Projects / Programmes
Festivals in cultural anthropological perspective: the role of new festivals in the production of locality
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.03.02 |
Humanities |
Anthropology |
Social and cultural anthropology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S220 |
Social sciences |
Cultural anthropology, ethnology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.05 |
Humanities |
Other humanities |
Festivals, local identity, production of locality, tourism, cultural industry, symbolic map, imaginary geography, place brand, globalisation
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
30648 |
PhD Miha Kozorog |
Anthropology |
Head |
2010 - 2012 |
290 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The study will deal with two related problems, namely the question of local identification in the contemporary world and the question of the role of international festivals in peripheral places.
Although the first question is a traditional theme in anthropology, it nevertheless allows for new approaches, which differ from established paradigms that treat local communities (and the identities that go with them) as either symbolic representations or as systems of social ties. In order to transcend these views (without the intent of discarding them), the candidate decided, drawing upon the work of anthropologist Arjun Appadurai, to utilise the concept of “production of locality”, which opens up new possibilities for discussion of geographically-bound communities and identities. The candidate views the advantage of this concept to be in its focus on the not yet existing (on “production”), and therefore on the future. Within this framework, the creative character of the actors involved is highlighted. When examining festivals, which are often the project of a smaller group of people, although they have much broader social implications and ambitions, the emphasis on the creativity of actors is important. Contemporary festivals often appear as mechanisms that enable the introduction of new values into local communities, above all those that connect concrete places with global cultural flows.
Another activity associated with international festivals which is connected to local identification is the positioning of the locations where they are held, and their inhabitants, on various symbolic maps. A festival that symbolically marks a place, together with other festivals (and festival places) that are connected by a certain key, forms an imaginary geography within which even small and geographically peripheral places occupy a central role and become “globally” visible. With this is associated also the practice of marketing places and creating their brands. Anthropology has in general paid relatively little attention to this phenomenon, and its contribution is particularly limited in regard to the role of place brands in the construction of local identities.
Through the question of forming of local pride on the basis of placing the “home place” in the centre of various representational geographies, we have already touched upon the role of international festivals for peripheral places. The candidate has chosen precisely these specific festivals, which he views as different from traditional festivals in local communities, as well as different from festivals in larger urban centres, which are often connected to cultural industries. International festivals in smaller places often operate outside the context of cultural industries; their function is therefore not necessarily economic, and in the foreground is the identity motive of local inhabitants and their inscription into globalisation processes. Nevertheless, the role of these festivals does have an economic dimension, especially through their connection to tourism. Of course, anthropology does not treat tourism as merely an economic opportunity for peripheral places that lack other options, but also as a source of emancipation of local communities and therefore, again, as an area of identity formation.
The candidate will conduct ethnographic fieldwork as multi-sited ethnography in various places in Slovenia and in one case in Italy. In Slovenia, the last two decades witnessed an explosion in the number of festivals. The phenomenon of festivals as a social phenomenon in the Slovenian context is therefore interesting even on its own. In addition, the case from Italy offers a different view on the role of festivals for local identification, since it presents an example of a festival in the socio-politically turbulent area of Slavia Veneta which attempts to transcend traditional conflicts among the local inhabitants by way of inscription on the international map of art festivals.
Significance for science
The research project initiated a relatively new line of anthropological inquiry, since not much has yet been written in anthropology about contemporary, newly established festivals, especially not from such a perspective. Namely, the research focused on pop and art festivals in “small” and “peripheral” towns and villages, and on the role of local inhabitants in their production and construction. Festivals were discussed from the viewpoint of their role in place-making and the production of locality. Moreover, the question of geographical marginality and the role of mass media, tourism, and popular representation of places for self-imagining of local subjects were taken into account. The research focused on active festival organisers as well as on more passive members of local communities hosting festivals. Ethnographical fieldwork was carried out in Slovenia, Italy and FRY Macedonia, which enabled various comparisons. Observation of local attitudes towards contemporary festivals brought innovative theoretical insights for the study of local identity, place-making and human geography.
Significance for the country
After 2000, Slovenia has witnessed a veritable flood of popular and art festivals, which have appeared not only in larger urban centres but also in smaller towns and villages. The phenomenon can be explained quite accurately by the concept of “production of locality”, which we built upon in the research project. Although we are obliged to salute the large number of festivals as an expression of immense creativity, the conceptual tools that we have developed during our project enable us to take a more sober view of this festivalisation process. We have discovered that many of the existing festivals are financially underfed, but are nevertheless being persistently kept alive by their organisers. Our explanation of this phenomenon draws on our discussion of local identity formation in the contemporary world, where we define festivals as a mode of inscription of local agents into globalisation processes. Such an understanding of festivals can provide an important basis for demands for their different funding, since festivals should not be perceived only through tourism and cultural industries but also as an important platform for local-supralocal collaboration and local self-imagining. While discussing geographical marginality, we concluded that such an understanding of festivals is especially important in “peripheral” places. Furthermore, we pointed to the role of a particular art festival in the multiethnic environment of Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy, which plays a vital role in shaping contemporary Slovenian ethnic identity in this area.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
