Virtuelle Vergemeinschaftung Jugendlicher: ein Literaturbericht zur Szenenforschung der Projektgruppe "Jugendszenen im Internet"

"Welchen Einfluss nimmt das Internet auf die Kommunikation, Verbreitung und Generierung von Jugendszenen? Erkenntnisse der Szenenforschung zu dieser Frage stehen im Mittelpunkt des vorliegenden Literaturberichts. Jugendszenen werden als kommunikative und interaktive Netzwerke verstanden, deren Existenz auf gemeinsamen Interessen ihrer Mitglieder basiert. Das Internet hat sich zweifelsohne zu einem zentralen Kommunikationsraum dieser Gesinnungsgemeinschaften entwickelt. Sie nutzen das Netz zunehmend als Kommunikationsmedium, Präsentationsplattform, Verbreitungsweg und Partizipationsforum. Erste wissenschaftliche Studien deuten darauf hin, dass das Internet auch Potential in sich trägt, Raum für virtuelle Vergemeinschaftung zu bieten und originäre Online-Szenen zu generieren. Der folgende Beitrag führt in die Thematik der Szenenforschung ein und zeigt Probleme wie Potentiale der Selbstrepräsentation von Szenen im Internet auf." (Autorenreferat)"This article examines the research findings on the question of how the Internet influences the communication, diffusion and generation of youth subcultures, which are defined as communicative and interactive networks based on the shared interests of their members. Without a doubt, the Internet has emerged as a central communication space for youth subcultures and is increasingly used as a medium of communication, self-presentation, diffusion and participation. According to leadoff studies, there is evidence to suggest that the Internet potentially provides space for virtual collectivization and may generate youth subcultures whose existence is limited to the internet. The following article provides an introduction to youth subculture research and highlights problems as well as potentials of self-representation of youth subcultures online." (author's abstract

The Veiled Identity: Hijabistas, Instagram and Branding In The Online Islamic Fashion Industry

What it means to be a Muslim woman is frequently redefined in reaction to the notions of ‘Muslim womanhood’ constructed within neoliberal society. By examining the ways in which Hijabi fashion bloggers use the visual discourse of their Instagram accounts to implement specific notions of taste, authenticity and branding this project aims to address the question of where fashion blogs fit within mainstream fashion frameworks and the ways in which the assumed tensions surrounding veiling and fashion are disrupted

The effect of online journalism on the freedom of the press: the case of Kuwait

Online journalism has brought new features of journalism practices for local journalists and forced the expansion of their freedom. The Internet as a whole became the tool for freedom of expression for many suppressed countries, and online journalism became an alternative for press freedom in cyberspace. The diffusion of information enabled more opportunities for freedom of expression and speech prosperity, leading to a higher level of freedom in local press. This research project aims to examine the effect of online journalism on the freedom of the local press in the state of Kuwait. Since mid 1990s, when the Internet was introduced in Kuwait, a new phenomenon of press freedom started to rise. After many decades of relying heavily on local newspapers and controlled radio and TV, many Kuwaitis switched to the Internet to obtain information, news and political analysis. The political dispute of power after the death of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jabber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on 15 of January 2006, followed by the public demand to change the electoral constituencies voting system of the National Assembly, and the dissolving of the National Assembly in May 2006 forced many Kuwaitis to go online to get the latest news and analysis regarding the two issues. Kuwaiti online journalism became the source for instant updated information during the disputes. Many local writers praised their work on local press. Mohammad Abdul Qader Al-Jasim, a columnist and former editor in chief for Alwatan local newspaper, in his online Web site ‘Meezan’, provided non-censored detailed analysis of these situations without any restrictions or fear of government interference which was considered as a taboo “red line” no one was permitted to cross. The researcher used three different tools (survey, online content analysis, and interviews) to determine the effect of online journalism on journalist’s practices and the freedom of the press in Kuwait, focusing on the most popular Kuwaiti personal writers’ sites, weblogs and forums. The results show that online journalism affected journalist’s practices but did not replace the traditional practices. The Internet became a source and communication platform for many local journalists. At the same time, online journalism became one of the tools that helped increase the level of freedom in the local press. The language of online journalism took a different direction from the local press with more freedom to write, discuss, and share ideas online with less fear of government retribution. What was considered a taboo “red line” in the local press became an acceptable “green line” online. Local press officials recognized this effect on the local freedom, but disagree on the factors that really caused the freedom of the local press to increase

Emirati women illustrators on Instagram: An exploratory study

Instagram has become a popular social media platform for visual expression: many Emirati youth are drawn to the platform because it is one of the most widespread social networks, allowing them to share information, pictures and personal stories. This research study will analyze a collection of illustrations posted on Instagram by a selected group of female Emirati artists by relating these posts to their social context. It employs a qualitative approach involving personal interviews to identify points of view related to the existing visual material created by these ‘avant-garde’ illustrators. The results show that a new trend of illustration stemming from Japanese animé and manga is emerging among young female Emirati artists whose Instagram posts constitute a subtle commentary about local traditions while revealing cultural inhibitions. The study also reveals how these illustrators’ artwork impacts their followers and how these, conversely, contribute to shape the artists’ work. The illustrators discuss the challenges they face and offer reflections on how best to grow their practice to reach a wider audience

Popular music and social marginality during severe economic change: evidence from post-communist Romania

Romania, as other post-communist countries, experienced during the last couple of decades one of the most profound social changes that have been historically recorded. Despite massive change, the general focus of transition studies was set on democratization and marketization. Away from the general discourse on Romania’s neo-liberal modernization and Europeanization, the critical analysis of popular music offers refreshing insights into processes of stratification, downward mobility, increasing uncertainty and poverty that accompany political and economic change. Although largely criticized from cultural elitist standpoints, the popular music products that are under scrutiny here tell the story of more profound changes in value orientations in a social context marked by deep economic crisis, harsh social competition, severe failure, deprivation and acute marginalization

Faouda Wa Ruina: A History of Moroccan Punk Rock and Heavy Metal

ABSTRACT FAOUDA WA RUINA: A HISTORY OF MOROCCAN PUNK ROCK AND HEAVY METAL by Brian Trott The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2018 Under the Supervision of Professor Gregory Carter While the punk rock and heavy metal subcultures have spread through much of the world since the 1980s, a heavy metal scene did not take shape in Morocco until the mid-1990s. There had yet to be a punk rock band there until the mid-2000s. In the following paper, I detail the rise of heavy metal in Morocco. Beginning with the early metal scene, I trace through critical moments in its growth, building up to the origins of the Moroccan punk scene and the state of those subcultures in recent years. I also discuss in depth the organization of concerts and music festivals in Morocco. I argue that Moroccan youth creatively engage with globalized media, to create original, subjective interpretations of said media. This paper is split into sections of analysis and sections of narrative based on interviews I conducted with members of the Moroccan punk and metal scenes

How 'gangsters' become jihadists: Bourdieu, criminology and the crime-terrorism nexus

A background in 'ordinary' crime, violence and drug use seems to characterize many European individuals recently involved in ISIS related jihadi-violence. With its long tradition of studying marginalized populations and street culture, criminology offers novel ways to theoretically explore these developments. In this paper, we demonstrate how Pierre Bourdieu's concepts of capital, habitus, and field allow for a nuanced analysis of how certain individuals move from street to politico-religious criminality. We show that 'investments' in street capital can be expended within the field of violent jihadism. We argue that an embodied street habitus supports continuities in attitudes and behaviours within different violent contexts, and furthermore that street social capital facilitates recruitment to violent jihadism. Finally, reflection is offered on resonances between street and jihadi fields. The paper explains how continuities in lifestyle can exist between the European city and Middle Eastern battleground

A Framework for Ethical Usage of ICT Services at Cyber Cafe Using Theory of Planned Behavior

Cyber cafes play an important role in providing computer facilities and Internet access besides improving ICT literacy among the communities in Malaysia, especially to those who do not have computer at home. Though the establishments of cyber cafe bring various advantages particularly from the business and the academic views, it also contributes to ethical problems regarding ICT services usage. The ultimate aim of the study is to develop a framework for an ethical usage of ICT services at cyber cafe. This study used quantitative and case study research approaches, where the first part involved a survey method to determine the variables that influence the user's behavioral intention on unethical usage of ICT services at cyber cafe. The units of analysis are cyber cafe operators, cyber cafe users, regulatory bodies, parents and community. The second part used a case study approach to further examine the effectiveness of the control mechanism through the implementation of monitoring software. This study used Theory of Planned Behavior as the theoretical framework of the study. In order to examine the behavioral intention of cyber cafe users, an additional variable known as external factor has been added in the conceptual framework of this study. The result of this study found that attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and external factors have a significant relationship with behavioral intention of cyber cafe users. Experience, individual rights, peers, teachers, close friends, CC TV, lighting in the cyber cafe and noise in the cyber cafe are proven to have influenced behavioral intention of cyber cafe users to perform their actions. Based on the findings, a framework for an ethical usage of ICT services was developed. This framework could be used by cyber cafe operators, authorities, and policy makers in planning and implementing any strategies and policies for cyber cafe operation in Malaysia

A Threat Assessment of Radicalized Extremist Right-Wing White Nationalist Subcultures in Canada: A Social Media Analysis

As literature and media findings suggest, right-wing extremism has been a growing threat to the security of Canada. This qualitative research study seeks to develop a better understanding of the way Canadian right-wing white nationalists develop online in order to aid future radicalization research. After the tragic attacks on September 11th, 2001, radicalization research has largely been focused on Islamist extremism. By utilizing a conventional content analysis approach to the open-sourced white nationalist discussion forum, stormfront.org, this thesis bridges the gap between the understanding of Islamist extremism and right-wing white nationalists. Ten Canadian white nationalists active on the stormfront forums were examined from the 2008 to 2018 period in order to understand the impact of online radicalization on Canadian white nationalists. The results provided a six-stage Canadian white nationalist development path. Findings from the content analysis were analyzed in comparison to the four-stage al Qaeda inspired radicalization pathway presented by Marc Sageman (2008) in order to aid future radicalization pathway research. Results from this study suggest that similar group dynamics and social processes of Islamist extremists that were identified by Marc Sageman may also help to explain the development of Canadian white nationalists given the similarities in themes found between Marc Sageman’s radicalization pathway and that of the Canadian white nationalist pathway developed in this thesis. The findings suggest that future research could benefit from the parallel radicalization themes by having a greater focus on the interpersonal social processes of radicalization to violence rather than the type of ideology