Sociology of Culture, Media and the Arts

Abiding Atheism, Seeking Spirituality

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:01 GMT

Hul, W.L. van 't

Social scientists have come up with contrasting ideas on how to interpret the ongoing process of dechristianization in contemporary Western societies. On the one hand it has been suggested that individuals abandon religious imagination all together and become secular, whereas on the other it has been proposed that individuals merely turn to privatized forms of religious and spiritual meaning. Surprisingly however, the factors that are thought to explain the two processes are the same, namely the processes of individualization and the pluralization of the life-world. In this article I will delve into this explanatory gap, which has received surprisingly little scholarly attention. Via the systematic reconstruction of the life courses of Dutch apostates I aim to reveal what mechanisms lead individuals to move away from their ascribed Christian identity and subsequently turn to either atheism or the New Age spiritualities. A notable difference between these two trajectories is that individuals who eventually turned to atheism articulate an ideological critique of their faith, a type of critique which is a direct result from the strict, orthodox way in which the faith was professed in the nuclear family. Individuals raised in orthodox milieus have little room to discuss and question their ascribed identity or delve into complementing religions, which elicits a rather cognitive, intellectual process of searching. Individuals who turned to the New Age spiritualities departed from the Christian faith because of institutional reasons. Their criticism of the role of religious authorities and hypocrisy in their near social environment induced a quest for purification that led them to non-institutionalized forms of beliefs. The paramount factor that induces an institutional critique is the liberal way in which the faith was professed in their families: they had more access to explore complementing religious meaning system, and more room to usher questions and critique.

Symbolic Violence in the Field of Tattooing

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 00:00:01 GMT

Veenstra, A.F.

Having inherited the notion of deviance, most of the literature on tattoos is still infused with questioning its (supposed) unconventional character, leaving little room for the heterogeneity of tattoo imagery. This explorative study inductively explores, by data retrieved from questionnaires and interviews, the plethora of tattoo imagery, grounded in taste cultures. Taste cultures are common clusters of cultural forms, such as applied tattoo imagery, reflecting aesthetic preferences and social values. Three bodies of literature on taste cultures are identified. The first, performing individual taste, implies individual meaning ascribed to individually selected tattoos. The second, opting for a taste culture, implies a collective meaning that is recognized as such. The last, hierarchal taste cultures, implies that tattoos not only have collective meaning and are recognized, but also judged. These three bodies of literature are explored through individual meanings, collective meanings, recognition and moral judgment in tattoo imagery. It will be argued that tattoos are not mere (fragmented) individual decorative signs, for eight different subcategories of ascribed meaning are identified, either belonging to the self or to others. Nor are tattoos opted for articulations of individual preference for a taste culture – or collective meaning which is recognized – for an educational informed difference in ascribing meaning to and evaluation of tattoo imagery is found. Rather, the genre of body modification is stratified alongside lines of education, articulated through either a literal or symbolic ascribed and interpretation of meaning. Put shortly: it will be demonstrated that even in popular culture, amongst those (once) deviant, symbolic violence is maintained by the higher strata through valuing symbolic tattoo imagery over literal tattoo imagery.

Just like Hendrix

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 00:00:01 GMT

Schaap, J.C.F.

Both numerically and symbolically, rock music has a white audience, edging out non-whites from participating. Music genres often reflect ethno-racial groups, but why this is so and how this works has remained largely unstudied. Professional and consumer reviewing practices are a prime location for the formation of rock music’s symbolic boundaries. Hence, based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis of 385 rock album reviews, this article investigates (i) to what extent ethno-racial boundaries are (re)produced or contested in the critical reception of rock music in the United States between 2003 and 2013, and (ii) to what extent (semi-)professional reviewers and consumer-reviewers differ from each other regarding ethno-racial classifications in their reception of rock music. I find that albums by non-white artists receive lower evaluations than those by white artists, particularly when reviewed by lay critics. Although both types of reviewers often ignore talking about race – echoing a color-blind ideology – (semi-)professional critics are more explicit and color-conscious regarding non-white participation in rock music. Furthermore, five different mechanisms are used by reviewers as a part of ethno-racial boundary work: (i) ethno-racial comparisons, (ii) inter-genre comparisons, (iii) positive ethno-racial marking, (iv) negative ethno-racial marking and (v) minimization.

The show must go on

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 00:00:01 GMT

Geurts, A.

This paper aims to stimulate discussion about the nature of technology-related organisational change and how it is managed within the cultural sector. Literature points out that digitization could not only strengthen the position of cultural organizations, but could also threaten the traditional way of working within the sector. However, the topic of how different cultural organizations accommodate digitization and what a more effective utilization of the Internet by cultural organizations entails is rather understudied. This is why this study digs into this ‘research gap’ by conducting a qualitative analysis of the use of new digital possibilities by Dutch museums and Dutch record companies. In addition, by focusing on the effects of this accommodation on the overall performance of the cultural organizations, this study aims to illustrate what a more effective utilization of the Internet and digital technologies by (cultural) organizations entails. The results of the study indicate that museums and record companies are already implementing online strategies - sometimes in varying degrees- focusing on: e-communication, e-commerce, e-marketing and e-creation. The results also indicate 5 organizational media literacies that could enable a more effective online strategy.

Beyond deliberation and cyber-balkanization

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 00:00:01 GMT

Wit, A.S. de

Although much research has been done on the social consequences of religious communication in a plural society, religious encounters through social media are understudied. Despite several calls for contextualization of the social implications of internet communication, the general debate on internet communication and intergroup understanding remains divided between the theories of religious deliberation and cyber-balkanization. This research aims to overcome this dichotomy by studying how the exposure to and the evaluation of religious messages can be understood from the value patterns of religious users. In-depth interviews with members of orthodox and ecumenical religious groups in the Netherlands reveal two value dimensions which matter. The first dimension covers how religious users perceive the place of religion in society (moral individualists versus collectivists) and the second dimension the perceived appropriateness of social media to communicate on religion. These two dimensions create four types of religious users who evaluate religious communication through social media differently: the indifferent, the self-enhancer, the guardian and the connector. These types cannot be understood from the theories of cyber-balkanization and religious deliberation. This has to do with the distinctions between the in- and the out-group and between the private and the public sphere assumed in both theories. These distinctions appeared to be differently relevant for different users.

I just hope it really is organic

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 00:00:01 GMT

O'Neill, C.

Moral consumption and production are contended subjects. Where part of the literature links them with a variety of social ails such as hedonism and infantalisation, other parts see a connection to civic engagement. In this article I take a step away from these two main ways of theorising the moral market, and analyse moral production and consumption through the lens of Beck's risk society and theory of reflexive modernisation; as a response to the complexity of the systems of production and consumption. This research was done as a case study of Tony's Chocolonely and the brand's consumers, using photo-‐voice and in-‐depth interviews. The results show that ideas and ideologies of moral production and consumption are centred around concerns for social conditions, 2 animal welfare and the environment. The unintended consequences that characterise not just the conventional market but also the systems of moral production and consumption cause conflicts between and within these concerns, making it impossible to make consumer or production choices that are perfectly moral. The opacity of the systems makes it impossible for consumers to properly judge the outcomes of their choices and this makes trust an issue as well. Connecting these previously unaware theoretical traditions has provided insights that will add to both. Regarding the moral market the analysis shows that because consumers and producers are not able to predict, assess and anticipate the outcomes of their choices and because they can't know what information they can trust, ideas and ideologies are constantly re-‐evaluated. New insights and information lead to adjusting of ideologies. In this context of constant and endless reflexivity, ideologies become intrinsically unobtainable and reflexivity becomes a non-‐formative of ideology. Regarding Beck's work, this article uncovers a blind spot for culture. Beck's theory deals with structural reflexivity, where in reality it is played out on an individual as well as a structural level. This level of abstraction goes hand in hand with a tendency to overlook the personal meanings consumers and also producers attach to their choices. Reflexivity is not merely a reaction to modernity, industrialisation or mass production, it is part of a larger cultural context that shapes what we react to and how, not just to move away from what society sees as undesirable, but also to move towards something that society sees as desirable.

Corporate Social Responsibility and social media

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 00:00:01 GMT

Geerlinks, J.S.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been developed both theoretically, while an increase of attention in business practice has been signaled as well. At the same time, researchers urge companies to integrate CSR in their entire business conduct and listen to their consumers. To do so, companies should communicate their CSR efforts and work together with consumers by using social media. This article examines how companies in the retail sector actually use social media platforms such as Facebook to communicate their CSR efforts and how consumers react to this. By conducting a quantitative content analysis on the Facebook pages of 20 retail companies in the Netherlands, this article shows that the majority of the examined retail companies communicate at least some of their CSR efforts through social media. However, they devote only small percentages of their content to it. Generally, consumers interact with these posts in the same way as with other posts, and in some cases are less negative. Although consumers remain critical and are never really satisfied with the CSR efforts of companies, social media do seem to be adequate for reaching the audience and interacting with consumers. However, companies will have to prepare for (responding to) criticisms and many companies have yet to start to communicate their CSR efforts. If they do, their social media use could contribute to implementing CSR.

Information Provision, cultural predispositions and public opinion on suspended sentences in the Netherlands

Fri, 30 Aug 2013 00:00:01 GMT

Ivanova, N.

The present paper re-examines the relationship between information provision and opinions about suspended sentences using the data set of the representative sample of the Dutch population from the study by van Gelder et al. (2011). Their research has shown that providing information about suspended sentences doesn’t lead to more positive attitudes or beliefs in their effectiveness. This study brings up the question why there was no effect found? From the perspective of cultural sociology and framing theory it argues that lack of knowledge is not in charge for all the negative opinions towards suspended sentences, but that cultural predispositions and the level of education are important in shaping public opinions, especially about the topics people are less aware of. Our findings show that information is translated into more support and greater believe in effectiveness of suspended sentences by people who are highly restorative and rehabilitative oriented. The level of education and punitive attitudes of the respondents did not reveal any significant results. These findings bring to a conclusion that provision of information is only effective for those categories of respondents who are already supportive for postponing the sentence.

Feeling the narrative

Fri, 30 Aug 2013 00:00:01 GMT

Bure, A.S.

This paper focuses on the emotional aspects of media tourism: the way the media tourist’s emotions change, develop and lead to the actual media tourism event. When a person interacts with a narrative, a desire to visit a related location (that is to perform a media tourism act) may occur. For the purpose of this research project, several semi-structured interviews were conducted with media tourists to find out how their emotions develop before, during and after the media tourism experience. In order to study the dynamics of emotions a model is suggested, where the reading of a book or watching of a movie is taken as the initial point. After that, according to the model, the media tourist will experience a post-reading/post-watching stage where the narrative emotions (feelings one has during the interaction with a narrative) urge him/her to visit the location portrayed in that narrative. The next stage is the media tourism act itself, and finally he/she will experience post-travelling emotions. As the study showed, most of the respondents had positive emotions when they were interacting with the initial narratives and likewise during the visit of the media location. Their emotions were mostly of happiness and joy. However the emotions occurred after reading/watching and after travelling were rather weak especially when compared to the sentiments during the actual reading/watching or media tourism experience. In conclusion, there was no constant level of the respondents’ emotions. Emotions that had appeared in the beginning transformed and induced the respondents to become a media tourist. Their feelings then increased, flourished during the period of media tourism and afterwards created new urges when the traveler returned home.

Legitimating local music

Fri, 30 Aug 2013 00:00:01 GMT

Koreman, R.C.W.

This study examines the legitimation of local music. Critics from peripheral countries such as the Netherlands often tend to focus on foreign music products. However, the rising popularity among ‘omnivorous’ audiences and increased production of Dutch music, together with the competition in the Dutch media landscape for readers, might lead Dutch elite newspapers to increase their coverage of local music. These media are cultural intermediaries who signal the legitimation of music. Local music genres thus might succeed in establishing themselves, but little is known about this process. This research therefore studies the legitimation of three local Dutch genres that are traditionally seen as less legitimate: volksmuziek, hip‐hop/rap and dance music. The findings suggest that the increased amount of coverage devoted to hip‐hop/rap music and dance music between 1955‐2012 in Dutch elite newspapers points to a legitimation of these genres. Their coverage is also increasingly characterized by reviews, which also signals appreciation. Dutch artists occupy a central position in these genres and are covered equal or even more than their foreign colleagues. Volksmuziek however remains at the bottom of the hierarchy. An analysis of reviews furthermore shows that critics classify these genres using the criteria of authenticity and originality. Dutch products are additionally evaluated on their added value to the international music field. Products need to meet both the criteria of authenticity and originality to be deemed legitimate. Volksmuziek is consequently not legitimized, as it lacks originality. When products fail to meet these criteria the media attention is legitimized by their popularity, but they are not appreciated as artistic products in their own right.

Popularizing sciences by the media?

Tue, 04 Feb 2014 00:00:01 GMT

Ketting, L.K.L.

In the debate of science communication public illiteracy is often held responsible for the low levels of trust in science these days. Therefore to revitalize the public’s trust in science, education by the media is seen as a crucial factor. In this paper this simplistic idea of science education is problematized as being too focused on an assumed knowledge deficiency of the public and the possibility to solve this by a unilateral process of science communication. This obscures the often ambiguous characteristics of media messages and how such media messages are culturally negotiated by the public. To overcome these shortcomings this study investigates how different scientific debates (controversial/harmonious) affect trust in science and how this effect is moderated by the cultural predispositions ‘science views’, ‘anti-elitism’ and ‘anomia’. In addition it is tested whether and how these interactions could explain the relationship between education (level and field) and trust in science. Testing the assumptions by means of a self-conducted vignette survey experiment it turned out that framing effects exist, though they depend on field of study and science views. Furthermore, none of the cultural variables could explain the relationship between education and trust in science. Though in the end it becomes clear that despite the moderate results science communication is nevertheless more complex than the Science Deficit Model assumes. The vignette experiment appears to be a good way to illustrate this.

Popularizing sciences by the media?

Tue, 04 Feb 2014 00:00:01 GMT

Ketting, L.K.L.

Domesticated predators

Fri, 12 Jun 2015 00:00:01 GMT

D.J. Burema

Heterosexual relationships in which the woman is much older than her male partner have become increasingly visible in popular culture. Typically these women are referred to as cougars and their partners as toyboys. It is argued that these types of relationships have the potential to undermine traditional forms heteronormativity and intersectional gender/age performances. For women past their forties are not expected to engage in sexual relationships, especially not with younger men. Building on theories in gender studies on gender performance, heterosexual identities and intersectionality, this study discusses the discourse found in Dutch gossip media regarding the relationships of four pre-selected celebrity cougars, i.e. Patricia Paay, Demi Moore, Madonna, and Heleen van Royen. Articles that reported on relationship events and were published in the most central gossip media in the Netherlands were sampled (N=138). A qualitative content analysis revealed that these women were depicted as independent and empowered, whereas the male partners were portrayed as dependent on their older female partners. This challenges the traditional understandings of heteronormativity, albeit a power imbalance remains intact. The second main finding concerns that gossip media describe cougars and toyboys in terms of acts that are congruent with general understandings of intersectional performances of gender/age, i.e. a wise, caring, decent-looking mother, with a handsome, boyish, adventurous partner. Overall, the media did not describe these relationships in terms of deviance. It is argued that has to do mainly with the relation between the two main findings: while gossip media describe cougars in terms of how they dominate over their male partner and thereby challenge certain aspects of heteronormativity, other aspects are more compatible with the seemingly natural beliefs of doing gender/age within the framework of heterosexual relationships. Thus in theoretical terms, denaturalizing the “natural” does not necessarily trigger criticism, as long as practices that supposedly challenge heteronormativity occur alongside certain gender/age performances that reproduce heteronormative frameworks.

How a spoiled vacation can change your worldview: A study of the contribution of negative touristic experiences to existential authenticity

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 00:00:01 GMT

E.Bakaeva

This research is designed to address the phenomenon of existential authenticity, acquired during travel and tourism. The current research aims to legitimize the inclusion of negative experiences in the existing theoretical framework, which suggests that certain types of positive touristic experiences facilitate one’s authenticity. Based on original existential theory and current developments in the field, this study engages qualitative content analysis of travel blogs to detect the categories of negative touristic experiences that that evoke individual’s sense of self. As a result, a set of such categories emerges and demonstrates that, first, negative and positive contributing experiences may be classified similarly and, second, that negative experiences catalyze the sense of liminality, which, in turn, is a necessary requirement for the comprehension of existential authenticity. The result suggests that previously exclusion of negative experiences from the studies on authenticity in tourism is invalid and limits the understanding of the phenomenon.

Universal pattern of cultural omnivorousness?

Sun, 28 Jun 2015 00:00:01 GMT

T. Lukas

This paper seeks to examine the character of cultural taste patterns in the Netherlands and in previously formally ‘classless’ Estonia and argue what could be the reasons behind the potential differences. Information from nationally representative survey data collected by Eurobarometer in 2001/2003, 2007 and 2013 from Estonian and Dutch respondents on cultural participation is analyzed and, using multinomial regression analysis, linked to a set of indicators of social background and values. The results show that, although in both countries there are clusters of omnivores and non-consumers, these clusters are influenced differently by the chosen predictor variables. While in Estonia, where values concerned with individual background are prevalent, also individuals’ own class position predicted omnivorousness best, in the Netherlands more socially responsible values such as social equality and solidarity and cultural diversity were of greatest importance in predicting taste patterns. The study exemplified that, in applying familiar theories about cultural lifestyles, it is important to consider specific country contexts.

Collectivism, marriage and well-being

Mon, 06 Jul 2015 00:00:01 GMT

J.J. ten Kate

The positive relationship between marriage and subjective well-being is a robust finding in the academic field. There is, however, a growing demand for contextualization of this relationship. It is for instance suggested that the influence of marriage on well-being varies across cultures. Although an understanding of these cross-cultural variations is lacking, existing research does provide indications of what cultural trait might play a role in these variations: national collectivism. Since authors remain ambivalent when it comes to pinpointing what role collectivism plays exactly in the well-known relationship between marriage and subjective well-being, this study aims to fill this gap. Based on a thorough review of relevant literature, this study proposes two ways in which the role of collectivism can be understood, to explain why collectivism either strengthens or weakens the well-being-effect of marriage. First, a cultural interpretation based on the normative nature of marriage is proposed based on sociological literature on social norms and conformity. Second, adopting a different theoretical approach, marriage is interpreted as a source of social support, resulting in a structural interpretation of the role of collectivism. The role of collectivism and both proposed interpretations are empirically tested using all available rounds (2002-2012) of the European Social Survey (N = 212,683). Multilevel analyses reveal that the relationship between marriage and well-being is weaker in collectivistic countries, demonstrating the importance of taking cross-cultural variations into account. The analyses also show that neither of the proposed interpretations can sufficiently explain the dampening role of collectivism. Therefore, an alternative interpretation of the findings is offered in the conclusion, to serve as a stepping stone for future research.

“The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself”

Tue, 14 Jul 2015 00:00:01 GMT

J.Peters

Authoritative cultural sociological theories on contemporary romantic relationships employ the grand narrative of a shift from “traditional” to “modern” societies, as a result of which relationships are now supposedly “individualized” and “fluid”. Much in the same spirit, the polyamorous philosophy, which allows individuals to be romantically involved with more than one person at a time, aims to let go of the traditional monogamous norm in order to “keep the options open” and “avoid fixation”. Based on 12 in-depth biographical interviews with polyamorists and fieldwork at non-monogamy meetings in The Netherlands, I argue that the link between individualization and polyamory is legitimate, but that 1) polyamory’s individualism is a meaningful and structured discourse rather than a random phenomenon, and 2) it is socialized within delineated social environments, namely “queer” and “holistic” culture, rather than established from scratch between idiosyncratic individuals. This paper urges current academic work on polyamory to broaden its too narrow focus on queer culture, but more chiefly, it aims to remind cultural sociologists of the fact that one cannot stop after attributing a phenomenon to “the individualization”, as it is a black box concept that needs to be further dissected.

Observing the Alleged Internet Savvy: Accounts of Exceptional Online Creativity by Dutch Youth.

Wed, 29 Jul 2015 00:00:01 GMT

R.R. Verstraeten

In new media and children research, the 'cyberkid' label is often used to describe the younger generation and creative online activities. Whilst this label rightfully underlines the increased access to more and new media by children, it does not adequately comprehend intense and skilled online activities. As such, youngsters become alleged to be internet savvy, whereas only a small part of this group really is. This research provides a better understanding of what internet savvy youngsters do online exactly, b) how they do it, c) why they do what they do when producing creative content and d) how they employ these activities in their everyday life. Building on robust data by the web-logging application Roxy and Constant Comparative Method results illustrate the complexity of exceptional online creativity. Producing activities are not self-contained and build on multiple structured, complementing activities. A two-fold typology becomes apparent; creativity wizzkids and exceptional creatives.

Who (Not) To Be in a Refugee Crisis?

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:00:01 GMT

W. Dortant

The refugee ‘crisis’ challenges (Dutch) local municipalities to host a sizeable community of (predominantly) Syrian refugees. Stigmatizing characterizations of ‘the refugee’complicate both efficient care-taking and interaction with the host-society. This paper aims to substantiate the necessity of short-term ethnographic fieldwork on refugee identity formation. Beyond its theoretical interest to extend current knowledge about ‘mediatized’ realities, it aims to improve refugees’ integration within the new cultural context. The first part of this paper (Section A.) illustrates how the concept of refugee identity formation has developed over time. Currently, its understanding encompasses both transitional and discursive theories, moreoverrecognizing concept’s relatedness to bridging-and bonding ties. Still, the relative importance of roots and routes(Platts-Flower & Robinson, 2015) to refugees’ cultural redefinition remains ambiguous. Moreover, the effects of world-wide digital disclosure on refugees’ social reality lack sufficient consideration. Therefore,this study urges for an exploration of mediatized influences on refugees’ lived experiences. It suggests to conduct a ‘go-along’ communication-ethnography in AZC-Beverwaard (Rotterdam, the Netherlands). Section B. reports on a pilot-inquiry aiming to sensitize the proposed research design to the refugee-perspective. Its preliminary results support that ‘mediatized’ experiences influence the reconciliation of past (trauma)and present (procedural stress) experiences in a post-refuge identity. Contrasting the protectionist signature of current refugee-assistance, this paper emphasizes refugees should be encouraged in their self-development, and facilitated to interact beyond the intra-mural community.

Settling in with Social Media

Fri, 10 Jun 2016 00:00:01 GMT

A. van Eldik

International students start a new life in a new country with a new social network. Social media has the potential to aid this process. This study explores the role of social media in the settling-in phase of international freshmen in the Netherlands, offering a broad approach of the different ways in which university students use social media, as this approach seems absent from earlier research. The goal of this study was to distinguish the choice for and use of social media platforms, as well as look for possible cultural differences. This was done using a theoretical framework of the accumulation of social capital, Uses and Gratifications theory, one’s social (student) identity, and cultural values. Five focus groups existing of international students in the Netherlands were formed. The results revealed four themes: convenience, socializing, risk reduction and barriers. Convenience was understood as the practicality and ease that social media brought during the settling-in process. Regarding socializing, face-to-face contact was preferred, yet social media was seen as a tool to make it easier. Social media was also used to reduce risk and gain a sense of comfort. Barriers existed in social media use in terms of differences in platform preferences and dealing with homesickness. No strong differences were found among cultural values.