Participatory Culture Research Articles

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.

Creating Digital Content for Traditional Children's Games in North Sumatra to Preserve Culture and Enhance Sports Participation

As globalization progresses, local cultures, including traditional games, are increasingly at risk of erosion. There is a pressing need to develop strategies to preserve these cultural elements, introduce them to younger generations, and enhance active participation in sports. This study focuses on creating multimedia content based on traditional games from the North Sumatra region to achieve these goals. The research utilized the Research and Development (RD) model by Borg and Gall, which includes ten systematic steps. Participants included 40 children aged 6-12 years and 40 adolescents aged 13-15 years from North Sumatra, divided into individual and small group trials. The setting comprised elementary and junior high schools in Deliserdang district and Medan city. The development process involved initial design, expert validation, iterative revisions, and field trials to test and refine the multimedia content. The developed multimedia content, featuring animated video media of traditional game activities, was validated by experts and received high feasibility ratings. Initial validation stages yielded a feasibility percentage of 73.80%, improving to 95.20% after revisions. Material validation assessments also showed significant improvement, with feasibility increasing from 75.55% to 92.22%. Field trials indicated that the content was well-received by participants, effectively preserving regional culture and promoting active participation in sports. The study demonstrates the potential of multimedia content in preserving cultural heritage and encouraging sports participation among youth. The positive feedback from expert validators and participants underscores the content's educational and cultural value. However, further research with larger and more diverse samples is recommended to confirm these findings and explore long-term impacts. The multimedia content developed through this research effectively preserves traditional games from North Sumatra and promotes active participation in sports among children and adolescents. The iterative validation and testing process ensured high feasibility and user engagement, making it a valuable tool for cultural and educational initiatives.

Analyzing Marketing Communication Strategies for "Satu Nagari Satu Event" Program in West Sumatra

This study analyzed the marketing communication strategies employed for the "Satu Nagari Satu Event" program in Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra. The program, aimed at promoting cultural engagement and community participation, underscores the significance of effective marketing communication in achieving its objectives. The analysis begins by outlining the core goals and context of the "Satu Nagari Satu Event" program, establishing a foundation for the subsequent evaluation. By examining the clarity and consistency of the program's messaging, the analysis sheds light on its ability to convey its value proposition. Channels of communication, both traditional and digital, are scrutinized to assess their reach and impact. In recognition of the cultural context, the analysis probes the extent to which marketing communication resonates with the local customs and traditions of Tanah Datar Regency. The evaluation concludes by examining key performance indicators such as event attendance, website traffic, and social media engagement, providing insights into the success of the marketing communication strategies. By merging these insights, the analysis offers recommendations for refining the program's marketing communication approaches and enhancing its impact on cultural engagement and community involvement.

Development of an Experimental Methodology Focused on Formation of Competences Promotion in the Applied (Profile) Physical Culture and Sport Among Student Youth

This article examines the current state of professional competence development focused on promoting physical culture and sport (PCS) participation among students in educational institutions. The role of organizing and disseminating information campaigns to the population by specialists in PCS has been emphasized. This highlights the necessity to form among graduates of secondary educational institutions and first-year university students the competences required to effectively popularize PCS activities. The paper presents the findings of a pedagogical experiment involving graduates from specialized sports classes in secondary education and first-year students at Khmelnytskyi National University enrolled in the "Secondary Education. Physical Education" (014.11) program. The effectiveness of the method of competences formation in the promotion of physical culture and sports among students has been confirmed by the results of the pedagogical experiment, in the process of which a reliable increase in the level of formation of competences among student youth is expected as measured against the National Higher Education Standard for the "Secondary Education. Physical Culture" (014.11) specialty within the bachelor's degree program. Furthermore, a methodological and diagnostic toolkit has been developed. This toolkit can be implemented in the training of student educators (bachelor's level) at pedagogical and other higher education institutions, particularly in courses related to psychology and pedagogy. Additionally, it can be employed in training programs for teachers and coaches working in the field of PCS.

Hierarchy and Typology of Political Culture

This article discusses political structure and culture with a focus on several key dimensions, namely the physical structure of politics, the social structure of politics, and various types of political culture. The physical structure of politics refers to the formal institutions and political mechanisms that influence the process of political action. The socio-political structure includes the distribution of power and social hierarchies that influence political dynamics in society. Furthermore, this article outlines the different types of political culture, including a political parochial culture that shows minimal involvement in national political affairs, a political subjective culture that reflects individuals' political attitudes and orientations towards power and political participation, and a political participatory culture that encourage active participation in the political process. Through an analysis of the physical and socio-political structures, as well as various political cultures, this article provides a more accurate understanding of the complexity of politics in modern societies. The implications of this understanding for public policy development and political system development are also discussed in depth.

The first national survey on cultural participation in Portugal: exploring social and professional backgrounds

ABSTRACT Portugal undertook the first national survey of cultural practices (2020) with support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The present paper describes the contemporary cultural eclecticism in keeping with the analysis of key indicators for the cultural consumption of cinema, live performances, theatre, dance, circus, festivals, and local events. In line with previous European Survey conclusions, the first Portuguese National Survey results demonstrate how the younger and better educated, alongside those raised by educated parents, display “cultural omnivorism”. The main findings converge around how the influence of social backgrounds, positions in the professional structure and class identities, are shaping cultural consumption as pointed out by Reeves in his cross-national European study.

Effects of knowledge transformation and social capital on business performance

PurposeThis article delves into the antecedents of business performance. The main aim of this study is to analyze the effect of knowledge transformation on business performance in firms in the tourism industry and how cognitive and structural social capital heterogeneously moderate this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical study was conducted on a sample of 300 firms from the tourism industry in Arequipa-Perú. The analysis was performed by means of partial least squares structural equation modeling, using the Smart PLS software.FindingsOur findings show that knowledge transformation is key factor for increasing business performance. The results also highlight the significance of interorganizational relationships in this effect and the importance of analyzing each dimension of social capital separately. Thus, it is observed that cognitive social capital enhances the relationship between knowledge transformation and business performance, while (Sari and Indriani, 2023) structural social capital hinders it.Practical implicationsThe findings assist practitioners in developing a shared culture, values and goals with their contacts to improve business performance. Furthermore, firms should establish bridging ties with external agents to avoid be stuck in excessively dense networks. Relationships with institutions can act as a bridging agent.Originality/valueThis paper analyses the unresolved question of how knowledge transformation affects the business performance of companies in the tourism sector as well as how different dimensions of social capital influence in this relationship. Addressing these two critical, but as yet unresolved questions, this study draws on absorptive capacity and social capital theories as an overarching framework to present a conceptual model that integrates both theories in order to analyze the effect of knowledge transformation on business performance in tourism firms and the role of structural and cognitive capital on this relationship.

Choosing isolation in the face of stigma: Relational work in tie severance among Korean unwed mothers

Though network scholars long have observed that people experience high rates of network turnover, theorization on how ties dissolve has lagged behind, with natural tie decay dominating as the primary explanation. Many deviants face stigma and become social pariahs from communities of origin, yet current network theories struggle to explain how such processes of network dissolution occur. Using interviews conducted with Korean unwed mothers, a highly stigmatized and hard-to-reach population, this study shows that shared culture in networks—norms, expectations, and meanings—plays a key role in how people navigate stigma in their networks. I demonstrate that tie severance requires work: relational work that matches network-specific culture. I propose a typology of tie severance processes along two dimensions, actor and motive, and identify associated relational work for each type. This study shows that macro-level cultural values are adapted to each network and (re)interpreted before relational work can be engaged to manage social relations.

Blind to culture. How classed cognition prevents cultural policy initiatives from increasing cultural participation for children

ABSTRACT Since its first formulation in the post war years, Nordic cultural policy has had a stated aim to democratize culture, but with limited success. A growing literature argues that understanding policy failure is needed for a better functioning cultural policy. The present study uses two waves of panel data on cultural participation for parents and children in Bergen, Norway (N = 4754) to analyze the impact of three locally implemented cultural policy interventions designed in part to democratize culture for children. Using work with cultural policy failure, and tools from Bourdieu’s Sociology of Culture, this study finds that policies fail in systematic ways related to classed cognition. This leads to a ‘Matthew effect’ for cultural goods, as policies enable easier access to culture for those already invested in cultural participation, while the policies fail to even out social inequalities. There are both scientific and policy implications of the findings. First, data show that a cultural reproduction model seems a better fit than a cultural mobility model of cultural participation. Second, policy planners rarely factor in implications of the former in implementation of cultural policies designed to equalize distributions of culture. As a consequence, cultural policy initiatives to reduce inequalities in access to culture may lead to an exacerbation of cultural inequalities.

Assessing complementarity and substitution effects of cultural events in rural communities: insights from a Mediterranean island

AbstractPrevious studies do not systematically investigate complementarity and substitution effects of cultural participation and consumption in rural areas. Fairs, fiestas, and festivals, often performed in rural communities, have a substantial role in economic development. Nowadays, smartphones and the integration of global positioning system technology in mobile phones trace quantitative big data useful for studying complex systems and spaces. The present research analyses cultural events in the rural area of Gennargentu-Mandrolisai Mountain Community located in the Mediterranean island of Sardinia (Italy). This paper contributes to the literature at least in two ways. Methodologically, it analyses a complex cultural product that combines tangible and intangible cultural heritage. It explores complementarity and substitution effects between events within a coopetition setting. Empirically, it investigates consumption behaviour and tracks the inter-regional/inter-national cultural flows. An econometric analysis of a unique big dataset evaluates the supply-side market conditions that influence demand-side spill-over effects. This study has practical relevance and provides a valuable reference for policymakers in inner areas.

Intermedial participatory culture: ludification and gamification for sustainable development

The research approaches civic engagement from the perspective of Intermedial Studies, shedding light on different strategies of ‘mediation’, the way people engage in civic practices and shape the public sphere in postdigital culture. The paper explores the evolution of civic webs, living labs, forms of meaningful play in ludified transmedia practices, and serious videogames as diverse media that can address the intersection of civic engagement and sustainable development. A focal point of the research is the role of intermedial participatory strategies to promote a sociocultural scenario sensitive towards United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to urban planning, smart cities, and environmental issues. Building upon this starting point, the study extends to the transformative realms of transmedia storytelling and the difference between ludification and gamification, elucidating the main role of game-based public participation to fostering community engagement and eco-digital literacy. The paper supports the empowering potential of multiplatform, co-creative and experimental environments in advancing communal pursuits of sustainable goals in interconnected and offline contexts for sociocultural innovation.

Enhancing Workplace Productivity: The Nexus of Organizational Culture and Policies in Public Institutions

Aim – This study aims to explore the intricate interplay between organizational culture, policies, and productivity within a major public institution in Ghana. The primary purpose is to investigate the relationships between organizational policies, characteristics of organizational culture, and non-financial indicators of organizational productivity. Design/methodology/approach – This study utilizes a descriptive survey design, using a sample of 119 respondents randomly selected from a population of 1489 employees. Advanced statistical techniques, including Pearson Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression, are employed to identify relationships and test hypotheses. Findings – The results indicate positive and statistically significant relation-ships between organizational policies, cultural characteristics, and productivi-ty. Multiple linear regression analysis supported the hypothesis, demonstrat-ing a substantial influence of these factors on productivity. Notably, a moder-ate to strong positive correlation was found, highlighting the critical role of organizational culture in fostering improved performance. Limitations – Reliance on self-reported data raises concerns about social de-sirability bias. Additionally, the descriptive survey design allows for the identification of correlations, but causal relationships between variables can-not be established. Practical implications – This research highlights the importance of strategic policies and a supportive culture for public sector productivity. Clear policy implementation, leadership fostering a positive work environment, and en-gagement in policymaking likely enhance performance, particularly within diverse workforces. However, future research should explore causal relation-ships between these factors and productivity for deeper understanding and continuous optimization. Originality/value – This study investigates the combined effects of organiza-tional culture, policy clarity, and employee participation on productivity in a Ghanaian public institution. It contributes to the literature by confirming the positive influence of a supportive culture and well-defined policies, while emphasizing the importance of employee involvement in policy develop-ment. These findings offer practical insights for leaders seeking to enhance productivity in similar contexts.

Urban trees as a lever for citizen engagement in public consultation processes: the case of Paris, France.

In the present context of increasing human population demography, worldwide social crises, and rapid ecological global change, large cities are facing major socio-environmental challenges. This convokes authorities to adapt their governance and urban planning to reconcile urban development, ecological systems, and city dwellers in the most sustainable way. To achieve such goals, local officials have to associate all local actors, including city-dwellers, to the decision-making process through participatory governance and/or participatory systems. Here, we elaborated an original pilot project governance system for a "Participatory System Combining Town Planning and Science" (the 2PS-CiTy), as part of the revision of the Local Urban Plan (LUP) of Paris, France, into a Bioclimatic LUP held from 2020 to 2024. By implementing 2PS-CiTy, we aimed to answer "How to turn trees into a lever for inhabitants' engagement in urban consultation systems?" Trees were chosen because they are emblematic elements of nature with significant roles in ecosystemic services such as urban climate regulation. Parisians were invited to (i) share in the first questionnaire some information on their knowledge about the LUP and their engagement in it, (ii) identify urban trees they consider remarkable, (iii) explain their choice in a second questionnaire, (iv) contribute to the urban consultation as part of the LUP revision, and finally, (v) give their feedback during a dedicated survey. Out of the 41 Parisians who took part in 2PS-City, 83% declared they were motivated to participate because they could contribute to the tree census, which in turn can constructively contribute to the Parisian LUP revision to bring more nature and sustainability in town. This study demonstrates that trees can be used as a lever for inhabitants' engagement in urban consultation systems to make cities more sustainable. Our survey also showed that the 2PS-CiTy governance system could be improved by (1) developing a participatory culture among decision-makers and (2) preventing nowadays silo governance from developing the most promising public governance systems that involve the departments of green space, urban planning, and local democracy.

Perceptions of a Shared European Culture Increase the Support for the European Union

AbstractThere is disagreement amongst political theorists as to whether a European demos based on a culturally grounded identity as a precondition for a stronger integration of the European Union (EU) exists. We study a part of this question from a constructivist perspective by analysing how individuals in Europe perceive European culture and how this perception is related to support for the EU. We focus on the following questions: (a) whether European respondents perceive a shared European culture, (b) whether they consider this culture to be of higher value than other cultures and (c) whether they are proud of European cultures. We study these questions on the basis of a survey conducted in 2021 in nine European countries, including both EU and non‐EU countries. Our results show that the perception of a shared European culture and its positive evaluation, both inclusive and exclusive, covary positively with support for the EU.

Norms and storms in cultural participation: a conversation between Leila Jancovich and Alice Borchi

Norms and storms in cultural participation: a conversation between Leila Jancovich and Alice Borchi

The (Mal)Functionality of Vernacular

Abstract Continuing a dialogue with Ülo Valk on the value of the etic term vernacular in folk-loristic scholarship, this essay responds to his claim that despite the stigma of the word’s past usage and its rejection by other fields it holds promise for folkloristics because of its conceptual flexibility, which he finds is especially conducive to the study of belief and religious practices. Pointing out that flexibility – or “fuzziness” to quote other critics – suggests imprecision, residualism, hierarchy, and lack of analytical instrumentality, this essay contends that use of vernacular reveals more about its users than the groups and practices it purports to describe. Recounting the intellectual history of the term and its adoption in folkloristic circles as well as the author’s own scholarship, this essay maintains that the term has limited, if any, use in folkloristics and ethnology because of its negative assumptions and “fuzzy” logic. It can be reflexively analyzed, however, to understand scholars’ perceptions of cultural phenomena and their conflicts with cognitive categories of practice and belief enacted by cultural participants.

Knowledge sharing among academics from Egyptian medical schools during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundSharing knowledge among scientists during global health emergencies is a critical issue. So, this study investigates knowledge-sharing behavior and attitude among staff members of 19 Medical schools in Egyptian universities during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsAcross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based questionnaire. A total of 386 replies from the 10,318 distributed questionnaires were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were computed using SPSS (version 22) to summarize the demographic data. Inferential statistics such as the independent and chi-square test were used to achieve the study aims.ResultsMore than half of the respondents (54.4%) indicated that their levels of knowledge of COVID-19 were good. Most participants (72.5%) reported that scientific publications and international websites were the most reliable source of their knowledge concerning COVID-19. More than 46% stated they sometimes share their knowledge. The lack of time to share and organizational culture were the most important factors that could affect their knowledge sharing. Additionally, about 75% of participants shared knowledge about treatment.

Social inequality determines science museums attendance in Latin America: a quantitative analysis of data from seven countries

ABSTRACT This paper examines cultural engagement with science in Latin America based on probabilistic models derived from quantitative data gathered on public perceptions of science. We explore the influence of social stratification and contextual factors -gender, age, education, socioeconomic level, and interest in science, among others- on visiting science museums in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, and Paraguay. The data suggest that museum attendance is subject to the same social determinants affecting other cultural practices. The position individuals occupy in society mediates their opportunities and subjective dispositions. Cultural participation in science is stratified by social inequalities, marginalizing the most unprotected social classes: citizens with lower levels of education and income, the elderly, women, and people living outside large cities and urban areas. This evidence challenges the management and communication of science museums: Inequalities question participatory democracy efforts and transform cultural engagement into a matter of equity and social justice.

Determinants of Quality of Life for People with Disabilities Using Panel Data Analysis

ABSTRACT This research aims to examine the determinants of the quality of life for people with disabilities using panel data. Through a review of the extant literature, this research proposes five attributes to account for differences in the quality of life for people with disabilities: social participation, cultural activity participation, travel, employment, and stress. For the data collection, this study employed the Panel Survey of Employment for people with disabilities data from 2016 to 2018, which is published by the Korea employment agency. In total, there are 11,467 valid observations available. This study implemented descriptive statistics, correlation matrix, and econometric analysis for the archival data analysis. The results indicate that the quality of life of a person with a disability is enhanced by participation in social, cultural activities, travel, and employment; meanwhile, the quality of life for people with disabilities is negatively influenced by stress. This study presents relevant implications given the results of the data analysis.

OTT 서비스를 통한 영화 관람과 영화 직접 관람 빈도의 관계 분석 : 2021 국민문화예술활동조사 결과를 중심으로

OTT 서비스를 통한 영화 관람과 영화 직접 관람 빈도의 관계 분석 : 2021 국민문화예술활동조사 결과를 중심으로