title: Transformations: Anthropology, Art and the Quilt

authors: Wanigasekera, Gwenda Dorothy

subjects: Anthropology

abstract: Drawing on both anthropological and quilt literature, this thesis shows the many different ways that made objects are thought about by different groups of people.  Awareness of these differences permits a new perspective of 'Western' art and object making.  This awareness allows a space in which to consider the importance of the process of making.

Quiltmaking provides an interesting case study.  This thesis therefore describes the field of quiltmaking activity that exists in New Zealand at the present time.  This genre, as it is practised today, had its beginnings in the revival that began in this country during the 1970's.  This study will show that the main impetus of this revival did not draw on known traditions in New Zealand, but rather on a largely imported tradition that had developed in the United States of America.

Ideas about the status of quilts as art objects, comes from a mixture of influences.  The tradition of quiltmaking in the United States was already a strong one and had been through a number of revivals.  Aspects of this traditional culture influenced quiltmakers in New Zealand. Simultaneously, there was an equally strong sense of the quilt as an art object in New Zealand.  However, art entrepreneurs in the United States certainly were part of the transformation of the quilt into an art object in that country.  Their strategies of discourse and display drew on contemporary artworld ideologies and ultimately this valuation affected which quilts could be seen as 'art' in New Zealand.

Through the use of participant observation, interviews and a questionnaire, the content of this study will show the many different ways that New Zealand quiltmakers work, their aims and goals for the quilts they make, and the ways these quilts are perceived by other quilters and the wider public.  Some areas that have resulted in conflict and misunderstandings are discussed. As in any such group, conflicts and misunderstandings arise from the existence of different ways of valuing aspects of cultural activities.

NB Unlike the hard copy of this thesis the colour plates in this electronic version are placed together between the chapters and the appendices.

text: Transformations: Anthropology, Art and the Quilt Drawing on both anthropological and quilt literature, this thesis shows the many different ways that made objects are thought about by different groups of people.  Awareness of these differences permits a new perspective of 'Western' art and object making.  This awareness allows a space in which to consider the importance of the process of making.

Quiltmaking provides an interesting case study.  This thesis therefore describes the field of quiltmaking activity that exists in New Zealand at the present time.  This genre, as it is practised today, had its beginnings in the revival that began in this country during the 1970's.  This study will show that the main impetus of this revival did not draw on known traditions in New Zealand, but rather on a largely imported tradition that had developed in the United States of America.

Ideas about the status of quilts as art objects, comes from a mixture of influences.  The tradition of quiltmaking in the United States was already a strong one and had been through a number of revivals.  Aspects of this traditional culture influenced quiltmakers in New Zealand. Simultaneously, there was an equally strong sense of the quilt as an art object in New Zealand.  However, art entrepreneurs in the United States certainly were part of the transformation of the quilt into an art object in that country.  Their strategies of discourse and display drew on contemporary artworld ideologies and ultimately this valuation affected which quilts could be seen as 'art' in New Zealand.

Through the use of participant observation, interviews and a questionnaire, the content of this study will show the many different ways that New Zealand quiltmakers work, their aims and goals for the quilts they make, and the ways these quilts are perceived by other quilters and the wider public.  Some areas that have resulted in conflict and misunderstandings are discussed. As in any such group, conflicts and misunderstandings arise from the existence of different ways of valuing aspects of cultural activities.

NB Unlike the hard copy of this thesis the colour plates in this electronic version are placed together between the chapters and the appendices.

year: 2006

title: The combined influence of top and middle management leadership styles on absorptive capacity

authors: Sun, Peter Yih-Tong

subjects: absorptive capacity

abstract: Absorptive capacity is an important organizational capability constituted by exploratory, transformative, and exploitative learning processes. Leadership has been shown to affect such processes, but little is known about how the combined leadership styles of top and middle management influence absorptive capacity. This theory-building, exploratory qualitative case study discusses the need for top and middle management to be ambidextrous and to change their styles to better facilitate the three different learning processes. We found that an exploratory learning process was facilitated when both top and middle management used a transformational style, a transformative learning process was facilitated when top management used a transformational style while middle management used a transactional style, and an exploitative learning process was facilitated when both top and middle management used a transactional style. Furthermore, for each of the three learning processes, the leadership styles of top and middle management operated more effectively when certain attributes of the organizational context were emphasized.

text: The combined influence of top and middle management leadership styles on absorptive capacity Absorptive capacity is an important organizational capability constituted by exploratory, transformative, and exploitative learning processes. Leadership has been shown to affect such processes, but little is known about how the combined leadership styles of top and middle management influence absorptive capacity. This theory-building, exploratory qualitative case study discusses the need for top and middle management to be ambidextrous and to change their styles to better facilitate the three different learning processes. We found that an exploratory learning process was facilitated when both top and middle management used a transformational style, a transformative learning process was facilitated when top management used a transformational style while middle management used a transactional style, and an exploitative learning process was facilitated when both top and middle management used a transactional style. Furthermore, for each of the three learning processes, the leadership styles of top and middle management operated more effectively when certain attributes of the organizational context were emphasized.

year: 2011

title: Waiata anthems: How Aotearoa (New Zealand) popular and contemporary music is addressing generational trauma and revitalising te reo Māori (the Māori language)

authors: Walker, Alroy

abstract: Waiata is translated as song or chant from te reo Māori (the Māori language), yet it has many forms and important functions in te ao Māori (the Māori world). Waiata is most commonly experienced publicly in Aotearoa in support of whaikõrero (oration, formal speech-making), but it also serves to reinforce Māori interconnectedness to others, the natural world and to the supernatural world. Enduring from pre-encounter oral culture, waiata serve as vessels and a mode of transmission for mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), histories (whanau, iwi) and culture. This presentation focuses on emergent and contemporary modes of waiata (punk, hardcore and indie) in a post-colonial context, examining musician motivations, the role that music plays in the revitalisation of te reo Māori, and how it honours the purpose of waiata tawhito (traditional waiata). The project is part of ongoing research supported by the partnership agreement between Prifysgol Caerdydd and University of Waikato.

text: Waiata anthems: How Aotearoa (New Zealand) popular and contemporary music is addressing generational trauma and revitalising te reo Māori (the Māori language) Waiata is translated as song or chant from te reo Māori (the Māori language), yet it has many forms and important functions in te ao Māori (the Māori world). Waiata is most commonly experienced publicly in Aotearoa in support of whaikõrero (oration, formal speech-making), but it also serves to reinforce Māori interconnectedness to others, the natural world and to the supernatural world. Enduring from pre-encounter oral culture, waiata serve as vessels and a mode of transmission for mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), histories (whanau, iwi) and culture. This presentation focuses on emergent and contemporary modes of waiata (punk, hardcore and indie) in a post-colonial context, examining musician motivations, the role that music plays in the revitalisation of te reo Māori, and how it honours the purpose of waiata tawhito (traditional waiata). The project is part of ongoing research supported by the partnership agreement between Prifysgol Caerdydd and University of Waikato.

year: 2023-11-22