Faculty of Arts of Comenius University > Application and Admissions > Doctoral Studies > Admission procedure for the academic year 2024/2025 > Dissertation topics for full time and external study in 2024–2025 academic year > World Cultures and Religion (Full Time) > Annotations

Annotations

Nr. Topic Annotations
1. The spread of Zen Buddhism in Europe: from definitions to complex modeling ** The research shall target the basic principles of the spread of Zen Buddhism in Europe (focusing on Central Europe). It will examine mutual compatibility of narrative patterns involved in the spread of Zen and their reflection in the Zen practice, as well as the organization and communication of the individual Zen associations. Methodologically, the research will combine qualitative (ethnography) and quantitative methods (complex modeling).
2. The symbolic landscape: an approach to the contexts of rock art in Yucatan caves ** The aim of this dissertation thesis will be a comprehensive classification and interpretation of cave art in the region of Yucatan, Mexico. Special attention will be paid to cultural connections, symbolism, and possible ritual or ceremonial functions. In addition, the relationships between rock art and the surrounding natural environment, particularly the geographic landscape and the topography of the caves will be examined.
3. Communicative aspects of dance from anthropological perspective ** The dissertation on the presented topic will be based on long-term ethnographic research in the environment of dance folklore groups. The aim will be to analyse the communicative aspects of dance from an anthropological perspective and to explain the socio-cultural contexts of the relevant statements. The research project will interdisciplinarily link findings from evolutionary, cognitive and linguistic anthropology.
4. Religion, spirituality and nonreligion in current societies: post-paradigmatic turn (approaches and labelling) ** In current societies, we face a diversity of secular worldviews and religious and spiritual standpoints. In the field of religious studies, more attention should be paid to the adjusting of approaches to how to grasp and label modern forms of religiosity, spirituality, and irreligiosity. The reflexive post-paradigmatic turn can shed light on the shadowy places of current research and elevate knowledge of what religion is and what roles it plays in modern societies.
5. Understanding and Sensing Human and Non-Human Interactions ** Using in-depth ethnography, sensory anthropology and cognitive studies this PhD. project aims to explore ecological relations among people, domestic animals, wild animals, plants, and the landscape. The goal is to identify the patterns of sensory communication of the subjects in the current realm of ecological change and risk. 
6. Ethnographic Cinema in Slovakia. Archival and Documentary Research ** Since the publication by Martin Slivka Slovak Ethnographic Film. Filmography, there is a lack of systematic research of filmic ethnological documents in Slovakia. Many collections, such as the one in the Slovak National Museum in Martin, are not sufficiently processed. The goal of the project will be to process the documents, analyse them, contextualise them within the framework of the development of ethnological/anthropological research in Slovakia and film documentary production, and last but not least, place them in a broader world context in visual anthropology.
7. Current transformations of holidays and the process of eventisation ** In modern society, festive culture is influenced by the process of transformation. Holidays and celebrations are losing their meaningful relationship and commemorative dimension in secularisation and individualisation. The offer of cultural experiences penetrates our social contacts. The subject of an empirical study in this topic is pre-arranged and managed events oriented towards offering a complex cultural experience for visitors.
8. Wine festivals and celebrations ** Wine festivals and celebrations spread worldwide offer visitors gastronomic and cultural experiences, relaxation, and entertainment. They take place in wine-growing areas, and their function is primarily commercial. These are carefully produced events that are part of local branding. The subject of an empirical study is the programmatic elements of these events and the functions they fulfil for the organisers and local society.
9. The transnational circulation of care and protection within families in Central Europe ** The subject of research within the topic is transnational practices of care and social reproduction in transnational families, i.e., those where at least one of its members lives in another country. Depending on the interest and choice of the applicant, it can be, for example, families of women from Slovakia who work in German-speaking countries as nannies, families of emigrants from Ukraine or transnational families. Interest in applying the theoretical approaches of the anthropology of care, migration studies, studies of transnational migration and care, as well as the gender perspective and feminism, is welcome.
10. Family memory in 21st century ** Family memory represents a specific field of research within memory studies. It focuses on the intimate space of the family. Family memory is characterised by intergenerational interaction and communication, the dynamics of its formative, value-oriented and identity-forming functions.  Current research investigates the relationship between intergenerational communication and identity, the quality of relationships and expressions of care in the family, or family memory and relationships to home, housing and property. It examines communication opportunities, reasons for family reunions, and the role of modern communication technologies. The issues outlined above offer inspiration for further exploration in the context of a PhD.
11. Forms and mechanisms of social cohesion in contemporary society in social anthropological and cognitive perspectives Social cohesion is a multifaceted phenomenon that calls for interdisciplinary approaches and mixed methods while providing diverse social manifestations for its exploration. The research can target beliefs, behaviours and social structures that shape and express group identities, as well as interpersonal relationships, trust and cooperation that reveal the cognitive and emotional underpinnings of social integration (or conflict).
12. Photographs, videos and narratives in family memory ** Photographs and videos, as components of family archives, (re)construct memories of individuals and social groups (from family to society). The dissertation project explores the relationship between „small" and „grand" narratives in family memory by exploring audiovisual sources. It specifically addresses the issue of intergenerational transfer of memories in the context of individual and collective remembering. The research is grounded in the principles of multimodal anthropology and supports knowledge production through various methods across media. Beyond the obligatory textual component, other creative forms (video, series of photographs, comics, performance, etc.) are therefore welcomed as part of the output.
13. Affordability of Housing for Vulnerable People ** The dissertation research will trace the housing pathways of homeless individuals or families (without stable housing) – from the loss of housing and homelessness to different forms of temporary accommodation. In the form of qualitative research, it will observe how structural (inequality, lack of social support/work, social policies based on merit...) and individual factors (family background, financial situation, health problems...) have influenced the housing pathways of individuals or families. At the same time, it can focus on how these experiences of different forms of housing influence people's idea of what home is.
14. National and ethnic patterns of a current religiosity in Central-European context ** The thesis focuses on the analytical evaluation and explanation of current indicators of religiosity within the Central European framework, primarily utilising sample surveys. It assesses the dynamics of changes in religiosity within a broad context, with a particular focus on the societal processes involved. In addition to examining national and ethnic levels, it comprehensively evaluates other demographic and spatial contexts of these processes.
15. Transformation of Roma identities on community and society levels  Based on historical and ethnographic research, the dissertation will trace the processes of transformation of the different identities of the Roma (or other communities under this umbrella term) living in mixed or border regions from the point of view of the existence of these identities in two dimensions – at the ethnic and at the national level. Research can be focused on the specific parameters and different aspects of these processes, e.g. ethnic mimicry, publicly declared identity, preferred ethnic identity, national civic identity, and European Roma identity.
16. Assisted ageing – design for all and modern technologies as an opportunity? ** Reflections on design for all and technological progress that are expected to improve older people's lives dramatically are also current challenges for research in social and cultural anthropology. This kind of research on ageing and old age is the intersection of the material-objective world and its personal-subjective perception. The dissertation should address the topic of materiality involving "non humane" actors creating our social world. It includes, for example, the design of assistive technologies or environments suitable for all ages.
17. Living heritage and the roles of individual players in the field of its safeguarding (community of bearers, institutions at various levels - from the community to UNESCO) ** Safeguarding policies embodied, for example, by the UNESCO 2003  Convention of the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of primarily serve to preserve the intangible cultural heritage or living heritage in the communities concerned. However, they also offer an opportunity for political and institutional manipulation, leading to its commercialisation, distortion of its presentation outside the local community, changes in original norms, values and functions associated with it, or misuse of living heritage to promote political and personal or group interests. The topic of the dissertation should be the ethnological reflection - a case study of one of the elements of living heritage inscribed in one of the UNESCO Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
18. Digital research collections in ethnology and anthropology ** The submitted topic of doctoral study requires from the applicant an interdisciplinary (ethnology and anthropology - archiving - digital humanities) and theoretical-applied approach (interpretation and heuristics - creation of practical outputs and methodologies). It focuses on current approaches and trends in the design and construction of digital research collections in the humanities, especially in ethnology and anthropology. Emphasis is placed on the problem of metadata structures of research collections, the applicability of research collections in the practice of humanities research and their further perspective use (scientific and non-scientific). The study also includes professional activities at the Department of Research Collections of IESA SAS, including the practical preparation and creation of specific sets of digital research collections.
19. Labour, labour migration and barriers to labour market access for ethnic minorities in a socio-anthropological perspective ** The research focuses on examining both job opportunities at the local level and labour migration, specifically in relation to the Roma population. The research analyses labour issues, including work in the informal economy and the follow-up life strategies of Roma in order to obtain work and income. The research identifies factors such as power asymmetries between Roma and non-Roma actors such as municipal leaders, employers or intermediary agencies that may enable or hinder Roma access to work and the labour market. The research is based on an interdisciplinary approach, dominated by ethnographic field research, but which can also be complemented by archival research or quantitative statistical methods.
20. The musical culture of the Roma in the context of their religious life ** Currently, we can observe in the Roma communities a revival of religious life and an inclination towards a Pentecostal type of piety. Closely related to this is the increase, popularity and firm place of Romani Christian songs in the active repertoire. It is a living and changing layer of the Romani repertoire. In different denominations, the style of songs is similar, and musical groups and spiritual music festivals are formed.