Social Shifts
Flying Paper Objects: Crossing Cultural and Demographic Lines through Collective Acts of Play View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session John Wood
In the cover copy of his 1998 monologue Globalization : The Human Consequences, Zygmunt Bauman wrote that “neo-tribal and fundamentalist tendencies are as legitimate offspring of globalization as the widely acclaimed ‘hybridization’ of top culture”. Bauman warned of the social consequences of global mobility (for those of sufficient economic and political means) and the replacement of place-bound interpersonal networks with high-speed digital communications. Nearly 30 years on, having witnessed an unprecedented rise in global terror threat, societal conflict and concern over the rise of far right extremism, the risk which Bauman identified seems more critical than ever. Informed by Richard Sennett’s theories on ‘the uses of disorder’, Flying Paper Objects explores the power of collective acts of play in promoting an 'appreciation of otherness’ across diverse societies. Using a practice-research model the workshop offers participants the opportunity to engage in conversation and develop interpersonal understanding across cultural and demographic lines. Through the familiar and culturally inclusive pastime of kiting, participants will engage in a collective experience, share personal memories and reflect on the significance of kiting to themselves personally and culturally. Participants will document their experience through a smart-phone based questionnaire containing various prompts and by producing a reflective drawing. Flying Paper Objects explores the notion that collective acts of play serve an important purpose in creating bonds across diverse societies, promoting appreciation of difference and supporting the development of positive relationships between people and the social spaces that they share.
Unpacking the Distinctions and Challenges: Study of Homeless Populations in the United States View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Olumide Oguntolu
In recent years, cities across the world have seen a widespread growth in the homeless population. Individual are considered homeless if they lack a fixed regular, and adequate night residence. We clarifiy that within the category of homeless, those who sleep in a public or private place not meant for human habitation such as the street are considered unhoused. According to the U.S. Department of HUD’s report, the unhoused population increased by 30% from 2015 to 2020, even as the sheltered homeless population declined by 10%. The number of homeless people in the U.S. has reached a record high of 653,104, which is a 12% increase from previous year. This affects millions of individuals in the United States, with the terms ‘unhoused’ and ‘homeless’ often used interchangeably. However, emerging research suggests distinct differences between these populations warranting a nuanced understanding of their experiences and needs. Despite growing recognition of housing insecurity, policy frameworks, and service provisions often conflate unhoused and homeless populations potentially overlooking unique challenges and needs. This conflation may perpetuate ineffective solutions, exacerbating housing insecurity and its consequences. This study investigates the differences between unhoused and homeless populations, exploring their distinct challenges and experiences. The study examines policy frameworks and service provisions to identify gaps and areas for improvement. The study clarifies the conceptual and operational distinctions between unhoused and homeless populations. The revelation culminates into a framework for interpreting and addressing housing insecurity, enhancing policy practice effectiveness.
