Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This research explores the embodied and enskilled experience of cold water swimming, utilizing methods such as 'swim-along' interviews, participant observation, and task groups. While initial aims...Show moreThis research explores the embodied and enskilled experience of cold water swimming, utilizing methods such as 'swim-along' interviews, participant observation, and task groups. While initial aims to compare gender differences were limited by participant demographics, findings reveal that the embodiment of cold water swimming is deeply connected to the natural environment and offers significant physical and mental health benefits. Additionally, it examines the concept of community within cold water swimming groups in the UK and the Netherlands. These communities are characterized by shared experiences, support, and non-judgmental attitudes, fostering strong bonds among participants. Within these groups, the research aimed to delve into the gender composition and group interaction. It additionally considered how cold water swimming integrates into participants’ lifestyles, noting the positive impacts on personhood and lifestyle development. Overall, the study provides an extensive portrayal of cold water swimming.Show less
The Late Mesolithic period is rich in human burials with unmodified and modified animal remains and animal burials. In contrast, the Early and Middle Neolithic period is less studied. The focus of...Show moreThe Late Mesolithic period is rich in human burials with unmodified and modified animal remains and animal burials. In contrast, the Early and Middle Neolithic period is less studied. The focus of this research is on the different relationships humans have with animals at the Late Mesolithic period throughout the Early and Middle Neolithic in South Scandinavia and the Netherlands. The relevance of this study is to understand the human-animal relationship before and after the introduction of the domestic animal: pigs, cattle and sheep. The research approach was to focus on animal and human mortuary practices using ideas from the personhood approach with a deposition typology. The deposition typology helps to divide all the animal remains in groups with similar characteristics. This method allows the exploration of different attitudes humans had towards animals. The results of this research indicate that animals played an important role in the mortuary practices as animals are present in all contexts. However, these practices change from Late Mesolithic to the Early and Middle Neolithic period as there was a decrease of animal remains in mortuary practices in South Scandinavia and an increase in the Netherlands. This dissertation illustrates the lack of studies there is about animal deposition and the need for further research on this topic.Show less
This scientific work is an attempt to re-evaluate Western notions of possession by embedding the debate into an ontological framework which takes into account the existence of multiple ontological...Show moreThis scientific work is an attempt to re-evaluate Western notions of possession by embedding the debate into an ontological framework which takes into account the existence of multiple ontological worlds. By analysing Western linguistic expressions of possession and contrasting them with possessive relationships from native Amazonian languages, presented data will not only promote the acknowledgement of foreign modes of thinking and challenge what is often seen as ‘natural’ or ‘inherent’, but also substantiate the concrete effect of ontological differences on linguistic possessive constructions. To this effect, this thesis will offer readers a foundational definition of conceptual possession which should enable them to get a clearer view of possessive relationships and their interplay between people, animals and other non-human entities.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
In a world of aging, dementia becomes a more and more common disease. Step by step, this disease unravels someone's personality, with consequences for his/her personhood. By following four guests...Show moreIn a world of aging, dementia becomes a more and more common disease. Step by step, this disease unravels someone's personality, with consequences for his/her personhood. By following four guests of the caring home the Herbergier in Arnhem, we will discover the many effects this has on the person him/herself and his/her social environment.Show less
