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Crafting Craft Beer Brands: An examination of identity, community, and growth in Orlando area craft breweries
Title
Crafting Craft Beer Brands: An examination of identity, community, and growth in Orlando area craft breweries.
Creator
Fehribach, Dylan, Matejowsky, Ty, Williams, Lana, Geiger, Vance, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Beer is a commodity that has been produced and consumed by humans for millennia. Within the U.S., the craft beer industry has grown considerably over the last decade, accounting for 19% of all beers sales in 2014. Despite this increased market presence, craft beer marketing and production has received little anthropological consideration. To address this dearth of case studies, I consider the local craft brewery scene, or area of activity, in Orlando Florida. My 2016 ethnographic research...
Show moreBeer is a commodity that has been produced and consumed by humans for millennia. Within the U.S., the craft beer industry has grown considerably over the last decade, accounting for 19% of all beers sales in 2014. Despite this increased market presence, craft beer marketing and production has received little anthropological consideration. To address this dearth of case studies, I consider the local craft brewery scene, or area of activity, in Orlando Florida. My 2016 ethnographic research reveals that the local craft brewery scene exhibits both variation in identity and community locations. Interactions among breweries present opportunities for local breweries to build and grow their brands. Collected data elucidate the choices and decisions that craft brewery operators consider when producing beer, developing facilities, and promoting their beers and brand images. I conclude that the breweries create brand identity and grow their customer base and distribution through planned decisions as well as reactionary choices based on outside events. Such considerations are relevant for understanding the formation of a business's identity and brand identity while producing a craftwork product, as well the communities of each brewery interact with communities outside of the specific scene.
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Date Issued
2017
Identifier
CFE0006589, ucf:51267
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006589
Cafeteria Culture: An Anthropological Approach to Lunchtime in a Central Florida Elementary School
Title
Cafeteria Culture: An Anthropological Approach to Lunchtime in a Central Florida Elementary School.
Creator
Herrington, Emily, Matejowsky, Ty, Williams, Lana, Geiger, Vance, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Public school cafeterias are used by nearly 51 million children (ages 4-17) in the United States every day. With over 40% of the approximately 73 million children (ages 0-17) participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), public school lunches carry resounding nutritional, social, and educational significance for their consumers. This fact, coupled with frequent media attention to school lunch food, notwithstanding, a notable lack of social scientific engagement with both students...
Show morePublic school cafeterias are used by nearly 51 million children (ages 4-17) in the United States every day. With over 40% of the approximately 73 million children (ages 0-17) participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), public school lunches carry resounding nutritional, social, and educational significance for their consumers. This fact, coupled with frequent media attention to school lunch food, notwithstanding, a notable lack of social scientific engagement with both students' perspectives and NSLP operators persists. Divided into two studies, this research utilizes ethnographic methods to explore students' lunchtime experiences within a Central Florida public elementary school cafeteria. Both works are grounded in information collected from 22 semi-structured and unstructured interviews with students, parents, cafeteria workers, school faculty, and a county official while also participating in a one-month lunchtime observation period in Spring 2017. The first study utilizes ethnographic methods to investigate students' food selection, social practices, and mealtime behaviors within the cafeteria. In this work, I argue that student's preferences are most often informed by taste and familiarity, though both age and personal belief systems strongly outline students' experiences. In the second study, I focus on the top-down priorities of nutrition, food production, and student feedback that guide how institutions construct lunch menus for elementary students. Specifically, I investigate what role public institutions play in forming elementary school students' understandings of food and expectations for mealtimes. Synthesizing findings from both studies, I assess how social, economic, and industry pressures are tangible within local cafeteria and governmental contexts. This research contributes to academic scholarship and public policy regarding childhood nutrition in institutionalized settings and advocates for the inclusion of elementary-aged children as important social actors in their call for increased and dietarily-inclusive food options.
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Date Issued
2017
Identifier
CFE0006882, ucf:51732
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006882
An Anthropological Study of Eating Perspectives, Meal Composition, and Food Choices Among Diverse Student Populations
Title
An Anthropological Study of Eating Perspectives, Meal Composition, and Food Choices Among Diverse Student Populations.
Creator
Daws, Chelsea, Matejowsky, Ty, Williams, Lana, Geiger, Vance, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
My thesis explores the factors that shape or reinforce international college students' perceptions of food. This research not only examines how cultural values affect individual nutrition and maintenance of eating behaviors, it also addresses the extent to which accessibility impacts eating behaviors. Notably, the research endeavor uses the concept of dietary habitus as an underlying directive mechanism for study. This study finds that most students experience a reduction in their fruit and...
Show moreMy thesis explores the factors that shape or reinforce international college students' perceptions of food. This research not only examines how cultural values affect individual nutrition and maintenance of eating behaviors, it also addresses the extent to which accessibility impacts eating behaviors. Notably, the research endeavor uses the concept of dietary habitus as an underlying directive mechanism for study. This study finds that most students experience a reduction in their fruit and vegetable intake. Another finding suggests that international students eat healthier and are more structured in comparison to domestic students if they hybridize their dietary habitus. Research findings also suggest that most participants perceive food on campus to be both equally healthy and unhealthy, with limited accessibility to national cuisines and affordable healthy foods.
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Date Issued
2017
Identifier
CFE0006581, ucf:51348
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006581
Gender Differences and Fast Food Preferences Among U.S. College Students
Title
Gender Differences and Fast Food Preferences Among U.S. College Students.
Creator
Persaud, Donald, Matejowsky, Ty, Geiger, Vance, Williams, Lana, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The intent of this research is to examine the relationship of corporate fast food and health within the context of gender. It tests the hypothesis that Western perceptions of masculinity and femininity inform a differentiated pattern of food preference, which will correlate with health as measured by Body Mass Index (BMI). The targeted sample population for the study is the undergraduate community of the University of Central Florida, and fast food is a chosen dietary medium because it is an...
Show moreThe intent of this research is to examine the relationship of corporate fast food and health within the context of gender. It tests the hypothesis that Western perceptions of masculinity and femininity inform a differentiated pattern of food preference, which will correlate with health as measured by Body Mass Index (BMI). The targeted sample population for the study is the undergraduate community of the University of Central Florida, and fast food is a chosen dietary medium because it is an increasingly ubiquitous source of caloric energy in the American foodscape, representative of the mass production model applied to cuisine in Western nations. Data regarding fast food consumption habits were collected via survey producing a sample size of n=165 (n=116 females, n=49 males). Statistical analysis applied to this data yields conflicting results. While no gender based food preference is demonstrated, a correlation between BMI and frequency of consumption can be established. This suggests a gender-differentiated preference for fast food in general, if not for specific food items. From this sample, respondents were interviewed (n=14 females, n=8 males). Analysis of these interviews reveals an acute awareness by females of the connection between diet and health that is not reflected by males. Whether this perceived difference is based on an actual disparity of health education or a willingness to express this knowledge, it indicates a discrepancy which is likely attributable to cultural influences. While this study does not reveal gender-based differences in perception of specific foods, it does suggest disproportionate consumption patterns within genders which reflect distinct and contrasting cultural expectations in the U.S.
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Date Issued
2013
Identifier
CFE0005044, ucf:49951
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005044
Gourmet Food Trucks: An Ethnographic Examination of Orlando's Food Truck Scene
Title
Gourmet Food Trucks: An Ethnographic Examination of Orlando's Food Truck Scene.
Creator
Hawk, Zachary, Matejowsky, Ty, Geiger, Vance, Reyes-Foster, Beatriz, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Gourmet food trucks have emerged as increasingly popular dining alternatives for consumers in today's urban landscape. Existing literature, as well as my own ethnographic research within Orlando, Florida's mobile food vending scene, reveals that food truck owner/operators utilize various strategies to establish a viable niche for themselves in this diversified and burgeoning market. Among other things, these strategies include online social networking, creating and maintaining a recognizable...
Show moreGourmet food trucks have emerged as increasingly popular dining alternatives for consumers in today's urban landscape. Existing literature, as well as my own ethnographic research within Orlando, Florida's mobile food vending scene, reveals that food truck owner/operators utilize various strategies to establish a viable niche for themselves in this diversified and burgeoning market. Among other things, these strategies include online social networking, creating and maintaining a recognizable brand identity, collaborating with local retailers and bar owners, and incorporating organic and locally produced ingredients in their dishes whenever possible. As in other parts of the country, there appears to be a growing concern in greater Orlando about local diets and the profound and subtle messages it conveys about contemporary eating habits. I contend that dining at gourmet food trucks represents a legitimate declaration of consumer identity about individual beliefs and values. In my thesis, I examine how Orlando's gourmet food trucks offer consumers a greater selection of food options and allow locals to participate in a viable social network and community.
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Date Issued
2013
Identifier
CFE0005003, ucf:49981
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005003
Backpacking in the Digital Age: Ethnographic Perspectives from Latin America
Title
Backpacking in the Digital Age: Ethnographic Perspectives from Latin America.
Creator
Edwards, Russell, Matejowsky, Ty, Howard, Rosalyn, Geiger, Vance, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
My thesis ethnographically examines the changing nature of backpacking for Westerners in Latin America amid a proliferation of mobile computing and social networking. While anthropological and sociocultural research on tourism is extensive, the social scientific literature on backpacking has, thus far, been largely unconcerned with Western Hemisphere countries and the effects of digital technology on this mode of travel. Recent findings suggest, however, that backpacking has currently moved...
Show moreMy thesis ethnographically examines the changing nature of backpacking for Westerners in Latin America amid a proliferation of mobile computing and social networking. While anthropological and sociocultural research on tourism is extensive, the social scientific literature on backpacking has, thus far, been largely unconcerned with Western Hemisphere countries and the effects of digital technology on this mode of travel. Recent findings suggest, however, that backpacking has currently moved beyond its niche roots as a subculture of independent traveling into a full-fledged tourist industry. My thesis investigates the Latin American backpacking scene to better understand if this is a global trend. The available literature further suggests that today's backpackers are represented by various subgroups including older and less budget-constrained travelers known as (")flashpackers.(") Despite using the backpacker infrastructure, flashpackers' disposable income and relatively expensive equipment places them somewhat beyond traditional backpacker categories. Drawing on ethnographic data collected over two separate multi-sited field sessions in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Colombia, I document the recent experiences of backpackers and flashpackers and evaluate how digital technologies inform and affect their travels.
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Date Issued
2013
Identifier
CFE0004834, ucf:49710
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004834
Life After the Boat: Understanding the Needs of Refugees Living in Second Reception Centers in Sicily
Title
Life After the Boat: Understanding the Needs of Refugees Living in Second Reception Centers in Sicily.
Creator
Manzano, Russell, Mishtal, Joanna, Harris, Shana, Matejowsky, Ty, Geiger, Vance, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Migration to Italy has drastically increased, with thousands of refugees traveling by sea to Sicily every month. International refugee policy is largely managed through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and although it attempts to regulate refugee assistance, immigration policy within the European Union is complex and continuously fluctuating. Upon arrival in Sicily, authorities send refugees to first reception centers, and then transfer them to second reception centers...
Show moreMigration to Italy has drastically increased, with thousands of refugees traveling by sea to Sicily every month. International refugee policy is largely managed through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and although it attempts to regulate refugee assistance, immigration policy within the European Union is complex and continuously fluctuating. Upon arrival in Sicily, authorities send refugees to first reception centers, and then transfer them to second reception centers operated by local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The implementation of Italian immigration policy varies among regions; resettlement agencies often transfer refugees among centers where they receive different economic assistance, thus creating further harm to this marginalized population. While there is abundant scholarship regarding refugee resettlement, there is little anthropological research concerning the conditions of second reception centers for refugees in the specific geopolitical region of Siracusa, Sicily. Further, little is known about centers for unaccompanied minors, and due to the increasing number of minors arriving in Italy, additional anthropological research is critical in understanding the conditions of second reception centers for children in Sicily.I conducted ethnographic research in 2015 and 2016 at six refugee centers in Siracusa: three for unaccompanied minors, two for adults, and one for men, women, and children. In this thesis, I explore the perceptions of refugees concerning the treatment and services that they receive at second reception centers after arriving in Italy. I examine how resettlement policies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) shape refugees' experiences in transitioning within Sicilian society, arguing that certain policies and NGO practices restrict refugees' socioeconomic mobility. Specifically, this project aims to answer the following research questions:•What challenges do refugees face after arriving at reception and resettlement centers in Sicily?•How do current migration policies affect newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers?I argue that current policies, and their implementation, place refugees in circumstances that restrict their socioeconomic mobility, keeping them in impoverished conditions. The effectiveness of humanitarian aid is important to understand, not only within anthropology, but also concerning refugee policy to identify ineffective practices, as well as successful non-governmental practices for assisting refugees. Through ethnographic analysis, this research will deepen the understanding of the effects refugee policy creates in the lives of refugees in Sicily; therefore, contributing to the scholarship of how policy can prevent future harm to refugees after they arrive in Italy.
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Date Issued
2017
Identifier
CFE0007142, ucf:52308
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007142
Asylum in Crisis: Structural Violence and Refugees in Siracusa, Italy
Title
Asylum in Crisis: Structural Violence and Refugees in Siracusa, Italy.
Creator
Kersch, Adam, Mishtal, Joanna, Matejowsky, Ty, Toyne, J. Marla, Geiger, Vance, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
In recent years, unprecedented numbers of migrants have arrived in Italy due to political, religious, ethnic and economic instabilities in West and North Africa and the Middle East. Simultaneously, the Eurozone Crisis and neoliberal austerity measures left the Italian government struggling to administer healthcare and legal services to all migrants. This study investigates the provision of essential services by the Italian state and two non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Emergency and...
Show moreIn recent years, unprecedented numbers of migrants have arrived in Italy due to political, religious, ethnic and economic instabilities in West and North Africa and the Middle East. Simultaneously, the Eurozone Crisis and neoliberal austerity measures left the Italian government struggling to administer healthcare and legal services to all migrants. This study investigates the provision of essential services by the Italian state and two non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Emergency and ARCI, respectively providing free medical and legal services, to incoming migrants in Siracusa, Italy. It analyzes migrants' perceptions of these services and evolving goals in Europe. Building upon preliminary fieldwork conducted in 2014, in January to July 2015 I undertook six months of participant observation in a migrant reception center and legal offices in Siracusa. During my research I conducted 72 unstructured and semi-structured interviews with migrants, NGO activists, lawyers, and doctors, and state physicians. This study analyzes Emergency's role as an entrance to the Italian healthcare system and ARCI as a facilitator of legal aid to migrants. I argue that the clinic's position on the outskirts of Siracusa functions as a means of exclusion, exacerbating divides between the local population and incoming migrants. Additionally, I provide insight into the provision of legal services to migrants in Siracusa, as well as how these migrants navigate geopolitical and legislative borders, and these borders' roles within the politics of the European Union and neoliberal ideologies. I argue that selective enforcement of asylum legislation and dearth of legal aid to migrants motivates many migrants to clandestinely flee Italy to seek futures in other European nations, consequently moving (")burdens(") of migrant reception. This research contributes to public policy and scholarship on health and migration policy as well as politics of conflict, while shedding light on the critical role of NGOs in a complex humanitarian crisis occurring in Southern Europe.
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Date Issued
2016
Identifier
CFE0006126, ucf:51166
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006126