Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-96). Also available via Humboldt Digital Scholar.

Thesis (M. S.)--Literature, Communication, and Culture, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Pearce, Celia; Committee Member: Do, Ellen Yi-Luen; Committee Member: Knoespel, Kenneth; Committee Member: Nitsche, Michael.

Thesis (M.S.)--The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2009. / Directed by Jo Leimenstoll; submitted to the Dept. of Interior Architecture. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Jun. 8, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-90).

Thesis (M.F.A.)--James Madison University, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references.

<p>In this essay I have chosen to write about graves, settlements and historical, important central places during the late Iron Age and the introduction of Christianity in the east of Blekinge. The reason why I have chosen to write about this is because the area has many ancient monuments and not much have been written about the area. The main question is who where the people who lived there and why did they choose to settle there.</p>

This essay studies the runic inscriptions from the Migration period in Sweden and their connection to central places. The essays main focus is to identify the find location of the runic inscriptions and through that investigate if they appear in or nearby a central place from the same time period. The essay is divided into three different parts, in the first part I locate the runic inscriptions location of discovery. The second part contains locating defined central places or central areas in or nearby the location of the runic inscriptions. In the last part I separate the runic inscriptions and the objects material on which it is found upon, in order to identify if it is the inscription itself, or the object itself, which can be linked to centrality in the landscape. The result of the study shows that 10 % of the treated runic inscriptions are found in a defined central place during the Migration period in Sweden. 67 % of the runic inscriptions has been found in defined central areas, which all together means that 77 % of the treated runic inscriptions are connected to centrality in the landscape during the Migration period in Sweden. Furthermore, 15 % of the inscriptions can possibly be linked to central areas and the last 8 % show no connection to any sort of centrality in the landscape.

Denna magisteruppsats undersöker vilka strategier homosexuella män och kvinnor använder för att möta andra homosexuella. Genom att använda kvalitativ semi-strukturerad intervju som metod och samtala med 3 män födda innan år 1952, samt ytterligare 3 män och 3 kvinnor födda mellan 1979-1989, visar det sig att informanterna har och använder strategier på olika sätt. Informanterna upplever att samhället är heteronormativt och därför har processen att ”komma ut” varit en betydelsefull del i deras liv och det är i denna process av sitt identitetsbildande som strategier blir särskilt märkbara för dem själva. Resultatet framhäver att strategierna skiljer sig beroende på vilken tid i samhället de används i. Innan 1979, då homosexualitet ansågs vara en sjukdom, krävdes andra strategier. Då användes specifika mötesplatser, symboler och signaler för att locka till sig ”rätt” personer. Numera när homosexualitet är samhälleligt accepterad behövs ändå särskilda strategier användas för att undvika att bli utsatt för våld. Internet och appar används som mötesarena utöver gayklubbarna. Särskilda mötesplatser, kläder, språk och signaler i form av exempelvis gester kvarstår i det fysiska rummet, men har förändrats över tid. Slutsatserna som dragits är att det finns behov av att använda strategier för att dölja sin homosexualitet samtidigt som den framhävs för rätt personer, men att de strategier som används förändras i takt med samhällets förändring. Symboler som används för 10 år sedan behöver inte innebära samma sak idag, men i stor grad har internet och appar ersatt behovet av att använda sig av symboler. / This master thesis examines what strategies homosexual men and women use to meet other homosexuals. By using the method of qualitative semi-structured interview and talking with 3 men born before 1952 as well as 3 men and 3 women born between 1979 and 1989, the result shows the informants have and uses strategies in different ways. The informants experience that society is heteronormative and therefor the process of “coming out” have been a meaningful part of their life. It is in this process of their forming of identity strategies become especially noticeable to themselves. The result highlights that strategies varies depending on what time in society they are used. Before 1979 when homosexuality was considered a disease certain strategies were needed. At the time certain meeting places, symbols and signals were used to attract the “right” people. Nowadays when homosexuality is accepted by society certain strategies are still used to avoid being exposed to violence. In addition to gay clubs, internet and apps are used as meeting places. Certain meeting places, clothes, language and signals in the form of for examples gestures remain within the physical room but have changed over time. The conclusion which have been drawn is that there is a need to use strategies to hide ones homosexuality while at the same time highlight it for the right people but that the strategies varies with the changing of society. Symbols used ten years ago does not necessarily mean the same thing to day and internet and apps have replaced the need for usage of symbols to a higher degree.

La présente thèse analyse les processus de transnationalisation de la pratique de la capoeira, un art martial d’origine « afro-brésilienne », en France et au Royaume-Uni. Son expansion accompagne l’émigration de Brésiliens en quête de meilleures conditions de vie et de travail à l’étranger, mais repose de manière importante dès ses débuts sur l’appropriation et l’adaptation opérées par les pratiquants locaux. À travers la recherche ethnographique au sein des groupes de capoeira en France et au Royaume-Uni et les entretiens avec les leaders des groupes et leurs élèves sont dévoilés, au long de la thèse, les rapports de pouvoir qui organisent ce marché et les mécanismes employés par les capoeiristas pour garantir leur légitimité face aux concurrents. Les résultats démontrent que les groupes de capoeira sont devenus des vecteurs de nouvelles formes de sociabilité, source d’identités liées à un style de vie qui est revendiqué comme « alternatif » par ses pratiquants, les nouvelles identités des groupes de capoeira n’ayant pas comme référence centrale le monde du travail ou l’État-nation. Dans un contexte de circulation intense des individus, les groupes de capoeira dans de grandes métropoles, telles que Paris et Londres, s’affirment comme des espaces d’appartenance actuels, ils se constituent dans de nouveaux « lieux dynamiques », auxquels leurs membres s’associent et s’identifient. À partir de l’analyse des activités des groupes de capoeira, sont révélés les mécanismes de contrôle de l’expansion de la pratique mis en oeuvre par les capoeiristas eux-mêmes. / This thesis analyses the process of transnationalisation of the practice of capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art form, in France and in the United Kingdom. The expansion of capoeira accompanied Brazilian emigration in search of better living and working conditions abroad, but also resulted from the adaptation and appropriation by local practitioners. Through ethnographic research among capoeira groups in France and in the UK, in particular interviews with group leaders and their students, the thesis unveils the power relations that organise the market and the mechanisms employed by the capoeiristas to ensure their legitimacy against their competitors. The results show that capoeira groups became vectors of new forms of sociability, and the source of identities related to lifestyle claimed as "alternative" by its practitioners. These of new identities capoeira groups do not have as their main reference the working world or the state. In a context of intense circulation of individuals, capoeira groups in big cities like Paris and London are emerging as new location strategies; they are located in new "dynamic places," to which its members are perceived to be connected. The analysis reveals the mechanisms controlling the expansion of the practice, which is implemented by the capoeiristas themselves.

Esta dissertação inscreve-se nos campos dos Estudos de Gênero e Culturais, em uma aproximação com a perspectiva pós-estruturalista de análise; investiga as posições de sujeito usuário/a de substâncias psicoativas e os atravessamentos de gênero (re)produzidos no âmbito da Política de Redução de Danos. A Política de RD está preocupada em reconhecer as escolhas dos/as usuários/as de substâncias psicoativas (SPA) que demandam algum tipo de cuidado e, desse modo, alcançar a esfera do direito à saúde, à cidadania e aos direitos humanos. O material empírico é composto pelos documentos normativos da política e seus desdobramentos. Para o exame do corpus de investigação, foi utilizada a análise cultural, em combinação com a pesquisa documental, operando com os conceitos de posição de sujeito, norma, poder e gênero. Os documentos da política e seus desdobramentos foram tomados como artefatos culturais e pedagógicos que (re)produzem e veiculam discursos biomédicos, psicológicos, morais e jurídicos implicados com a produção de sujeitos e de práticas de cuidado no campo da saúde mental voltada para o uso de SPA. A análise permitiu descrever, discutir e problematizar os sentidos de termos como usuário, dependente, droga, substância, autonomia, dentre outros utilizados de forma naturalizada na política; com esse movimento analítico, foi possível explorar sua multiplicidade, conflitualidade e historicidade. As análises empreendidas contribuem para que sejam desnaturalizadas determinadas noções tão presentes nas formulações de propostas para o cuidado desses usuários/as. A (in)definição de termos discutidos permitiu visualizar a aparente sobreposição de sentidos de alguns termos como usuário/dependente para explorar distinções entre eles; também algumas relações lineares, como uso/consumo = dependência, que podem levar o indivíduo a evitar a aproximação com serviços de saúde como o CAPS mesmo quando deles precisa, com receio de ser nomeado como um/uma dependente, uma vez que essa nomeação produz diferentes efeitos em sua vida. Do ponto de vista do gênero, parece haver algumas pistas na (in)definição desses termos, mostrando que, em alguma medida, não se contemplam distinções produzidas pelo gênero, talvez porque haja ainda uma dificuldade em associar a mulher ao uso/abuso de SPA, embora os estudos mostrem o uso crescente destas entre as mulheres. Assim, um olhar sensível às abordagens de gênero na política permitiu ir "encontrando" pistas em relação à naturalização da relação entre uso de SPA e masculinidade e de uma feminilidade que não se droga. Nesse sentido, a pesquisa intentou desnaturalizar e mostrar alguns silenciamentos nas representações de feminino/masculino ainda ativas na cultura que contribuem para dificultar o dimensionamento de uma demanda de cuidado. / This dissertation is inserted in the field of Gender and Cultural Studies, approaching the poststructuralist perspective of analysis. It investigates the places of the subject/user of psychoactive substances and gender crossings (re)produced under the National Policy of Harm Reduction, a public policy concerned in recognizing the choices of the users of psychoactive substances (PAS) who require some sort of care, so reaching the boundaries of health protection and social citizenship and social rights. The empirical material consists of normative documents of the policy and its consequences. Cultural analysis, in combination with documentary research, was used for data analysis, considering the concepts of subject position, rule, power and gender. The policy documents and its consequences were taken as cultural and educational artifacts that (re)produce and convey biomedical, psychological, moral and juridical discourses involved in the production of subjects and care practices in the field of mental health addressed to the use of PAS. The analysis allowed to describe, debate and discuss the meanings of terms such as user, addicted, drug, substance, autonomy, among others used in a naturalized way in the policy, whose multiplicity, conflictuality and historicity was explored from this analytical movement. The undertaken analyses contribute to denaturalize certain notions usually used in the texts of the care proposals for those users. The (in)definition of discussed terms allowed to perceive the apparent meaning overlaps of some terms such as user/addicted to explore distinctions between them; it was also possible observe some linear relations, such as use/consumption = addiction, which can lead the individual to avoid looking for healthcare services, such as the Centers of Psychosocial Care (CAPS), even when he/she needs those services, fearing being named as addicted, since this nomination causes different effects in his/her life. From the gender point of view, there seem to be some clues in the (in)definition of these terms, showing that, to some extent, distinctions produced by the genre are not considered, perhaps because there are still some difficulties in associating the woman to the use/abuse of PAS, although some studies show increasing use among women. Thus, a sensitive reading to gender approaches in the policy allowed to go "finding" clues regarding the naturalization of the relationship between the use of PAS and masculinity, and regarding a femininity that is not addicted. In this sense, this research intended denaturalize this relationship and show some silences regarding the female/male representations still active in the culture that contribute to hinder the design of a care demand.

Neste estudo busca-se a compreensão de como projetar os lugares do brincar por meio da análise da relação entre o ambiente e o comportamento infantil em áreas de lazer de edifícios residenciais multifamiliares, que funcionam como a nova “rua” para o lazer das crianças, pois esta já foi um lugar do brincar. Hoje, com o crescimento das cidades, as pessoas diminuíram a sua apropriação do espaço público no cotidiano devido ao aumento da violência, à insegurança e à grande circulação de carros. Consequentemente, os pais não permitem que seus filhos brinquem na rua, ou seja, fora dos limites residenciais. Em decorrência deste contexto urbano e do aumento da área construída na cidade, aumentando o custo do solo urbano, que as casas vêm sendo substituídas por edificações verticais que, supostamente, oferecem maior segurança, muitas delas com área muito pequena nos apartamentos. À criança, como possibilidade de brincadeira livre e socialização, restam os espaços de lazer dos edifícios, que, habitualmente, funcionam como argumento de venda, parte de um processo de “placemarketing”. Os projetos atuais para o lazer infantil nos edifícios por vezes são compostos por elementos chamativos, lúdicos, muitas cores, e até um certo rebuscamento no sentido de enfeitar excessivamente, características que encantam e vendem, porque transmitem a sensação visual de um lugar aprazível para as crianças. Contudo, muitos estudiosos abordam outras características físicas positivas em espaços para este público. Esse estudo investigou esta questão, no intuito de compreender como os projetos de áreas de lazer de edifícios, e de lugares do brincar de modo geral, devem ser elaborados para atender as necessidades inerentes ao desenvolvimento da criança. Foi feito um estudo de caso nas áreas de lazer de um edifício e de em um condomínio vertical em Porto Alegre-RS, cada um de uma construtora e com características físicas diferentes. Foram observados os locais mais utilizados pelas crianças e os tipos de interação entre elas, o que evidenciou que há relação entre o ambiente e em como as crianças interagem entre si. / This study seeks to understand how to design the places of play through the analysis of the relationship between the environment and the behavior of children in recreational areas of multifamily residential buildings that act as the new "street" for children’s leisure, because this has been the place of playing children. Nowadays, with the growth of cities, people reduced their daily appropriation of public space due to increased violence, insecurity and widespread circulation of cars. Consequently, parents do not allow their children plays in the street, so outside the residential limits. Because of this urban context and the increase of the built area in the city, increasing the urban land cost, that the houses are being replaced by vertical buildings that supposedly offer greater security, many of these with a very small area in the apartments. To the child, as the possibility of free play and socialization, left leisure spaces of buildings, which generally work as a selling point, part of a process of "placemarketing". Current projects for children's play in buildings are sometimes composed of flashy elements, entertainment, many colors, characteristics that enchant and sell, because they transmit the visual sensation of a pleasant place for children. However, many scholars of child development approach other positive physical characteristics in spaces for this audience. This study investigated this issue in order to understand how buildings recreation areas projects must be designed to satisfy the necessities of child development, through the analysis of recreational area of a building and a vertical condominium in Porto Alegre-RS, each one of the buildings were built of different construction company and have different physical characteristics. The places were observed most frequently used by children and types of interaction between them, which showed that there is a relationship between the environment and how children interact with each other.