Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This ethnographic research has been effectuated in cooperation with the Municipality of Leiden and the project of Dealbreakers, an organization focused on the prevention of youth involvement in...Show moreThis ethnographic research has been effectuated in cooperation with the Municipality of Leiden and the project of Dealbreakers, an organization focused on the prevention of youth involvement in drugs criminality. By exploring the boundaries of legal and illegal, this thesis illuminates the construction of different 'moralities' by professionals and youth in Leiden concerning the use and trade of (prescribed) substances. Which substance is accepted in society, and which is not, is not solely a product of law and policy, but must be positioned in their social aspect. In this analysis, the moralities on substances are embedded in contexts of pharmaceuticalization and enhancement, and are dominantly shaped by the 'separation of spheres'. For this latter, I discuss subjects as the public and private distinction, the categorization of medicine and drugs, the differentiation of health and pathology, visibility and agnotology, and others. By presenting the intersection of health, medicine, safety and criminality, I have aimed to contribute to the academic realm of anthropology, and the practical world of policy making.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)
open access
This research explores the complex interplay between heritage and religion within the Waldensian and Methodist heritage community in the Waldensian Valleys of Italy. By investigating heritage as a...Show moreThis research explores the complex interplay between heritage and religion within the Waldensian and Methodist heritage community in the Waldensian Valleys of Italy. By investigating heritage as a cultural process and employing scale-making as a tool for understanding localized identities, the study examines how different scales of heritage—local, national, and transnational—are produced, authorized, and contested. Furthermore, this research offers an interesting viewpoint into the secular and sacred dimensions of heritage, analyzing how religious practices and memories are sacralized and secularized through heritagization processesShow less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
In recent years, considerable research and public discourse have focused on the rapid increase in ethnic and religious diversity within public spaces. This master thesis aims to fill this gap by...Show moreIn recent years, considerable research and public discourse have focused on the rapid increase in ethnic and religious diversity within public spaces. This master thesis aims to fill this gap by exploring how diversity is experienced through bodily encounters and Othering. In European contexts, the Muslim body often becomes a focal point of politics or public debates or media, portrayed as the quintessential 'Other'. Through an ethnographic study, this research seeks to uncover how Muslims sensorially, physically, and emotionally navigate and respond to the Othering in everyday spaces. It addresses two key questions: how do Muslims experience being Othered? and how do they react to this experience with their own agency? By examining these questions, the study aims to deepen understanding of the intersection of religion, race, culture, public life, and expression through body. By focusing on the lived experiences of Muslims and the dynamics of Othering in public spaces, this research illuminates the complex relationship between bodies and society, agency and belonging, offering insights into the Muslim experience in the Netherlands.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
This thesis is about how a cohousing community in Canada perceives and maintains wilderness in and around its property, and what kind of tensions that causes in the community’s choices for the...Show moreThis thesis is about how a cohousing community in Canada perceives and maintains wilderness in and around its property, and what kind of tensions that causes in the community’s choices for the infrastructure of their property. In order to represent this, I argue that abstract animation can be used as a way of visualizing and evoking reflection on complex issues and feelings in this community relating to wilderness and the human role in wilderness, while also taking the subjectivity of the documentary maker into consideration. Ethnographic animation can expand on the more conventional visual methods.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
In the past 34 years since independence, Namibia has undergone a process of reconciling the many different people within its borders due to its history of colonialism, genocide and apartheid....Show moreIn the past 34 years since independence, Namibia has undergone a process of reconciling the many different people within its borders due to its history of colonialism, genocide and apartheid. Redistributing land from white owners to previously disadvantaged groups is part of this process. This research is a case study of Krumhuk farm, a commercial farm which is no longer owned by a single family but by a non-profit Section-21 company. Through multimodal methods, I have researched the inhabitants’ sense of belonging to the land and community. As a result, I argue that taking land ownership as the benchmark for reconciliation does not suffice because (1) it remains within the colonial legacy that dictates that land can be owned and (2) it does not always address what people underlyingly long for; a place to belong. Because, as seen at Krumhuk which restructured their legal ownership, people’s sense of belonging to the community and the land can be obstructed by (a) alienation through the underlying anthroposophical philosophy, (b) a disbalance in interdependencies and (c) remaining insecurity concerning future displacement. The research’s relevance is bestowed by its outcome on these factors which can hinder reconciliation.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
This study explores the home-making practices of Iranian immigrants in the Netherlands, focusing on how they navigate cultural identity and adaptation in a new environment. The research is rooted...Show moreThis study explores the home-making practices of Iranian immigrants in the Netherlands, focusing on how they navigate cultural identity and adaptation in a new environment. The research is rooted in the interdisciplinary fields of anthropology and linguistics, particularly as they intersect in the experiences of diaspora communities. Following the political turmoil in Iran, exemplified by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini and the resulting widespread unrest, many Iranians, including the researcher, faced significant disruptions in their lives and academic pursuits. This upheaval led to a shift in the research focus, from studying language and culture in rural Iran to investigating the lived experiences of Iranian immigrants in the Netherlands. The study examines how Iranian immigrants integrate their cultural heritage into their daily lives, particularly through language, culinary practices, parenting, and home environments. It also considers the broader political and religious contexts that influence these practices, highlighting the complex process of identity formation in a transnational context. By analyzing the home-making practices of Iranian immigrants, the research aims to contribute to the understanding of immigration, diaspora studies, and the dynamics of cultural continuity and adaptation. Through ethnographic methods, including participant observation, interviews, and digital ethnography, the study captures the intricate ways in which Iranian immigrants recreate a sense of home in the Netherlands. The findings reveal how these immigrants balance their Iranian roots with the demands of Dutch society, forming hybrid identities that reflect both their cultural heritage and their new environment. The research also addresses the challenges faced by Iranian immigrants, including the impact of political events in Iran on their lives and their integration into Dutch society. Ultimately, this study provides insights into the experiences of Iranian immigrants in the Netherlands, offering a nuanced understanding of how they navigate cultural identity, home-making, and adaptation in a foreign land. It contributes to broader discussions on the role of cultural practices in shaping immigrant identities and the importance of understanding the historical and political contexts that influence diaspora communities.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
