Sanctity of Women

This report contextualises the exhibition, He Wāhine, He Tapu. My research into puhi (chief’s daughter) and mana wāhine (women of status), along with the methodology and practice which produced this exhibition is discussed. The literature review covers the status of Puhi and other female leaders in traditional Māori society, in particular, the sacredness of the whare tangata (house of humankind, or womb), linking wāhine (Māori women) to the atua wāhine (goddesses) of Māori creation stories. This body of work explores notions of tapu (sacred or restricted) and noa (normal or free from restriction), identity, the complementary nature of the sexes in traditional society and the impact of colonisation. The underpinning questions are; who is the puhi? What role did she play? What makes her special? And where is she today? The review of artists examines the history of portraiture and early photography, particularly that of Māori, as well as links to contemporary artists working in this genre. I have used Manawa Kāi Tahu, a cultural, social, environmental and economical framework as a tool for the analytical component, grounding this practice in Māori philosophy, values and tikanga (protocol), and locating this work as culturally relevant within Te Ao Māori (the Māori world view). The six values are – Tohutanga (capability and development), Rangatiratanga (selfdetermination and upholding the integrity of others), Kaitiakitanga (stewardship and enhancing resources), Manaakitanga (hospitality, health and safety and wellbeing of self and others), and Whanaungatanga (kinship and communication). The exhibition is also positioned within He Tātaitanga Kaupapa āhua toi; a Māori art continuum (Jahnke 2006), using the classes of customary, non- customary and trans-customary art. How this body of work aligns with the categories of noncustomary and trans-customary is also discussed

Measuring attitudes about mathematics: using a semantic differential

At all educational levels, students’ attitudes towards mathematics are important, including elementary and junior and senior high school preservice teachers’. In this study, a semantic differential (rating scale) was administered to four different groups of students in order to ascertain their attitudes toward mathematics. The four groups included preservice elementary and high school teachers; and liberal education college and high school students. Semantic differential enabled the researchers to distinguish diversity in groups’ attitudes. Findings in this study show that the high school students assessed exhibit the most negative attitudes towards mathematics, whereas preservice elementary teachers reported more positive attitudes towards mathematics than previous research in this area has indicated

Apple-Polishers, Ass-Kissers and Suck-Ups: Towards a Sociology of Ingratiation

In this paper we use one form of communicative action, “brownnosing”, as a social lens for understanding power relations in both formal, organizational contexts and interpersonal relationships. We investigate this phenomenon by assessing processes of ingratiation at school and work settings. We do so using data collected from over one hundred student respondents to ascertain the meanings, uses, and outcomes of brownnosing. The study finds that members of the “millennial generation” develop skills in both the act of brownnosing and the detection of this form of communication as they participate in a variety of contexts, including family, school, work, and interpersonal relationships. Utilizing power-dependence models for analysis, our data suggest that brownnosing, as an organizational resource, commonly reflects the structural arrangements of both school and the workplace. We draw upon organizational and exchange theories in the interpretation of the data

A Tool in the Kit: Uses of Bullshitting among Millennial Workers

This study explores the nature, use, and social organization of one form of communicative action that is common in everyday life -- bullshitting. We use this form of communication to assess the ways in which dimensions of community, power and status are created in interaction. Abiding by the canons of ethnographic content analysis, we gathered data from over one hundred student respondents to ascertain the behaviors, utterances, and stories that people define as bullshitting. The study finds that members of the millennial generation hone skills both in the telling and detection of this form of communication as they participate in a variety of contexts, including school, work, and interpersonal relationships. Special attention is given to the ways in which bullshitting is used as a cultural resource for agentive action. Dramaturgical and organizational theories are drawn upon in theorizing the data

Popular Cultural Portrayals of Those Who Do Mathematics

This article examines the popular cultural portrayals of mathematicians, but also anyone who does mathematics. Themes occurring in comic strips, television programs, literature, and, especially, in the movies are examined. Implications discussed include that secondary students are not going to be willing to do mathematics, if doing mathematics is not presented as a cultural activity

Metaphors and Mathematical Identity: Math is Like a Tornado in Kansas

Mathematical identity is an individual’s concept of who he or she is mathematically. In this paper, metaphors for mathematics from elementary education majors are compared to metaphors created by secondary mathematics teaching majors. The analysis demonstrates a basic difference in the mathematical identity of the two groups, with the latter group having more holistic conceptions of mathematics than the first group. Elementary education majors describe mathematics as an ongoing struggle in which the mathematics is active, and they are the victims. The secondary teaching mathematics majors describe mathematics as an ongoing struggle in which they are active

Elementary Education Majors’ Stories About Math: An Analysis of Students’ Mathematics Autobiographies

This paper analyzes 52 preservice elementary education majors’ mathematical autobiographies. Participants wrote about their previous experiences with mathematics. Three themes emerged: (1) My previous teachers have played a significant role in the formation of my mathematical identity. (2) I want to help my future students understand, enjoy, and appreciate mathematics. And (3) Mathematics has its ups and downs. Although directed to define mathematics, many participants did not do so. The remaining participants described mathematics as needed for everyday life, as problem solving, or as a study

Accessioning and Managing the Petersburg Area Art League Collection

Since the 1960s, the Petersburg Area Art League (PAAL) has obtained works of art for its permanent collection through purchases, private donations, and through the local art show, the Poplar Lawn Art Festival, later known as Artfest. Recently, however, the organization has decided to become a non-collecting institution in order to focus on its mission to promote the arts in Petersburg through gallery shows for local artists and educational programs. While PAAL’s staff members share a love of art and a dedication to the local community, they have not been trained in professional standards for handling museum collections as outlined by the American Association of Museums (AAM). Consequently, the PAAL collection had not been adequately documented or stored in a manner that protected the works from potential damage or degradation. This museums project was designed to help the Petersburg Area Art League meet AAM standards. During the summer of 2010, the collection of 150 artworks was accessioned; its storage facility was reorganized; a database was created; and a collections management policy that would ensure the continued care of the collection after the completion of this project was written and approved. This paper describes challenges encountered and resolved during the two-month project and provides a reference for those who wish to take on similar projects in the future

Rose Macaulay : a Critical Study

This thesis explores the novels of Rose Macaulay from the early works onward