Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Subcultures'

West Germany's political culture has been intensively studied during the existence of the Federal Republic of Germany. However, most studies explore The West German Political Culture as a whole. They do not take into account that Germany is a country which consists of different regions with their own history and tradition. This paper is essentially an effort to rectify this situation by attempting to determine if there are any distinguishable political subcultures in Germany. The assumption is, that historical, phenomena are important in explaining the present political culture of West Germany. In order to determine whether the historical development of West German political culture led to different present political subcultures two approaches were used. First, a qualitative approach; that is a socio-historical library-based analysis, was used. From this analysis propositions for the present West German political subcultures were derived. They were tested with an empirical analysis of survey data from a 1975 sample of West Germans. Suggestions based on the socio-historical analysis accounting for differences in contemporary political culture only partly hold true in the empirical analysis. This paper is a preliminary examination of West German political subcultures offering suggestions and direction for future research.
Master of Arts

Background: The ethnic subcultural consumer is a valuable segment in the multicultural societies of today, which has received little attention from both marketers and researchers. One of the most multicultural cities in Sweden is Malmoe, with 38% of its habitants having a foreign background. For IKEA Malmoe this segment has long been of interest, but have found it hard to increase their diversity among customers. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to help IKEA Malmoe get a greater understanding of the ethnic subcultural consumption behaviour, to attract a higher cultural diversity among customers. This research paper will explore why IKEA Malmoe is not reaching a greater cultural diversity of customers today, and offer insights to how they could work, through their local marketing, to attract this segment. Delimitation: This study will be delimited to the subject of ethnic subcultural consumption behaviour in the area of retail marketing. The research will focus on general consumption behaviour; how consumption is influenced by culture; both the originating culture and the hosting culture; and for the empirical investigation, how ethnic consumption is related to IKEA. Method: The research is a qualitative study with an deductive stance, based on the semi- structured interviews of 14 respondents from eight different subcultures of Malmoe. Result/ Conclusion: The findings of this research showed that it is essential not to see the ethnic subcultural consumer as one homogenous segment, as aspects such as acculturation, age, income and lifestyle were shown to have greater impact on consumption behaviour than national culture. Proposed continued studies: To more thoroughly research the affect of acculturation and national culture as an aspect to ethnic subcultural behaviour, using a homogenous group of respondents

This study seeks to understand what kink is, exploring this question using narratives and experiences of gay and bisexual men who engage in kink in the UK. In doing so, contemporary understandings of the gay kinky subcultures in the UK are provided. It discusses the role of the internet for these subcultures, highlighting the use of socio-sexual networking sites. It also recognises the existence of kink dabblers who engage in kink activities, but do not immerse themselves in kink communities. A qualitative analysis is used consisting of semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 individuals who identify as part of a kink subculture and 15 individuals who do not. Participants were recruited through a mixture of kinky and non-kinky socio-sexual networking sites across the UK. Complimenting this, the author attended kink events throughout the UK and conducted participant observations. The study draws on subcultural theory, the leisure perspective and social constructionism to conceptualise how kink is practiced and understood by the participants. It is one of the first to address the gap in the knowledge of individuals who practice kink activities but who do so as a form of casual leisure, akin to other hobbies, as well as giving due attention to the increasing presence and importance of socio-sexual networking sites and the Internet more broadly for kink subcultures. Community and non-community members were shown to possess similarities as well as distinct differences. The Internet was shown to play a significant role in all participants’ kink narratives. The research calls for further explorations of different aspects of the UK kink subculture which recognises the important role of the Internet for kink practitioners in shaping both the offline and online kink communities. The study also calls for research related to kink practitioners who are not embedded within subcultural kink communities.

First created in 1974, the largest table-top role-playing game (RPG) Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) started out as a war game where multiple players could join in and fight monsters. Grounded in fantasy conventions and as a way to explore fantasy genres, Dungeons & Dragons popularity continued through new editions and add-ons. In addition, Dungeons & Dragons legacy has lived on in the gaming world as the father of most RPGs and fantasy games with a large fan following across various editions and over multiple decades. The fan following is still evident today due to D&D's foundations in high fantasy. An exploration of the ways in which fantasy narrative plays a role in the fan culture of D&D is necessary to understand how the aspects of fantasy affect gameplay and how players view D&D. By conducting a study of Dungeons & Dragons players which focused on close game play, players' relationships to other fantasy genres, and how players interacted with game conventions, I explored the ways in which Dungeons & Dragons introduced players to fantasy and how they participated in a fandom. This paper will present the findings of the study as well as situate Dungeons & Dragons in relationship to other fantasy and gaming subcultures.

This thesis details the production process of a video documentary that describes the coming out processes of gay men who identify with the Bear subculture of the gay community and some of the conflicts and consequences that they face due to this action. The aim of this production was to portray with dignity and compassion the recorded feelings and personal histories of the subjects interviewed. Chapters are devoted to the development, pre-production, production and post-production phased of this documentary. A detailed script, transcripts, shot list, and other examples and illustrations are included to give a better understanding of the entire production. This thesis also includes other necessary documentation such as a detailed budget and copies of performance releas

This dissertation uses social movement theory to analyze the emergence, activities and development of subcultures and small groups. The manuscript is comprised of an Introduction followed by three journal articles and one book chapter.  The introduction discusses: 1) the concept of theoretical extension whereby a theory developed for one purpose is adapted to another; 2) it identifies the social movement theories used to analyze subcultures and small groups; 3) it describes the data used in the analyses included here. The data for this work derives from two distinct research projects conducted by the author between 2002 and 2012 and relies on multiple sources of qualitative data. Data collection techniques used include fieldwork, archival research, and secondary data. Paper I uses resource mobilization (RM) theory to analyze the origin, development, and function of White Power music in relation to the broader White Power Movement (WPM). The research identifies three roles played by White Power music: (1) recruit new adherents, (2) frame issues and ideology for the construction of collective identity, (3) obtain financial resources. Paper II gives an overview of the subculture of Freestyle BMX, discussing its origins and developments—both internationally as a wider subcultural phenomenon, and locally, through a three-year ethnographic case study of a subcultural BMX scene known as “Pro Town USA.” Paper III conceptualizes BMX as a social movement using RM theory to identify and explain three different forms of commercialization within this lifestyle sport in “Pro Town.” The work sheds light on the complex process of commercialization within lifestyle sports by identifying three distinct forms of commercialization: paraphernalia, movement, and mass market, and analyses different impacts that each had on the on the development of the local scene.  Findings reveal that lifestyle-sport insiders actively collaborate in each form of commercialization, especially movement commercialization which has the potential to build alternative lifestyle-sport institutions and resist adverse commercial influences. Paper IV refines the small group theory of collaborative circles by: (1) further clarifying its concepts and relationships, (2) integrating the concepts of flow and idioculture, and (3) introducing a more nuanced concept of resources from RM. The paper concludes by demonstrating that circle development was aided by specific locational, human, moral, and material resources as well as by complementary social-psychological characteristics of its members.

This thesis argues that in North America since the late 1980s, young women's interest in feminism has been expressed through participation in feminist music subcultures. The project provides an overview of the studies of culture, musical subculture, and gender and music making, as well as an historical context of feminism and a discussion of the relationship between second and third wave feminism.
The first case study explores Riot Grrrl's roots in the DIY activism of DC hardcore punk, its links to the female-oriented indie music scene of Olympia, Washington, and the subculture's use of alternative media. The second study examines efforts to integrate queer politics into third wave feminism through lesbian punk rock music subculture. The final study of electronic feminist punk rock examines how young feminists use alternative media such as zines, internet message boards, web sites, music making, and performance to educate young women about sexual abuse and homophobia.
Analysis of the Riot Grrrl, lesbian punk rock, and electronic feminist punk rock subcultures demonstrates how young women claim spaces for their own feminist politics, even if they have gone relatively undetected by the mainstream culture.

This thesis focuses on the relationship between young people who affiliate with alternative subcultures and self-harm and/or suicide. Alternative subcultures can be described as groups that are distinct from 'mainstream' cultures. Affiliation with such groups can be broadly defined as having a strong collective identity to a group with specific values and tastes, typically centred around music preference, clothing, hairstyles, make-up, tattoos and piercings (Greater Manchester Police; GMP, 2013; Moore, 2005). Some alternative subcultures have also been associated with 'dark, sinister and morbid' themes, such as Goths, Emos, and Metallers (Young, Sproeber, Groschwitz, Preiss, & Plener, 2014). Self-harm can be defined as the deliberate act of harming oneself, with or without suicidal intent. This commonly involves cutting and self-poisoning (NICE, 2013). Other behaviours that can be described using this term include non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI; the intentional destruction of body tissue without suicidal intent) and suicidal behaviours such as suicidal ideation and attempts (self-harm with some intent to die; Klonsky & Muehlenkamp, 2007; Nock, Borges, Bromet, Cha, Kessler, & Lee, 2008). Some would argue that NSSI is distinct from self-harm, and as such it features as a disorder in the DSM-V as Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Disorder (NSSID; APA, 2013), however there remains some controversy over the latter (Kapur, Cooper, O'Connor, & Hawton, 2013). The associations between alternative subgroup affiliation and self-harm and/or suicide were explored through a systematic review and empirical research study using quantitative methodology. It is well documented in the literature that the prevalence of self-harm and suicide is particularly high in adolescents and young adults, with suicide being one of the leading causes of death in this population (Hawton, Saunders, & O'Connor, 2012; WHO, 2014). Self-harm has become a clinical and public health concern with up to 30,000 adolescents receiving hospital treatment each year (Hawton, Rodham, & Evans, 2006) and prevalence rates rising to between 7-14% for young people in the UK (Hawton & James, 2005; Skegg, 2005; Swannell, Martin, Page, Hasking, & St John, 2014). Minority groups are another population who appear to have elevated rates of self-harm, including Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT; Jackman, Honig, & Bockting, 2016), ethnic minorities (Bhui, McKnezie, & Rasul, 2007) and alternative subcultures (Young et al., 2014). However, there is a paucity of research into the latter population. This presented a gap to conduct a systematic review of the available literature in an attempt to understand the association between alternative subculture affiliation and self-harm and suicide. Chapter 1 describes the systematic process taken in an attempt to understand the links between alternative subculture affiliation and both self-harm and suicide. Ten studies were included which focused on self-harm and/or suicide and alternative identity through subculture affiliation (e.g. Goth) or music preference (e.g. Heavy Metal). The results indicated that there is an association between alternative subculture affiliation and self-harm and suicide, though the lack of research in the area and methodological limitations impact on the extent to which the underlying mechanisms can be understood. Leading on from the systematic review, Chapter 2 presents the empirical study which investigated the factors that might contribute to the increased risk of NSSI in alternative subcultures, specifically focusing on variables that have been found to be linked to NSSI in young people; emotion dysregulation, depression, identity confusion and exposure to self-harm. The aim of this study was to increase our understanding of the mechanisms involved that might explain this increased risk of NSSI. Alternative subcultures were found to be at a greater risk of NSSI in comparison to affiliations with other subcultures, though this association lessened when the other variables were accounted for. A key predictor of NSSI in this population was emotion dysregulation. The findings highlight the importance of raising awareness of the potential risk of self-harm/suicide in alternative subcultures in order to create a greater understanding and direct resources appropriately.

This thesis examines the musical cultures associated with extreme-right politics, considering not only what this music projects about extreme-right ideology, but also the various ways in which music functions as part of a political subculture. This analysis extends beyond the stereotypical extreme-right music associated with the skinhead subculture, often referred to as Oi!, to incorporate extreme-right engagement with genres such as metal, folk, country and classical music. The chapters explore various aspects of identity—including race, sexuality, gender and class—and their significance to and reflection through extreme-right music, as manifested in genre choices, lyrics, album artwork and the features of the music itself. The thesis also considers the way in which less explicit content is produced and the motivation behind this, the importance of myth and fantasy in extreme-right music, and the way that the conspiracist mindset—which is prevalent, albeit not homogeneous, in extreme-right culture—is articulated both in extreme-right music and in the interpretation of mainstream music as antagonistic to extreme-right goals. Music is significant to extreme-right politics for a number of reasons. It is generally understood to be an effective tool in the indoctrination and recruitment of individuals into extreme-right ideology and politics, which is why music is sometimes freely distributed, particularly to youths. The very existence of this music can act to legitimise extreme-right views through the implication that they are shared by its producers and audience. Music also acts as an important tool for the imagining of an extreme-right community through its creation of a space to meet and create networks, a function consolidated by the media surrounding music, particularly websites, forums and magazines. As well as constructing the spaces for extreme-right communities, this music plays an important role in identifying the characteristics of those communities, in articulating what it is to be “us” as contrasted to “them.” Analysis of this music suggests that it has the ability to resolve the ideological contradictions which define the extreme right, even as this analysis reveals such contradictions.

La investigació ha posat de manifest que les iniciatives d'integració de treball i vida personal tenen efectes positius sobre la conciliació i sobre el benestar general dels empleats quan, a més del suport estructural, es tenen en compte altres variables. La cultura organitzacional ha estat identificada com un d'aquests factors clau per a la conciliació efectiva de treball i vida personal. Però per si sola aquesta variable cultural no dóna compte de la diversitat d'experiències de conciliació treball- vida a les organitzacions. Aquesta tesi parteix d'una constatació i d'una sospita: D'una banda, es basa en l'observació de l'existència de subgrups diferenciats dins d'una mateixa organització que poden adoptar posicions diferents pel que fa a determinats valors de la cultura general de l'organització. Per altra, s'inspira en la sospita que les subcultures organitzacionals són la dimensió oculta que permet explicar aquella multiplicitat d'experiències pel que fa a la conciliació. Se suposa que el nivell de suport a la integració de treball i vida personal varia entre subcultures, influint en la conciliació. Des d'un enfocament multinivell (organitzacional, interindividual i individual), s'ha estudiat el paper de les subcultures en la conciliació dels empleats de la seu central i de diverses delegacions d'una empresa espanyola del sector de les assegurances, que gestiona contingències d'accidents de treball i malalties professionals. Es van utilitzar diverses tècniques qualitatives de col · lecció de dades: recerca documental, grup de discussió (amb l'equip de recursos humans), 44 entrevistes semiestructurades en profunditat i observacions de camp. Els resultats mostren com els individus construeixen les seves experiències d'integració de vida laboral i personal dins de les subcultures i influenciats a més per factors contextuals macroeconòmics i legals. El model conceptual construït mitjançant la integració dels resultats posa de manifest que la subcultura organitzacional va tenir el major impacte en l'experiència de conciliació, en la consegüent gestió dels límits entre diferents facetes de la vida i en les estratègies d'afrontament utilitzades. Diversos nivells de context s'afegeixen a la complexitat dels fenòmens estudiats. El context nacional amb els seus supòsits bàsics, que abasten la ideologia del treball i la visió de gènere sobre la conciliació, van influir en les '"opcions" que tenien els empleats al voltant de la integració de la vida amb el treball. Així mateix, els contextos macro econòmics i jurídics i les característiques del treball van ser els factors contextuals que van orientar addicionalment les decisions dels individus. Els supervisors i companys de treball van tenir una influència directa en la integració de la vida laboral i personal, ja que van promoure els supòsits subculturals subjacents, influint en les estratègies dels individus mitjançant el nivell del suport mostrat i els permisos concedits. El nivell d'interdependència laboral i la possibilitat de coincidir durant les hores de treball van facilitar també les conductes de suport i les seves contràries exhibides pels supervisors i col · legues, posant en evidència la importància de les variables professionals i contextuals en l'estudi de la conciliació. Finalment, les persones van descriure la seva integració de treball- vida en funció de diversos nivells de context. D’aquesta manera, l'estudi de les subcultures i l'enfocament de múltiples nivells van permetre descobrir, més enllà de la resiliència individual i de l'avaluació positiva, barreres existents per a la integració de la vida laboral i personal en diferents nivells, aportant suggeriments per a futures investigacions i intervencions.
La investigación ha puesto de manifiesto que las iniciativas de integración de trabajo y vida personal tienen efectos positivos sobre la conciliación y sobre el bienestar general de los empleados cuando, además del apoyo estructural, se tienen en cuenta otras variables. La cultura organizacional ha sido identificada como uno de estos factores clave para la conciliación efectiva de trabajo y vida personal. Pero por si sola esta variable cultural no da cuenta de la diversidad de experiencias de conciliación trabajo-vida en las organizaciones. Esta tesis parte de una constatación y de una sospecha: Por una parte, se basa en la observación de la existencia de subgrupos diferenciados dentro de una misma organización que pueden adoptar posiciones distintas con respecto a determinados valores de la cultura general de la organización. Por otra, se inspira en la sospecha de que las subculturas organizacionales son la dimensión oculta que permite explicar aquella multiplicidad de experiencias en cuanto a la conciliación. Se supone que el nivel de apoyo a la integración de trabajo y vida personal varía entre subculturas influyendo en la conciliación. Desde un enfoque multinivel (organizacional, interindividual e individual), se ha estudiado el papel de las subculturas en la conciliación de los empleados de la sede central y de diversas delegaciones de una empresa española del sector de los seguros, que gestiona contingencias de accidentes de trabajo y enfermedades profesionales. Se utilizaron diversas técnicas cualitativas de colección de datos: investigación documental, grupo de discusión (con el equipo de recursos humanos), 44 entrevistas semi-estructuradas en profundidad y observaciones de campo. Los resultados muestran cómo los individuos construyen sus experiencias de integración de vida laboral y personal dentro de las subculturas e influenciados además por factores contextuales macroeconómicos y legales. El modelo conceptual construido mediante la integración de los resultados pone de manifiesto que la subcultura organizacional tuvo el mayor impacto en la experiencia de conciliación, en la consiguiente gestión de los límites entre diferentes facetas de la vida y en las estrategias de afrontamiento utilizadas. Varios niveles de contexto se añaden a la complejidad de los fenómenos estudiados. El contexto nacional con sus supuestos básicos, que abarcan la ideología del trabajo y la visión de género sobre la conciliación, influyeron en las '"opciones" que tenían los empleados en torno a la integración de la vida con el trabajo. Asimismo, los contextos macro económicos y jurídicos y las características del trabajo fueron los factores contextuales que orientaron adicionalmente las decisiones de los individuos. Los supervisores y compañeros de trabajo tuvieron una influencia directa en la integración de la vida laboral y personal, ya que promovieron los supuestos subculturales subyacentes, influyendo en las estrategias de los individuos mediante el nivel del apoyo mostrado y los permisos concedidos. El nivel de interdependencia laboral y la posibilidad de coincidir durante las horas de trabajo, facilitaron también las conductas de apoyo y sus contrarias exhibidas por los supervisores y colegas, poniendo en evidencia la importancia de las variables profesionales y contextuales en el estudio de la conciliación. Finalmente, las personas describieron su integración de trabajo-vida en función de diversos niveles de contexto. De este modo, el estudio de las subculturas y el enfoque de múltiples niveles permitió descubrir, más allá de la resiliencia individual y de la evaluación positiva, barreras existentes para la integración de la vida laboral y personal en diferentes niveles, aportando sugerencias para futuras investigaciones e intervenciones.
Research in the work-life field has shown that work-life initiatives positively affect employees’ integration attempts and overall well-being, when other variables, beyond structural support, are considered. Culture has been identified as a key factor for employees’ work-life integration. However, even with organizational culture considered, research still falls short on being able to explain the variance in the experience of work-life balance in organizations. This thesis combines a confirmatory and exploratory approach. On one hand, it is known that within one organization there can exist various subgroups that share the same values and behaviors, which can differ or even oppose the organizational culture. On the other hand, we suspect that organizational subcultures are the missing dimension that allows understanding the vast array of work-life experiences. We suppose that the level of work-life support can vary within subcultures and thus influence employees’ work-life integration. This thesis adopted a multi-level approach (organizational, interindividual and individual) to study the role of subcultures in employees’ work-life balance in the headquarters and various branches of an insurance non-profit Spanish organization, administrating contingencies of work-related accidents and illnesses. Multiple sources of data collection were used to compile evidence, including archival research, a focus group (with the HR team), 44 in-depth semi-structured interviews and field observations. The results show how individuals construct their work-life integration experiences within subcultures, also when influenced by different contextual macroeconomic and legal factors. The conceptual model constructed through the integration of these results shows that the immediate subculture had the strongest impact on the work-life experience and consequent boundary management and coping strategies used. Various layers of context added to the complexity of the studied phenomenon. National context with its assumptions, encompassing the ideology of work and the gendered view of work-life issues, affected employees’ “choices” around work-life integration. The macro economic and legal contexts and job characteristics represented the contextual factors that further directed individuals’ decisions. Supervisors and colleagues had a direct influence on work-life integration as they enacted the existing subcultural assumptions, directing individuals’ work-life strategies by their supportive behaviors and allowance decisions. The level of job interdependence and possibility to coincide during working hours, further influenced supportive and unsupportive behaviours exhibited by supervisor and colleagues, emphasizing the importance of occupational and other contextual variables, when studying work-life issues. Finally, individuals described their experience of work-life integration in function of multiple layers of context. This way, additionally to individual resilience and positive assessment, the study of subcultures and the multi-layered approach allowed uncovering existing barriers for work-life integration at different levels, providing suggestions for future research and practice.

This project is a study of how various Protestant Christian subcultures construct their identity and perceptions of LGBT couples in the 21 ^st century United States sociopolitical context. Through an extensive content analysis of 105 sermon transcripts from www.sermoncentral.com, this project allows for a more accurate interpretation of Protestant Christian subgroups' (via individual perceptions of pastors through their sermon rhetoric) stances on the issues of gay rights in the modern United States. Additionally, I use 2012 GSS survey data as background findings to frame and illustrate the relevance of the results from the content analysis. The content analysis findings show that various pastors from the sample construct their views of gay men and lesbians by 1) alienating LGBT couples, 2) enhancing in-group Protestant identities, and 3) calling for political action to maintain group norms.

The research deals with how blind or d/Deaf, Queer, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite and Transgendered (QLGBT) citizens are recognized or not by their advocacy and service organization. QLGBT persons with sensory difference or impairment are largely excluded from QLGBT lives. Even for those persons who have access to broader worlds substantially off-limits for persons with sensory difference or impairment, being ‘who one really is’ may not be an option in those environments daily lived. Representation, acceptable stereotypes, dominant constructs, self-acceptance, community bonding and the establishment of truly representative organizations are issues in this research. Disability, being Queer blind, d/Deaf, and disabled are 'normal' even if not 'average'. Sexual diversity and sensory difference are normal in the realm of human and animal lived experience. The research has investigated how organisations can assist stakeholders to enjoy or at least survive in their multi-faceted identities. www.netsurvey.com.au was a specially created website designed to interview people who are Deaf, an Australian first in the field, now being emulated. A long and extensive publicity campaign brought self-selecting blind and d/Deaf persons to the research. Ambitions of the research included: painting a picture of what was happening to persons who were marginalized in marginal situations, opening up the topics of sensory difference and diverse sexualities to further study and debate, providing a forum that might augment the voices of persons who seek recognition, catalyzing activism and increasing focus on the issues.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Human Services and Social Work
Griffith Health
Full Text

By definition subcultures harbor their own sets of norms and unique characteristics. From fashion to slang vocabularies, each subculture stands apart as a world of its own. In the subculture of psychedelic trance, an electronic music based subculture, such marking characteristics are taken beyond superficial expressions. Through repeated exposure to spiritual concepts, language, and rituals, thecommunity fosters spiritual practices and beliefs in individual members. Using in-depth interviews and extended participant observation, Iidentify patterns and commonalities, as well as divergences, in the spiritual practice and beliefs of subculture members. Ultimately psy-trance members draw on organized religious traditions while also distinguishing their activities and group from traditional religion. The role of music in collective ritual and the concept of lived religious experience provide insight into the beliefs and practices of the psy-trance subculture.

O consumo, especialmente em sociedades capitalistas, não está ligado apenas ao valor funcional dos produtos, mas também aos símbolos que eles representam. (MCCRACKEN 1986; 2003; FEATHERSTONE 1995). Nessas sociedades, as posses tem influência na construção da identidade do indivíduo, que busca produtos para se associar a grupos ou a sub – grupos no seu cotidiano.(BELK 1988; SCHOUTEN e MCLAEXANDER 1995; COVA 1999;2010; MAFESSOLI 2006). Sub – culturas de consumo, comunidades de marca e tribos tem se tornado grupos cada vez mais observados tanto pela academia de Marketing como pelas marcas. Alguns desses grupos já foram investigados principalmente nos EUA (SCHOUTEN e MCALEXANDER 1995 ; KOZINETS 1997; 2001). Estudos como os de Irwin (1973), indicam a possibilidade de uma organização semelhante representada pela figura do surfista. No Brasil, o mercado do surf, emprega mais de 140.000 pessoas e movimenta bilhões de reais anualmente (ZUCO ET AL, 2002). Com essa perspectiva em mente, o presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a existência de uma sub – cultura de consumo relacionada ao Surf no Brasil. A pesquisa buscou entender também a relação das posses tanto para o Surfista como para o simpatizante, que é o grande consumidor desse mercado (FORNECK 2008), e a relação das empresas do setor com esses indivíduos. Para esse fim foi seguida uma abordagem qualitativa multi métodos, com a utilização e integração das técnicas de Videografia, observação não participante, entrevistas em profundidade e elicitação visual. Além de entrevistas com Surfistas, simpatizantes e produtores de Marketing (empresas) foram realizadas observações a lojas de Surf e a um torneio comemorativo do esporte. Os resultados apontam a existência de uma tribo, representada na figura do Surfista. Essa tribo se integra por um estilo de vida comum, baseado em ideais como o amor ao esporte, a comunhão com a natureza, estilo de vida saudável e uma linguagem própria. Os resultados também apontam que o simpatizante está inserido em uma grande cultura de consumo, em que o mesmo busca roupas e acessórios para ser identificado dentro da sociedade. É aparente também a ação das marcas de Surf na apropriação de alguns dos ideais e do estilo de vida do surfista para vender um cenário ideal e um novo estilo de vida ao simpatizante.
The consumption, especially in the capitalist societies, isn´t connected only to the functional value of products. But also to the symbols that they represent (MCCRACKEN 1988;2003; FEATHERSTONE 1995). In These societies, possessions have influence on the individual´s identity construction, Who search for products to associate himself to groups or sub groups in his every day life. (BELK 1988; SCHOUTEN e MCLAEXANDER 1995; COVA 1999;2010; MAFESSOLI 2006). Subcultures of consumption, brand communities and tribes have gained more attention from the Marketing academy and Brands. Some of these groups have already been researched especially in the US (SCHOUTEN e MCALEXANDER 1995 ; KOZINETS 1997 ; 2001). Studies like the one performed by Irwin (1973), indicates a similar organization on the figure of the Surfer. In Brazil, the Surf market is responsible for more than 140.000 jobs and generates billions in the local currency annually. (ZUCO ET AL, 2002). With this perspective in mind, the current study had the objective to investigate the existence of a subculture of consumption related to the Surf in Brazil. The research aimed to understand also the role of possessions to the Surfer and the Sympathizer, the biggest responsible for the purchases on this market (FORNECK, 2008), and the relation of the companies of this sector with these individuals. To achieve this goal, it was followed a multi – methods approach with the integration of the techniques like Videography, In dept interviews, non participant observations and Photo Elicitation Technique. The results points to the existence of a tribe, represented on the figure of the Surfer. This tribes integrates itself by a common life style based in ideals like love to the sport, communion with nature, an healthy life Style and an own language. The results also shows that the sympathizer is insert in an large culture of consumption, where he buys clothes and accessories to be an part of the society. It is also apparent the role of the Surf brands on the appropriation of some the ideals and life style of the surfer to sell an new an ideal scenario and life style to the sympathizer.

Enterprise systems (ES) are important cross-business software that can be difficult to implement. A key factor impacting ES implementation lies with the influence of organisational cultures and subcultures which may enable or hinder such implementations. Existing research has focused on culture as being a stable, homogenous variable and little consideration has been given to the dynamics of cultural and organisational change during ES implementations. This study uses eight cultural dimensions (Detert et al, 2000) to examine instances of dialectic conflict between opposing cultural values and how these can impact ES implementations. This study uses data drawn from four case studies of large organisations that had implemented ES. The results identified five cultural dimensions where there was evidence of a cultural conflict between each organisation and the ES implementation. The results also found evidence that different subcultures within the organisation operated in different ways to facilitate or impede the adoption of the system. The evidence showed that the implementations resulted in cultural changes within each organisation to reflect the values embedded in the ES. This research therefore provides valuable insights into the cultural effects of large-scale implementations at an organisational level and shows that such effects are not necessarily homogenous and may vary due to the cultural values of subgroups involved.

This thesis develops and applies an original conceptual and methodological approach to the study of new venture creation in two Chinese subcultures: Hong Kong and Shanghai. Primary attention is given to processes of new venture creation which, it is argued, provides the study with a more appropriate conceptual base for investigating the complex web of elements affecting the way individuals organise resources to create new ventures. A process view of new venture creation provides for more sophisticated theorising on entrepreneurship issues, such as capital, opportunity, human resources, personality traits, and the micro and macro environment. Although the approach developed within the thesis is aimed at advancing understanding of entrepreneurship generally, the analysis is based on fieldwork material collected from two Chinese subcultures. Here the aim is to understand Chinese entrepreneurship and thus Chinese economic success. Chinese business and entrepreneurship literatures are, therefore, examined. Three conceptual themes: institutionalisation, sensemaking/enactment and social embeddedness, are integrated to form the analytical framework of the thesis. Most existing entrepreneurship studies see entrepreneurship as an outcome of the availability of certain factors such as personality traits, capital, opportunity, risk, human resources, economic structure, state policy, and the social/cultural environment. As a result, these studies tend to focus their research on specific factors as if these are concrete, static elements that exist out there'. This study, however, develops a social constructionist view of new venture creation and argues that new venture creation is a consequence of individuals' ongoing sensemaking and enactment of their environment. It is the institutionalised meanings of entrepreneurship that shape the way individuals make sense and enact their environment, thus giving rise to the behaviour of new venture creation. Therefore to understand entrepreneurship, it is essential to understand the institutionalised meanings of entrepreneurship and how they are realised in the two Chinese subcultures. Emphasis is placed on how and why these meanings are shared, shaped and institutionalised and how these in turn shape the way individuals make sense and enact their environment. The study is conducted through an interpretive, reflexive and ethnographic-style of fieldwork. By analysing how informants from the two Chinese subcultures talk about the different aspects of entrepreneurship, key themes related to entrepreneurship in the Chinese context are identified, further explored and analysed. In particular, the way in which these meanings are shared, shaped and institutionalised are comparatively examined. Following from this, the manner in which these institutionalised meanings then shape the distinguishable characteristics of Chinese business and the pattern of new venture creation are examined. Through investigation of the institutionalised meanings of entrepreneurship, this thesis argues that a social constructionist approach advances understandings of entrepreneurship in general and Chinese entrepreneurship in particular.

This thesis discusses the use of Daniel Elazar's theory of political subcultures in the United States. The first chapter is an introduction to the concept of political culture. The second chapter discusses Elazar's theory and method. The third chapter points out the problems in Elazar's theory and his method with a discussion of recent studies. The fourth chapter outlines the present analysis and the method used. The fifth chapter sets out the conclusions and offers avenues of new direction in the study of political culture.

En traitant de l’histoire coloniale des Hawai‘i et de la Californie à partir de 1778, cette thèse étudie de la transformation de la coutume hawaïenne he‘e nalu en un système surf mondial. L’analyse se demande s’il y a eu rupture ou continuité du surf hawaïen au XIXe siècle, et quelles ont été les modalités de sa diffusion en tant que système mondial surf au XXIe siècle. Pour répondre à ce problème, ce travail a retenu trois méthodes d’investigations : une analyse comparative des journaux de bords des voyageurs vers l’archipel des Hawai‘i avec la presse hawaïenne au XIXe siècle ; la conduite de cinquante entretiens semi-directifs, pour saisir les enjeux de l’appropriation californienne du surf après 1945 ; et une observation participante multi-site de trente mois aux Hawai‘i et en Californie, entre 2009 et 2016, afin de dégager les modalités contemporaines de l’historicisation du surf. Au final, trois conclusions principales ont été dégagées à partir de ces données. D’abord, l’introduction des Hawai‘i dans le système monde au XIXe siècle a dynamisé la naissance d’une identité nationale autochtone, qui a réaffirmé les coutumes traditionnelles, comme le surf. Ensuite, avec l’avènement du tourisme balnéaire au XXe siècle, les Hawai‘i se sont imposés comme un modèle touristique, reposant sur la mise en scène et l’appropriation occidentale du surf. À cet égard, Waikīkī est un cas d’école, et son schéma de développement s’est reproduit en Californie, comme à Huntington Beach. Enfin, à partir des années 1950, le surf s’est exporté dans le monde grâce à l’émergence de sa subculture et de son sport professionnel, aux médias de masse, et à la démocratisation du tourisme balnéaire
Dealing with the colonial history of Hawai‘i and California from 1778, this dissertation focus on the transformation of the Hawaiian custom he‘e nalu into a global surf system. This analysis asks if there a break or a continuity of Hawaiian surfing in the 19th century, and what are the terms and conditions of its diffusion as a global surf system in the 21st century. Three investigating methods have been applied: an analysis of traveling literature in Hawai‘i, compared with a study of Hawaiian newspapers in the 19th century ; a recording of fifty semi-directed interviews to grasp issues related to appropriating surfing in California after 1945 ; and a multi-sited participant observation for thirty months in Hawai‘i and California, between 2009 and 2016, to found out about the contemporary historicization of surfing. Three main conclusions emerged from this data analysis. First, the introduction of Hawai‘i in the world system in the 19th century fostered the birth of a Hawaiian national identity, that reaffirmed traditional customs, such as surfing. Then, with the advent of seaside tourism in the 20th century, Hawai‘i became a touristic model, based on staging surfing and its appropriation by the West. To this regard, Waikīkī is a popular case study, and its development pattern has been reproduced in Californian cities, such as Huntington Beach. Eventually, from the 1950s, surfing has been exported to the world, thanks to the growth of its subculture and professional sport, mass media, and the democratization of seaside tourism

This research aims to understand what factors influence consumers' behaviour to subculture marketing and how companies can strategically overcome potential brand alienation. Findings validate cryptic marketing as a strategy for organizations to communicate effectively with their chosen market through the use of cryptic cues, symbols and messages while circumventing negative responses from non-target audiences. The thesis contributes to extending current understanding of marketing communication through the use of covert strategies, employing covert tactics on the non-target, wider market instead of the target, subculture market.

After the reforms and opening up by Deng Xiaoping, cultural flows from abroad, audio-visual products from Western countries, the influx of pop music from Hong Kong and Taiwan influenced different aspects of Chinese music production. Urban youths from mainland China produced musical genres that interpreted the zeitgeist of the mid-1980s cultural fever: “rock with Chinese characteristics” was born in Beijing, having Cui Jian as a pioneer. Experimentations were temporarily interrupted by 1989 after the students’ protests repression at Tiananmen Square: being the expression of political idealism and rebelliousness some music genres, especially rock, were silenced and censored. However, from the nineties onwards, dakou CDs and tapes – initially imported to China as plastic waste – were illegally resold and spread on the black market. This dissertation describes musical and stylistic influences starting from the nineties during and after the dakou phenomenon: youths who have benefited from these influences (i.e. the musicians and their audience) in order to overcome state restrictions, have in turn opened underground spaces to create and propagate alternative music. As a result, urban subcultures also emerged as a response to the increasing social changes of post-modern China: for linglei youths music (usually de-politicized) is a medium to express alienation, satire and social pressures. Although opposing both traditions and forces of commodification, Chinese alternative bands also relied on local record labels and music festivals to promote themselves. Besides, the marketization of linglei lifestyle also occurred: local and global firms are merchandising bands, promoting clothes and brands.

This paper explores the dynamics of two regional heavy metal styles. It focuses on the aesthetics of Florida death metal and Norwegian black metal. This paper seeks to contribute but also deviate from the great studies linking music with cultural studies. Heavy metal has gained international attention from many social leaders concerned with the direction of its listeners. Heavy metal, from its early foundation, has been used to rebel against social order. As the music evolves, it becomes dangerous to the social establishment; challenging ideologies such as religion, globalization, feminism and common decency. This paper seeks to tell the story of the battle between hegemony and the subversive subculture of intense metal, giving voice to some truly disturbed individuals dissatisfied with the existing social institution. In doing so, I hope this study serves as model for future studies of radical youth culture.

This thesis seeks to trace the representations of male homosexuality in Taiwanese society since the 1970s, with a specific focus on the legacies and representations of Pai Hsien-yung’s novel Niezi (Crystal Boys, published in 1983), widely regarded as the first full-length novel themed on homosexuality in Taiwan’s literary history. Set in 1970s Taiwan during the Martial Law period, the novel’s portrayal of the underground homosexual community and male prostitution culture based in Taipei’s New Park (now 228 Park) did not capture critical attention or gain commercial success when published, owing to the then conservative social atmosphere. Nonetheless, after the lifting of Martial Law, as Taiwan became a democratised nation with mature elective democracy and participation in globalised cultural circuits, Niezi became canonised and politicised as the iconic text for a sequence of social activism regarding homosexual human rights in academia and related cultural activities in the 1990s and 2000s. Even today, Niezi is still considered the most debatable representative homosexual literary text in Taiwan’s homosexual community. While Niezi’s iconic status has stood the test of time over the past three decades, the changing interpretations of the text offer a great resource through which to examine the representations of male homosexuality in Taiwan during this period. Taiwanese society transformed from an authoritarian regime in the 1970s and 1980s, to quasi-democracy in the early 1990s, then full elective democracy in the mid-1990s, and now Taiwan has fully joined the globalised circuits of the capitalist economy, with free markets, cross-cultural communication and rapid flows of information. This social transformation brought about changing interpretations of Niezi, in which male homosexuality was no longer a social taboo, and activist cultural critics started to demand equal rights for homosexuals inspired by Euro-American theoretical discourse and social reform. The social transformation also saw two visual adaptations of the novel through the forms of film and television, which I shall examine in this thesis. I will also demonstrate not just how male homosexuality has been represented in different social contexts, but also what has contributed to the endurance of Niezi’s legacies in the past three decades. In addition, while there was a great amount of homosexual literature produced after the lifting of Martial Law owing to social liberalisation, the thesis will also consider Niezi’s continuing iconic status.

This thesis investigates the relationship between identity, behaviour and desire to examine the nature of research among homosexually active men. The hypothesis is that samples of such men necessarily reflect the definitions of sexuality and homosexuality, and their interpretation, by both the researchers themselves and their research subjects, meaning that the research process itself is marked by the subjectivity of the field of sexuality. The relationship between the observer and the observed is intrinsic to research into homosexual subjectivity and the samples obtained, therefore, represent particular kinds of sexual subjects in a particular social and sexual cultural milieu. Research in this field has given pre-eminence to behaviour over identity and desire, and, as such, has usually failed to account for these differences in sexual subjectivities. To investigate this problem, I have reviewed the relevant literature both on subjectivity and on methodological approaches to research among homosexual men, and I have appraised my own ideological and personal relationships with the subject matter. I have examined the nature of the samples of homosexual men I have obtained during my work as a researcher within the Sydney gay community and reanalysed these with regard to the particular problematic I have identified. These investigations and analyses have shown that there are numerous differences within and between the various samples of homosexual men obtained, indicating that methodological frameworks can determine the nature of the samples obtained. These differences in samples also appear to reflect differences in the ways of enacting homosexual desire among the men in the studies. However, they also parallel differences in the definitions and understandings of the target population by the researchers themselves. These differences reflect differences in definition and understanding both of homosexuality and of the population of gay men, but they also represent differing patterns in the ways of being and living ?gay?, differences in sexual subjectivity. ?Gayness? and homosexuality, as concepts in research, are both the subjective basis on which the research endeavour itself is based, as well as its representational outcome.

This research study examines the nature of employee misbehaviour and organisational subcultures within the amusement arcade sector. There is a long academic history of researching misbehaviour at work and this study synthesises perspectives from organisational behaviour, industrial sociology and organisational misbehaviour. Each has strengths and weaknesses in understanding misbehaviour: organisational behaviour is strong on the importance of organisational change but is mostly focused on managing out misbehaviour and fails to engage in detail with the reasons for it. Industrial sociology has provided detailed ethnographic studies of misbehaviour and organisational subcultures but has failed to develop broader theory to understand and explain misbehaviour.r-A" more recent approach, organisational misbehaviour, seeks to provide .. a unified definition of, and approach to, misbehaviour and considers reasons Jor- such behaviour but there are few empirical studies within this perspective. This study, therefore, incorporates aspects of each approach in order to understand the full range of activities that constitute misbehaviour and the formation of workplace subcultures. This study focuses on amusement arcades, a distinctive but previously neglected sector of the tourism/leisure industry. It makes particular reference to the importance of organisational culture and organisational change in understanding misbehaviour and the formation of organisational subcultures. It does this through an ethnographic study of employees at two arcades: one ('Seacade') was a traditional family-run seaside arcade that was undergoing a major organisational change. The second (,Multitain') was a modern Family Entertainment Centre, a relatively young organisation with a stable organisational culture. The analysis starts by developing a profile of employees, noting an internal labour market with clear differentiation between core and peripheral employees. There were differences between the two arcades in terms of employee satisfaction and loyalty to the organisation which was attributed to different organisational cultures. The thesis then goes on to look at the full range of activities that constitute misbehaviour. At Seacade there was widespread misbehaviour and the discussion focussed on the full range of activities involved. This misbehaviour was sufficiently organised to be defined as an organisational subculture. At Multitain there was far less misbehaviour due to a radically' different organisational culture and almost no evidence of group misbehaviour. The analysis seeks to identify the full range of factors that produce misbehaviour and argues that there is strong evidence for misbehaviour being organisationally produced. Particular attention was paid to the organisational subculture at Seacade which demonstrated norms and values that were substantially at odds with the organisation's 'official' culture. At both sites there were also individual factors, external to the organisation that influenced misbehaviour.

Why does the popularity of different music genres change over time? How are new music styles developed and how do they gain mainstream status? This thesis addressed these questions with a social simulation to explore the relationship between music subcultures and genres. This used a version of the 'history friendly' approach: two case studies were qualitatively analysed and these results formalised into two simulations, the outputs of these were then compared back against the: original case studies. This method enabled the models to be validated at the micro and macro levels. J The case studies are the Northern Soul and House music genres and subcultures. These OJ based subcultures were analysed using secondary data describing their histories, collected using a systematic review technique. The Northern Soul scene was chosen as it has a simple history of a rise and fall in the popularity of the scene and involved listening to old records not producing new ones. The analysis identified four stages in this history: gestation, growth, spurt and decline. The House scene has a more complicated history as members produced new records. The scene grew in a similar way to Northern Soul, but after the spurt phase fragmented and split into new subgenres such as Ambient and Progressive House. This fragmentation process continued with new genres being developed, one of which was Jungle. The thesis used a complexity theory framework to identify local 'bottom up' rules of interaction between agents. From the qualitative analysis a theory of subcultural dynamic.s was derived. The main points of this argue that agents gain subcultural capital from participating in a scene, which is related to a taste area, and that agents prefer to associate with those of similar levels of subcultural capital and distinguish themselves, using their tastes, from those of higher or lower levels. The model was a formalisation of this theory and produced the same dynamics of the popularity of both scenes at the micro and macrq level and it was concluded that they provide evidence that these rules could explain the changes in popularity observed.

Cette thèse se propose de restituer la géographie, les cultures et les politiques des homosexuels en France et en Espagne entre 1945 et 1975. A partir d'archives inédites de la Brigade Mondaine de Paris et des Tribunaux de vagabons et délinquants, et de dangerosité et réhabilitation sociale de Barcelone pour l'essentiel, ce travail intérroge le mythe de la "libération" à partir des années 1970. Il critique principalement les idées reçues selon lesquelles les gays auraient été condamnés à l'invisibilité, au silence et à la persécution avant les années 1970. Je montre ainsi que la France défendait une vision plus moralisatrice de la sexualité que l'Espagne et que cela explique en partie le retard de la France à accorder l'égalité des droits aujourd'hui
This dissertation tries to reconstruct the geography, cultures and policies about homosexuals in France and Spain between 1945 and 1975. Through arquives of Brigade Mondaine of Paris and of Courts of Vagos y maleantes, and Peligrosidad y rehabilitación social of Barcelona essentially, this work examines the myth of "liberation" since 1970's. Thus I demostrate that France defended a sexual moral view stricter than Spain and that explains partially the delay in France to grant equal rights

Thesis (M.A.)--University of New Orleans, 2004.
Title from electronic submission form. "A thesis ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Sociology."--Thesis t.p. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Business Administration/Marketing
Ph.D.
This dissertation centers on the study of brand appropriation, the altering of brand meaning by non-target market consumers who belong to a subculture. Although oftentimes referenced within the social sciences, appropriation is a scantily explored construct within the context of marketing, and specifically branding. Using a multi-method approach, this research establishes a conceptual framework for brand appropriation, develops an in-depth understanding of why and how it occurs, and examines its effect on consumers and their relationships with brands. Overall, this work builds a theoretical foundation for this phenomenon, contributing to literature involving the role of brands within subcultures, the process and effects of non-target market adoption, and gives consideration to uninvited co-creation behavior. Furthermore these studies gives insight for firms which encounter this unexpected consumption behavior, providing understanding that can help inform strategic response.
Temple University--Theses

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Cleveland State University, 2008.
Abstract. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on May 8, 2008). Includes bibliographical references (p. 295-312). Available online via the OhioLINK ETD Center. Also available in print.

I combine approaches drawn from sociology, social psychology, and linguistic anthropology to create a unique, novel framework for the study of language, culture, and affect. The social psychological concept of affective meaning in language is measured in a single, bilingual culture and applied to the study of bilingualism, language shift, and the transmission of culture through language. The data are collected from three generations of people identifying as Cajun in South Louisiana and a small comparative sample of elderly, non-Cajuns in the Southwest. Quantitative, affective data - collected from all study participants - are bolstered by qualitative video- and audio-based data collected using anthropology-based field techniques from Cajun French/English bilingual participants, oral family histories collected from middle-aged participants, and survey data collected from high school student participants. These data and personal accounts of lives, histories, and language conception and change provide the basis for answering the following research questions: 1) When using their different languages, do bilingual speakers hold different meanings for words that have the same translated meanings? 2) Can language shift be tracked affectively? 3) Does loss of language mean loss of culture? The answer to each of these questions is yes. It is my hope that the methods developed in this study will provide the basis for future language recording and analysis and cultural preservation projects.

En France, certains supporters de football se revendiquent ultras ou hooligans et mettent en scène leur sentiment d’appartenance. Ces entités, qui regroupent majoritairement de jeunes hommes, apparaissent de façon embryonnaire à la fin des années 1970 en France et plus certainement au milieu des années 1980.Cette thèse analyse l’émergence et le développement des groupes de supporters radicaux de football. Il s’agit ici d’interroger le phénomène dans la durée, de « contextualiser » son avènement et son développement en France.En outre, grâce à un corpus de sources endogènes, les pratiques supportéristes sont étudiées, le fonctionnement hiérarchisé des groupes est objectivé et les systèmes de valeurs de ces subcultures sont explicités.À travers cette recherche doctorale, c’est aussi la régulation du phénomène qui est questionnée. En effet, certaines de leurs pratiques culturelles se heurtent à des interdits sociaux et la médiatisation des violences supportéristes fait de la gestion de cette « jeunesse dangereuse » un nouvel enjeu politique
In France, certain types of football supporters claim to be “ultras” or hooligans by displaying the feeling of belonging. These entities, which primarily include young men, started to appear embryonically in France at the end of 1970s, but then more certainly in the mid-1980s.This thesis analysis the raising and development of hardcore football fan groups. In particular, it questions such phenomenon over time, contextualising its advent and development in France.Furthermore, based on a collection of endogenous resources, this work studies the supporters’ habits, it defines their groups sexualised and hierarchical functioning, and it explains the system of values within this subculture.This PhD research work also questions the regulation of this phenomenon. Indeed, going some of their cultural habits against social prohibitions, and being supporters’ violence increasingly covered by media; the management of this so-called “dangerous youth” has become a new political challenge

Beginning with a redefinition of key critical terms and a discussion of the Western academy's stake in devaluing the discourse of the sacred, this dissertation moves into a study of the sacred writings of six American women. First, we look at Lucille Clifton's poetry in Good Woman and Next. We observe this poet's celebration of her participation in generative creation and racial continuity, through the body of motherhood. In addition, Clifton claims kinship with "Other" cultural groups, based on shared values, understandings, and vocation. The second chapter explores the "character" of the American tree in Toni Morrison's Beloved. The tree is a site where we can track the excruciating creation of African American double consciousness. Both African and Western paradigms of order are tested against the "behavior" of the American tree and its displaced inscription on the body of a slave woman. A sapling New World model of the socio-sacred evolves from this experience, and takes root. In the third chapter, we look at the transmutation of Aztecan female deities and the values they embodied, into "official" and non-official versions of the Virgin of Guadelupe. Ascribed and achieved connections with this image of the matrix are explored. In comparing literary representations by Sandra Cisneros and Gloria Anzaldua, we explore how sexual orientation factors into a woman's link with her generative matrix. The fourth chapter concerns the development of the figure Pauline/Leopolda in Erdrich's Tracks and Love Medicine. We piece together her participation in a larger Chippewa drama (that of "creative cosmic conflict"), and come to question whether official Western institutions have "conquered" the Chippewa, or are themselves being amalgamated into a dynamic relationship much more ancient than white incursion. The final chapter is an examination of the slow conversion of an avant-garde, privileged "white" woman Mabel Dodge Luhan, by the spirit of land-matrix she lives on. Written across a period of 20+ years of life in Taos, New Mexico, Dodge Luhan's work demonstrates that the Western subaltern must struggle against many layers of her own ideological programming before meeting with the sacred, body to matrix, without philosophical or sacerdotal intermediaries. This suggests something Man-centered Subjectivity cannot tolerate: the possibility of an autonomous, sacred, forcefield with the ability to call humankind--in spite of material culture or ideological self-interest--to a creative, insurrectionist, alignment in the service of Life.

This study develops a new theoretical approach and empirical measure of American regional subcultures using public opinion survey data and building on previous research (Chinni and Gimpel 2011; Elazar 1962, 1966; Hero 2000; Lieske 1993; Putnam, Leonardi and Nanetti 1994). Instead of approaching classification of regions based on formal geography, border states, population demography, ethnic groups and migration patterns, or historical traditions, this study uses a vernacular geography approach to study culture in the 50 American states. Vernacular geography is the sense of place revealed in ordinary people’s language. The study uses original nationwide survey data to measure perceptions of place based on states that are most similar to a respondent’s home state. The measure is based on unique survey questions where respondents have the freedom to choose any of the 50 states. The surveys are conducted by the Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES) from 2012 to 2016. These data allow development of a new measure of state similarity or regional subcultures based on vernacular geography. The state similarity network based on people’s feelings shows that state contiguity is not the driving factor in people’s perceptions of regions of the United States. It also shows that people’s perceptions of state similarity are a better predictor of policy diffusion than contiguity. Finally, this study shows that wealth is the most important factor in people’s perceptions of state similarity, but that population size, racial diversity, rural/urban population density, and ideology/partisanship are all predictors of people’s perceptions of state similarity at low levels. This study argues that perceptions of place matter. They are a core building block of political culture and are important for understanding policy diffusion. This study is about how citizens conceptualize their home state and network of most similar states, and whether state similarity networks, or social networks of states, influence government policy adoption and innovation.

The purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyze how the online vinyl record network functions from both a consumer and retailer perspective, in order to gain an understanding of how the Internet facilitates the activity within a consumer culture. The vinyl record industry is experiencing a revival, with an upswing in sales and media attention and a significant increase in the amount of online trading. This inductive study contains data from qualitative interviews with ten vinyl record consumers and four vinyl record retailers, as well as observations of three relevant online forums. The study shows that the online vinyl record network is an e-tribe built upon a number of genre-specific member groups where the Internet facilitates consumption by informing, inspiring, and allowing network members to interact.  Among the respondents, consumers with sufficient resources in their offline network rely to a lesser extent on their online network for interaction. The study further indicates that retailers have little influence on the network, compelling them to adapt the information and structure of their marketing activities to the preferences of the individual consumer groups. In all, the online vinyl record network does contribute to the recent growth of the vinyl record industry.