Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This thesis explores the relationship between humans and non-humans within a sea turtle conservation organization in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. Through eleven weeks of in-depth visual ethnographic...Show moreThis thesis explores the relationship between humans and non-humans within a sea turtle conservation organization in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. Through eleven weeks of in-depth visual ethnographic fieldwork, I investigate the influence these human/non-human relationships have on scientific knowledge production. The output of this research consists of an ethnographic film ‘The Turtle Team’ and this article. This research underscores the necessity of adopting transdisciplinary methodologies in which non-humans are integrated, which is crucial in the era of the Anthropocene. It provides a nuanced understanding of how human/non-human relationships shape the production of scientific knowledge in this team of conservationists and emphasizes the interwovenness of humans and non-humans. This research contributes to the existing literature on the Anthropocene and the nature-culture debate and I argue that the interwovenness of humans and non-humans should be discussed more within scientific research, especially in conservation biology.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
“Trash Waves” is an article and short ethnographic documentary based on a research project conducted in Bali, Indonesia, that addresses the prominent plastic pollution problem that the island has...Show more“Trash Waves” is an article and short ethnographic documentary based on a research project conducted in Bali, Indonesia, that addresses the prominent plastic pollution problem that the island has been coping with for the last decades. In 2010 Indonesia was the world's second largest contributor of plastic pollution to the ocean, which in Bali is a result of illegal waste dumping and lack of proper waste management, consequently creating a flow of plastic waste from land into the ocean. My aim is to address this problem from a local perspective, specifically through the eyes of the local surf community in Bali, a community who spend a lot of their time in the ocean and who throughout history and literature have been presumed to be caretakers of nature that are inclined to take environmental action. Through extensive participant observation, maintaining a close relationship to and conducting interviews with a wide range of interlocutors, my documentary film captures the local experience of how plastic pollution is woven into society, and the local Balinese attitudes towards the future of plastic pollution. With local, NGO-driven initiatives, such as volunteer-based clean-ups, being one of the sole counter actions towards the pressing plastic pollution problem, the article delves deeper into the motivation behind environmental action, as the strong surf mentality and this community’s value of nature is not proportionally reflected in this collective action in Bali. I argue that the lack of resources to deal with plastic pollution on a macro level: lack of proper waste management and government involvement, and microlevel: not having affordable alternatives for personal use, that reflect forced development and colonial structures, is the driving force for environmental inaction.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This research is the result collaborative multimodal ethnography project conducted in early 2024 on the island of Parem, in the Chuuk Lagoon. The project explored the relationship between chon...Show moreThis research is the result collaborative multimodal ethnography project conducted in early 2024 on the island of Parem, in the Chuuk Lagoon. The project explored the relationship between chon Chuuk and their land through film, photography, drawings, and storytelling. The study revealed that islanders consistently aimed to engage with the chon Chuuk diaspora abroad while reflecting on their relationship with their land during emigration. This research has two primary objectives. First, it advocates for the integration of collaborative multimodal outputs in ethnographic research. Secondly, it suggests that to understand chon Chuuk relationship to their land it is necessary to look at it as dynamic, and relational, produced by the interaction between broader political structures and internal social ties, particularly kinship relationship. The project produced both physical and digital works to connect with Chon Chuuk families on the islands and overseas. This book features photographs, drawings, and brief texts co-produced by the author and the family of the village of Epinun. Additionally, a short fictional film, co-written with islander Deejay Welle, portrays the memories of a young boy leaving the island. These outputs serve as transnational objects and artifacts, bridging the geographical and emotional gaps between those who have left and those who remain. A reflective article combines a discussion of relevant literature on place, emigration, and transnationalism to analyze the process, result, and diffusion of the multimodal output.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This article traces the connections between failure and masculinity at Dean Lane skatepark. My research is based on 10-weeks of ethnographic research at a skatepark in Bristol, U.K., where I used...Show moreThis article traces the connections between failure and masculinity at Dean Lane skatepark. My research is based on 10-weeks of ethnographic research at a skatepark in Bristol, U.K., where I used audiovisual means and sensory participant observation to produce an ethnographic film, a scrapbook, and a textual thesis. In this thesis, I explore how skaters would narrate experiences of failure and negotiate their masculinity within these stories. I build on Geckle & Shaw (2020) study on queer failure, by using the concept of ‘sticky’ masculinity to show how stories of failure often celebrate masculine values of hardness and bodily sacrifice. Moreover, I draw connections between ‘sticky’ masculinity and the neoliberal idea of the self-made man to argue that the celebration of failure can take place through meritocratic ways of thinking. Finally, the interviews highlight what is expected of skaters within the environment, what cultural norms become the ‘stickiest’ and how they relate to larger structures.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
Based on ten weeks of ethnographic fieldwork, I have conducted participation observation to understand how the rollerblading crew Careen from New York City navigate public space, to understand how...Show moreBased on ten weeks of ethnographic fieldwork, I have conducted participation observation to understand how the rollerblading crew Careen from New York City navigate public space, to understand how their participation in this group and sport builds a sense of community. I have always been fascinated with rollerblading and noticed a gap on this sport in the social sciences on how these participants engage in public spaces. Public spaces are everyday spaces like plazas, streets, sidewalks, and parks that provide opportunities for socialization and leisure activities. During my research, I lived with my interlocutors, went on skate sessions in the city and watched them make a seasonal skate video. As for my methodologies, I conducted participation observation, semi-structured interviews, informal conversation, filming, mapping, and photography. In this thesis, I argue that Careen’s embodied practices in rollerblading is a form of resistance to neoliberal spaces. I explore how Careen’s engagement in public spaces through rollerblading and filming shapes an inclusive rollerblading crew by understanding how they reappropriate and share public space and their creative direction in making skate videos. This thesis will discuss the theoretical concepts: skilled vision, place-attachment, and community, how I used my methodologies, and my findings.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This thesis shows that ongoing processes of overdevelopment and gentrification on the Outer Banks lead to both direct and indirect displacement, fundamentally altering the sense of place among long...Show moreThis thesis shows that ongoing processes of overdevelopment and gentrification on the Outer Banks lead to both direct and indirect displacement, fundamentally altering the sense of place among long-term residents. Direct displacement is understood as the physical relocation of individuals or communities due to rising housing costs and development pressures. On a more subtle level, indirect displacement is manifested in significant alterations to the natural, built, and cultural landscapes. Thus, while many residents can continue to afford living in their homes, their surroundings quickly become unrecognizable. Authors observe that such landscape changes, resulting from overdevelopment and gentrification, may lead residents to experience a ‘loss of place’. The research set out to explore this phenomena: do long-term residents, or “natives”, experience a loss of place, or ‘placelessness’, amidst ongoing development pressures and changing social structures? If so, how? Additionally, how do residents maintain their sense of place in the face of such displacement? The findings imply that those residents who manage to stay in place, despite rising costs, experience profound changes to their sense of place. However, residents also employ resilient practices in order to maintain their sense of place and retain a deep love of place amidst these rapid changes to their community, culture, and natural environment. The current written article is complemented by a 30-minute ethnographic film highlighting the complexities of place change and displacement for long-term residents of the Outer Banks.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
An anthropological research into the human-to-car relationship, specifically considering those who acknowledge themselves as “car enthusiastic” beyond its functions of mobility, based in and around...Show moreAn anthropological research into the human-to-car relationship, specifically considering those who acknowledge themselves as “car enthusiastic” beyond its functions of mobility, based in and around Stuttgart, Germany. The capital of Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart is the birthplace of the internal combustion engine [ICE] automobile as we recognise it today. Revolutionary at its point in time, the ubiquity of the ICE automobile in modern society is now one of the world’s leading causes of pollution. As the EU pushes the industry to move away from the familiar, this research zooms into those whose object of passion is being forced to transform. Four months of multi-sited fieldwork, engaging predominantly with methods of photography during drive-along interviews and participant observation, gave rise to a discussion of the human-car relationship through the prevalent conceptual lenses of ‘value’ and ‘play’. A photobook, as the multimodal counterpart of this ethnographic project, elaborates on the diversity and ambiguity of the human-car experience. Drawing on an implicit argument that newer technologies do not immediately make older ones redundant, the book format invites the reader to reflect on their own relationship with the (ICE) automobile through a compilation of photos from the field placed in montage, alongside anecdotes and questions.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Birthday cafés in Seoul consist of a multi-layered circulation of goods that is mediated through a fascinating type of gift economy in which there are varying types of distributer-recipient...Show moreBirthday cafés in Seoul consist of a multi-layered circulation of goods that is mediated through a fascinating type of gift economy in which there are varying types of distributer-recipient relations. Within these economies I focus on value in the sociological sense and value in the economic sense, as I explore to what extent the sociological understanding of value informs the economic sense of value and vice versa. Furthermore, I discuss the prominent role that the value of creativity plays and how this interacts with both the sociological understanding of value as well as the economic one. With this focus, I aim to tease out the tangled network of values that make up the economy of a birthday café in Seoul.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
The displacement of the Betawi after Indonesia’s independence is an example of how processes of evictions in urban cities led to the essentialization of the indigenous culture and a loss of...Show moreThe displacement of the Betawi after Indonesia’s independence is an example of how processes of evictions in urban cities led to the essentialization of the indigenous culture and a loss of heritage. Urban displacement of Indigenous peoples can cause spatial dispersion, which can break their community’s cohesion apart, which in turn can result in a loss of knowledge and identity, together with the possibility of the emergence of smaller local communities. This ethnographic research raises questions concerning the perseverance of the Betawi within Jakarta after their evictions and uses a multimodal approach to explore how they adapt to their new environments, if they experience a sense of displacement, and how they express their heritage. This written text and documentary film are in dialogue with each other. Where the film shows how the Betawi express and perform their cultural heritage, the written text describes the attributes of the moment they express their cultural heritage. Together, they argue that urban displacement negatively impacts the identity of the Betawi since they lost their collective legitimacy for a common identity. The story of the Betawi foregrounds the broader issues of displacement, community, and culture in a postcolonial and urbanized country.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
"Ad Fundum" is a research project that embarks on a conceptual journey through the world of winemaking, focusing on the affective and intrinsic values of winemakers and their relationship to...Show more"Ad Fundum" is a research project that embarks on a conceptual journey through the world of winemaking, focusing on the affective and intrinsic values of winemakers and their relationship to embodied resilience. This multimodal research, consisting of both a written article and a documentary film, aims to illuminate how winemakers navigate the challenges of an increasingly technocratic craft amidst the uncertain turbulence of climate change while maintaining a deep sense of care for their craft and the environment.The study explores how winemakers embody resilience in their daily practices, adapting to changing environmental conditions and regulatory frameworks while maintaining a deep sense of care for their craft. These vignettes, informed by participant observation and interviews, provide rich insights into the emotional depth of winemaking and the ways in which winemakers forge connections with their surroundings and communities. Complementing the written analysis, the documentary film "Ad Fundum" offers a sensory exploration of the themes discussed in the thesis. The film captures the case of Maria Pia Castelli Winery, a Family owned winery based in the Marche region, Italy and allows viewers, through a combination of visual, audio and ethnographic methods, to experience firsthand the embodied resilience of winemakers and the importance of care in their craft. "Ad Fundum" contributes to our understanding of winemaking as a deeply human endeavor, driven by care, resilience, and a commitment to sharing. By combining conceptual analysis with firsthand accounts and visual storytelling, the two outputs offer a unique perspective on the affective dimensions of winemaking, enriching our appreciation of this ancient craft in the face of contemporary challenges.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
In the context of the climate and economic crises, calls for the decarbonisation of human activities are ever more present. However, if climate adaptation and mitigation strategies do not consider...Show moreIn the context of the climate and economic crises, calls for the decarbonisation of human activities are ever more present. However, if climate adaptation and mitigation strategies do not consider existing and persisting inequalities, they may aggravate them. This is particularly true of renewable energy projects concerning First Peoples in Canada who are engaged in processes of cultural, linguistic, territorial, and identity reappropriation, affirmation, and self-determination. This research sought to explore through multimodal ethnographic means the lived realities and perspectives of Innus living in Sept-Îles and Uashat Mak Mani Utenam on Quebec’s North Shore as I aimed to understand the extent to which partnerships between Innu First Nation communities and non-Indigenous industrial developers for sustainability projects uphold environmental justice and a decolonisation of climate action. This research provides insights about the decolonisation of climate action research and the socio-cultural challenges of the Anthropocene. It also engages a critical reflection on the complexity of enacting a decolonial approach as a non-Indigenous researcher with a limited timeframe for collaboration. Through a systemic and intersectional lens provided by the concept of environmental justice, we understand how industrial renewable energy partnerships with Innu communities, tainted by corruption, economically benefit a minority of actors and do not address the socio-cultural needs of Innus living in their community or in the off-reserve urban milieu. In turn, small and local entrepreneurial partnerships could have positive social impact and foster the sharing of Indigenous and non-Indigenous expertise, practices and values. Additionally, it is apparent that the Nutshimit is a place and space for Innus to find a sense of belonging by following their ancestors’ paths inland, undergo a healing process from multigenerational traumas from colonial assimilation, and engage in a reappropriation and affirmation of Innu culture (aitun) and language (aimun).Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
Against a backdrop of complex dynamics of deterioration in compliance with children's rights, a broken youth care system, and the increasing need for youth care in the Netherlands, this research...Show moreAgainst a backdrop of complex dynamics of deterioration in compliance with children's rights, a broken youth care system, and the increasing need for youth care in the Netherlands, this research examines how young people’s voices are hindered in Dutch youth care. It draws on insights obtained through participant observation, interviews, filmmaking, and a survey among both youth care professionals in North Holland and young people throughout the Netherlands. The resulting film and article argue that youth care allows considerable room for ambiguity, which produces significant inequality for young people. Youth care policy and practice, shaped by paternalistic values and discursive notions of youth and care, are maintained by disavowal that works through invisibility. The disavowal involves turning a blind eye to children's voices and, hence, children’s rights, leaving 'the best interests of the child' being held captive by the interests of the state. It suggests that correcting power by foregrounding young people's autonomy and complying with children’s rights, hence recognising young people as autonomous human beings, is the starting point for rethinking and rebuilding humane Dutch youth care.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Ecofeminist debate around ‘women as closer to nature’ centers the intersection between gender and climate. This assumption is put as unreliable, however ethnographic findings reveal that women of...Show moreEcofeminist debate around ‘women as closer to nature’ centers the intersection between gender and climate. This assumption is put as unreliable, however ethnographic findings reveal that women of the Greek island Corfu redefine ‘closeness to nature’ through the practice of herbalism. This study shows a nuanced depiction of the relationship between women and the natural environment, by revaluating notions of care and labor. Through ethnographic methods based on participant observation, in-depth interviews and filming, data is obtained. The data shows that the women of Corfu use herbalism as a means to be independent from their demanding role as caregivers; traditional knowledge is based on connections with past generations that refer to survival skills; herbalism teaches how mainstream society can live more sustainable. Concluding, herbalism is more than a practice. In the context of Corfu, herbalism critiques capitalist economies and creates a sustainable relationship with the natural environment. Through redefining labor and performing care as herbalist practice, lived experiences refine discussions on ‘women as closer to nature’.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Academic freedom is a core value of Western higher education, with freedom of speech and research being its main pillars. When it comes to Palestinian rights, however, these principles are often...Show moreAcademic freedom is a core value of Western higher education, with freedom of speech and research being its main pillars. When it comes to Palestinian rights, however, these principles are often applied selectively or fail to materialize at all. By conducting qualitative ethnographic research on and in collaboration with Palestinian advocacy groups in the Netherlands, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of how and why anti-Zionist dissent is often silenced in the context of Dutch academia. This multimodal research focuses on one particular event of academic censorship that resulted in the cancelation of a panel discussion organized by “Students for Palestine” (SfP). The visual output shows my main interlocutors gradually reconstructing what happened through a decolonial lens; they bear upon colonial and orientalist practices in order to deconstruct this specific incident. I then elaborate on these practices in this article, in order to provide a deeper understanding of what laid the foundation of this censorship case. I do this by looking at the impact that orientalist and neoliberalist practices have on the institutional censorship of Palestine. The written output also more accurately discusses the aftermath of this event, that is the way the student group resisted this discrimination case by means of an academic boycott. Moreover, both the visual and text portions of this thesis offer a thorough analysis of what it means for minoritized and racialized voices to be silenced and delegitimized, and how censoring attempts affect Palestinian identity. Finally, the article provides a reflexive analysis that is meant to gauge the extent to which internalized sentiments of fear and paranoia within the movement at large influenced my own ability to gain access and trust throughout the realization of this study.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
The global climate crisis shows the need to take measures to reduce our emissions. With agriculture taking up more than half of the land in The Netherlands, policies to achieve this primarily focus...Show moreThe global climate crisis shows the need to take measures to reduce our emissions. With agriculture taking up more than half of the land in The Netherlands, policies to achieve this primarily focus on the agrarian sector. Consequently, the uncertainty for farmers’ future practices led to big national farmers’ protests, followed by a national win for the farmers’ party on a provincial level. With farming deeply rooted in culture and place, acknowledging the need to look at the social side of the issue is vital for establishing a sustainable agricultural system. This research uses visual ethnography’s strengths, giving insight into a sustainable practice in the Anthropocene and providing a new view of human-environment relationships. It does so by looking at a Dutch agroforestry farmer who acknowledges an inherent connection between humans and non-humans within his practices. Moreover, the motivation for his practices lies in his ideologies, prioritising non-human nature over humanity. These perspectives can help us find a way to overcome the agrarian crisis in The Netherlands by producing an alternate view on human-environment relationships. It overall inspires us to think that when we care for the non-human, we will ultimately take care of ourselves.Show less
