The purpose of this paper is to explore the practice of alternative medicine as an experience capable of modifying the very perception of the body and body feeling, based in a two-field research in France (Paris) and Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). In this research, the resort to alternative medicines was considered as urban practice and a possible response to emotional needs, beyond the curative specificities of these medicines. The two countries were chosen for their supposed complementarity concerning the perception of spirituality and therefore, the perception of holistic health concepts. The study relies on an inductive approach and a qualitative methodology: introspective interviews with consumers and professionals, as well as participant observations. After a review of the theoretical aspects on the subject -concepts related to health, alternative medicine, transformative experience -, empirical results are presented. They show that the experience of alternative medicine tends to modify body perception, understood as how individuals define their own body. It also tends to modify body internal feeling, literally how people feel their body. The second conclusion that can be drawn from our study is that, beyond cultural specificities, some similarities appear in the way the practice of alternative medicine impacts on body perception and individual values. In that sense, alternative medicine practices in big urban centers appear to be related to a global consumer culture. However, alternative health behaviors rely on a subjective quest of sense which can be expressed through a variety of practices related to better health, not necessarily involving consumption. Keywords: Complementary Therapies; Holistic Health; Consumer Behavior; Qualitative Analysis. Elisabeth Eglem ResumoEste artigo tem por objetivo estudar as práticas de terapias complementares (também chamadas de medicinas alternativas) vistas como experiências que modificam a percepção do próprio corpo e a forma de senti-lo. Nesta pesquisa, conduzida na França (Paris) e no Brasil (Rio de Janeiro), o recurso às terapias complementares foi considerado como prática urbana e resposta potencial às necessidades emocionais, além das especificidades dessas terapias no que tange à cura. Os dois países foram escolhidos pela sua suposta complementaridade a respeito da percepção da espiritualidade e, portanto, dos conceitos da saúde holística. O estudo está caracterizado por uma postura indutiva e uma metodologia qualitativa: entrevistas introspectivas com pacientes e profissionais, bem como observações participantes em consultas e em uma conferência. Após revisão de alguns aspectos teóricos do assunto -conceitos relacionados à saúde, a terapias complementares e experiências transformadoras -, os resultados empíricos são apresentados. Primeiro, eles mostram que a experiência de consumo das terapias complementares tende a modificar a percepção interna do próprio corpo, ou melhor, como a pessoa sente o seu corpo. Segundo, além das especificidades culturais, similar...
Cet article s’intéresse au corps et à l’expérience esthétique dans le contexte de l’usage des réseaux sociaux, notamment Instagram et Facebook. Au centre des pratiques liées à la consommation, à l’apparence et au développement personnel de l’individu, le corps est prépondérant dans l’expérience esthétique, à travers différents moyens de communication, consommation et partage de contenu. Notre travail s’est ainsi orienté vers une présentation de certaines pratiques liées à la recherche d’esthétique corporelle et inscrites dans le contexte des réseaux sociaux. Après une partie théorique focalisée sur l’expérience, le corps et l’esthétique, l’étude de terrain expose certains aspects des relations entre construction d’une esthétique du corps et du quotidien, pratiques de communication sur les réseaux sociaux et expérience esthétique. La discussion propose des pistes de réflexion à partir des éléments issus du terrain, et les envisage sous l’angle des concepts théoriques évoqués dans la première partie.
Le présent article s’intéresse aux concepts de construction identitaire et de ritualisation des comportements, envisagés à partir du partage de photos sur le réseau social Instagram. Il repose sur une enquête de terrain de type ethnographique, constituée d’entretiens et d’observations non participantes de photos et commentaires exposés en ligne. Les informations du terrain sont présentées accompagnées de citations d’entretiens et de photographies récoltées lors des observations sur Instagram, et mises en relation avec les éléments théoriques correspondants. La discussion revient sur les principaux résultats : l’affirmation d’apparences et de styles de vie et celle du statut de photographe authentique, la construction d’une identité online , et enfin la photographie reflet de comportements ritualisés.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.