Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Hurricane Katrina (2005); Disaster victims--Louisiana--New Orleans; Hurricane Katrina, 2005; Disaster victims; Louisiana--New Orleans; 2005; Academic theses;
Abstract
Using ethnographic methodology, the experiences, opinions, emotions and interaction of 12 participants of different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds who survived Hurricane Katrina were explored through the analysis of their narratives. Narratives were analyzed through interactive interviews that were transcribed and organized by themes. Both family group and individual interviews were conducted and supported by field notes. Inquiry was focused upon the experiences of Katrina survivors before, during and after the storm made landfall in order to explore how survivors characterized their lives in the face of disaster. Participants described the powerful impact Katrina made upon their family's lives following an abrupt evacuation, in some cases, devastation of home, and relocation to a new environment. Themes that emerged from the data illustrated how survivors struggled to maintain communication during chaotic conditions, suffered the loss of ownership, routines and privacy, displayed altruistic activity despite negative stereotypes, and described barriers to reconstructing home. Within the narratives, participants exhibited resilience and generosity with resources as survivors, and not simply victims of Hurricane Katrina. Based on the emergent themes, results were present in narrative form. In addition to the analysis of these emergent themes within the narratives, inquiry was expanded through alternative expression of poetry and photography. These intertwined types of illustration were based on the participants' narratives in order to retell the experiences through emotive and descriptive fashion. The visual communication intertwined with poetic narratives was arranged to help contextualize the experience that participants shared through their narratives. The closing chapter covers future research avenues that can extend from this qualitative inquiry and suggestions for further research using narrative analysis in surviving Katrina during the recovery period.
Year of Submission
2007
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Communication Studies
First Advisor
Phyllis Carlin
Second Advisor
April Chatham-Carpenter
Third Advisor
Paul Siddens
Date Original
2007
Object Description
1 PDF file (172 leaves)
Copyright
©2007 Farren Keith Clark
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Clark, Farren Keith, "Surviving Katrina: A Qualitative Narrative Inquiry" (2007). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2361.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2361
Comments
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