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Constantin Brâncuși’s “Other”: Primitivism, the Porte du Baiser and the Functions of the Émigré Artist’s Studio
No full textThesis (B.A. in Art History)--John Cabot University, Fall 2024.This thesis will analyze how Constantin Brâncuși’s Primitivizing sculpture is perceived in the context of his own “Otherness” in Parisian circles between the 1920s and 1940s. Brâncuși is both “Othering” and “Other” in this milieu: appropriating both from non-Western cultures and from a posited ethnographic past of his native Romania. Through form, technique and subject matter, Brâncuși both adheres to and transforms early twentieth-century Primitivism. While scholars have extensively researched Brâncuși’s sculpture, including his use of Sub-Saharan sources and references, no secondary source considers this in relation to his public persona as a “Primitive” or “Other” himself in the context of the Parisian avant-garde of the interwar period. Extant debates about his use of Romanian folk art or African art have not, for one, considered the artist’s social role and concerted public persona in this. Nor do Romanian, Anglo-American and Francophone scholars agree on how to parse out Africanizing and folk sources. Thus, after reframing Brâncuși’s “Primitive” sculpture and persona by comparing and contrasting what remain national(ist) agendas in art history, I will focus on one of Brâncuși’s capital works in particular, his Porte du Baiser of 1937-1938. The monumental ensemble of Târgu Jiu, which includes the Porte du Baiser, is a particularly interesting case study to examine the nexus of issues at the heart of this thesis. Commissioned by a State-approved but independent association in 1937, Romania exhibited it at the 1937 World’s Fair in Paris, where it garnered both national and international acclaim. Aspects of its commission, display and reception are the result not only of the sculpture itself, however, but also of the carefully crafted “image” that Brâncuși primarily promoted through studio visits, as sites of publicizing his process and his artistic persona. Brâncuși’s studio functioned as a hybrid living, working, socializing, exhibiting, and teaching space and, I will argue, as a self-portrait, which negotiates his Romanian heritage and his Africanizing Primitivism. In order to analyze carefully these strategies both material and immaterial, archival sources from the Kandinsky Archives, the Brummer Gallery Archives, the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Bucharest and the World’s Fair of 1937 will be examined through the lens of a decidedly “decolonizing” art-historical perspective
Venus as a Goddess of Love, Nature, and the Sea: A Study of the Painted Garden of the House of Venus in the Shell in Pompeii
No full textMaster of Arts in Art History -- John Cabot University, Spring 2024.While there are many exquisitely painted gardens found throughout the ruins of Pompeii, the garden of the House of Venus is especially alluring with its harmonious combinations of art, mythology, and nature. The south wall of the house’s garden is decorated with a central painting of the goddess Venus, reclining in a seashell, surrounded by paintings of lush and luxurious gardens. This thesis investigates why the painting of the goddess Venus was chosen as the central decoration of the garden, and why this painting was combined with paintings of imaginary paradise gardens. The ancient Roman goddess Venus was a goddess of beauty, love, and desire, of nature, gardens, and fertility, and of the sea. She was one of the most important goddesses of Rome, and she was especially important in the ancient town of Pompeii, where she was celebrated as the town’s patron goddess. In the garden of the House of Venus, the paintings on the south wall add to the splendour of the garden, and they highlight the goddess’s various realms and powers. Similar portrayals of the goddess Venus have been found in other Pompeian paintings and mosaics, and there are also other Pompeian gardens where mythology and nature were harmoniously intertwined to enchant viewers and transform the garden into an elysian paradise. These mesmerising paintings evoked the presence of the goddess and her powers over the natural world, appealing to Venus to be not only the patron goddess of the city, but also to be the patron goddess of the house itself
Just the right push! Social Media as a Therapeutical Catalyst: The Impact of Influencers’ Motivational (vs. Neutral) Communication on Healthy Consumption
No full textSocial media influencers (SMIs) today play a pivotal role in shaping consumer behaviors: This influential capacity presents a unique opportunity to channel efforts towards promoting conscious consumption patterns, exemplified by choices that prioritize health and well-being. Coherently, literature delved into the exploration of how influencers' “way to do”, could significantly impact consumer consumption behaviors. Through a preliminary investigation and a main study based on an experiment conducted among a sample of 467 participants, this paper examines the effects of the SMIs motivational communication tone of voice (vs. neutral) on consumers' responses in terms of healthy consumption behaviors. Results demonstrate that the motivational tone of voice doesn't directly impact consumers' willingness to buy healthy food. However, it becomes significant due to the mediating role of connectedness with the influencer - hinging on consumers' sense of connection with their favorite SMIs. Notably, this effect is magnified for those with lower health consciousness levels, while it is not significant for those with higher health consciousness, indicating how such a motivational tone of voice may be perceived as annoying and disturbing. Implications for marketing and communication campaigns incentivizing healthy consumption are discussed
Unleashing the power of innovation and sustainability: Transforming cereal production in the BRICS countries
No full textAmidst escalating food insecurity and climate change threats, which exacerbate food shortages and increase agricultural emissions, this paper explores transformative strategies in cereal production within the BRICS countries from 1990 to 2021. The uncontrolled growth of intensive agriculture, aimed at satisfying the growing global demand for food in a context already threatened by climate change, has led to a uniformity of crops with devastating impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, resulting in a transformation of soil and its capacity to implement ecosystem services, such as food, fiber, and raw material production, nutrient recycling, carbon sequestration, clean water availability, and the regulation of water regimes and local temperatures. These changes have had negative consequences on agricultural production. Thus, sustainable agriculture faces three closely related challenges: reducing environmental impact, in-creasing productivity, and adapting to and mitigating climate change. This analysis utilizes advanced econometric tools such as panel second-generation unit root tests, Westerlund’s cointegration test, second-generation long-run estimators, and the Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality test, together with several machine learning algorithms, to investigate the influence of technological innovations and improved land management on cereal yields. The findings demonstrate a positive correlation between technological advancements, enhanced land management for cereal cultivation, and the food production index with increased cereal output. At the same time, emissions from agriculture significantly reduce yields over time. Furthermore, an interaction analysis reveals that the comprehensive integration of these factors significantly boosts cereal productivity. The study also identifies directional causal relationships between technological and emission factors and cereal production, suggesting a complex interplay with land use. Sustainable land use is one of the key conditions for ensuring the ecological resilience of agricultural practices in terms of providing ecosystem services. Implementing these strategies calls for a collaborative approach among governments, policymakers, farmers, researchers, and other stakeholders, considering each BRICS nation’s unique environmental, socio-economic, and local contexts, and fostering regional cooperation to promote sustainable agricultural practices
Blockchain Technology and Governance of Franchise Networks
No full textThis study explores the implications of the introduction of blockchain technology for the governance of franchise networks. In light of the limited prior research on this topic, the study employs a twofold approach. It begins by identifying the central themes present in current research at the intersection of franchising and blockchain technology. Next, it examines existing instances of implementations of blockchain technology and connects them to corresponding value chain operations in the franchising context. The study takes a comprehensive approach, combining bibliometric analysis with a semisystematic literature review, to offer insights into blockchain technology's potential future impact on the franchise industry. Specifically, it shows that franchise network governance can benefit significantly from attributes of blockchain such as transparency, efficiency, and trust as well as from its various applications such as smart contracts and decentralized autonomous organizations
The Entrepreneur's Cognitive and Behavioral Journey: Understanding Heuristics and Bias under Risk and Uncertainty
No full textThe study of the entrepreneurial mindset has provided valuable insights into the cognitive strategies that impact entrepreneurial activities. Researchers have identified several biases and heuristics employed by entrepreneurs, which significantly influence their decision-making processes and actions, but the empirical evidence remains fragmented. To develop a more comprehensive understanding of the cognitive and behavioral mindset of entrepreneurs, it is important to consider the role of the context in which they operate. By analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of heuristics and biases within the context of risk or uncertainty, we can gain a deeper understanding of their influence on entrepreneurial outcomes
Beyond Borders: Exploring Multinational Enterprises' CSR Efforts for Health Equity in Developing Countries - The Case of Johnson & Johnson
No full textAs corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices become essential and necessary for multinational enterprises (MNEs), consumers find themselves skeptical about such commitments. As a result, MNEs must prove that their interventions are making a positive impact rather than using social responsibility initiatives as marketing strategies. A pillar of social responsibility is making healthcare accessible and affordable worldwide. In developing countries, access to healthcare is limited, and a lot of harmful diseases pose a threat to millions of people's lives. In such contexts, the role of pharmaceutical corporations and their interventions becomes crucial. This research paper is a detailed review of Johnson & Johnson's strategy for enhancing healthcare access in developing countries, especially Sub-Saharan Africa. This study analyzes Johnson & Johnson's engagement in CSR efforts to enhance access to healthcare in emerging countries. Using a single case study design, we investigate the company's investments in healthcare initiatives, infrastructure, stakeholder engagement, availability of services, and accessibility in the African region. While impressive progress has been made, areas for improvement still emerge. Ultimately, implementing CSR in the healthcare sector has shown to be a complex and sensitive issue. Necessary recommendations are made on how to amplify the outreach of corporate initiatives at a higher level to solve health disparities in developing countries
Implementing Transitional Justice in Ongoing Armed Conflicts: Building Durable Peace and Healing Wounds in South Sudan and Ukraine
No full textThesis (B.A. in International Affairs, Minor in Legal Studies)--John Cabot University, Spring 2024.The following thesis seeks to explore the topic of transitional justice, a concept related mainly to addressing past injustices and dealing with building peace after the end of an armed conflict, and the potential for its application prior to such an end. The question it addresses is, thus, what are the most effective transitional justice mechanisms for addressing crimes under international law during armed conflicts, and how do they contribute to reconciliation and reconciliation, respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. By scrutinizing the historical context and ongoing repercussions of conflicts in South Sudan and Ukraine, this study aims to offer practical recommendations on how such mechanisms can be beneficial in both contexts, drawing upon legal and humanitarian data and arguments. Ultimately, it argues that effective transitional justice strategies, such as truth and reconciliation commissions or victim-focused reparations, hold merit in being implemented and developed even amidst ongoing conflicts, as they possess the potential to foster conducive conditions for peace and reconciliation.
Navigating the Precarious Path: Understanding the Dualisation of the Italian Labour Market through the Lens of Involuntary Part-Time Employment
No full textThis article investigates the surge in Involuntary Part-Time (IPT) employment in Italy from 2004 to 2019, exploring its impact on various socio-economic groups and adopting a spatial perspective. The study tests the hypothesis that technological shifts, specifically routine biased technological change (RBTC), and the expansion of household substitution services contribute to IPT growth. There is a widening negative gap in IPT prevalence among marginalized groups - women, young, and less skilled workers. After controlling for sector and occupation, the higher IPT propensity diminishes but remains significant, hinting at persistent discrimination. Additionally, segregation into more exposed occupations and sectors intensifies over time. Leveraging province-level indicators, and using a Partial Adjustment model, there is statistical support for RBTC’s correlation with IPT, especially among women. The impact of household substitution services is notably pronounced for women, highlighting sector segregation