THESIS ABSTRACT:

Loneliness as a cultural aspect: Urban Solitude in the Metropolitan city of New York. 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: 

The idea for my thesis was something that I had been exploring since I moved to New York a year ago. As most people who move from a different country, I’ve experienced cultural differences. Due to these cultural differences, the relationships among people are very different as well. I think this is a deep psychological issue to be explored, and it excites me to analyze people’s thoughts. 

To what extent do the people living in New York City experience loneliness? How does the fast-paced environment of New York affect people’s social lives? In my thesis I’m willing to explore these issues of urban solitude in New York with a process of interacting with people who come from different countries and who live in New York. My thesis project will be a documentary exploring these issues. The questions that will be asked will be about the social interactions that people have compared to their cultural background. My thesis will explore living in New York from a cultural perspective. The documentary will involve comparison to other cities and countries and personal opinions of the people who are interviewed.

Interview Questions:

How long have you been living in New York?

Where are you originally from?

How is New York compared to the city you come from in terms of lifestyle?

How do you spend your ordinary day?

How many social interactions do you think you have per week?

How often do you dine with friends/relatives?

How often do you eat alone?

How much time do you spend in front of the TV?

If you feel down, how many people do you feel you can call?

How much self disclosure do you think you do? Do you share your emotions, opinions, personal life with others?

Do you consider yourself social on a scale of 1 to 10?

How many people do you keep contact with on a weekly basis?

How much time do you spend working?

How much time do you spend on the phone or chatting?

How often do you feel lonely?

What do you do when you feel lonely?

Do you think people are lonely in this city?