Transnational ownership and local culture: content analysis of two Croatian daily newspapers

Na temelju analize sadržaja, vrste i profila priloga u kulturnim rubrikama dvaju hrvatskih dnevnih listova, u članku se razmatra utjecaj promjene strukture vlasništva nad medijima na potencijal generiranja kritičke javne sfere i afirmaciju regionalnog karaktera kulture. Ovaj fokus analize odabran je u svjetlu teze da je uspješno uključivanje u globalizacijske procese moguće upravo natemelju postojanja snažnih lokalnih kulturnih identiteta. Analizirana su dva hrvatska regionalna dnevna lista s različitom vlasničkom strukturom, pri čemu je karakter priloga u području kulture poslužio kao indikator promjene uređivačke politike novina koja se događa s privatizacijom medija. Riječ je o prilozima u području kulture objavljivanim u splitskom dnevnom listu SlobodnaDalmacija godinu prije njegova prelaska u transnacionalno korporacijsko vlasništvo (2004.) i godinu nakon što se taj prelazak dogodio (2006.). U istim razdobljima analiziran je i riječki Novi list kao novina s drukčjim strukturom vlasništva.U slučaju Slobodne Dalmacije rezultati analize ukazuju na promjenu fokusa prezentiranih kulturnih tema s lokalno-regionalnog aspekta na teme nacionalnog i međunarodnog karaktera te smanjenje žanrova priloga s kritičkim potencijalom. U Novom listu koji nije promijenio vlasničku strukturu, u istraživanom je razdoblju uočen upravo obrnuti trend; promjena sadržaja s nacionalnim i međunarodnim kulturnim sadržajima na lokalne i regionalne teme, te zadržavanje kritičkog pristupa tim temama. Budući da je Novi list jedna od rijetkih dnevnih novina u Hrvatskoj koja nije u transnacionalnom korporacijskom vlasništvu, analizirani podaci upućuju na to da upravo izostanak takva vlasništva omogućava promicanje i razvoj kulturnih vrijednosti specifičnih za regiju te održavanje kritične lokalne javne sfere.Based on the content analysis of type and profile of articles in cultural sections of two Croatiandaily newspapers, this paper deals with the issue of changes in media ownership and the influencethese changes have on media as generators of critical public sphere and actors in fostering regionalcultural characteristics. This analitic focus is based on the hypothesis that successful integrationinto globalization processes is possible only if strong local cultural identity is present. TwoCroatian regional daily papers with different ownership structure were analysed. The characterof articles in cultural section was taken as an indicator of editoral politics change that came to lifewith media privatization processes. The analysis dealt with in articles Slobodna Dalmacija, dailynewspapers from Split, year before Slobodna Dalmacija came under transnational coorporateownership (2004.) and year after the change (2006.). Daily newspapers Novi List from Rijeka,was analysed in the same time frame, since Novi List has different ownership structure thanSlobodna Dalmacija.For Slobodna Dalmacija analysis reveils the change in forms of presented cultural themes fromlocal-regional aspect to national and international character along with fewer number of criticalarticles. In Novi List, that did not undergo an ownership change, trend is quite the opposite;articles content changes from national and international towards local and regional themes withno specific change in critical approach in published material. Since Novi List is one of the raredaily newspapers in Croatia that has no transnational coorporate ownership, analysed datasuggest that the absence of such ownership enables and promotes development of cultural valuesspecific for one region while maintaining critical local public sphere.</p

Typology of Video Gamers in Croatia: Some Socio-Cultural Characteristics

U ovom radu predstavljeni su rezultati analize internetskog anketnog istraživanja gamera i gamerica u Hrvatskoj (N = 3251) provedenog 2014. godine. Teorijski dio rada problematizira pristup mapiranju tipologije gamerskih profila, ali i samu definiciju gamera i konceptualizaciju onoga što gamerska kultura predstavlja, oslanjajući se pritom prvenstveno na odgovarajuće sociološke perspektive (Crawford, 2011). Posebno se ističe važnost proširenja standardnih sociodemografskih karakteristika na dodatne sociokulturne karakteristike gamera kako bi se uspostavila preciznija klasifikacija istraživane populacije. U metodološkom dijelu opisuje se struktura istraživačkog instrumenta te metoda klasteranalize preko koje je napravljena tipologija gamerskih profila u Hrvatskoj. Rezultati klasterske analize ukazuju na postojanje 6 tipova gamera grupiranih prema žanrovskim preferencijama te na razlike među njima s obzirom na razinu samoidentifikacije s gamerskom kulturom, s obzirom na identitet, intenzitet igranja, prakse participacije i odabrane dimenzije vrijednosnih orijentacija. Dodatna analiza klastera također pokazuje razlike između gamera s obzirom na tehnološke, sadržajne i interakcijske specifičnosti određenih žanrova te se zaključuje kako su pojedini žanrovi kompatibilni s onim igračima koji su tolerantniji prema različitim vrijednosnim orijentacijama, dok su drugi više vezani za zatvorenije i partikularne sociokulturne okvire.This article presents the results of a large scale online survey of the video gaming population in Croatia (N=3251) conducted in 2014. The theoretical part discusses approaches to mapping of videogaming profiles, as well as problems in defining and conceptualizing the video gamer and video gaming as a culture, relying first and foremost on compatible sociological perspectives (Crawford, 2011). The emphasis is laid on the importance of expanding the standard socio- demographic elements of profiling in order to establish a more concise typology of video gamers. The methodological part describes the instruments used, the main characteristics of the sample, as well as the cluster analysis method that was used in creating the video gamers typology. The results of the cluster analysis point to the existence of six different gaming types, grouped mainly around genre preferences but also pointing to differences considering the level of self-identification with gaming culture, intensity of playing, participatory practices and selected dimensions of value orientations. The additional analysis of the clusters shows differences among gamers in terms of technological, content-based and interaction-based characteristics of genres, concluding that specific genres are more compatible with those players that are more tolerant, whilst others are linked more to the insular and particular socio-cultural frameworks

Class in Contemporary Croatian Society: A Post-Bourdieusian Analysis

U ovom članku, na temelju primarnih kvantitativnih i kvalitativnih podataka, analiziramo mnogostruke mehanizme koji proizvode nejednakosti u suvremenom hrvatskom društvu i višedimenzionalnu klasnu strukturu koja iz njih proizlazi. Naš je pristup potaknut koncepcijom Pierrea Bourdieua, koju smo znatno revidirali i prilagodili proučavanju postsocijalističkih društava u jugoistočnoj Europi. U tekstu prikazujemo četiri analitička koraka koja su nas vodila do koncepcije sveukupne društvene nejednakosti kao nejednakosti u društvenim moćima. Ti koraci uključuju: (1) konstrukciju društvenog prostora u Hrvatskoj, (2) identifikaciju ključnih generatora društvenih nejednakosti (eksploatacijskih tržišnih mehanizama i mehanizama društvenog zatvaranja), (3) analizu životnih stilova i povlačenja simboličkih granica te (4) analizu diferencijalnog povezivanja i uspostavljanja društvenih granica. Rezultati pokazuju da se, uzimajući u obzir sveukupnu društvenu nejednakost, u suvremenom hrvatskom društvu mogu uočiti četiri klase i sedam klasnih frakcija: (1) Klasa bogata kapitalima, s dvije frakcije – ekonomskom i političkom; (2) Klasa srednje razine kapitala, s kulturnom i socijalnom frakcijom; (3) Međuklasa, koja dijeli neke objektivne karakteristike s Klasom srednje razine kapitala, a druge s Klasom siromašnom kapitalima, ali ima distinktivni stil života i obrasce diferencijalnog povezivanja te (4) Klasa siromašna kapitalima, u kojoj je moguće razlučiti tri frakcije: agrarnu, rurbanu i manualno-uslužnu. U završnim razmatranjima donosimo sintetski prikaz klasne strukture suvremenog hrvatskog društva, raspravljamo o novom pojmu egzistencijalne klase (konceptualiziranom na temelju naših teorijskih i empirijskih analiza) te objašnjavamo najvažnije značajke vlastitog postbourdieuovskog pristupa.In this article, based on primary quantitative and qualitative data, we analyze the multiple mechanisms generating inequalities in contemporary Croatian society and the multidimensional class structure resulting from them. Our approach has been inspired by Pierre Bourdieu’s conception, which we significantly revised and adapted for studying post-socialist societies in South-East Europe. We present four analytical steps that have led us to the conception of general social inequality as inequality in social powers. These steps include: (1) construction of social space in Croatia; (2) identification of key generators of social inequality (exploitation market mechanisms and mechanisms of social closure); (3) analysis of lifestyles and the drawing of social boundaries; and (4) analysis of differential association and establishment of social boundaries. The results indicate that by taking general social inequality into account, one can distinguish between four classes and seven class fractions in contemporary Croatian society: (1) Capital rich class, with two fractions: economic and political; (2) Class with average capitals, with a cultural and social fraction; (3) Intermediary class, which shares some objective characteristics with the Class with average capitals as well as the Capital poor class, but has a distinctive lifestyle and patterns of differential association; and (4) Capital poor class, in which three fractions can be distinguished: agrarian, rurban, and manual-service. In the concluding section, we present a synthetic depiction of class structure in contemporary Croatian society, discuss the new notion of existential class (a conceptualization based on our empirical and theoretical analyses), and explain the most important characteristics of our post-Bourdieusian approach

Klasa u suvremenom hrvatskom društvu: postbourdieuovska analiza (Class in contemporary Croatian society: a post-Bourdieusian analysis)

U ovom članku, na temelju primarnih kvantitativnih i kvalitativnih podataka, analiziramo mnogostruke mehanizme koji proizvode nejednakosti u suvremenom hrvatskom društvu i višedimenzionalnu klasnu strukturu koja iz njih proizlazi. Naš je pristup potaknut koncepcijom Pierrea Bourdieua, koju smo znatno revidirali i prilagodili proučavanju postsocijalističkih društava u jugoistočnoj Europi. U tekstu prikazujemo četiri analitička koraka koja su nas vodila do koncepcije sveukupne društvene nejednakosti kao nejednakosti u društvenim moćima. Ti koraci uključuju: (1) konstrukciju društvenog prostora u Hrvatskoj, (2) identifikaciju ključnih generatora društvenih nejednakosti (eksploatacijskih tržišnih mehanizama i mehanizama društvenog zatvaranja), (3) analizu životnih stilova i povlačenja simboličkih granica te (4) analizu diferencijalnog povezivanja i uspostavljanja društvenih granica. Rezultati pokazuju da se, uzimajući u obzir sveukupnu društvenu nejednakost, u suvremenom hrvatskom društvu mogu uočiti četiri klase i sedam klasnih frakcija: (1) Klasa bogata kapitalima, s dvije frakcije – ekonomskom i političkom; (2) Klasa srednje razine kapitala, s kulturnom i socijalnom frakcijom; (3) Međuklasa, koja dijeli neke objektivne karakteristike s Klasom srednje razine kapitala, a druge s Klasom siromašnom kapitalima, ali ima distinktivni stil života i obrasce diferencijalnog povezivanja te (4) Klasa siromašna kapitalima, u kojoj je moguće razlučiti tri frakcije: agrarnu, rurbanu i manualno-uslužnu. U završnim razmatranjima donosimo sintetski prikaz klasne strukture suvremenog hrvatskog društva, raspravljamo o novom pojmu egzistencijalne klase (konceptualiziranom na temelju naših teorijskih i empirijskih analiza) te objašnjavamo najvažnije značajke vlastitog postbourdieuovskog pristupa. In this article, based on primary quantitative and qualitative data, we analyse the multiple mechanisms generating inequalities in contemporary Croatian society and the multidimensional class structure resulting from them. Our approach has been inspired by Pierre Bourdieu’s conception, which we significantly revised and adapted for studying postsocialist societies in South-East Europe. We present four analytical steps that have led us to the conception of general social inequality as inequality in social powers. These steps include: (1) construction of social space in Croatia; (2) identification of key generators of social inequality (exploitative market mechanisms and mechanisms of social closure); (3) analysis of lifestyles and the drawing of social boundaries; and (4) analysis of differential association and establishment of social boundaries.  The results indicate that by taking general social inequality into account, one can distinguish between four classes and seven class fractions in contemporary Croatian society: (1) Capital rich class, with two fractions: economic and political; (2) Class with average capitals, with a cultural and social fraction; (3) Intermediary class, which shares some objective characteristics with the Class with average capitals as well as the Capital poor class, but has a distinctive lifestyle and patterns of differential association;  and (4) Capital poor class, in which three fractions can be distinguished: agrarian, rurban, and manual-service. In the concluding section, we present a synthetic depiction of class structure in contemporary Croatian society, discuss the new notion of existential class (a conceptualization based on our empirical and theoretical analyses), and explain the most important characteristics of our post-Bourdieusian approach.</p

From occupational to existential class: How to analyze class structure in hybrid societies (The case of Serbia)

In this article, we propose a model to analyse the class structure of hybrid post-socialist societies in South-East Europe (SEE), using the case of Serbia. We argue that, in such hybrid societies, social inequalities are generated by several mechanisms of similar strength: exploitative market mechanisms (based on economic capital) and different types of social closure mechanisms (based on political and social capital). Their influences are intertwined and cannot be analytically isolated or reduced to a common foundation. Therefore, occupational class analysis in these societies can have only limited explanatory power. In an attempt to overcome these challenges, we were forced to modify the instruments of several established approaches to class analysis. These modifications included (1) a reconceptualisation of Bourdieusian notions of political, social, and cultural capital, (2) a different operationalisation of social space, (3) identification of specific mechanisms of generating social inequalities, (4) paying attention to both practical and discursive classifications of lifestyles in the establishment of symbolic boundaries, and (5) relying on differential association analysis for identifying class boundaries. Our analysis's final result is a model that enables studying general social inequality, i.e. generalised social advantage/disadvantage, in SEE post-socialist societies

sj-docx-1-cus-10.1177_17499755231222520 – Supplemental material for Cultural Practices and Socio-Digital Inequalities in Europe: Towards a Unified Research Framework in Cultural Participation Studies

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-cus-10.1177_17499755231222520 for Cultural Practices and Socio-Digital Inequalities in Europe: Towards a Unified Research Framework in Cultural Participation Studies by Predrag Cvetićanin, Lucas Page Pereira, Mirko Petrić, Inga Tomić-Koludrović, Frédéric Lebaron and Željka Zdravković in Cultural Sociology</p