Skip to main content

Paola Tiné

Victoria University of Wellington, Cultural Anthropology, Faculty Member

University of Siena / Università di Siena, Visual Design, Alumnus

The University of Adelaide, Department of Anthropology and Development Studies, Faculty Member

Followers

173

Following

77

Co-authors

4

Public Views

Paola Tiné (25 September 1991) is a teacher and researcher in anthropology. Her main areas of interest include psychophysical health, domestic relationships and conflict, the social dimensions of well-being, food and nutrition, the notion of the 'good life', cultural and ethnic identity discourses and practices, morality, emotions, and social change. She is the author of: 'Modern Dharma: Seeking Family Well-Being in Middle-Class Nepal' (2025, The University of Pennsylvania Press) and 'She Fell and Became a Horse' (2024, Dev Publishers).

less

Interests

Uploads

Papers by Paola Tiné

Making moral selves through comparison: Narratives of moral decline and the modern virtuous self among middle-class older adults in Nepal

During fieldwork among older adults in middle-class families in the city of Bhaktapur (2018-2019)... more During fieldwork among older adults in middle-class families in the city of Bhaktapur (2018-2019), I recurrently came across comparative narratives of moral decline, depicting a stark contrast between the present time and a mythical past where ageing parents were treated "as gods." In this paper, I analyze how, through acts of comparisons involving the weighing of opportunities between the past and the present and between difficulties facing parents and children, older people define their "moralities of expectation," through which intimate politics of giving and taking are weighed against perceptions of hardship in the context of precarious middle-class livelihoods. I suggest that comparison functions as a social practice with epistemological and affective connotations and that by comparing with real and imagined others, older people validate themselves as virtuous by anchoring to fluid and ever-changing social systems. Ultimately, these findings shed light on how moral selfhoods are shaped through comparison with models of the past and the present, revealing how it is in this careful and purposeful evaluation of one's own behavior and that of others that social change is negotiated and the broader ethos revised.

Feeling social change in the gut: gyāstrik and the problematisation of domestic roles among Newar women in contemporary Nepal

Drawing upon 15 months of research conducted in 2018–2019 in Bhaktapur, Nepal, this paper examine... more Drawing upon 15 months of research conducted in 2018–2019 in Bhaktapur, Nepal, this paper examines how middle-class women experience and make sense of gyāstrik (an umbrella term for multiple gut disorders) as an embodiment of social change. Enumerating dietary injustices and distress following unmet middle-class expectations of well-being and domestic intimacy as a primary cause of the condition, these women narratively problematised social norms and found ways out through the concomitant vocalisation of physical pain and social discontent. While illness epistemologies differ (with the persistence of mind-body dichotomies on the one hand and the centrality of notions of well-being and ideals of self-care on the other), these accounts demonstrate both a passive and active role of the gut in the social change experience, inviting to take the gut as the site where somatic modes of ‘attention’ and ‘action’ enable the navigation of personal life trajectories and the negotiation of social change itself.

Can I Paint It? Exploring the 'Art-tool' Method in Anthropology

What Makes a Family? A Visual Approach to Ontological and Substantial Dimensions of the Domestic in Nepal

What makes a family? On the one hand, tangible aspects such as a shared household, eating practic... more What makes a family? On the one hand, tangible aspects such as a shared household, eating practices, and marriage alliances come to mind. On the other hand, that ineffable dominium of feelings of attachment that is difficult to articulate also must have its role. I define the former a 'substantial' dimension, and the latter an 'ontological' dimension of kinship. Substantial and ontological dimensions are often profoundly intertwined in familial groups in most societies, yet in differing ways. Also, while substantial elements are not necessary for a group to identify as a family, as demonstrated by transnational family arrangements that do not share a household or eating practices, at the same time the expected exchange of substances might also follow obligations that do not correspond to one' s personal sense of belonging. The present essay visualizes the intersubjective processes through which middleclass people conceive of the family in the Newar city of Bhaktapur (Nepal), through the negotiation of domestic spaces and practices. Drawing upon fifteen months of ethnographic research in 2018-2019, I show how ontological and substantial dimensions come together to shape modern ideas of family.

Two Kitchens and Other 'Modern' Stories: Rethinking the Family in Contemporary Nepal Through Household Conflict and Fission

This paper examines the ongoing phenomenon of household nuclearization in the Newar city of Bhakt... more This paper examines the ongoing phenomenon of household nuclearization in the Newar city of Bhaktapur, Nepal. Building upon 15 months of ethnographic research conducted in 2018-19 among middle-class families, I investigate the reasons for household fission and the related kinship transformations. Tracing the interconnected stories of conflict and dispersal of the members of a joint family, I argue that transitions in domestic structures not only represent the consequence of improved economic possibilities but also communicate dramatic social transformations and a redefinition of hierarchies of value and power between family members, which emerge alongside new ideas of family and self. By negotiating domestic spaces and practices, householders redefine a modern dharma to attain a middle class ideal of relatedness. By considering the domestic as the locus of the negotiations between social change and continuity, and by looking at conflict as a dialogical process of cultural revision, this study provides a new perspective on the making of moral modernities in Nepal, ultimately contributing to recent debates in the fields of kinship studies, anthropology of conflict, and moral anthropology.

‘The Question of Expression when Using Art as a Research Method in Anthropology: Notes for the Anthropologist-Artist’

‘The Question of Expression when Using Art as a Research Method in Anthropology: Notes for the Anthropologist-Artist’, In Carocci, M & Pratt, S (eds.), Ethnography as Art/Art as Ethnography: Art, Observation, and an Anthropology of Illustration. London: Bloomsbury Academic, pp. 23–38.

While general consensus has been reached in recent years regarding the use of visual methods in a... more While general consensus has been reached in recent years regarding the use of visual methods in anthropology, there is still uncertainty about how creative methods can be used as a valid tool of research in such a way that provides a significant contribution to anthropological enquiry. Starting from the notion of the anthropologist as an author - an approach that follows the interpretative legacy of Clifford Geertz - this chapter moves forward to explore the practice of the anthropologist-artist, encompassing the related question of expression. In doing so, it focuses on the production of art during the post-fieldwork phase as a tool of analysis and expression of insights, which follows data collection as a process that is akin to the transition from ethnography to anthropological writing. By reflecting on the role of the anthropologist as an artist, as well as on the ‘making’ as a process that is strictly related to the topic explored, this chapter argues not only that artistic practice should derive from ethnography, but also that the researcher should reflect and account for the expressive form used to communicate specific themes. In particular, drawing from the Greimasian notion of plastic and figurative semiotics, this chapter argues that a meta-reflection on the visual expedients used to express specific ideas is needed from the author, who should also explain if and how these visual methods have contributed to the development of a context-specific authorial voice. It is suggested that only in this way is it possible to depart from a merely illustrative function of art and instead add something new to qualitative research methods, namely an interpretation, expressed visually by the researcher. To demonstrate these points, the author discusses three case studies from her doctoral studies in Nepal.

Doing Gender and Reshaping the Self: The Rehabilitation Narratives of TBI Survivors

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, 2021

This article provides a review of selected studies conducted in recent years on the relationship ... more This article provides a review of selected studies conducted in recent years on the relationship between gender identity and recovery following traumatic brain injury (TBI) with the goal of determining whether gender constructions play a role in the lived experience of TBI survivors. The studies reviewed show that psychosocial issues resulting from perceived difficulties in doing gender can be a burden to successful recovery and that addressing these constructions can have a positive influence on long-term results. Consequently, the author argues that gender should be considered a critical element in the aetiology and management of psychosocial issues following the injury and that a combination of factors should be addressed when looking at gendered aspects of post-TBI recovery, including attitudes toward care, motivation and satisfaction with rehabilitation outcomes. In particular, stronger collaboration between the medical field and social sciences is encouraged, with the aim of e...

War and Peace of Neuroscience. Dehumanisation and Collateral Damage in Warfare

Recent studies in neuroscience have demonstrated the potential for brain connections to change, i... more Recent studies in neuroscience have demonstrated the potential for brain connections to change, in order to adapt to certain conditions and to balance neurons loss. Through training, this can occur to such a large extent that one's personal and socio-cultural boundaries can be extended. This can consequently be used for good and bad purposes. For example, mindful training can be implemented through meditation to manage stress, thus reducing unhealthy circuits in the brain such as the HPA axis response. However, neuropsychological training can also be applied to ease individuals into controversial tasks, such as killing. This type of use of neuroscientific knowledge for national security and warfare raises several ethical concerns. This article discusses how brain plasticity can be used to modify the emotional response of soldiers within war contexts through a process of dehumanisation of the enemy and how this in turn creates further neuropsychological damage in veterans in a post war context. Finally, the possibility of reversing this process and its utility in post-conflict resolution is explored, opening up to further studies on the topic.

SEEKING HEARTFELT HELP: THE EMERGENCE OF THE FRIENDSHIP GUTHI AS A MIDDLE-CLASS PRACTICE IN CONTEMPORARY NEPAL

This paper investigates the emergence of friendship associations (guthis) in Nepal. It addresses ... more This paper investigates the emergence of friendship associations (guthis) in Nepal. It addresses three interconnected questions. Firstly, why are friendship guthis progressively taking the funerary function that was once the exclusive role of the sã guthi in Bhaktapur? Secondly, why are friendship guthis with an economic function so widespread when the sã guthi was not known for this role? Finally, why is it so important that the help received is “heartfelt”? This paper argues that while building on pre-existing practices of socialization (such as that of the guthi institution) and on the morality of help and reciprocity, the relatively new institution of the friendship guthi plays a crucial role in the networking between households, allowing local families to navigate vulnerability in a climate of dramatic social and economic transformation.

Maya's Story: Spirit Possession, Gender, and the Making of the Self in a Painted Anthropological Account

By developing the artistic style of abstract realism, this work in the medium of oil painting and... more By developing the artistic style of abstract realism, this work in the medium of oil painting and digital elaboration focuses on the story of a Nepali woman who, by rebelling against constraining social norms in relation to gender roles and household hierarchy, is said to be possessed by evil spirits. Through portraitures and selected scenes, this visual account portrays a changing society, revealing the desire of young people to move toward egalitarian relations despite the risk of incurring social condemnation.

Painting the Self in a Study of Modernity Using Art in Anthropological Research

re:think - a journal of creative ethnography, Jun 15, 2021

In this article, I propose the application of the concepts of 'small' and 'big' stories theorised... more In this article, I propose the application of the concepts of 'small' and 'big' stories theorised by Lyotard (1984) to the discipline of visual anthropology by focusing on the issues of 'generalisation' and 'individuality'. The primary question on which I focus is: 'how do we integrate individual case-studies with generalisations in anthropological research in a way that provides a balanced account of small and big stories?'. To answer this question, I share the theoretical and methodological challenges of using art within my recent research in Nepal (2017-2020), in which I discuss the making of individual selves in relation to kinship, gender and conflict in the context of a problematic dichotomy between modernity and tradition. This method I have defined elsewhere as the 'art-tool', an approach which combines art and written anthropological narrative. The final result of this methodology is what I call here the 'research canvas'. I argue that there are various creative phases throughout a research in both its written and visual outcomes, and that the research canvas is only the final stage. This is a complex creation in which various insights are combined through semiotic codification. I suggest here that in using this methodology, the artist-anthropologist can provide an extensive account of all the relations occurring within a research project, including the subjectivity of the author and the mediation between generalisation and individual narratives.

Art as a Research Method : on the Expression of Anthropological Insights

In recent years, following the example of anthropological and sociological studies, the use of vi... more In recent years, following the example of anthropological and sociological studies, the use of visual methods for the observation and production of insights has become increasingly important in many other disciplines of social research, such as social work, social policy, health sector and education. But why can visual methods of representation be so useful in social research? This article provides an overview of the historical evolution of the visual anthropological discipline, and of the debate about the relationship between art practice and ethnographic research. It focuses on the role of art as a means of communication and, in particular, as a way of expressing inner feelings, emotions, and all those inexplicable states of mind known in philosophy as ‘qualia’. The theory developed by Ricoeur on the application of text-interpretation methodology as a paradigm for interpretation in general in the field of social sciences, is used here to offer a proposal for the implementation of ...

Painting the Self in a Study of Modernity : Using Art in Anthropological Research

In this article, I propose the application of the concepts of 'small' and 'big' stories theorised... more In this article, I propose the application of the concepts of 'small' and 'big' stories theorised by Lyotard (1984) to the discipline of visual anthropology by focusing on the issues of 'generalisation' and 'individuality'. The primary question on which I focus is: 'how do we integrate individual case-studies with generalisations in anthropological research in a way that provides a balanced account of small and big stories?'. To answer this question, I share the theoretical and methodological challenges of using art within my recent research in Nepal (2017-2020), in which I discuss the making of individual selves in relation to kinship, gender and conflict in the context of a problematic dichotomy between modernity and tradition. This method I have defined elsewhere as the 'art-tool', an approach which combines art and written anthropological narrative. The final result of this methodology is what I call here the 'research canvas'. I argue that there are various creative phases throughout a research in both its written and visual outcomes, and that the research canvas is only the final stage. This is a complex creation in which various insights are combined through semiotic codification. I suggest here that in using this methodology, the artist-anthropologist can provide an extensive account of all the relations occurring within a research project, including the subjectivity of the author and the mediation between generalisation and individual narratives.

Parenting, Food Practices and Health Conceptions in Bhaktapur

Nepal is currently experiencing a dramatic increase in the incidence of food-related diseases as ... more Nepal is currently experiencing a dramatic increase in the incidence of food-related diseases as a consequence of unhealthy diets and physical inactivity. Despite the increased availability of nutritional advice provided by the government and health institutions, studies show that most people do not follow these guidelines, suggesting a lack of willingness by people to adhere to the advice provided. Despite the contribution of several medical studies, the socio-cultural reasons for the lack of adherence to health guidelines have yet to be explored in any depth. With the goal of contributing further insights on this topic, this paper discusses the author's research findings on the connection between changes in the family and within the production and consumption of food in relation to the topic of healthy eating. Specifically, based on an intensive one-year fieldwork in Bhaktapur among the Newar community, this article focuses on two main points. The first focuses on parents' beliefs, preferences and household dynamics in relation to food decision making, through an exploration of family relations and parent-child interactions. The second aspect addresses differing conceptions of health, with a focus on the main sources of information and misinformation in relation to health, dietary diversity and nutrition.

Food practices among the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese in Adelaide

by Paola Tiné and John Gray

This article is the result of six-months field research work among the former refugee Bhutanese c... more This article is the result of six-months field research work among the former refugee Bhutanese community in a suburb of Adelaide (South Australia) with the goal of describing and analysing food habits in the context of resettlement. Research data has shown a preference by the elder generations for traditional Nepali food and a refusal of Australian food. For the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese, food practices in the context of immigration represent a sensuous and embodied activity, connected to the memory of the place they once belonged to, but also the essential medium for the creation of new rituals which reinforce their identity as both Nepali and Australian. By underlining the importance of food within Nepali traditional rituals and, on the other hand, the role of food in the process of memory building, we discuss here how food practices represent an essential part of both pre-existing and new rituals, able to reinforce social and cultural identity.

I Colori del Sogno di Gatsby: Proposta di Analisi Semiotica

LO SPERIMENTALISMO LETTERARIO NEL ROMANZO MODERNO AMERICANO

Recebido a 15 de outubro de 2018 Revisto a 30 de novembro de 2018 Aceite a 08 de dezembro de 2018... more Recebido a 15 de outubro de 2018 Revisto a 30 de novembro de 2018 Aceite a 08 de dezembro de 2018 RIASSUNTO Quello della rappresentazione artistica, cioè il passaggio dei dati della realtà attraverso lo sguardo di un osservatore-artista che produce una rappresentazione del mondo, è uno dei temi cari alla letteratura americana del '900. Nello specifico, lo sperimentalismo letterario di Fitzgerald, Hemingway e Stein, rappresenta il problema del Modernismo in rapporto alla rappresentazione della realtà. Se la Stein propone un'applicazione dei principi del cubismo alla letteratura, con un esito prettamente artistico, Fitzgerald propone il tema del punto di vista da un'altra prospettiva, secondo cui l'individualità non può essere trascesa e una verità mai raggiunta. Infine, la riflessione di Hemingway si incentra sull' interrogativo stilistico del come esprimere artisticamente la realtà senza essere falsi e barocchi, rinunciando a orpelli che oscurino la realtà e offuschino la percezione delle posizioni e delle riflessioni degli autori.

Cultural Interaction and Integration in the Context of Immigration: The Case Study of the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese in Adelaide 1

One of the most striking elements, when looking at integration as a social problem, is the popula... more One of the most striking elements, when looking at integration as a social problem, is the popular construction of the identity of the refugee in the hosting country, a rhetoric process often made of stereotypes supporting xenophobia largely spread by local media. In this paper, I will argue that a more positive construction of the social and cultural identity of refugees is a crucial element for meaningful integration policies. I will use a case study from my personal research conducted last year in the suburb of Salisbury in the city of Adelaide (in South Australia) with Professor John Gray, among the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees, 2 showing, in this way, a positive example of the Australian reception model. Here I will describe, from an anthropological perspective, why this arrangement has proven to be so effective.

Le Radici Storiche del Conflitto in Ucraina

Il discorso politico nell’Ucraina contemporanea prende la forma di una vera e propria “guerra del... more Il discorso politico nell’Ucraina contemporanea prende la forma di una vera e propria “guerra della memoria”. In questo articolo si analizzano le radici storiche dell’odierno conflitto ucraino e l’importanza del processo di costruzione di miti storici portato avanti dagli ultimi presidenti. Si ripercorrono, in particolare, gli eventi successivi alla Rivoluzione Arancione, a seguito della quale ha preso forma il conflitto attuale, sottolineando l’importanza della questione della memoria storica e del fenomeno del nazionalismo. Quest’ultimo, in particolare, riveste una grande rilevanza nel conflitto in corso in quanto in esso sono ancora presenti elementi risalenti al passato legame nazista, i quali costituiscono una motivazione per una riapertura dello scontro ideologico con le aree dell’est, che sono per eccellenza anti-naziste.

Art as a Research Method

In recent years, following the example of anthropological and sociological studies, the use of vi... more In recent years, following the example of anthropological and sociological studies, the use of
visual methods for the observation and production of insights has become increasingly
important in many other disciplines of social research, such as social work, social policy, health
sector and education. But why can visual methods of representation be so useful in social
research? This article provides an overview of the historical evolution of the visual
anthropological discipline, and of the debate about the relationship between art practice and
ethnographic research. It focuses on the role of art as a means of communication and, in
particular, as a way of expressing inner feelings, emotions, and all those inexplicable states of
mind known in philosophy as ‘qualia’. The theory developed by Ricoeur on the application of
text-interpretation methodology as a paradigm for interpretation in general in the field of social
sciences, is used here to offer a proposal for the implementation of fine art, specifically painting,
as a complementary method to express anthropological insights.