FCH - Teses de Doutoramento / Doctoral Theses
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- Contours of resiliences : cimate futures reimagined in post-disaster PhilippinesPublication . Ambulo, Brian Jay de Lima; Silva, Ana Luísa dos Santos Diniz daThe escalating climate crises, coupled with entrenched systemic inequalities and fragmented development approaches, have propelled the discourse of resilience into prominence, particularly concerning marginalised communities within the Global South. The concern, then, is not whether resilience is possible but how it can be conceptualised to honour the agency of those most affected. My central question arises from this very challenge: How can potentials for resilient places and communities in post-disaster settings be navigated when evaluating co-developments between environmental changes and everyday human and more-than-human creative practices? This dissertation reimagines resilience by critically examining the intersections of extractive colonial legacies, socio-ecological transformations, placemaking, and development trajectories in a post-disaster Philippines. It interrogates how global power imbalances, embedded in colonial histories, continue to shape material and immaterial landscapes, perpetuating inequalities and marginalising pluralistic epistemologies. These colonial residues continue to shape modern development paradigms that prioritise exploitative growth, driving anthropogenic climate change and the increasing likelihood of future disasters. Through an investigation of island spatialities and placemaking practices in Siargao Island, the research uncovers the complex interdependencies between humans and more-than-humans, advocating for development approaches incorporating local knowledge systems and ecological commingling. I offer a manifesto that tinkers and fiddles with elements of unorthodox views yet situated practices, radical opinions yet lived experiences, creatively reshaping our interlinkages and interrelationships with our home, our ecologies, our economies, and our selves. It posits that the essence of resilience transcends survival or adaptability; it encapsulates a transformation of culture and nature, thereby engendering spaces and communities that are not fleeting and volatile, but enduring and flourishing.
- Merecimento e tomada de decisão no acesso ao apoio social : perspetivas de profissionais de primeira linha e da opinião pública sobre pessoas com comportamentos aditivos e dependênciasPublication . Caetano, Ana Paula Pereira; Mónico, Lisete; Santos, Clara Maria Rodrigues Cruz SilvaThe present study examines perceptions of welfare deservingness in Portugal, focusing on individuals with addictive behaviors and dependencies. Based on the concept of welfare deservingness as a set of ethical and moral criteria that legitimize access to social benefits, the study explores how the perceptions of street-level bureaucrats and public opinion influence the implementation and acceptance of social policies, particularly in the context of people with addictive behaviors and dependencies. With a mixed methodological approach, Study I, of a qualitative nature, used semi-structured interviews with 20 street-level bureaucrats, analyzing the welfare deservingness criteria and ethical challenges in decision-making. Study 2, of a quantitative nature, was based on a sample of 1056 citizens and included the validation of the Welfare Deservingness Perception Protocol, allowing for the assessment of public attitudes toward welfare deservingness criteria. The results of Study I revealed tensions between objective criteria and subjective judgments, highlighting the impact of discretion in determining access to social support. Significant ethical challenges were also identified, such as the balance between social justice and institutional limitations, highlighting the need to empower social workers (e.g. supervision and training) and 10 promote institutional changes 10 combat stigma and prejudice. In Study 2, the criteria of need and reciprocity were widely accepted, while those of entitlement and equality generated more division. Social concern emerged as a significant predictor of welfare deservingness, particularly in access 10 healthcare, with limited impact on social support, where stigmas remain deeply rooted. The results suggest that access to healthcare for people with addictive behaviors and dependencies is more publicly accepted than access to social support. The research offers significant contributions to the field of Social Work by integrating theoretical and practical perspectives on welfare deservingness, highlighting the crucial role of social workers and public narratives in building more inclusive and fair social policies. It also fosters critical debates on resource redistribution and equity.
- Watching oneself live : contemporary art negotiating the temporality of déja vuPublication . Danilova, Nina; Santos, Ana Luísa dos Santos Diniz daThis research combines a theoretical conceptualization of the current global temporal paradigm with the analysis of works of contemporary visual art. The overarching temporality of the postmodern is addressed through the concept of déjà vu (Virno) and is defined as a temporal regime within which the present occludes the future and is experienced as a repetition of the past. The state of déjà vu translates into an apathetic perception of reality, the feeling of being acted upon and watching oneself live. The thesis is prompted by two lines of inquiry: on the one hand, it aims to analyze how the current predominant temporality is understood by means of contemporary visual artistic practices. Drawing on the theory of tertiary retentions (Stiegler), it foregrounds a techno-logical understanding of the déjà vu perspective that highlights its time- and memory-related components. Consequently, it endeavors to juxtapose a blind use of digital technology and its negative consequences with a conscious and creative engagement with the works of art that allows one to access the critical potential of a conscious relation to what Stiegler merged under the term technics. On the other hand, by way of a detailed close reading of selected artworks, this thesis seeks to trace how the temporality of déjà vu is critically interfered with and debated via visual art in favor of a less rigid, more individuated paradigm. The study therefore argues that an equally active engagement with the modes of the past, present, and future is required to intensify the feeling of belonging to an epoch numbed by the déjà vu condition. Artist’s disobedience to its restrictive contingencies is approached in three instances. First, through the installations and mix-media exhibitions Heritage Studies (2015)/ Material (2011) by Iman Issa and Por Ser A Terra Muito Calmosa (2021) by Rouzbeh Akhbari, it is tackled in regard to how to navigate one’s relation to the past. Then, via artistic projects of Feminist Utopian Spaces Lexicon (2018) by Asli Serbest&Mona Mahall and Tuesday or September or the End / The Meaning of Life (2022) by Hannah Black, the study investigates how to form new projections for the future. Finally, together with the performative exhibition Free Gestures (2018) by Ula Sickle and Egor Tsvetkov’s film Something is Falling Down (2018), it argues for a teleopoietic affinity with the present that holds against temporal acceleration offering a proactive account of temporality.
- Música, identidade cultural e globalização : a construção de uma identidade portuguesa na música dos DeolindaPublication . Sousa, Maria de Nazaré Valente de; Hanenberg, Peter HeinrichIn Cultural Studies, the topic of cultural identity is a recurring theme. As an interdisciplinary field, it examines identity through the lens of various connected disciplines, such as Popular Music Studies. This latter field, although relatively new and still evolving, has been gradually gaining attention, utilizing diverse methodologies that depend on both the object of study and the research purpose, while addressing a set of recurring themes. The dialogue between Music and Identity frequently arises within the discipline’s thematic framework, serving as the starting point for this critical exercise. Thus, framing the study within the issue of National Identity, we address the topic of Portuguese identity, shared by an imagined community and considered a cultural construct in permanent reconfiguration, highlighting the aspects that contribute to its construction, particularly with globalization. Taking the nation as a narration (cf. Bhabha, 1990), we understand popular music, in this case, Portuguese popular music, as a cultural field in which this narrative can also be constructed. Consequently, the musical project Deolinda (2008-2017) serves as the subject of this critical exercise, situated within the landscape of 21st-century Portuguese popular music. A predominantly qualitative approach was chosen for its analysis, structured into four key areas: the contexts and discourses surrounding the project, the song lyrics, the music itself, and their visual identity and performances. Methodologically, we adopt the analytical strategy suggested by David Machin (2010), which advocates for a segmented analysis of popular music (lyrics, music, and imagery). Additionally, we propose a methodology applicable to other musical objects, drawing on insights from various scholars Furthermore, Simon Frith (1996), in his exploration of the relationship between music and identity, argues that music not only represents identity but can also embody it. Accordingly, we interpret the Deolinda project as not merely representing a construction of Portuguese identity but actively incorporating that construction through its lyrics, music, imagery, performances, and related contexts. This process evolves and reconfigures itself over time, mirroring the fluid nature of cultural identity. Deolinda thus exemplifies the thesis that national identity is also constructed through (Portuguese) popular music. Furthermore, despite the impact of globalization on identity formation, symbolic markers associated with the imagined community of Portugal persist in popular music, particularly in Deolinda, rooted in collective memory and history, and in a growing convergence between popular and traditional music.
- Visualising gender through contemporary art : the cases of Portugal and SloveniaPublication . Kovič, Amadea; Silva, Ana Luísa dos Santos Diniz daDrawing on the theoretical and conceptual frameworks of cultural studies, visual culture and feminist art history, this research hypothesises that experiences related to the state of gender equality in two selected young European democracies (Portugal, a democracy since 1974, and Slovenia, a democratic country since 1991) have contributed to the formation of specific forms of feminisms with some observable patterns, which will be investigated through contemporary visual arts. With the aim of contributing to a better understanding of the current state of gender (dis)equality in Europe, particularly in the two selected countries, from the lens of contemporary visual arts, this research centres on a series of six case studies of artworks by Portuguese and Slovenian artists. Critical visual analysis will thus provide an insight into feminisms in the selected countries through the work of the artists.
- Creativity as performance : on the cultural conditionsof western art music interpretationPublication . Hilsdorf, Leonardo Marranghello; Hanenberg, Peter HeinrichThis thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of creativity in Western music performance. Building upon Glaveanu (2020) and Csikszentmihalyi (1988) cultural theories of creativity, this study focuses on the understanding of music performance creativity as a dynamic and transdisciplinary process. It similarly aims to address the commonly held notion that modern pianists exhibit lower levels of originality compared to previous generations. In order to do this, it will analyse creativity in musical performance from three interrelated and interdependent perspectives: individual, societal, and cultural. From the perspective of the individual creator, I will examine the role of the performer as a co-creator, as well as the notions of interpretation as the catalyst for newness in Western music performance. A comparative case study between eight distinct renditions of the Mazurka op. 59 n.1 by Chopin is developed. The performances were selected from live recordings of the semi-finals of two distinct editions (1980 and 2015) of the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw. The objective of the suggested case study is to demonstrate that a single noted musical composition has multiple interpretative truths, so establishing the initial stage for a performance to be deemed innovative. Nevertheless, creativity mostly refers to a cultural designation given to novel artefacts following societal approval. Hence, to examine under which cultural conditions an innovative performance is regarded as creative, the thesis will situate the analysed performances within a performative tradition in Western art music that is passed down orally through generations. Additionally, it will explore the impact of digitalization of recordings archive on the performers in modern society. Finally, to address the social role in selecting the appropriate variants worth being preserved, Ivo Pogoreli 's elimination in the 1980 Chopin Competition will be discussed, analysing the social reactions of specialised critics and audience members. This case will address the concept of transgression as a generative will that fosters the new, and also explore the distinction between an innovative performance deemed creative by field members versus those perceived as bizarre or idiosyncratic. To address the hypothesis of the current homogenization of modern pianists, this study examines musical creativity as a procedural occurrence that is influenced by socio-cultural forces, and unique to different cultures and performing styles throughout history. The conclusion evidences the limiting role that society and cultural traditions have in promoting and embracing innovative interpretations, revealing a paradox between the praise of novelty within Western art music performance and its constricted limits of its acceptance.
- 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.
- Conteúdos não-ficcionais imersivos no ciberespaçoPublication . Mauro, Ana Paula Vieira Peixoto; Ganito, Carla Susana Monteiro; Ferreira, Cátia Sofia AfonsoEsta tese dedica-se a compreender o panorama dos conteúdos não-ficcionais com objetivos imersivos, que tratam de temas complexos e que são mediados no ciberespaço, tendo por objetivo final apontar boas práticas em um projeto dessa natureza. Para tanto, empenhou-se uma fundamentação teórica e uma componente empírica. Na fundamentação teórica, problematizamos o ciberespaço, circunscrevemos as noções aqui consideradas de narrativa, não-narrativa, representação não-ficcional, estratégias imersivas, bem como os tratamentos e cuidados necessários a um conteúdo mediado no ecossistema digital. Na componente empírica, observamos o corpus de investigação, nomeadamente o panorama geral dos webdocumentários e das obras de jornalismo multimédia, para depois mergulharmos em cada um desses objetos por meio de dois estudos de caso múltiplos. Tanto no estudo de caso múltiplo do web-documentário, quanto no do jornalismo multimédia, as diversas características discutidas ao longo do trabalho foram concretamente estudadas, nas quais identificamos aspetos distintivos da ordem da arquitetura da informação, do design do conteúdo, do uso da polifonia e das bases de dados – com particular destaque no tratamento visual e interativo desses dados no jornalismo multimédia – da coautoria e da audiência participativa, bem como da criação de universos narrativos, nos quais se destacam estratégias imersivas de diversas ordens. Como conclusão, elencamos uma série de boas práticas na produção e configuração de um web-documentário, para a qual exercitamos tais diretrizes em um web-doc hipotético sobre dação de sangue. Nove boas práticas destacam-se como considerações importantes na representação de conteúdos não-ficcionais complexos no ciberespaço: orientar a cocriação com os sujeitos retratados, abraçar a multidisciplinaridade desde o início do projeto, incorporar metodologias de design, modularizar o conteúdo para estruturá-lo, compreender o discurso a que o próprio conteúdo orienta, aproveitar recursos de bancos de dados e de visualização de dados, utilizar a polifonia através da interatividade, criar um universo em torno do conteúdo e permitir que a audiência contribua e partilhe o material.
- 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.
- 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.