abstract: This thesis paper, Something about Self: Moving the Creative Flow Within, explores the progression of the author's abilities as a facilitator in a creative context through her project presentation SELF(ish): grow(tru)thOUGHT. Along with the subjective assessment of creative facilitation, the underpinnings of the author's creative process and artistic vision are exposed through relevant literature, significant inspirations, personal insight, process comparisons, and imaginative metaphors. The author/artist offers a unique perspective on personal interests collected over the course of her graduate studies. Waugh expounds upon pertinent content such as intuition in creativity, the emotional link to the mind-body connection, dance movement therapy and its effects on states of being, self-realization and self-transcendence. Each of these contextual elements contributed to the creation of exercises for movement generation used in a performative dance work. Ultimately, this paper elucidates a transparent, versatile creative practice and the evolution of a unique, passionate artistry that is based on a balance between structure and flow. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.F.A. Dance 2012

As an artist, my work reflects my own life experiences, allowing me to reinterpret and process difficult events in a new light. Creating art is a therapeutic process for me, enabling me to explore and understand my past and my own Self. In line with James Baldwin's views, I believe that the duty of an artist is to provide their audience with an opportunity to rediscover themselves; to help them explore their inner selves. In my experience, to achieve that goal, the first and most important hurdle the artist needs to cross is exploring themselves. In the process of answering questions about their own selves, they can touch many other souls. In Fragmented Self, I employ composited 3D animations of my own body parts juxtaposed over still and moving images. Each body part and piece in Fragmented Self is a metaphorical representation of a specific experience I have lived through. The resulting pieces are meditative, surreal, and abstracted spaces that speak to the complexities of life experiences. I believe each body holds messages from the past, and in Fragmented Self, I disembody and fragment my own body to study and explore my own Self. Drawing inspiration from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass in which he proclaims, "I contain multitudes", I see my Self as a composite of various selves shaped by different life experiences coming together to form one Self. I believe that I am a constantly evolving individual, influencing my everyday encounters and choices. As in the Japanese tradition of Kintsugi, in Fragmented Self, I trace the gold lined cracks that unite my multitudinous selves into one in hopes of answering the question "What makes me who I am today?" / Master of Fine Arts / Fragmented Self is a body of artwork created in an effort to learn about my own Self. The work explores how I see my Self as containing multiple selves. The project utilizes video and 3D rendering to create digital composites with semi-realistic aesthetics. The finished work includes 3 pieces focusing on ideas of time, perception, and fragmentation.

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In this study I identify and argue for hybridity as a common feature in four postcolonial texts, namely Femi Abodunrin’s It Would Take Time, Edward Kamau Brathwaite’s Masks, Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Matigari and Mvona’s An Arrow from Maraka. The study advances that when two or more cultures encounter one another hybridity affects the new emergent culture socially, linguistically, historically and politically. Employing Homi Bhabha’s interrelated terms, notably ambivalence, mimicry, liminality, the third space, in-between space and interstitial space —all of which gesture towards the concept of hybridity, the study explains the emergence of corresponding and equally complex identities in the postcolonial world. With a specific reference to Africa, the study establishes that postcolonial discourse is not as transparent because hybridity does not necessarily mean coming up with completely new aspects of Africa but it implies coming up with mixed cultures since different histories and cultures affect each other in order to come up with a new brand. As such the study concludes that hybridity is opposed to cultural purity and the assumed status quo. In this dissertation I therefore argue for hybridity as a solution to identity crisis because the new personality displays different traces which, in the words of Homi Bhabha, are called “transcultural identities” and such a plurality of identities leads to the production of hybrid personalities and cultures. Such transcultural forms within the contact zone, which Bhabha calls the “in-between space,” carry the burden and meaning of the new cultures that emerge in the postcolonial condition. / English Studies / M.A. (English)

This study explores the phenomenon of a personal exploratory field visit to HIV programmes in Malawi and how that informs my future plans to work cross-culturally with HIV. I use hermeneutic phenomenology with the guidance of Heidegger and Gadamer, and draw on Ackermann, Hill, Maluleke, Moltmann, and Thielicke for theological direction. This study analyses how personal formation takes place and how the meaning of that experience can inform future cross-cultural interaction. The data of this study is drawn from a range of people interviewing ‘me’. This includes a pre and post interview in relation to my three week exploratory visit to Malawi, and recorded daily reflections during the visit. Upon return I was interviewed about my experience by ten people from the following areas: nursing, counselling, development, theology, business, medicine, clergy, an Expatriate Malawian, and a women working from a Maori paradigm. These interviews focused on my experience with questions framed from the interviewer’s specialty area. The transcripts become further data for my study. The findings of this thesis suggest that people wishing to work cross-culturally need to understand their motivation for their work, and understand who they are before entering a foreign land. This transformative journey also needs to continue as part of the process of working with people because we can only be effective with change if we are listening and hearing the other’s perspective. It is in being open to this difference between persons that we continue to find ourselves. While perhaps we have a tendency to want to make everybody like us, we can only grow into our full potential in relationship with truly different others. Tensions I experienced demonstrate that there is a complex need to understand how the context controls how HIV is perceived. This requires uncovering some of the deeper issues of HIV and culture, and knowing how to conceptualise these in both positive and informative ways. This thesis asks four key questions for the global-co-worker to work through before embarking on cross-cultural mission: 1. How do you know you should go?; 2. How are you going to make a difference?; 3. Who are you going to be?; and 4. What will sustain your involvement? My own experience has drawn me into a deeper awareness of the need for a vital connectedness of faith, hope and love underpinning the everydayness of such an experience.

This study explores the phenomenon of a personal exploratory field visit to HIV programmes in Malawi and how that informs my future plans to work cross-culturally with HIV. I use hermeneutic phenomenology with the guidance of Heidegger and Gadamer, and draw on Ackermann, Hill, Maluleke, Moltmann, and Thielicke for theological direction. This study analyses how personal formation takes place and how the meaning of that experience can inform future cross-cultural interaction. The data of this study is drawn from a range of people interviewing ‘me’. This includes a pre and post interview in relation to my three week exploratory visit to Malawi, and recorded daily reflections during the visit. Upon return I was interviewed about my experience by ten people from the following areas: nursing, counselling, development, theology, business, medicine, clergy, an Expatriate Malawian, and a women working from a Maori paradigm. These interviews focused on my experience with questions framed from the interviewer’s specialty area. The transcripts become further data for my study. The findings of this thesis suggest that people wishing to work cross-culturally need to understand their motivation for their work, and understand who they are before entering a foreign land. This transformative journey also needs to continue as part of the process of working with people because we can only be effective with change if we are listening and hearing the other’s perspective. It is in being open to this difference between persons that we continue to find ourselves. While perhaps we have a tendency to want to make everybody like us, we can only grow into our full potential in relationship with truly different others. Tensions I experienced demonstrate that there is a complex need to understand how the context controls how HIV is perceived. This requires uncovering some of the deeper issues of HIV and culture, and knowing how to conceptualise these in both positive and informative ways. This thesis asks four key questions for the global-co-worker to work through before embarking on cross-cultural mission: 1. How do you know you should go?; 2. How are you going to make a difference?; 3. Who are you going to be?; and 4. What will sustain your involvement? My own experience has drawn me into a deeper awareness of the need for a vital connectedness of faith, hope and love underpinning the everydayness of such an experience.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-12-15Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:55:40Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 petit_s_me_sjrp.pdf: 777177 bytes, checksum: 885ffa67851a11c824a65e0cb50a7e69 (MD5) / See/Governo do Estado de São Paulo / O presente trabalho propõe o estudo da obra Os anjos (2000), da escritora portuguesa Teolinda Gersão, para focalizar a trajetória das personagens femininas que protagonizam o enredo e o conjunto de experiências epifânicas oriundas desse percurso, o que as direciona rumo a uma libertação identitária. Em vista disso, parte-se dos pressupostos teóricos da narrativa de aprendizagem também denominada Bildungsroman, a fim de se investigar como ocorre a sua inovação perante o histórico dessa modalidade na literatura portuguesa com enfoque no sujeito feminino. Nesse processo, constatam-se os elementos pertinentes do gênero em questão e, na análise da estrutura narrativa e das unidades temáticas presentes na obra, argumenta-se em torno da visão feminina, ou seja, do olhar das duas personagens-protagonistas na busca de uma adaptação ao mundo exterior sem que se privem da autoestima ou aceitem a imposição de valores socioculturais. Assim, neste trabalho, reflete-se também sobre o domínio da linguagem e a possibilidade da releitura do discurso persuasivo do outro como elementos agenciadores de desestruturação dos meandros ideológicos contidos na falácia social e descobertas epifânicas a serem decifradas no processo de autoconhecimento dessas personagens. / The following thesis proposes to study the novella The Angels (2000), by the Portuguese author Teolinda Gersão, in order to focus on the development of the protagonist female characters of the narrative and the set of epiphany experiences originated from such development, which lead them to their identity liberation. Starting on the theoretical basis of the “novel of formation”, also called Bildungsroman, the innovations in the genre of this Portuguese Literature mode are investigated, through the focus on the female subject. In this process, the elements of the genre are observed, as well as the analysis of the narrative structure and the theme units present in the novella. The feminine point of view is discussed, that is, the two main characters and their search for an adjustment to the world they are in, without the loss of their self-esteem, nor the acceptance of the impositions of social and cultural values. Furthermore, this thesis shall reflect about the language domination and the possibility of a re-reading of the persuasion discourse of the ‘other’ as elements that allow the destructuration of the ideological meanders belonging to the social fallacy, through the process of self-knowledge experienced by these characters.

In this study I identify and argue for hybridity as a common feature in four postcolonial texts, namely Femi Abodunrin’s It Would Take Time, Edward Kamau Brathwaite’s Masks, Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Matigari and Mvona’s An Arrow from Maraka. The study advances that when two or more cultures encounter one another hybridity affects the new emergent culture socially, linguistically, historically and politically. Employing Homi Bhabha’s interrelated terms, notably ambivalence, mimicry, liminality, the third space, in-between space and interstitial space —all of which gesture towards the concept of hybridity, the study explains the emergence of corresponding and equally complex identities in the postcolonial world. With a specific reference to Africa, the study establishes that postcolonial discourse is not as transparent because hybridity does not necessarily mean coming up with completely new aspects of Africa but it implies coming up with mixed cultures since different histories and cultures affect each other in order to come up with a new brand. As such the study concludes that hybridity is opposed to cultural purity and the assumed status quo. In this dissertation I therefore argue for hybridity as a solution to identity crisis because the new personality displays different traces which, in the words of Homi Bhabha, are called “transcultural identities” and such a plurality of identities leads to the production of hybrid personalities and cultures. Such transcultural forms within the contact zone, which Bhabha calls the “in-between space,” carry the burden and meaning of the new cultures that emerge in the postcolonial condition. / English Studies / M.A. (English)

Orientador: Maria Heloisa Martins Dias / Banca: Maria Lúcia Outeiro Fernandes / Banca: Susanna Busato / Resumo: O presente trabalho propõe o estudo da obra Os anjos (2000), da escritora portuguesa Teolinda Gersão, para focalizar a trajetória das personagens femininas que protagonizam o enredo e o conjunto de experiências epifânicas oriundas desse percurso, o que as direciona rumo a uma libertação identitária. Em vista disso, parte-se dos pressupostos teóricos da narrativa de aprendizagem também denominada Bildungsroman, a fim de se investigar como ocorre a sua inovação perante o histórico dessa modalidade na literatura portuguesa com enfoque no sujeito feminino. Nesse processo, constatam-se os elementos pertinentes do gênero em questão e, na análise da estrutura narrativa e das unidades temáticas presentes na obra, argumenta-se em torno da visão feminina, ou seja, do olhar das duas personagens-protagonistas na busca de uma adaptação ao mundo exterior sem que se privem da autoestima ou aceitem a imposição de valores socioculturais. Assim, neste trabalho, reflete-se também sobre o domínio da linguagem e a possibilidade da releitura do discurso persuasivo do outro como elementos agenciadores de desestruturação dos meandros ideológicos contidos na falácia social e descobertas epifânicas a serem decifradas no processo de autoconhecimento dessas personagens. / Abstract: The following thesis proposes to study the novella The Angels (2000), by the Portuguese author Teolinda Gersão, in order to focus on the development of the protagonist female characters of the narrative and the set of epiphany experiences originated from such development, which lead them to their identity liberation. Starting on the theoretical basis of the "novel of formation", also called Bildungsroman, the innovations in the genre of this Portuguese Literature mode are investigated, through the focus on the female subject. In this process, the elements of the genre are observed, as well as the analysis of the narrative structure and the theme units present in the novella. The feminine point of view is discussed, that is, the two main characters and their search for an adjustment to the world they are in, without the loss of their self-esteem, nor the acceptance of the impositions of social and cultural values. Furthermore, this thesis shall reflect about the language domination and the possibility of a re-reading of the persuasion discourse of the 'other' as elements that allow the destructuration of the ideological meanders belonging to the social fallacy, through the process of self-knowledge experienced by these characters. / Mestre

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