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Not so "Traditional" Healing: Constructions of Illness Reality and Spirit Possession in a Rapidly Changing Society in Venda, South Africa
Řezáčová, Vendula ; Kandert, Josef (advisor) ; Kotalova, Jitka (referee) ; Uherek, Zdeněk (referee)
The present thesis "Not so 'Traditional' Healing: Constructions of Illness Reality and Spirit Possession in a Rapidly Changing Society in Venda, South Africa" aims to analyze socio-cultural and political aspects of 'traditional' healing which had been the focus of fieldwork of the author in 'Venda', South Africa (in the period between 2004-6). In the first section of the thesis the author has shown that the medical concepts and symbols marked as 'traditional' have not formed a closed, time-less system. On the contrary, they have reflected and shaped far-reaching socio-cultural changes in the post-apartheid dispensation characterised by the neo-liberal market reforms, congealing of socio-economic inequalities, transformations of gender identities and the politics of 'tradition' and identity. 'Traditional healing' has thus been constituted through a constant process of (re)invention of symbols and practices which have referred to the 'Venda past' while aiming to delineate boundaries of 'tradition' in relation to biomedicine. The second section of the thesis has focussed on the phenomenon of ancestor spirit possession which has also constituted the means through which 'traditional' healers have been recruited and their claims to knowledge and healing power have been legitimized. In contrast to the...
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Integration of foreign students into the group of local students
Dvořáková, Klára ; Řezáčová, Vendula (advisor) ; Pašková, Miroslava (referee)
The topic of this bachelor thesis is the problem of integration of foreign students amongst home students when studying in a foreign country. The main source besides the literature are data aquired by own reseach work. The research was based on semi-structured interviews with groups of foreign students studying in France (Lyon) and Czech Republic (Prague). In addition the author draws from her own experience gained when studying in France in Erasmus program and during her work for International Club of the Charles University. In the theoretical part the work deals with communication as the basic requirement for successful integration. It examines what influences communication between foreign and home students and from this point of view specific cases are considered. The work describes what posibilities of international studies are offered to the students and gives the list of programs that are offered. The analytical part compares the degree of integration of students amongst home students in both of the mentioned countries. It examines the progress of integration, how integration is percieved by the students themselves, whether integration is considered important by the students and how difficult they consider intergration. The work further depicts the problems which complicate integration and...
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The change of approach to death, view on death in society through the eyes of gravediggers
Doňková, Eva ; Řezáčová, Vendula (advisor) ; Cirklová, Jitka (referee)
West society development is really fast. Whole culture evolution signifies changes of life style and priorities. One of these changes is also different approach to death and perception of mortality. In this work I'll try to outline changes in society in connection with perception of death. First I'll mention historical context of these issues and also the different priorities of society, mainly the option to choose funeral in the culture context. Whole work should point on human approach to death and mortality in connection with society and culture. This is one of the reasons I choose three gravediggers to make an interview with. The interview had three main zones. In first zone is important general view on functioning of graveyards and gravediggers. Next part is view of gravediggers on death in our society. The emphasis is placed in their view on society and society's relation to death and mortality. Gravediggers have really specific profession so last part is dedicated to their personal view on these issues. Work should bring a new view on society's approach to these issues mainly through the eyes of gravediggers. And it should show the gradual development as well. This development stands behind current approach.
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Notions of after-life and meaning of death in Zuni society
Ručková, Eliška ; Řezáčová, Vendula (advisor) ; Kotlík, Pavel (referee)
Bachelor's thesis called Visions of the afterlife and the importance of death for the Zuni Indian tribe is trying to provide a comprehensive view of the funeral rituals and death beliefs among the selected society of the Puebloan Indians. At first, I try to outline the historical background of the development of the Zuni tribe, along with a brief description of the manner of life and religion and its changes, especially under the influence of Spanish conquerors and Christian religion. After that I am trying to put topic itself into this outline. The paper also briefly deals with selected myths that are one of the main sources of ideas about the afterlife among Zuni for this thesis. The thesis devotes most attention to the afterlife along with funerary ritual. The main objective of this work is both to see how ideas about the death of Zuni reflect their society, and what is meaning of death for them. The paper strives to show that importance of death is in the context of maintaining the unity of a society that is so typical for this tribe.
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Fieldwork in the Jewish community in Prague
Adlerová, Nina ; Řezáčová, Vendula (advisor) ; Paulíček, Miroslav (referee)
This bachelor thesis "Fieldwork in the Jewish community in Prague" is concerned with the social identity of young Czech Jews. The aim of this work is to describe the duality, or hybridity of identity based on the blending of two distinct identities, namely Czech and Jewish identity. There is also an effort to transcribe the self-reflection bearers of these identities in their everyday lives. This work relies on the work of several prominent authors handling with social, or ethnic identity, and also on earlier research conducted by Dana Bittnerová on national and ethnic minorities living in the Czech Republic. The basis of this work is anthropological fieldwork, which focused primarily on members of one particular group, which is part of the Prague community. This group is called Czech Union of Jewish youth. This research was consisted of participant observation organized events or events arising spontaneously and of interviews with selected respondents. It is shown that for all the observed, Jewishness and Czechness are an integral part of their identities, of whom they are. And that these two identities are closely intertwined. Jewish identity is indeed imperative, but to maintain a strong identity is also necessary process of self-identification. The signs of declared identity are also important...
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Social meaning of physical exercise presented by some of the Czech women's magazines
Semotánová, Adéla ; Hájek, Martin (advisor) ; Řezáčová, Vendula (referee)
The subject of the thesis is meanings of the physical exercising presented in the Czech women magazines, which I explored through qualitative content analysis of the articles focused on exercising. Three relevant frames or research areas emerged from foreign literature, which became the frames of the analysis: value of the exercise related to the body, the exercise as possible social field and gender level of these practices. I was specifically interested, if the exercise is presented as activity that helps to create socially disciplined body or individually restituted body for personal needs. Or if the exercise creates specific social field - sphere with specific relationship, rules and capital and if the gender is an important factor, connected to the presentation of the exercises in magazines, focused on women. The results show that the exercise is activity that creates the restituted body so as the disciplined body. It is not possible to define, if it is specific social field. The articles content so positive indications as those, which do not comply with the social field definition. Ideal femininity and ideal woman body should be reached by exercising. This ideal woman identity varies from reader's identity, which magazines define as "common" woman. The gender is an important factor that has...
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Ritual Purity and Impurity among the Gypsies
Krčková, Anna ; Řezáčová, Vendula (advisor) ; Martinová, Marta (referee)
In this thesis author deals with theme of the ritual purity and impurity among the Gypsies. Concept of ritual purity and impurity brought to anthropology Mary Douglas. Her approach became important tool to research Gypsy groups. Ritual impurity represents specific irrational quality, which influences social status of the individual or group and social relationships. It creates fundamental border between Gypsies and non-Gypsies and inter-communal hierarchy. Ritual im/purity these borders define clearly, but Gypsies cross and shift them. Within the families, this concept maintains inequality between men and women. Following chapter shows examples that go against mainstream interpretation of im/purity. Ritual purity is being kept by three instruments - Gypsy court, social control and fear of dead souls. Finally author compares Douglas's theory with concrete concept of purity and impurity among Gypsies.
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From all corners of the world: Ethnic identity of Erasmus students
Šlédrová, Jasňa ; Řezáčová, Vendula (advisor) ; Oravcová, Anna (referee)
The main topic of this work is forming of an ethnic identity in multicultural interaction. The key source of information besides the literature is data acquired by own research work. Studied literature enables the author to discuss the main theoretical approaches and specify the essential terminology. The presented concept is examined owing to the research work. The research is designed as a case study of a specific group: Erasmus students in French Lyon. This group was examined by way of analysis of interviews with some of its members. In quest of achieving reliable data, the research is focused on five nationalities: Bulgarians, Czechs, Germans, Italians and Spanish. The conclusions of this work clarify how the examined individuals construct their ethnic identities but also how they comprehend the term culture. The analytical part of this work concentrates on how they perceive their own culture and how they observe the foreign culture in which they are temporarily staying. In this context ethnic and social dichotomies are discussed as a means of self-identification and self-determination. The work also deals with the idea of imaginary boundaries that individuals build between their group and other groups. The penetrability and movability of these constructed bounds is investigated through...
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The transformations of belief and religious identity
Stehlíková, Zuzana ; Tichý, Radek (advisor) ; Řezáčová, Vendula (referee)
This bachelor thesis deals with the development of religious beliefs and identity in childhood and adolescence, as are described by young Catholics who lives in Prague. In theory, it focuses mainly on religious identity and its development in the late modern society and the current concepts of religion with regard to the Czech context. Empirical part is based on an analysis of semi-structured autobiographical interviews with young believers, in which two main phases of religious identity development appeared. In the first phase, situated in childhood, faith is taken for granted, and in the second, associated with adolescence, is seen as reflected choice. In conclusion, research results are compared with the theoretical basis.
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