Couched in their own terms: What makes a living room?
Item
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Title
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Couched in their own terms: What makes a living room?
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Identifier
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AAI3127917
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identifier
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3127917
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Creator
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Rechavi, Talya B.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Leanne Rivlin
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Date
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2004
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Social | Sociology, Individual and Family Studies | Architecture
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Abstract
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This study investigated people's experiences of their New York City living rooms. Guided by the "grounded theory" approach, the goal of the research was to discover the spatial and behavioral elements that make up living rooms. The study consisted of two components: (1) an empirical component, in which open-ended, in-depth interviews with 16 residents of New York City were conducted in their living rooms. Interviews were supplemented by observations of the furniture and decorations, as well as of other physical elements, such as illumination. (2) a study of historic developments that have affected living rooms from the 19th century to the present. This component included a review of existing studies, as well as selected magazines of general interest, from the start of the 20th century. In addition to serving as a space for entertaining, and for the possible convening of several household members, living rooms were found to afford physical and emotional comfort to individuals within a household. The study revealed that while many objects in the living room are used for display, objects in the living room can have deep personal meanings to their owners. Objects are used to regulate the degree of intimacy shared with outsiders through the stories conveyed about them. Despite stylistic differences in arrangements and decorations, the living rooms studied replicate a prototype that reflects cultural values and technological changes. When compared with previous eras, both change and persistence in values and norms are observed. Hand in hand with a living room prototype, the analysis also yielded diversity in participants' experiences of their living rooms. Findings suggest this diversity can be attributed to the physical attributes of the space, living arrangements (e.g., whether people live by themselves or with life-partners), gender and personal life-experiences. These differences are also discussed in the broader historic context and in the geographic context of urban dwelling.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
