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Coins of Culture
Full text linkI am an Indian, studying and living in Toronto, Canada. Being born and brought up in the eastern part of the world, to migrating to the western side, I feel the cultural impact on everything-money is glaringly obvious.
This auto-ethnographic research will be an explorative study to address and understand the influence of cultural values on our relationship with money while taking a walk with me through my life so far.
Through this research the aim is to find ways to understand how history impacts money-saving practices, how culture can affect our relationship with money and how behavioral finance can trickle down generation after generation. Through personal reflection, detailed literature reviews and conversation threads, I aim to learn about all other factors concerning culture and socio-economic causes impacting our financial health.
Key words: culture, money, behavioral financ
Incomplete Order: The Pretext of Consumer Anxiety
Full text linkConsumerism, prevalent in modern discourse, prompts scrutiny for fostering overconsumption and spiritual disconnection. Despite persistent critiques, consumerism remains entrenched in daily life, prompting reflection on its profound influence and the commercialization of dissent. This study rejects the hegemony of 'rational' discourse, advocating for the integration of subjective feelings as a navigational tool in academic and creative inquiry. Drawing from the critical insights of Guy Debord and Jean Baudrillard, it seeks to challenge conventional understandings of consumer culture, inviting deeper exploration into individual desires and societal consequences. Through an investigation into the paradoxes of contemporary society, wherein anxiety about modern systems coexists with tacit acceptance, this research examines the extent to which consumerism has commodified opposition or if it is simply a misattributed facet of capitalism. By engaging with Song Dong's artwork "Waste Not" as a catalyst for contemplation and contrasting past eras of material scarcity with contemporary overabundance, this thesis delves into the symbolic significance of personal possessions in expressing consumption behavior, psychological needs, and cultural identity. The thesis ultimately challenges conventional perceptions of selfhood and identity, inviting viewers to decipher the underlying narratives encoded within consumer symbols and prompting a deeper exploration of individual autonomy within a consumerist society. Through an interdisciplinary approach integrating visual and written elements, questioning the critique of consumerism aims to foster critical engagement and prompt reflection on the complexities of contemporary consumption practices
Beyond The Box: A Comprehensive Market Research of The Board Game Industry
Full text linkThe board game industry is witnessing an unprecedented era of growth, projected to double from
26.04 billion by 2030, In other words, We are in a golden age of board
games. Amidst this expansion, our research provides an extensive overview and critical
examination of the industry’s progression and potential, emphasizing the need for sustainable and
inclusive practices to navigate future growth.
This comprehensive study provides a detailed overview of the historical progression and current
dynamics of the board game industry. We explore the industry's evolution from ancient games to
today's diverse market, highlighting significant developments such as the rise of mass-market
games in 1935, the birth of role-playing games in 1974, and the digital transformation of board
gaming. Utilizing a meticulous research design that includes diverse data collection methods and
rigorous analysis, this paper examines market trends, value, revenue, and segmentation by game
type, region, sales channel, and user demographics.
The study presents a thorough market overview, revealing the industry's competitive landscape
and identifying leading companies like Hasbro, Asmodee, and others. Market dynamics are
dissected to unearth driving factors such as the expansion of e-commerce, the upsurge in leisure
time, and innovations in game design. Trends like the rise in adult gaming, influence of social
media, and the emergence of hybrid gaming models reflect the industry’s adaptability.
Additionally, we address the restraints challenging the industry, including competition from digital
gaming, marketing hurdles, and economic barriers. The research delves into the value chain of
board games, from idea development and playtesting to marketing and promotion,
providing key insights into each stage. Consumer insights are gathered to understand leisure
preferences, engagement opportunities, and spending patterns, with a focus on physical versus
digital gaming inclinations.
Overall, the research encapsulates the multifaceted nature of the board game industry, offering a
valuable resource for stakeholders to navigate its complexities and leverage growth opportunities
in an ever-evolving landscape
An Artistic Exploration at the Intersection of Time, Place, and Memory: Foraging for Toronto’s Lost Rivers
Full text linkOver the past two years, I have delved into the Lost River Walks project, and related images and documents in the Toronto Archives. Through this investigation, my thesis explores the intersections of history, environmental awareness, and artistic representation, aiming to revitalise a sense of connection with Toronto’s lost waterways and their impact on the city’s evolution. Using tools like Google Lens and a variety of anecdotal, archival, and survey-based sources, I have identified 19 sites along 6 lost or altered waterways. Every artwork is an exploration, and every exploration is a passage through memory and time. By using ink sourced directly from the land itself, I have layered paintings onto photographs to create a multidimensional exploration of memory, history, and place that works to re-contextualize our understanding of past and present
Rajieen: An Interdisciplinary Engagement Design to Revive and Sustain the Sense of Belonging
Full text link“راجعين” or “Rajieen” is an interdisciplinary engagement design thesis project focused on preserving Palestinian cultural heritage. Originating from my personal experience as a Jordanian/Palestinian immigrant in Toronto, the project addresses the gap between diasporic communities and their indigenous culture and language. Through primary methods such as interviews, workshops, and surveys, combined with secondary research, Rajieen explores the experiences of Palestinian immigrants and their descendants. Drawing on theories of belonging and design methodologies, including co-creation, symbolism, and narrative space, the project culminates in an innovative board game at the heart of an interactive exhibition space that narrates the story of the project. The interdisciplinary approach not only aims to revive and sustain Palestinian cultural heritage but also to foster a deep sense of cultural belonging among immigrant communities. It is a reminder to celebrate the rich culture and profound land of Palestine, which no matter what it goes through, will forever be so fertile and continue to give, inspire, and share its rich culture, stories, and positivity to its people and all the people around the world
Diamonds at Night
Full text linkThis support paper discusses my process in curating the exhibition Chez Cléo, presented at OCAD University’s Graduate Gallery from March 7 – 9, 2024 which included five photo essay books, two short films, and a historical study. Each of these works were created between the mid-20th century and early 21st century and focus on trans feminine/femme subjects.
I begin the paper by introducing the exhibition themes and scholarly considerations. I then outline my methodology, which details how I developed my curatorial framework and discusses my relationship to the subject matter explored. The literature review section then outlines relevant writing about the topic of the exhibition.
The paper also provides a detailed description of the works included in Chez Cléo in relation to the exhibition’s installation concept and design. The conclusion offers consideration of future potential for curatorial work and writing on this topic
Future of Youth Hockey Culture
Full text linkIce hockey holds a revered position in Canadian culture, renowned for fostering national pride and camaraderie. However, in recent years, the hockey environment has come under scrutiny due to the resurgence of assault and discrimination cases. These incidents have raised concerns, particularly regarding the psychological and physical well-being of youth involved in the sport. Consequently, parents, administrators, fans, and politicians have begun questioning existing practices and advocating for change.
This study takes a unique approach to address these concerns, using foresight and systems thinking methods in collaboration with youth hockey players and leadership. The aim is to identify strategies that can effectively transform Canadian youth hockey culture, making it more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. By involving a diverse group of youth hockey players, coaches, administrators, and stakeholders in interviews, the research gives voice to the experiences, challenges, and aspirations of young athletes, empowering them to shape the future of their sport.
A crucial component of the paper leverages foresight and systems thinking methods to visualize the current state of hockey's ecosystem, the various future states plausible within a 10-year horizon, and the highest-yielding interventions to create the most sustainable change.
The findings of this study provide a comprehensive framework for action, offering policymakers, sports organization leaders, parents, and concerned citizens a series of reflection prompts and resources to advance youth hockey culture in their realms of influence. These insights can inform the development of policies, the design of programs, and the decision-making processes, all with the goal of effecting transformative change in the Canadian hockey landscape
the object, the instrument, the book, the score: compositional tools and the sonic imagination
Full text linkThe object, the instrument, the book, the score: compositional tools and the sonic imagination is a project that culminated in an exhibition of systematic grid-based drawings, organic watercolour monoprints/monotype prints, handmade book-objects, and recorded sound. The process of creating this collection of work investigated connections between viewing and listening practices, asking how visual representations of sound can influence the sonic imagination. Disorientation is a central concern throughout this project, as influenced by Sara Ahmed’s Orientations: Toward a Queer Phenomenology, seeking a recontextualization of sonic experiences mediated by visual media as a way of engaging with different ways of being in a body in time and space. Chance-imagery, described by George Brecht as both improvisatory chance that engages the subconscious and mechanical process-based chance, has been central in this work because engaging with chance in visual media can be a way of opening up the imagination to better perceive the complexity of the world of sound. The artwork invites “playback” within the mind via audiation of sound images, created by blending the aesthetics of sound recording visualizations with the music staff symbol from Western classical music notation. This juxtaposed treatment is also used in working with sound directly, in combining “noisy” sounds with “musical” ones as part of an album of sound/music recorded as part of the project. The representation of time in fixed images is a consideration when creating music notations, and this project presents both the book form and the use of stitching traditions as multivocal methods of embedding temporality. Throughout this body of work, the idea of the score as an invitation rather than instruction is central to its function
The Beirut Project
Full text linkThis thesis project addresses and challenges the narrative of conflict that has largely defined the city of Beirut for decades, and which has instilled a sense of ontological determinism among its residents, leaving them with no agency and no means to change their situation. The central inquiry of this thesis probes whether it is possible, by experiencing Beirut as unfamiliar, heterotopic, and multifocal, to disrupt the everlasting cycle of predicaments that shapes the citizens ‘understanding of themselves and the place where they live.
Adopting a geocritical approach inspired by Bertrand Westphal's Geocriticism: Real and Fictional Spaces, this paper engages with three key conceptual frameworks — spatiotemporality, transgressivity, and referentiality — laying the foundation for the construction of an imagined 'Other' Beirut that opposes, transposes, and disrupts the original.
The Research unfolds in the writing of The Beirut Manifesto, designed as the initial phase of a broader collaborative project, as well as an invitation for a community conversation about the relationship with Otherness and the mechanisms of spatial segregation. This thesis also includes the installation This is Beirut, presented on November 23rd, 2023, at OCAD’s Grad Gallery. The installation employs architectural representation and experimental animation as mediums to explore alternative ways of perceiving and experiencing the city
Redefining Hyperfemininity: Claiming Femme Power through Love and Celebration
Full text linkMy research delves into the complex interplay between hyperfemininity and gender performance within my own life, employing autoethnography as a methodological lens. Guided by the theory of gender performativity, which posits that gender is constructed through repeated actions and behaviours, I examine my commitment to performing hyperfemininity—a style entrenched in heterosexist and sexist ideals. The exploration encompasses interconnected aspects such as girlhood, agency, control, power, and the gaze.
As a self-proclaimed feminist, lesbian, and woman, I confront my initial research question: “Why am I so girly?” Through my thesis, I argue that my hyperfeminine performance, coupled with an embrace of girly aesthetics, serves as a purposeful assertion of power and control in my life through love, and is potentially disconnected from the male gaze.
Engaging with contemporary feminist theory, particularly issues related to identities and categories, my study begins but extends beyond personal introspection. A significant portion of the thesis is a gallery show, titled Femme. These artworks, depicting themes of celebration, love, and blissful femininity, add a unique visual and personal dimension to the exploration of hyperfemininity within my identity. Oil paint’s inherent connection with ‘high art’ is juxtaposed with collage— a medium associated with juvenile, uncontrolled, free expression— and work in tandem to further explore the complex contradictions within feminine performance.
In essence, my thesis is a multifaceted examination that navigates the complexities of hyperfemininity, intertwining personal narratives with theoretical frameworks and visual representations. Through this comprehensive approach, I aim to contribute to the broader discourse on gender, identity, and feminist theory