LEE- Bilim, Teknoloji ve Toplum-Yüksek Lisans
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ÖgeInvestigating virtual representations in virtual reality social networks(Graduate School, 2025-01-21)As advancements in computing technologies reaching unprecedented levels, possibilities beyond traditional displays also increase in both numbers and practicability. Virtual Reality (VR), as a technology, is initially introduced as a computerized simulation field but with exponential advancements, it has become a potential living space as the word "reality" in it has been realized as a feasible construct. Within its virtual borders, social involvements in VR could be experienced through virtual reality social networks (VRSNs), merging the term social network with VR. Social networking in VR, over the past years, has become more than an achievable reality and turned into an exceptionally promoted entertainment opportunity. In the examination of such social networks in a virtually constructed new reality, how individuals would want to represent themselves in these networks is chosen as the main subject of research in this thesis. While researching virtual representations of individuals, Actor-Network Theory, a prominent Science and Technology Studies methodology, is employed in this thesis to highlight the construction of a hybrid relation between the virtual representation of the individual and the individual's own identity. In addition, the technological blackbox surrounding the virtual representation is evaluated and analyzed through Actor-Network Theory. VRSN applications of VRChat and Horizon Worlds are included in this thesis as practical examples of VRSNs in order to serve as empirical foundations on reviewing how virtual representations of individuals are currently managed in VRSN platforms. Being one of the complementary research topics, freedom on presenting its (individual) virtual representation is reviewed through these VRSN platforms. Including a brief ethical analysis in its organization, this thesis also draws attention to various issues which may adversely affect the individual considering the fact that its virtual presence could be exposed and may not be protected in these virtual platforms. In its analyses, this thesis argues that virtual representations of individuals in VRSNs form an associative correlation with the individual. Rather than simply being virtual artefacts for presenting the individual into the virtual space, virtual representations contain the physical reality-bound properties of the individual. Moreover, virtual representations take upon the role of presence, being present, of the individual in the VR space. This connection between the virtual representation and the individual ultimately establishes a hybrid who constructs its own identity within the realm it dwells in, the VR. Labeling this hybrid as "user" in the analysis chapters, a contrast between the individual and this virtually constructed hybrid, user, is pointed out. Accordingly, a liberal stance on the freedom on presenting the virtual representation is suggested for developers and providers of VRSNs. As the virtual representation of the individual stands for its presence and identity in the VR, any interest in freely demonstrating its virtual representation accounts for being able to exist based on individual desires. Thus, the notion of virtual representation is argued as the initial actor which puts all the other actors and actants into the flow of the related actor network as its presence defines every single action in the space of VRSN which comes after it. Lastly, in its ethical analysis, this thesis puts emphasis on how the virtual spaces of VRSNs should safeguard individual virtual representations for they contain unprecedented sensitive information about the individual. Stressing the relative simplicity of exploiting these entities, obtaining data from them, an inevitable, potentially detrimental reliance on the VR hardware is expounded on as well. Although, in the analysis of this thesis, the virtual representation is considered as the initial actor in every actor network emerging in the VRSN, the VR headsets and/or devices influence the individual prior to forming of any network between the virtual representation and the individual. Therefore, it is argued that even though the virtual representations of individuals materialize as the predominant, foundational actor within each and every actor network in the VRSN, the physical hardware should be thought as the veritable source of this great actor.
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ÖgeWoven narratives: New materialist perspectives on fast fashion, wearers and sustainability(Graduate School, 2024-06-13)Fashion can be seen as a tool to bridge the gap between our own inner experiences and external presentation, or at the very least, it acknowledges the potential for such a connection. Through various fashion items, we engage in meanful dialogues with our appreance. These garments shape our bodies and present us in specific ways to society and ourselves. We may not always know how we look at any given moment, but by directing our gaze towards our bodies, we can see our pants, shoes and shirts that we have chosen that day to represent us. When we look at ourselves, what we see is not our flesh and blood, but the fabric and stiching of our clothing. Thus, fashion fundamentally serves as a tool that enables one to observe and understand their own body and bodies around them. Even when one removes their fabric skin, escaping fashion is impossible. Social life almost always requires the body to be appropriately dressed; not being dressed is seen as disturbing and even a crime, as it deviates from accepted social norms. Society demands the body to be clothed. Therefore, clothing serves not just as decoration but as a tool to represent and display identity; it reflects one's age, gender, social status, religions and ethnic identity, marital status and affiliation with different subcultures. The primary goal of this thesis is to explore the complex relationship between consumers and their clothing through the lens of new materialism. New materialism is a theoretical approach that emphasizes the impact of objects and materials on people and how these relationships shape each other reciorıcally. In this context, clothing is not seen as a passive artifact, but as elements that actively influence and reshape consumer behavior, identity formation, and social dynamics. The material properties of garments directly affect consumer experiences and perceptions, highlighting the multidimensional and dynamic nature of this relationship. This thesis aims to delve deeply into how clothing and wearers interact and how these interactions gain meaning in social and cultural contexts within the framework of new materialism. The thesis presents two case studies to investigate the communication between clothing wearers. The first case study is a survey, which 74 individuals aged between 18-35 participated. It aims to understand how people approach fast fashion, what they consume, how they consume, how do they dispose of them. The second case study involves four participants, two males and two females, and eight garments. The interviews were conducted at the participants' homes or workplaces. In these semi-structured interviews, each participant was asked to bring a garment they had not worn for a long time or were considering discarding. During the interviews, participants were invited to physically alter the garment by cutting it. This act was designed to confront them directly with the materiality of the garment and the personal stories embedded within it, prompting a reevaluation of the garment's life and its potential for transformation or repurposing. In conclusion, this thesis provides valuable insights into the cultural practices surrounding clothing consumption in Turkey. The emphasis on repair, reuse, and sharing aligns with the principles of new materialism by recognizing the ongoing agency of objects. It also highlights a sustainable approach to fashion that can significantly reduce environmental impact. This behavior exemplifies how cultural practices and community dynamics play a crucial role in promoting sustainability, offering a model that could be beneficially adopted in other contexts.
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ÖgeDünya ekonomilerindeki yıllık izin uygulamaları: Türk Hava Yolları örneği incelemesi(Lisansüstü Eğitim Enstitüsü, 2024-06-11)Yıllık izin, çalışma saatlerinin düzenlenmesini sağlayan araçlardan biridir. Ülke ve kurumlardaki yıllık izin politikaları yerel iş kanunları, Uluslararası Çalışma Örgütü (ILO), bölgesel sendikaların standartları ve toplu iş sözleşmeleri tarafından belirlenmektedir. Yıllık izin, çalışma süresinin iş gücü ekonomisindeki potansiyelini gösterebilir ve aynı zamanda işverenler için bir çalışan maliyetine yol açar. Diğer bir açıdan yıllık izin, çalışanlara iş-yaşam dengesi, motivasyon ve aile için boş zaman ya da yenilenme imkânı sağlamaya katkıda bulunabilir. Bu çalışma, dünyada çalışanların asgari kanuni yıllık izin sürelerini hem bölgesel hem de ulusal düzeyde incelemeyi ve Türk Hava Yolları'nın faaliyet gösterdiği ülkelerdeki mahalli çalışanlarına yönelik yıllık izin politikalarını sunmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu çalışmanın ikinci amacı, Türk Hava Yolları mahalli çalışanların yıllık izin kullanma oranlarını yaş, cinsiyet ve medeni durum göz önünde bulundurularak incelemektir. Bu çalışmanın nihai amacı, sonuçları tartışarak literatüre katkıda bulunmak ve yıllık izin politikalarının geleceğini sosyal bağlamda değerlendirmektir. Bu çalışmada, Türk Hava Yolları'nın aktif operasyon yürüttüğü ülkelerin iş kanunlarından ve ILO'nun ülkelerin yıllık izin uygulamalarına ilişkin veri tabanından yararlanılmıştır. Türk Hava Yolları'ndaki yıllık izin uygulamalarına ilişkin veriler mahalli ofislerden detaylı bir şekilde toplanmıştır. Veriler, Türk Hava Yolları çalışan sistemi kayıtları, ILO veri tabanı ve yerel avukatların görüşleri ile kontrol edilmiştir. Buna ek olarak Türk Hava Yolları'nın operasyon yürüttüğü ülkelerde görev yapan mahalli çalışanlarının 2023 yılındaki izin kullanım oranları incelenmiş olup yıllık izin kullanım davranışının arkasındaki faktörler anlaşılmaya çalışılmıştır. Çalışma, yıllık izin politikalarının dünyadaki uygulamaları hakkında detaylı bilgi sunmaktadır. Çalışma saatleri, rekabet, çalışma kültürü ve koşulları, cinsiyet, yaş ve iş deneyimi, yıllık izin politikalarının farklı olmasına sebep olan değişkenlerdir. Türk Hava Yolları örnekleminin incelenmesi, yıllık izin politikalarının sosyal bağlamda nasıl değiştiğinin derinlemesine anlaşılmasına katkıda bulunacaktır. Bu çalışma bilim, teknoloji ve toplum bakış açısıyla oluşturulmuştur. Kültürel-Tarihsel Faaliyet Teorisi (CHAT) kullanılarak dünyadaki kanuni minimum yıllık izin uygulamaları, önce kültürel ve tarihsel bakış açışıyla değerlendirilecek olup daha sonrasında yıllık izin kullanım oranlarında cinsiyet faktörü ve medeni durum etkisi tartışılacaktır. Bölgelere ve çalışanların cinsiyet, yaş ve medeni durumuna göre yıllık izin oranlarının değişmesi CHAT teorisi ile çalışma kültürüne vurgu yapılarak açıklanacaktır. Böylelikle çalışma, sadece küresel bölgedeki yıllık izin politikalarına detaylı bir genel bakış sağlamakla kalmayıp, aynı zamanda sosyal bağlam perspektifinde yıllık izin uygulamasının geleceğine ilişkin tartışmaları da teşvik etmektedir.
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ÖgeHow loud subversive rationalisation can get: Tak tak, an unlikely case for democratisation of technology from rural Anatolia(Graduate School, 2024-06-24)Tak tak is a type of improvised agricultural machinery. Tak taks are exclusively made in rural artisan shops in small Anatolian towns. The main component of a tak tak is a single cylinder internal combustion engine called "pancar motoru". Pancar motoru is a type of small and mobile diesel water pump engine that is designed and produced for the purpose of draining underground water which is then used to water the crops. In order to build a tak tak, this engine is placed on top of a tractor trailer and almost all other parts of the vehicle are recovered from scrapyards and automobile graveyards. These vehicles have been crafted in the west of Central Anatolia Region since 70's and the craftspeople who made these vehicles clearly have taken the pancar motoru out of its intended purpose independent of any major industrial or technical process. Could Tak tak, which is often considered as a soft replacement for a tractor, can be much more? The engine is a product of mass production. It has a clear-cut function that is it was designed to execute. It is traditionally rational. The craftspeople who came up with the idea this engine can also turn wheels is another story. The invention of tak tak defies norms of the technical and changes how the engine is rationalized. Marcuse and Feenberg criticise modern technological society on the basis of technical reason moving beyond its scientific use, damaging the experience of humanity by imposing quasi-scientific ontologies into experience. Technological malleability can challenge this modern technical hegemony by a process Andrew Feenberg calls subversive rationalization. Tak tak, an improvised field vehicle that uses a water pump engine as the source of propulsion is a clear example of subversive rationalization and not only does it defy capitalist technological hegemony, but tak tak also opens up new possibilities and spatial considerations for Feenberg's theory of democratic rationalization.
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ÖgeThe analysis of energy efficiency networks through Actor-Network Theory, an example of Turkey(Graduate School, 2022)The critical perspective and scientific approaches created by Science, Technology, and Society studies have given rise to a new critical approach to how the results will differ if scientists think about their research from the perspective of STS. Concepts such as energy efficiency, digitalization, energy transformation, energy transition, optimum energy consumption, smart cities, and net-zero society have become widespread in today's world. These concepts are not only in the interaction of the energy sector but also of all other sub-sectors. Examining the phenomenon of energy efficiency with STS approaches allows a field that has been studied continuously with quantitative methods by its nature to be discussed within the framework of social sciences. What I am trying to do in this thesis research is to study precisely how the sub-elements of energy efficiency form within a network and become energy efficiency networks. This thesis also aims to gain a unique perspective by considering energy studies from the STS perspective. Therefore, this thesis's topics are designed to reveal how the research process fulfills the necessary conditions for a particular study to achieve methodological and theoretical originality. This research thesis structure is as follows. In chapter one, I explain how the main topic of energy efficiency and STSs come together on a common denominator. In addition, the hypotheses of the thesis are also in this section, and they can be listed as follows; The first hypothesis I considered throughout this research is that energy efficiency networks cannot provide public utility without profit maximization within the world energy economy. The second hypothesis is that the unethical situations created by the systematic dependence of energy efficiency networks on artificial intelligence and machine learning programs are ignored for energy efficiency. The third hypothesis is that energy efficiency networks are an approach that can transform and control a large part of the world's energy system, and states use it as a new state apparatus. The chapter includes global perspectives on the subject and how the world perceives energy efficiency. In the second chapter, I explain the research methods used in this research. Also, it contains the preliminary investigation of the hypothesis questions. In this chapter, I discuss how the research methods of STS evolved and how ethnography affected STS; the reasons for which methods were chosen for the thesis research topic are stated. In the third chapter, I provide a literature review of Turkey's energy market development, STS literature, Actor-network theory, and its relationality. A description of Actor-NetworkTheory (ANT) is provided with examples from the literature in the research methodology section. This method, based on applying two essential elements of ANT, actor, and actant, to energy efficiency networks, provides a critical perspective for an STS study. This part also discusses how energy is handled in social sciences in terms of theoretical approaches to energy efficiency networks. The fourth chapter starts with the definition of energy efficiency and explains why energy efficiency is needed; a brief energy efficiency review and key terms are also defined. In the fifth chapter, I explained what energy efficiency networks are. It also contains the case analysis for energy efficiency identity cards in Turkey. This section also examines the definitions and uses of energy efficiency networks in Turkey. The sixth chapter deals with the ethical approach to energy efficiency networks, which is an indispensable part of STS research. The main issue here is to examine human rights violations through energy efficiency and to analyze the problems that EEN will create or have already started with a philosophical approach. In this chapter, I made a case analysis, and the case has been designed completely considering the conditions of Turkey.