FCH - Teses de Doutoramento / Doctoral Theses
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Browsing FCH - Teses de Doutoramento / Doctoral Theses by Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) "16:Paz, Justiça e Instituições Eficazes"
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- A dialogue on shock and culture: the queer case of BeirutPublication . Khairallah, Jad; Barba, Maria Luísa Homem Leal de Faria GeraldesThe aim of this dissertation is to locate the concept of shock within a political economy formation that responds to the queer situation of the city of Beirut. Moving away from shock as trauma, I redefine the notion as an investigative tool and lens, transcending a reactionary feeling. Shock, in this context, is understood as a phenomenological and embodied experience that is temporal, affective and relational, one that communicates within a triangulation of triggers, players and culture. Instead of pursuing reasons and causes, the thesis explores shock operations, focusing on how it exists, it maneuvers, and is applied. The dialogue between shock and culture establishes a methodological foundation within Lebanon, specifically emphasizing queerness in Beirut. In a setting where regional disconnects, colonial histories and pseudo religious socio-political powers intersect normativity with continuous instabilities, the research investigates the shock’s affective valence and queer future within its cityscape. I contextualize shock by means of analytical engagements that are informed by culture studies as an essential component for understanding the site and development of a culture that assimilates with shock as it moves along through societies, community dynamics and power structures. I underscore queer theoretical approaches that hone in on the relational figure of ‘the shocking other,’ to reveal the intricate negotiation of implied normativity, difference, and otherness within broader social, economic and political systems. I explore the shock’s navigation in both the digital and material landscapes of Beirut by means of LGBT subjectivities. Through field visits to the city, auto-ethnography, and an analysis of the October 17th protest ground in 2019, I account for embodied shock experiences that document shock traces. Additionally, I integrate conceptual, practical, and lived applications that encourage a reflexive approach, especially when recalling the August 4th Beirut port explosion in 2020. By dwelling on the shock’s destructive path, both literally and metaphorically, the thesis identifies shock as a political tool, particularly advantageous for the queer body. It highlights the economy of shock within discussions of temporalities, emphasizing affective exchanges with established cultural concepts. Furthermore, it serves as a hopeful opening carrying potentiality in its aftermath. This dynamic interplay between shock and culture offers a fresh investigative lens into the evolving human outlook amid unexpected escalations and an abundance of shocks from within the contemporary experience.
- On the borderlands of culture : Israeli migrants beyond the TejoPublication . Iancu, Zohar; Gil, Isabel Maria de Oliveira Capeloa; Barkay, TamarAt the heart of this dissertation is the phenomenon of Israeli-Jewish citizens migrating to Europe, specifically to rural Portugal. This migration trend has gained increasing visibility in Israeli media in recent years. Numerous articles and news reports are dedicated to the emigration of Israeli-Jewish citizens from the nation-state. Within this context, migration to Portugal has often been portrayed as "the new dream" for Israelis. Against this backdrop, this study focuses on migration to the region of south-western Alentejo, Portugal. This area has become a popular destination for those seeking alternative lifestyles, including Israelis. The trend suggests that migration to Alentejo is influenced by and reflective of cultural and socio-economic trends at the Israeli, global, and local levels. To achieve a multi-dimensional and nuanced comprehension of the phenomenon at hand, the research is analytically grounded in cultural and sociological theorizations of migration and diaspora, particularly in the context of contemporary Israeli society. Concretely, the study juxtaposes considerations from culture, border, and diaspora studies, utilizes the notion of symbolic boundaries, and builds on research on in- and out-migration within Israel, and global trends of counterurbanization. This body of research and scholarship allows for the exploration of the thesis that phenomenon of the “borderlands” of Israeli cultural identity can challenge both the collective boundaries and the internal divisions within Israeli culture. Essentially, Israeli emigration to Portugal represents a territorial border crossing. However, this dissertation suggests that contextualizing this border crossing within a broader perspective contributes to our understanding of how physical and symbolic boundaries work together to shape mental, physical, and social human existence. To thoroughly explore the subjective experiences and perceptions of Jewish-Israelis in Alentejo, Portugal, the study employed an interdisciplinary qualitative approach. Data was collected over three years, from August 2021 to May 2023, using multiple research methods, including participant observations of holiday ceremonies, gatherings, and cultural events; 21 in-depth interviews with JewishIsraeli citizens residing in Alentejo, and a focus group of Jewish-Israeli women. The visual research method known as “photovoice” was utilized to document the daily lives of the women in the focus group. The research shows that while initially aiming to distance themselves from Israeli culture and other Israelis while pursuing cosmopolitan, alternative lifestyles, the participants in the fieldwork maintain close and intricate connections with their culture of origin, often forging meaningful social relationships with other Israelis in the region. Based on this finding, the study suggests that the participants operate within a “cultural borderland”—a liminal and hybrid space that draws on Israeli cultural practices while at the same time challenging conventional Israeli-Jewish collective identity. Overall, the dissertation suggests that the case study of the Israeli diasporic space in Alentejo illuminates how ex-Israeli communities are constructed and reimagined beyond Israeli national and cultural borders. In doing so, this dissertation aims to amplify voices that are often excluded from discourses on Israeli migration. The study’s empirical and analytical contributions enrich the literature on diasporas, particularly in the emerging field of modern Israeli diasporas, as well as in research on current migration patterns to rural Portugal, academic inquiry into the nexus of culture and borders, and the study of Israeli society and culture.
- Online activism : social media and socio-political activism by young women in Saudi ArabiaPublication . Yousef, Rola Khalid Ahmad; Ribeiro, Nelson CostaIn most democratic countries around the world, ordinary citizens in general and young women in particular have access to different avenues to participate and demand social and political changes and rights. However, in Saudi Arabia, access to and participation in social and political activism were and are still highly limited and restricted, especially for women. Therefore, the emergence of "online activism", which was aided and facilitated by new communication technologies and social media platforms, offered Saudi women enormous potential for democratic exchange, to pressurize state institutions, foster political participation, and foster social change. In this regard, young Saudi women are establishing their own virtual communities and advocacy campaigns in the online sphere in order to fight for their political and social rights and the right to participate, as we witnessed in the Twitter campaign against the male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia. In line with the volatile political and social situations and the authoritative environment in Saudi Arabia and based on 3500 tweets and six semi-structured interviews, this thesis explores young Saudi women's participation, activism, and usage of social media platforms to demand political and social change. In particular, it investigates the context of Saudi Arabia and its effect on Saudi women's online engagement and activism on social and political issues and the rise of the phenomenon of Saudi online feminism. This research shows that social media platforms were a potential tool for women's activism and played an unprecedented role in paving the way for Saudi young women's participation in socio-political issues in general and activism against the male guardianship system in particular despite the several obstacles that had to be dealt with within the country9s authoritarian context. The anti-male guardianship campaign's internet observation revealed that there was no set model of communication that was adhered to. The communication was informal and approachable, but because every participant made their own posts independently, it was challenging to standardize the messaging. However, the message is intended to reach men, women, and society at large, as well as political and religious organizations. Finally, this study demonstrates that Twitter, in particular, and social media in general were particularly useful tools for women living in challenging social, political, and economic contexts. By addressing the obstacles and constraints that feminism movements face and exposing the limitations and repression that the Saudi government and the general public impose on internet activism in general and women's activism in particular, this study also sheds light on another crucial fact that contradicts the first.
- O papel da comunicação interna como reforço do bem-estar nas organizações : o caso de estudo : metropolitano de LisboaPublication . Claro, Rute Alexandra Lopes; Brandão, Nuno Manuel Coelho de GoulartNum mundo cada vez mais global, digital e competitivo, as organizações precisam de se adaptar para subsistir. O foco deixou de ser apenas a maximização de lucros, passando agora pela otimização de processos e valorização das suas vantagens competitivas. Já os colaboradores estão cada vez mais informados, com expectativas mais elevadas sobre o seu futuro e sobre as organizações para as quais trabalham. A aplicação de práticas internas estratégicas com vista ao bem-estar dos colaboradores permite impactar positivamente a confiança, compromisso e identificação com a organização, aumentando a sua motivação e, por consequência, a sua produtividade. É neste contexto que se destaca a comunicação interna, que, quando aplicada de forma estratégica, permite a construção e o desenvolvimento de relacionamentos, promovendo um ambiente de crescimento e partilha, e cultivando nos colaboradores um sentimento de pertença e significado, o que se reflete diretamente no bem-estar organizacional. Nesta perspetiva, as dinâmicas comunicacionais e de bem-estar têm tido crescente importância nas organizações, mas também na academia. Considerando a importância de perceber tais dinâmicas, o objetivo desta investigação passou por perceber qual a influência da comunicação interna no reforço do bem-estar dos colaboradores de uma organização. Por se tratar do estudo de uma organização em particular, esta investigação tomou a forma de um caso de estudo. Esta investigação focou-se no contexto organizacional do Metropolitano de Lisboa, contando com a recolha de dados por intermédio de uma entrevista exploratória e da aplicação de um inquérito por questionário contruído tendo por base os modelos teóricos de Verčič et al. (2009) e Dessen e Paz (2010b). Este estudo permitiu auferir que a comunicação interna tem um impacto positivo no reforço do bem-estar, verificando-se que os colaboradores percecionam valores importantes de uma gestão humanizada e que valorizam a comunicação interna como área estratégica de reforço do bem-estar organizacional.
- Photographic poiesis : transformative knowledge of African photographic practicesPublication . Brant, Alfredo; Silva, Ana Luísa dos Santos Diniz daThis doctoral dissertation explores the production of transformative knowledge through creative practices in the realm of contemporary African photography. It draws on visual culture and postcolonial studies as its primary theoretical framework, and decolonial praxis as a guide for concrete interventions in the social sphere. The principal question posed by this investigation is: How can the strategies available in photographic practices afford transformative knowledge? In addition to shaping society through engaged modes of image production, photography enables practitioners to visually decode the world in a unique way. To that extent, it provides access to the subjective sphere, assisting individuals to cope with personal experiences, emotions, and desires. Moreover, photographic practice produces transformative knowledge when it operates as a mechanism for self-learning. Therefore, it is argued that ‘photographic thinking’ is an empowering tool that promotes a decolonial aesthesis (Mignolo and Vazquez 2013) by challenging restrictive Western notions – such as aesthetics and poetics – and allowing a space for micro-narratives to emerge. In approaching the Catchupa Factory residency as a space for learning based on an emancipatory conception of education, we propose the notion of photographic poiesis. It seeks to establish a more dynamic connection between the discipline of visual literacy and photographic production. Such a linkage leads us to a reflection on the pedagogical aspects within the institutional framework of an artistic residency devoted to emerging African photographers, and how it can effectively generate non-hegemonic visual knowledge, social change, and self-actualization. The results are expected to contribute to visual literacy by providing new tools for artists, educators, curators, and practitioners working with photographic images.
- Redes sociais, política e jovens adultos no Brasil : despartidarização, personalização política e polarização afetivaPublication . Vale, Anna Catharina Sampaio; Figueiras, Rita Maria Brás PedroCom a proeminência das redes sociais na disseminação das notícias e na política no Brasil, onde o voto é obrigatório, os jovens adultos vivenciam desde 2018 um processo eleitoral mediado por essas plataformas digitais. Este estudo busca aprofundar o entendimento sobre o uso das redes sociais por esses usuários e sua contribuição para a formação da percepção política. O enquadramento teórico explora a relação intrínseca entre o populismo e a comunicação contemporânea, abordando também questões como a polarização afetiva, política e social, enquanto contextualiza a crise institucional vivenciada pelos partidos políticos. Para responder à pergunta "como o uso das redes sociais contribui para a relação dos jovens adultos com a política no Brasil?", a investigação adota a teoria fundamentada (grounded theory) como metodologia qualitativa indutiva. Foram realizadas 24 entrevistas em profundidade com jovens adultos de 21 a 34 anos. Como principal resultado da investigação, sugere-se a aceleração da percepção despartidarizada da política entre os jovens adultos entrevistados. Este é um contributo relevante no contexto brasileiro, marcado por queda nas filiações partidárias, crise institucional e aumento da personalização da política. Isso ocorre em um cenário de polarização política, social e afetiva, intensificada nas redes sociais, provocando sentimentos como ansiedade, medo e ódio entre os entrevistados. Além disso, é apresentado um novo conceito para enriquecer o debate sobre comunicação política e redes sociais: a "curadoria do eu". O construto foi formado a partir da análise dos resultados, como prevê a teoria fundamentada, e é explicado na componente empírica da tese. No decorrer do estudo, propõem-se também parâmetros analíticos para a comunicação populista, abrindo caminho para novas pesquisas na área, com possibilidade de transferibilidade de conceitos e resultados para outros países.
- The representation of homosexual cowboys in hollywood westerns, 1946-1972Publication . Ni, Bing; Burnay, Catarina do Amaral Dias Duff; Baptista, Tiago Ribeiro RamosThe presence of homosexual cowboy is inextricably linked to the narrative of the American West set on the frontier. This connection has been consistently corroborated: in historical accounts, frequent and abundant homosexual male behavior, relationships, and even family patterns became an integral part of the Western movement; in literature, homosexual stories and complexes with cowboys as protagonists exist either as main narratives or as hidden plots; in life, a large number of homosexual cowboys have dominated the once heterosexual male-dominated rodeo scene. However, in the world of Westerns, homosexual men and cowboys seem to be forced to exist in the zone between the closet and the world. "Brokeback Mountain" (2005), "The Power of the Dog" (2021), and even Pedro Almodóvar's short film "Strange Way of Life" (2023) all present the theme of homosexual cowboys on the big screen through different genres. Most of these films have been met with great controversy. The controversy, destined to become a topic, centered on whether homosexual cowboys were allowed to exist in the frontier narrative. Therefore, we need to ask: What if homosexual cowboys in Western films were not "invented" in the 21st century? What if they were hidden in the closet of film due to censorship and other factors? This study will focus on the depiction of homosexual content in Westerns from the 1950s to the 1970s and argue that homosexual cowboys exist in these movies and their portrayal is not merely a two-dimensional reference but a fully developed representation. This study will use quantitative methods to conduct a content analysis of selected films. It aims to explore the representation of the homosexual cowboy figure in both traditional Westerns and post-Westerns by examining recurring themes such as masculinity, violence, eroticism, and intimacy across different time periods, thereby establishing the significance of their presence in Western films.