Mass Culture Research Articles

The phenomenon of the outsider as the main character in modern popular culture (on the example of series and films of the 1990s and later)

Introduction: studying this phenomenon allows to understand the reasons for the popularity of this character in popular culture. The purpose of the article is to conduct an analysis of the phenomenon in the context of modern mass culture by analysing modern films and series, to reveal its characteristics and significance for the viewer, as well as to consider the impact of this phenomenon on modern society. Method: the following scientific methods were used in this study: the method of content analysis, the method of scenario analysis, and the method of interpretive analysis. Results: the results of the study showed how they are depicted in mass culture, how their role has changed over time, their influence on the perception of social and cultural problems, as well as their influence on the formation of an individual’s identity and self-determination. The study examines aspects such as conformity, marginalization, and exclusion of outsiders in popular culture. The research uses methods of studying the content of TV series and films, their storylines, dialogues, and images dedicated to the research topic. The analysis of intertextual elements in the scripts of films and series was carried out, which allowed revealing the connections between different works and cultural contexts. An analysis of the social aspects of the phenomenon, such as marginalization and exclusion, was also carried out. Conclusion: the research has practical significance for cinema and television, as it can help content creators in choosing the main character and shaping his character

Simplification of the Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Culture Process for Expanding the Field of Biomachining.

Biomachining is an eco-friendly metal processing method with broad application potential. Nevertheless, the bacterial culture methods that are currently involved in biomachining require the intensive use of chemical reagents, especially FeSO4, specialized equipment, and professional-level skills in the field of biology. Herein, the differences between two cultures with and without sterilization were evaluated. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was cultured with iron instead of FeSO4 in the culture medium. The chemical and biochemical parameters of the culture were analyzed by studying the area of exposed iron and continuously regulating the pH. Eliminating the sterilization and sterile inoculation of the medium is feasible for culturing A. ferrooxidans. The key to achieving a high bacterial density in culture with iron was to maintain the solution pH. The possibility of mass culturing A. ferrooxidans with steel cuttings was evaluated in a custom bioreactor, and the bacterial concentration reached 9 × 107 cells/mL.

Ценностные основания стратагемного мышления (на примере минских «Книг мудрости» 1614–1634 гг.)

In the history of human thought, the question of the human wisdom nature, or the possibility to gain it, has never assumed a simple solution. Chinese thinkers and philosophers answered this question in different ways. The secular and practical character of understanding the concept of wisdom in the Chinese intellectual tradition was largely due to the influence of the ethical and political doctrine of Confucianism. From the point of view of Confucian ethics, the idea of using tricks and gimmicks was considered rather dubious. In the history of Chinese thought, there were periods when the intellectual elite had time to realize the beginning of a crisis in society and tried not only to theorize stratagem thinking, but also to find sufficient ethical grounds for applying stratagems in routine practices. The last third of the Ming dynasty reigning, when A Complete Book of Wisdom was written, was just such a period. At the same time, there was a serious value guidelines transformation of the educated class in China, which could also act as one of the factors in developing interest in stratagems and stratagem thinking. The aim of the article is to analyze the transformation of the value system of Chinese intellectuals, who lived in the last third of the Ming dynasty, and identify the value grounds of stratagem thinking described in A Complete Book of Wisdom. The article presents a classification of relevant factors that influenced the transformation of the value system of educated people under the late Ming. It describes and systematizes the data on the attitude of Ming emperors to educated people and Confucian ethical-political doctrine. The struggle not only for real power but also for symbolic power in the area of values and ideals was one of the drivers for the transformation of the value system. In addition, the commercialization of life and mass culture was the main factor in the significant change of Confucian philosophy. The article presents the analysis of educated people feelings and attitudes, which entailed changes in approaches to the process of knowledge and social practices. Thus, under the late Ming dynasty, there was the development of new models of social conflict resolution and value grounds of stratagem thinking.

Review of Alison Hedley, <i>Making Pictorial Print: Media Literacy and Mass Culture in British Magazines, 1885–1918</i> (2022)

Review of Alison Hedley, Making Pictorial Print: Media Literacy and Mass Culture in British Magazines, 1885–1918 (2022)

The Elusive Fandom: The Problem Field of Foreign Fan Studies

The article is dedicated to an overview of English-language fan studies as an interdisciplinary research area. In particular, it discusses trends in the development of fan studies, various approaches to the conceptualization of fandom and fans, as well as the phenomenon of “aca-fans” and the specifics of research ethics in fan studies. The author traces the complex path of formation and transformation of fan studies into an independent subdiscipline recognized by the academic community. This path is marked by a series of “waves,” which reflect both different approaches to understanding the subject of study and changes in the status of fan studies as such. The spread of fan practices and communities emerging around objects of mass culture contributed to their normalization and mainstreaming. Fan studies also demonstrates changes in its focus: the issue of stigmatization of fans is receding into the background, and fandom analysis in the context of social inequality, participatory culture and media consumption is becoming relevant. Contemporary discussions within fan studies are aimed at rethinking the key notions and searching for new interpretations and concepts that overcome the limitations of previous approaches. One of the main topics of discussion is whether the focus of fan studies is still on the fan community (a tradition started by Henry Jenkins) or whether it also includes individual fans. In addition to revising the concepts and boundaries of the subject field, the article addresses methodological and ethical problems in this area. Particular attention is paid to the position of “aca-fans”, belonging to both the academia and the fan world. The article also shows how the perspective of fan studies is beginning to be applied in related social science disciplines. Since many communities and movements (political, consumer, cultural, etc.) function in some ways similar to fandom, turning to fan studies theories can deepen our understanding of these phenomena.

Modern Russia in collective consciousness of the country’s inhabitants

The article explores collective consciousness as a theoretical construct, a type of social consciousness and as real attitude of the population towards Russia at the emotional and rational levels. It shows that modern collective consciousness in Russia is a product of mass culture, which actualized during modernization of the Russian society in the economic, political, cultural and everyday spheres of life. Today, it is influenced by mass and high-tech communications, while also reflecting the life experience of different generations. The research methodology is based on the interpretation of collective consciousness as the averaged consciousness of the whole mass of individuals in social groups; it erases individual differences, human characteristics, which in any single case may not be the same as collective consciousness, but impart collective consciousness a qualitative diversity. Empirically, the research is based on representative mass surveys – the Seventh Wave of the Russian Values and Interests Monitoring (Summer 2023), Russian Survey of Young Russian Adults (June 2020), European Social Study (ESS 2018–2019). The research attempts to determine whether the Russian mentality is more emotional than rational towards their “lesser motherland” or birthplace, their oblast/republic/krai, Russia as a country and the author suggests that these properties of mentality constitute characteristics of such a complex psychological phenomenon as Russian patriotism. The article reveals a growing rational perception of the problems of society with outspoken criticism amid high levels of emo tional attitude of the respondents to the country and “lesser motherland”. Such is the evaluation of Russia’s attractive and unattractive characteristics and the importance of civil rights and liberties, among which the rights that ensure people’s basic modern life-supporting needs, such as employment, education, property, security and protection by law, were ranked first with more than 90% of respondents stating their support. There is also a cohort of young people aged 18–24, for whom political rights and democratic freedoms, enshrined in the Russian Constitution, become more important compared to other cohorts.

Metabolite Compounds of Euglena sp. on Mass Cultivation System under MgCl2 and CaCl2 Salt Stress

Euglena sp. is rich in primary and secondary metabolite compounds. This cosmopolitan organism can survive extreme conditions such as salt stress because it can increase cell growth rate and metabolism. This mass cultivation research uses an open pond system that is very vulnerable to contamination, so variations in salinity of MgCl2 and CaCl2 are used as treatments because they minimize contamination. The research examines the correlation of salt types to cell growth rate, biomass, monosaccharide profile, paramylon, pigment, and lipid of Euglena sp. Research methods include preparation, medium making, mass cultivation, and measurement of test parameters. Data were analyzed through One-Way ANOVA followed by DMRT, with a 5% confidence level. Based on the research result, the highest value of biomass and paramylon content and productivity at CaCl2 treatment with consecutive values 0.013 ± 0.001, 0.002 ± 0.000, 9.556 ± 0.070, and 0.149 ± 0.019. Monosaccharides analysis produced in the form of sucrose, glucose, fructose, and arabinose amounted to < 10 ppm. CaCl2 treatment produced the highest sucrose of 6251 ppm. The highest chlorophyll-a and carotenoid pigments are located at CaCl2 treatment, respectively (1.698 ± 0.051)b and (0.500 ± 0.032)b. At the same time, the salt treatment has a significant effect on lipid content. To summarize, almost all metabolite compounds were highest in CaCl2 treatment. This research is expected to contribute to developing the Euglena sp. mass cultivation system as a source of bioenergy and biomaterials.

JOYCE’S SYMBOLISM

The paper presents an interpretation of Joyce’s work as symbolist. After outlining the history of the codification of Joyce’s works, V.M. Tolmatchoff proposed to return to the advantages of Joyce’s vision as a symbolist, proposed in general terms by E. Wilson in 1931. This symbolism, declared by Irish authors in the twentieth century and systematically realized by Joyce, genetically goes back not only to the practice of the French Symbolist poets, W.B. Yeats, as well as to the experience of the ‘death of God’ declared by Nietzsche (who shifted the understanding of symbolism from the reform of obsolete poetics to the “crisis of the European spirit” and the corresponding absolute purpose of the artist whose purely individual poetic vision forms new boundaries of the world, of things), but - more broadly - to the Romantic origins of non-classical culture. Joyce extends F. Schlegel’s dream of the boundlessness of poetry to the novel. In his performance it becomes a complex sum of personal biography, reading of symbolists (and authors drawn by them into their orbit), processing of the variants of symbolism available at the beginning of the twentieth century, synthetics of personal symbolism, in whose framework the contradictions between naturalism, symbolism as such, avant-gardisms, mass culture are removed and the central symbolist problematic of the transformation of the old world by the vitality of creativity is emphasized. In the framework of this interpretation of symbolism, the paper considers Ulysses: Joyce’s interpretation of the parody of sacred by profane, erotics, the problem of sex, luciferianism, Ibsen’s material and the relationship between the main characters, which allows us to see Ulysses as a symbolist novel on creativity.

Law enforcement activity, globalization and social morality in frameworks of mass culture (On the Example of Modern European TV-Shows on Law-Enforcements. Part 2)

Law enforcement activity, globalization and social morality in frameworks of mass culture (On the Example of Modern European TV-Shows on Law-Enforcements. Part 2)

Representation of Sociocultural Processes Through Public Relations Tools

Communication capabilities have led to the emergence of new phenomena in mass culture: new methods of advertising, marketing, and public relations, the effects of which have determined the commercial success of companies and the formation of perceptions of their products and services. Mass communication’s informational and expressive power significantly impacts the reputation of certain individuals and political parties, making up the reputational potential of different regions and countries. The national consciousness formation is, of course, not the elimination of already formed concepts, opinions, and habits, but a change in their direction. Public relations maintains harmony between prominent figures of the era, lays the foundation for further development of the national economy, influences public consciousness and consumption, and guides and changes the human subconscious. Therefore, this topic is crucial for our society. The purpose of the article is to characterize the sociocultural processes with the help of public relations. Research methods. The study is based on some general theoretical methods, principles, and approaches. The following methods were used to achieve the goal and solve the research objectives: theoretical, in particular, generalization of theoretical data; comparison; synthesis – to determine the essence and mechanisms of the PR tool that has an impact on sociocultural processes. Scientific novelty. The novelty of this study is to clarify the concept of “public relations” and to highlight the use of public relations tools in the sociocultural sphere. PR is a dynamic development that affects the process of informing people and strengthening and adjusting different views on global issues. Therefore, there is a growing need for information exchange to improve mutual understanding and interaction between different groups of people in different regions and countries. In addition, the growth of mutual information and communication links in the international community necessitates strengthening international security and cooperation. The development of digital technologies facilitates the work of public relations professionals. New tools have emerged to process large amounts of data, facilitate professional life, and automate certain processes. One of the key features of progress in the field of public relations is the automation and sometimes the autonomization of work processes. Conclusions. The activities of public relations in the field of culture as intercultural mass communication are connected with globalization, in particular migration processes. When representatives of different faiths have a sufficient amount of self-organization in the social sphere, ethnic, religious, and intercultural exchanges will naturally take place. With the intensification of immigration processes and the emergence of new media, the need for comprehensive public relations work is becoming a reality, especially in cities where immigrants make up more than a third of the population.

Специфика жанра баллады в русском музыкальном творчестве XX века: определяющие свойства и исторический контекст

The aim of the study is to characterize the ballad and the specifics of its realization in Russian musical creativity of the 20th century in the historical context with the identification of the reasons for the author's appeal to the genre. The article presents the constant features of the genre, the main trends in the development of the ballad in the historical period under consideration, analyzes the principles of interpenetration of the ballad and other genres, and identifies the reasons for its popularity in composers' work and mass culture. For the first time on the material of diverse compositions of Russian musical academic art and samples of mass culture the manifestations of balladry in the framework of mixt combinations with large-scale genres (symphony, concerto, cantata, etc.) are studied. The ballad is considered from the point of view of a tool that allows authors to build the artistic world of the work, to appeal to various ancient aesthetic concepts, as well as to circumvent ideological barriers. This is the scientific novelty of the study. As a result of analyzing the available data, the author came to the conclusion: in the process of development in the ballad formed features that can be divided into constant and mobile. At the same time, it is established that such specific properties of the genre as allegorical statement, multiplanarity, mobility of categories of time and space, as well as the possibility of genre synthesis are determinant for the demand for ballads in musical art and mass culture.

KELIMPAHAN POPULASI Moina macrocopa DIPERTAHANKAN DALAM MEDIA KULTUR MASSA DITAMBAHKAN TEPUNG SPIRULINA PLATENSIS

The purpose of the research was to evaluate the response of the population abundance of Moina macrocopa to the addition of Spirulina platensis flour into mass culture media. In this research, each added 0 mg/day (control), 500 mg/day, 750 mg/day of Spirulina platensis, as well as the treatments being tested. As a control, dry manure was used. This research was conducted at the Wet Laboratory (wet lab.) Faculty of Fisheries and Marine, Lambung Mangkurat University Banjarbaru. As an experimental container (experimental unit) were 12 aquariums measuring 45 x 25 x 30 cm. In this research, an experimental design was applied, namely Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Statistical testing using Test F or ANOVA with a significant level of 5% and 1%. The further statistical analysis used for the significant treatment calculated F value was Duncan's Test (DMRT). The results showed that at the peak of the abundance of Moina macrocopa (day 21), the highest population was in treatment B = 708 ind/liter, followed by treatment C=535.33 ind and treatment A=70.66 ind/liter. The results of statistical tests (ANOVA) showed that there was no significant difference (F < Ftable 0.05) in the abundance of Moina macrocopa in the three mass culture media added with Spirulina platensis flour.

The trend towards anti-capitalist dystopia in contemporary serials: Narrative analysis of the Korean tragedy Squid Game

Nowadays, the spectator lives surrounded by television series in which increasingly complex, depressing and denouncing themes proliferate. About this, the Netflix hit Squid Game (2021) is a clear representation of a mass culture increasingly virtuous in staging, as well as more horrifying, preachy and sensationalist. Based on the observation of the phenomenon that the series has meant, narrative content analysis has been carried out in which we have sought to find evidence of how mainstream culture continues to popularize and stylize audio-visual abjection in the context of the third golden age of television and the fascination with the plots of torture porn or postmodern cinema of cruelty. The results show that Squid Game is a faithful product of its time: as a current prestige series, it is dark, depressing, pessimistic and has an artistic aura without neglecting entertainment and explores human complexity in themes such as suicide, genocide and violence.

Ambivalence of kawaii as a phenomenon of modern aesthetics in Japan

The author analyzes various aspects of the modern popular culture of kawaii. The connection between sweetness and the terrible in kawaii aesthetics is clarified. It is emphasized that the roots of kawaii go back to the Japanese culture of the past and today's total spread of the cute in Japanese everyday life is reflected in politics, government, business, the military complex, art, influencing all spheres of society and manifesting itself as a key component of the national identity of the Japanese. Attention is focused on the aesthetic category of yami-kawaii. Creepy kawaii understands the works of Japanese artists and the youth subculture. The connection of kawaii and yami-kawaii is shown. The subject of the study is the images of Japanese artists of the XX – XXI centuries. A characteristic feature of the art of which is the excessive depiction of the cute, indicating a connection with modernity. Comparative historical and iconographic research methods based on cultural, philosophical, and art historical scientific materials were used. The relevance of the topic is due to the need to explore new trends in art, with the need to rethink classical, aesthetic categories, in connection with the catastrophes of the XX – XXI centuries, which changed European culture and left an indelible mark on Japanese culture. The novelty of the research lies in an attempt to analyze the phenomenon of kawaii in a dual aspect: kawaii of the sweet and kawaii of the terrible in the art of Japanese artists, based on the phenomenon of fear as the driving force of yami-kawaii, as well as using the aesthetic category of "kawaii" as an all-pervading characteristic of mass culture. The yami-kawaii style is an independent aesthetic category, widespread by the youth subculture. The popularity of the "sick" kawaii as a crude grim reality is applied in the marketing of the industrial industry. Infantilism manifests itself as a defense, a psychological barrier in search of support and sympathy. The aesthetics of kawaii mildness acts as one side of the coin, the other is the internal conflict of society – fear, helplessness, depression. The yami-kawaii subculture is an expression of the aesthetic phenomenon of suffering and fear.

The term «neo-mythology» in the foreign humanities discourse of the XX-XXI centuries: the specifics of its existence

The article is devoted to the specifics of existence of the term «neo-mythology» in the foreign humanities discourse of the XX-XXI centuries. The foreign texts, which contain the term «neo-mythology» as a key word, have become the focus of research for this article. The genesis and semantics of the idea of «neo-mythology» in foreign research papers are the subject matter of the research. The origin matters of the term «neo-mythology» in the Italian cinema of the 1950s-1960s are overviewed in detail. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the main tendencies of the development of the notion «neo-mythology». Russian and foreign researches touching upon contemporary mythology differ both in the content and in the usage of the term «neo-mythology» crucially. The following research was inspired by the necessity to find the terminological equivalents in Russian and foreign scientific works on modern mythogenesis. The research is based on structural-semantic and semantic-cognitive methods. Traditional methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison and generalization are used. The results of the research enabled us to make conclusions on the peripheral role of the term «neo-mythology» in foreign scientists’ works and conclude that their preferences lie within the terms «contemporary/modern mythology». The term «neo-mythology» in the foreign discourse is mostly used in works, which are either devoted to the research of some aspects of mass culture or closely connected with Russian humanities. The usage of the term «neo-mythology» in foreign research of mass/pop culture reflects the background of theoretical analysis of modern mass consciousness turning to myths. The conclusions made in the research are supposed to help Russian scientists work with foreign studies of contemporary mythology more productively.

OMMAVIY MADANIYAT VA NIKOH MUNOSABATLARI MOHIYATIDAGI TRANSFORMATSION SABABLAR

: In all nations, the family has long been regarded as the greatest unit, and it cannot be compared to anything else. For this reason, the family has always been under the protection of the state and society, and it has embodied a noble power that plays an important role in the country's well-being and leads everyone to the same ideology. This article discusses the transformational reasons in the essence of mass culture and marital relations.

On the Re-Alienation Experiences of the Amateur Runners in Istanbul

In contemporary mass culture, individuals are increasingly subjected to standardization, homogenization, and objectification, leading to experiences of alienation within the societal framework shaped by it. Despite efforts to fortify connections with oneself, the environment, society, and meaning, individuals may still find themselves immersed in alienation within the societal structure they inhabit. Through heightened awareness, individuals strive to reclaim their authentic identities, utilizing various means to distance themselves from alienation. However, this pursuit may paradoxically result in renewed ruptures in connections, as individuals encounter re-alienation, finding themselves ontologically identical yet formally distinct within the alienation process. Amidst the complexities of modern life, individuals often seek self-realization through recreational pursuits like running. Hence, this study endeavors to examine the phenomenon of re-alienation, particularly among amateur runners. By conducting semi-structured, in-depth interviews with runners in Istanbul, the study explores both the process of distancing from alienation and the experience of encountering re-alienation through running. Through its investigation, the study aims to contribute to scholarly discourse on alienation, self-realization, and re-alienation with the lens of critical communication studies. By analyzing the lived experiences of individuals, the research seeks to deepen our understanding of the intricate dynamics of alienation and resilience in contemporary society. Research findings show that running as a recreational activity strengthens individuals' connections with themselves, nature, their social environment, meaning, and values, thereby allowing for a sense of autonomy to be achieved; however, due to social infrastructure and individual psychological tendencies, subject and object fetishes can be developed in relation to running activities, leading to experiences of re-alienation. Keywords: alienation, self-realization, mass culture, sports and recreational studies, critical communication studies

Развлекательные и просветительские предпочтения молодежи как ресурс политической социализации

The presented research is built around the question of conditions for the effective use of images of mass culture as a resource for correcting the life strategies of young people. It is concluded that the images produced by mass culture are potentially able to significantly influence formation of life strategies of young people, only if there is a certain set of conditions. They should correspond to the structure of society and the relationships between its layers, which form ideas about prestige of the currently dominant identity and associated behaviors, correlate with the degree of stability of image of the “sacred past” of the community and the degree of authority of institutions that perform the function of monitoring compliance with established norms. Thus, in the case of the promotion of new life strategies that differ significantly from the prevailing model, their effective implementation requires such conditions as a large-scale recomposition of the social structure and the crisis of the dominant identity, contributing to the growth of polarization of opinions in society and a synchronous increase in attention to the avoided cultural frames. Combination of these conditions makes it possible to adjust the value-behavioral models of generations whose socialization process has not yet been completed.

БАЛЫҚ ДЕРНӘСІЛДЕРІН ӨСІРУ ҮШІН ОҢТАЙЛЫ ҚОРЕК РЕСУРСЫ РЕТІНДЕ АРТЕМИЯЛАРДЫ ӨНДІРУ

In aquaculture, the use of Artemia as an optimal nutrient resource for fish fry is an object of growing interest. The advantages of using Artemia include the possibility of mass cultivation under controlled conditions, the possibility of long-term storage in frozen form and resistance to external environmental conditions. Artemia, belonging to crustaceans, is a rich source of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals necessary for the healthy development of fish larvae. Due to the high content of unsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, fry contribute to the development of a healthy immune system, which reduces the risk of many diseases. Their small size and mobility make them available for cultivation, which ensures a high level of quality and reduces feed consumption. The results of the study show that the use of crustaceans as the main food source for fish farming contributes to improving the life, growth and health of fry. This makes them a successful type of feed in aquaculture and an optimal resource for fish farming. Further research in this area can lead to increased efficiency of fish farming, development of practices and improvement of the overall potential of the aquaculture industry. This article discusses the advantages of using Artemia, its biological value, ease of cultivation and versatility in the nutrition of various fish larvae. Various methods and technologies of growing Artemisia are analyzed, as well as their application in breeding species of fish larvae. Special attention is paid to optimizing the maximum growth of fish larvae and feeding conditions.

Modernizing propaganda in Republican China under a foreign gaze

ABSTRACT During China’s Republican era (1912–1949), the Kuomintang (KMT) Nationalists experimented with propaganda in theory and practice as its propaganda moved from a traditionally preaching oriented mass culture to modern mass-media-based weaponry deemed as ‘paper bullets.’ Contrary to the commonly overstated role and influence of the Soviet Union and its theorists during this transition from a utilitarian to an aggressive, weaponized model of propaganda, this essay, drawing insights from articles in the foreign press of Republican China, illuminates the complexity and intricacy of this experimental phase. The period is characterized by continuity, ruptures, hybridization, and innovation, providing a nuanced, multifaceted understanding of KMT propaganda. Aligned with the existing non-Soviet perspective on KMT propaganda, emphasizing the integration of cultural, folk, or modern elements into the propaganda arsenal, this study enhances it by providing a more comprehensive outlook.