/library/oar/handle/123456789/86261 2025-11-14T23:13:11Z 2025-11-14T23:13:11Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/86299 2022-01-04T06:46:34Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Let’s go to the talkies : cinemagoing and Maltese society in the post-war period (1945–1970) Abstract: This dissertation considers the cinema as a prominent social institution that played an important part in Malta’s community life. It also shows that during the period under review, the concept of cinemagoing went beyond the screening of films, as people considered this activity an opportunity to meet and interact with others both inside and outside the cinema space. The cinema modified the leisure habits of many cinemagoers and influenced their lifestyle, attitudes, and behaviours. This study suggests that the rapid social changes inspired by the cinema were not accepted by everyone. Various groups and individuals often objected to the screening of certain films, bringing film censorship on the forefront of a continuous power-play between conservative and progressive discourses. The dissertation is divided into seven chapters. The introduction presents the research question, a review of existing literature, and a rationale behind the methodology adopted. Chapter two consists of an overview of the cinema industry in Malta and how it developed throughout the years. Chapter three discusses the major reasons that contributed to the cinema’s mass appeal. This chapter also explores the cinema audience and what motivated the Maltese to visit the cinema so frequently. The fourth chapter deals with the cinema space, the audience’s behaviour and social interactions inside the cinema, and the relationship between literacy and cinemagoing. Chapter five examines the role performed by the State, the Church, and other groups and individuals in respect to cinemagoing. It explores how censorship operated in Malta and how the Maltese reacted to this authoritarian system. The sixth chapter discusses different ways of how cinema influenced Maltese people and society, both individually and collectively. This chapter presents an analysis of how different social trends were infiltrated into Maltese society through cinema. The seventh chapter presents the research conclusion. The purpose of this study is essentially an effort to understand the historical and social context of cinemagoing in Malta. It sets out an analysis of the social aspect of cinemagoing for discussion and further research. Description: M. Malt. St.(Melit.)

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/86286 2022-01-04T06:45:49Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The representation of prostitutes in Maltese literature Abstract: The dissertation aims to investigate the veracity of the portrayal of prostitutes and their lives in Maltese literature, by drawing parallels with the actual social context and perceptions that surround the everyday life of a prostitute. By virtue of its being a representation of historical and anthropological realities, literature may itself expose a discord between reality and representation upon a social issue that has been the subject of much debate. In these four chapters, this dissertation aims to highlight the differences that emerge between contemporary and traditional Maltese literature, and foreign authors with regards to prostitution in literature. My study will also refer to foreign literature to compare Maltese and foreign authors’ portrayal of prostitute. I will also illustrate why prostitution is and will continue to be a recurring theme in literature and other genres. Description: M. Malt. St.(Melit.)

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/86280 2022-01-04T06:43:11Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The political lives of Maltese migrants in New York from the perspective of the Maltese centre in Astoria Abstract: This dissertation looks at the political lives of Maltese migrants and their descendants in New York, specifically from the perspective of a small community based Maltese centre in Astoria in the borough of Queens. It targets various aspects that connect the Maltese diaspora in New York to Malta, including the role of Maltese politics in the projection of their identity. A segment of the Maltese diaspora in New York, primarily the older first generation, meets up at the Maltese Centre in New York; thus, this tentative study explores the relevance of this centre to their political lives. It also identifies the role of emotions and nostalgia towards the homeland in their political lives. Specifically, this dissertation delves into the political allegiances of the Maltese diaspora in New York towards US politics and whether their political loyalties with respect to Maltese politics are carried over or are redefined in the diaspora. Furthermore, this study tries to analyse the impact of new communication technologies on these migrants’ political lives and whether these migrants fund political parties in Malta and the US. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 members of the Maltese diaspora in New York, selected by snowball sampling. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all the interviews had to be done online. The interviews were semi-structured, although field questions based on the research questions were put to the interviewees where appropriate. The interviews were mostly conducted in the run-up of the 2020 US presidential election, which featured in most of them. This work identifies the Maltese Centre in the borough of Queens as a micro-simulation of home. Nostalgia towards the homeland plays a crucial role in the migrants’ political lives. For many of the Maltese migrants in New York, especially the older generation, political allegiance is part of their family identity. The migrants’ political allegiance towards US politics depends on intersecting influences between their background in Malta and their social class in the United States. It also proved to be much more complex than it appeared. The results also indicate that the political lives of migrants are greatly enabled by information technology, as it allows them to follow Maltese news and discussion programmes in real time. Description: M. Malt. St.(Melit.)

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/86276 2022-01-04T06:41:33Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The people of Valletta 1900-1935 : an overview Abstract: The purpose of this study is to seek to examine and understand the daily livelihoods of the people living in the city during a particular period of time. The study has a close look at three main themes: the demographic aspect of the population of Valletta and why it fluctuated during the period in study; the housing and sanitary conditions, depending always on the wellbeing of the individual; the employment sector and the variety of occupations by which the residents of Valletta earned their living. Why did people opt to come and live in the city and for what reason did they choose to remain here even though there was a serious problem of overcrowding? Furthermore, which class of people opted to call Valletta their hometown? What type of residential buildings could be found in the city and what modifications were necessary to accommodate the population? What jobs did the residents have and was it on account of class or of gender? The period chosen is from the turn of the twentieth century till just before the outbreak of World War II, a time which caused such turmoil all over the island, especially in the Grand Harbour area. When presenting my data, I also included those statistics given in the 1891 census in order to have a broader insight of the situation at the turn of the century. The population was always on the increase, as a result of which so was unemployment. To exacerbate the situation, the economic position of Malta could not be improved. During the period in study, Valletta was not only the venue for political activities and public demonstrations of protest but it also was the site where celebrations like carnival and processions of the titular feasts of the Valletta parishes and of Corpus Christi took place. British and foreign nobilities, such as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, Kaiser Wilhelm II and Empress Augusta Victoria, Prince Hirohito of Japan, King Albert of Belgium in 19258 and King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1927 paid a visit to Malta where the streets of the capital city were purposely adorned for such special occasions. The visit by Edward VII, being the first sovereign to visit the island in 1903, that of George V and Queen Mary in 1912 and the Prince of Wales in 1921, always culminated in an extensive round of luscious dinners, ceremonial inspections and spectacular parades. The International Eucharist Congress held in April 1913 was a great success despite the country’s limitations and this event was attended by delegates, cardinals, bishops and prominent Catholics worldwide. Such analyses are portrayed in the following chapters. Chapter 1 will interpret the demographic changes of Valletta and its conurbation, later referred to as the Valletta district, throughout the study period, with a closer look to gender and age. Chapter 2 will evaluate the various typologies of dwellings within the different established neighbourhoods of the city and their residents. Chapter 3 will analyse the various traditional occupations, the introduction of new trades to address the needs of the city and its occupants, and the association between occupations and gender. Description: M. Malt. St.(Melit.)

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z