo, utilizando-se da etnografia e da entrevista em profundidade como procedimento metodolÃgico, da AnÃlise do Discurso como mÃtodo de anÃlise dos discursos dos receptores selecionados e dos Estudos Culturais como perspectiva teÃrica. Aspectos como o perÃodo no qual o receptor chegou ao bairro, sua histÃria de vida e as relaÃÃes cotidianas com o bairro e seus moradores interferem na sua construÃÃo identitÃria como morador do Pantanal e, consequentemente, no modo como se apropriam das representaÃÃes de morador apresentadas pelos vÃdeos. Mesmo os aspectos mais reforÃados pelos vÃdeos, como a luta histÃria, sà conseguem adesÃo dos receptores quando esses vivenciaram o fato especÃfico ou acessaram-no previamente atravÃs de moradores mais antigos, do seu convÃvio comunitÃrio ou familiar. / This study revealed how five selected recipients (viewers) of the âWindow TVâ videos identified with the positive representations about the "resident of Pantanal" (a community originated in 1990, in the southern outskirts of Fortaleza - CE), presented in the audiovisual productions created under a project from the NGO Institute for Social Development (IDS). The videos of the project show, in general, a participative, hard-working resident, committed to a cause and therefore, victorious and happy, as opposed to the fictional violence and misery built by the mainstream media about the location. The goal of the âWindow TVâ is to improve the self-esteem of some three hundred people who watch the videos monthly on a screen set up on the street. The research aimed to understand a particular stage of the communication process (reception) through the concepts of the community, social representations and cultural identification. It has a qualitative dimension, and used the ethnography and in-depth interview as a methodological procedure; the Discourse analysis as a method of discourse analysis of the selected recipients and Cultural Studies as a theoretical perspective. Aspects such as the time in which the viewers arrived at the neighborhood, their life history and daily interactions with the community and its dwellers interfere with their identity building as a resident of the Pantanal and consequently, in the way they appropriate the representations of a resident presented by video. Even the more emphasized aspects brought by the videos, such as the fight history, can only get support from the receivers when they have themselves experienced the specific fact or learned it previously with the older residents, their living together with the community or family.

In the following Master’s degree research “Activity of a cinema to meet young people’ needs” the relevant problem of these days – strategic course of spreading cinematic activities - is being analysed. Only commercial films are demonstrated in the most cinemas of Lithuania. Educational programs for young people as well as projects would broaden the sphere of action of the cinema and would remarkably influence the youth culture. To achieve the aim it is important to conceptualize young people’ interests and needs. That is the ultimate cause to correct the activity of the cinema and to join the developing process of youth culture. That is why the cinema activity which meets youth needs is a pedagogical problem. Young people at the age of 16-30 like going to the cinema and to know their needs is very important, as the most popular forms of the Art let to develop youth needs to watch good films, and to express youth culture. The goal of the research: to evaluate the activity of the cinema, that would meet youth needs. The newness of the research and practical importance: 1.Proposed empirical evaluation of the cinema activity showed three main rates: visitors interest in films, relevance of cinema activity and popularity of the cinema as well. 2.Strategic courses to correct the activity of a cinema are formed: wide-spreading of the cinematic art, popularization of amateur films, youth creative laboratories, socio-cultural communication services. 3.The means developing youth... [to full text]

The thesis is devoted to the topic of Peruvian rural migrants in the capital of Lima and the maintaining their cultural identity through associations focused on folklore. In the first part I will outline the socio-economic reasons for migration and the adaptation issues of migrants in an urban environment. There are also described associations that provide economic as well as psychological support to immigrants. The main part is focused directly on folklore as the basis of identity and folklore associations in Lima. I chose folklore associations from Puno as a representative sample because of their rich cultural activities. I will demonstrate how organizations work, who their members are and what activities they pursue. The conclusion questions the modern musical fusions in Peru and the future of the Andean culture in an urban environment.

BRAGA, Robson da Silva; NUNES, Márcia Vidal. Identificações e recepção: o olhar dos moradores do bairro Pantanal ou Planalto Ayrton Senna sobre o vídeo popular da TV Janela. 2010. 112f. Dissertação (Mestrado) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Instituto de Cultura e Arte, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação Social, Fortaleza-CE, 2010. / Submitted by Maria Josineide Góis (josineide@ufc.br) on 2011-08-29T12:43:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2010_Dis_RSBraga.pdf: 3143741 bytes, checksum: ecae77994c3455db7d761d63fa740964 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Josineide Góis(josineide@ufc.br) on 2011-08-29T12:43:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2010_Dis_RSBraga.pdf: 3143741 bytes, checksum: ecae77994c3455db7d761d63fa740964 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-08-29T12:43:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2010_Dis_RSBraga.pdf: 3143741 bytes, checksum: ecae77994c3455db7d761d63fa740964 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / This study revealed how five selected recipients (viewers) of the “Window TV” videos identified with the positive representations about the "resident of Pantanal" (a community originated in 1990, in the southern outskirts of Fortaleza - CE), presented in the audiovisual productions created under a project from the NGO Institute for Social Development (IDS). The videos of the project show, in general, a participative, hardworking resident, committed to a cause and therefore, victorious and happy, as opposed to the fictional violence and misery built by the mainstream media about the location. The goal of the “Window TV” is to improve the self-esteem of some three hundred people who watch the videos monthly on a screen set up on the street. The research aimed to understand a particular stage of the communication process (reception) through the concepts of the community, social representations and cultural identification. It has a qualitative dimension, and used the ethnography and in-depth interview as a methodological procedure; the Discourse analysis as a method of discourse analysis of the selected recipients and Cultural Studies as a theoretical perspective. Aspects such as the time in which the viewers arrived at the neighborhood, their life history and daily interactions with the community and its dwellers interfere with their identity building as a resident of the Pantanal and consequently, in the way they appropriate the representations of a resident presented by video. Even the more emphasized aspects brought by the videos, such as the fight history, can only get support from the receivers when they have themselves experienced the specific fact or learned it previously with the older residents, their living together with the community or family. / Esta pesquisa verificou de que modo cinco receptores dos vídeos da TV Janela, projeto da ONG Instituto de Desenvolvimento Social (IDS), se identificam com as representações positivas acerca do “morador do Pantanal” (comunidade surgida em 1990 na periferia sul de Fortaleza - CE), apresentadas pelas produções audiovisuais. Os vídeos do projeto apresentam, de modo geral, um morador unido, de luta, trabalhador e, por isso, vitorioso e feliz, em contraposição ao imaginário de violência e miséria construído pela mídia convencional acerca do local. O objetivo da TV Janela é melhorar a auto-estima das cerca de trezentas pessoas que assistem mensalmente aos vídeos, em telão montado na rua. A pesquisa buscou compreender uma etapa específica do processo comunicativo (a recepção) através dos conceitos de comunidade, representações sociais e identificações culturais. Ela teve caráter qualitativo, utilizandose da etnografia e da entrevista em profundidade como procedimento metodológico, da Análise do Discurso como método de análise dos discursos dos receptores selecionados e dos Estudos Culturais como perspectiva teórica. Aspectos como o período no qual o receptor chegou ao bairro, sua história de vida e as relações cotidianas com o bairro e seus moradores interferem na sua construção identitária como morador do Pantanal e, consequentemente, no modo como se apropriam das representações de morador apresentadas pelos vídeos. Mesmo os aspectos mais reforçados pelos vídeos, como a luta história, só conseguem adesão dos receptores quando esses vivenciaram o fato específico ou acessaram-no previamente através de moradores mais antigos, do seu convívio comunitário ou familiar.