Browsing by Subject "Department of Anthropology"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    An Ethnography of Circuit-bending: Reuse, Chance, and Collaboration with the Living Instrument
    (2010-04-21) Kishel, Andy
    Circuit-bending is a folk expression of randomly conceived analog electronic music. The reconstruction and recontextualization of discarded or unused analog sound toys is achieved by altering the circuit board by soldering switches or dials into the electrical circuit path; these connections are found through a process of random testing. The father and initial propagator of the craft, Reed Ghazala, posits that through this random process a circuit-bent device becomes a “living instrument” with a unique lifespan and disposition. Circuit-bending also serves as a commentary on the digital age of sound generation; the corporate-influenced homogeneity of digital loop and sequencer composition is contested by the fertile dialogue between a circuit bender's will and the variant responses of their living instruments in a context of improvised performance. Inherent in the craft is the recontextualization of scavenged materials; bent toys will either be kept in their original housing to make this reuse apparent, or rehoused in other reused cases. I conducted ethnographic research about the culture that ties Midwest circuit-benders together from October 2009 to February 2010, in Minneapolis and in Dekalb and Chicago, Illinois. I discovered that although the community is sparsely distributed in a geographical sense, its tight-knit nature is maintained by internet correspondence and publicity, and periodic gatherings—both of which serve to keep the cultural identity intact and keep cultural knowledge current.
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    Homelessness and End of Life Care: Analysis of the Living Wills of Homeless Individuals
    (2010-04-21) Grengs, Leah
    In the Twin Cities metro area over 4,000 youth and adults are in temporary housing programs and over 600 are unsheltered. Homeless individuals experience a greater risk of death and more barriers to healthcare than any other disadvantaged population. As a result of barriers to regular healthcare, homeless individuals are hospitalized and admitted to the emergency room at four times the rate of the general population. Few other studies have looked at the content of advance directives and no other study has looked at what the homeless write in their advance directives. A qualitative study of 73 advance directives of homeless individuals from Minneapolis showed evidence against many misconceptions people may have regarding the homeless: The majority of people named a family member as their healthcare agent and discussed family throughout their living will. Many of the homeless individuals discussed specific healthcare goals and were eager to improve or maintain their health. Many of the people wrote about specific accomplishments when asked what they were most proud of and wanted to be remembered for their personal traits, such as being good, kind or helpful.
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    Interview with Frank Miller
    (University of Minnesota, 1994-10-12) Miller, Frank; Chambers, Clarke A.
    Clarke A. Chambers interviews Frank Miller, professor in the Department of Anthropology.
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    Interview with Harvey Sarles
    (University of Minnesota, 1994-10-19) Sarles, Harvey; Chambers, Clarke A.
    Clarke A. Chambers interviews Harvey Sarles, professor for the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies.
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    Interview with Janet Spector
    (University of Minnesota, 1994-07-13) Spector, Janet; Chambers, Clarke A.
    Clarke A. Chambers interviews Janet Spector, professor for the Department of Anthropology and member of the Commission on Women.
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    Taking Back the Music: a study of capitalism, community, and social investment
    (2010-04-21) O'Neil, Alan
    In our current environment of financial upheaval and fundamental economic reconstruction and reconsideration, it is paramount that previously overlooked models and means of operation are addressed and explored thoroughly in an attempt to find a more stable, productive, and balanced system within which to build a new economic base. Since the most recent collapse of the global financial system - operating mainly under the ideologies of free-market capitalism - many scholars and experts in economic and anthropological fields have begun to place emphasis on the merits of local economies and community value systems. Then the question becomes: as the fundamental ideologies of the rational individual and the self-regulating free market - viewed as normative within economics over the last century - are shaken and questioned, how can we reconstitute the necessary community values and cultural structures into the landscape of market economy in order to provide a new base focused on mutual stability and sustainability? In an attempt to provide a set of models by which to explore these alternative economic systems, I have spent the last eight months researching two dialectic models of economy with quite different philosophies and value systems. 89.3 The Current, a radio station operating under Minnesota Public Radio, is a member-supported station with a mission statement to share music without commercial advertisement, and to support and strengthen the culture of local music in Minneapolis. Clear Channel is an expansive and commercially-supported for-profit corporation in the business of radio, with a mission statement to provide maximum returns for shareholders. Between these institutions is born a dialogue through which we may explore the responsibilities, successes, shortfallings, and concerns of two existent economic systems. Both are fallible and lend themselves to academic criticism. However, I hypothesize that considering what we have learned of the structural failings and reckless expansionism of private corporations with dominantly financial motives, a locally-invested and multi-faceted communal institution such as the Current will prove to be more stable and sustainable through changing economic environments.