scholarly journals Cosplay As a Youth Subculture: The Factors of Choice and Identity Formation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Abramova ◽  
O. Smirnova ◽  
S. Tataurova

The article addresses the establishment and peculiarities of cosplay as a youth urban subculture in modern Russia. Cosplay is referred to as a subculture created by young people specifically for themselves, which, in a sense, defines it as elitist as long as it is aimed to form a relatively closed community. The authors demonstrate the possibilities of conducting a sociological analysis of cosplay by means of methodologies of sociology of recreation, sociology of game, sociology of communication and sociology of subculture, which supports a multidisciplinary approach to understanding of new practices in youth subcultures. The study actualizes the problem of constructing a new type of identity through subculture, while enhancing such aspects of cosplay as values and norms, and culture and behavior. The subculture analysis relies on the results of multi-methodological, empirical research in sociology: a mass survey (n=496) and in-depth interviews (n=10) conducted in 2018 with cosplayers in Russia. The techniques of on-line survey and face-to-face interview were used. The study reveals basic motives of cosplayers at the stages of entering the subculture and subculture affiliation; addresses the criteria of self-identification as cosplayers and characterizes the attitude of their immediate environment to the choice of this specific subculture. The low level of identifying cosplay with subculture and the absence of opposition to mainstream societal norms and values is one of the most significant conclusions, which corresponds to growing urban tolerance towards displays of subcultures, the rise of cosplay positive connotations in mass media and reference groups. Furthermore, cosplayers give recreational and communicative components of cosplay priority, thus making cosplay a cultural and ludic “hybrid phenomenon”. This study is one of the pioneering ones to research cosplay in Russia, which accounts for its particular relevance and salience. Keywords: cosplay, subculture, motivation, playisation, recreation

Author(s):  
Daniela Filakovska Bobakova ◽  
Jana Holubcikova ◽  
Andrea Madarasova Geckova ◽  
Zuzana Dankulincova Veselska

Youth subculture affiliation (SA) appears to be an important risk factor with regard to adolescents’ problem behavior. Excessive Internet use (EIU) has emerged as a new type of problem behavior; however, it has not yet been studied in adolescents affiliated with youth subcultures. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the association between SA and EIU and to explore the role of selected protective factors. We used data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in 2014 in Slovakia. The final sample for this study comprised 532 adolescents (mean age: 15.4; 49.6% boys). Hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations of EIU with SA. Adolescents with SA were more likely to report EIU. Adjustment for protective factors decreased the association between EIU and SA. From all tested interactions, only the interaction of SA with family support was found to be significant. The relationship between family support and EIU was mediated via Monitoring by the mother only in adolescents without SA. Our findings imply that the risk of EIU is higher in adolescents with SA. There was a difference in how protective factors worked in adolescents with and without SA.


2021 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 04012
Author(s):  
Maria Papatsimouli ◽  
Stavroula Tavoultzidou ◽  
Vaggelis Saprikis ◽  
Lazaros Lazaridis ◽  
Eleni Michailidi ◽  
...  

The use of Internet technology has changed the way people interact rendering face-to face and verbal communication a trend of the past. Thus, a new world has been created for young people, who send emails, visit websites, use webcams, chat rooms and instant messaging through social media for communication. As a result, a new type of bullying, cyber bullying has emerged. The present study aims to investigate the extent of cyber bullying in Greece in terms of: a) gender and cyber bullying, b) hours spent on line and cyber bullying, c) cyber bullying and traditional bullying victims and d) cyber bullying victims and family relations. The sample consisted of 466 participants, 27% of which (N=128) were less than 18 years old. A standardized questionnaire was formulated for data collection and Chisquare, statistical test was used to test the research hypotheses formulated. The results revealed significant theoretical and practical implications, as the majority of the research questions confirmed the relationship between cyber bullying and traditional bullying victims, as well as cyber bullying victims and family relations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 256
Author(s):  
Fajar Ramadhan ◽  
M Rawa El Amady ◽  
Yevita Nurti

This study discussed the myths of elephants in the community of Balai Raja Village, Pinggir District, Bengkalis Regency. The elephant myths are the patterns of human-elephant relationships. Before the 1980s, the relationship between elephants and humans was very harmonious. After 1980, the forestry and oil palm industries caused between elephants and humans, which has been occurring until now. This study is categorized into qualitative research with an ethnographic design. Researchers stayed in the field for 2 months to explore information in depth through observation and in-depth interviews. The data was analyzed qualitatively and then written in this report. This study has found out that the conflict between elephants and humans is determined by human attitudes and behavior. The myth of the elephant is a symbol of efforts to conserve natural resources and a tool for compliance with societal norms and values. Elephants have protective properties and are very empathetic to babies. This study proposes that elephant mitigation can use a mythical approach by combining elephants’ and human’s habitation. This study contributes to the science of Anthropology, especially about the conservation of animals and nature. This study proposes that elephants should not be called pests, but a chain of human mutualism, where the elephants and humans live in harmony as a unified ecosystem.


Author(s):  
Robekhah Harun ◽  
Zetty Harisha Harun ◽  
Laura Christ Dass

The increase in student enrolment and the need  to cater to students of diverse backgrounds have led to the adoption of blended learning in many higher learning institutions. Blended learning, which allows both face to face interaction and on-line delivery, has been adopted into many curricula. One such institution is University Technology MARA which is slowly introducing features of blended learning in its course syllabus beginning with practice to online assessments. However, to ensure successful implementation of blended learning as part of the curricula, there are several aspects for consideration such as learner and teacher readiness for blended learning. This paper examines issues regarding the use of blended learning as a delivery method at UiTM Kedah . The discussion in this paper focuses on learner’ readiness and perceptions of the blended learning environment. The data collected for this study are responses from learners to a questionnaire survey. The research findings form the basis for recommendations for the development of learning and teaching practices using blended learning approaches to enhance learners' learning experiences.  


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony KOLA-OLUSANYA

As soon as decision makers are expected to make differences towards sustainable future, young adults’ ability to make informed and sound decisions is considered essential towards securing our planet. This study provides an insight into young adults’ knowledge of key environment and sustainability issues. To answer the key research questions, data were obtained using a qualitative phenomenographic research approach and collected through 18 face-to-face in-depth interviews with research participants. The findings of this study suggest that young adults lived experiences that play a huge role in their level of awareness of topical environmental and sustainability issues critical to humanity’s future on earth. 


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anat Gesser-Edelsburg ◽  
Munawar Abed Elhadi

BACKGROUND Due to the religious proscription, it was found that Arab youths acquire information and view pornography secretly. The internet exposes them to contents that contradict religious and cultural taboos. There are few studies about viewing habits of sexual contents among Arab adolescents and about the way they discuss sexuality. OBJECTIVE to characterize the barriers and difficulties that prevent sexual discourse in Arab society and enable pornography viewing, according to the perceptions of adolescents and mothers. METHODS phenomological qualitative research methods, in-depth interviews with 40 participants. 20 Arab adolescents, sampled by two age groups: 14-16 and 16-18. In addition, 20 mothers of adolescents from both sexes were interviewed. RESULTS The findings indicate that mothers “turn a blind eye” to porn viewing and sexual activity by boys, versus a sweeping prohibition and denial of such behavior by girls. The boys reported viewing porn routinely, whereas girls denied doing so, but admitted that their girlfriends watched porn. The study also found that the boys have guilt feelings during and after the viewing as a result of the clash between modernity and traditional values. CONCLUSIONS It is necessary to find a way to encourage a significant sexual discourse to prevent the violent consequences of its absence in Arab society. A controlled, transparent and critical sexual discourse could help youth make more informed decisions concerning the search for sexual contents, porn viewing and sexual behavior.


Dramatherapy ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 026306722110208
Author(s):  
Claire Anne Quigley

The Covid-19 restrictions have limited the access of face-to face therapies for many people and continues to effect how Dramatherapists operate. The following article offers reflections around adapting to an on-line medium, focusing more specifically around the software of ProReal. Limitations and considerations are acknowledged, including technological difficulties, computer efficacy, ambiguity tolerance and the need for careful contracting and reassurance of autonomy and control when using on-line platforms. The article ends with a short selection of vignettes from ProReal sessions.


2021 ◽  
pp. 009145092110270
Author(s):  
Inger Eide Robertson ◽  
Hildegunn Sagvaag ◽  
Lillian Bruland Selseng ◽  
Sverre Nesvaag

The concepts of identity and recovery capital are recognized as being an embedded part of moving away from a life dominated by drug use. However, the link between these two concepts and the effect of broader social structures, and the normative assumptions underpinning the condition of recovery, is less explored. This article focuses on the social practices of everyday life in the foreground of identity formation, meaning that “who I am” is an inseparable part of “what I do.” A narrative approach was employed to analyze qualitative follow-up data extracted from 48 in-depth interviews with 17 males and females with drug-using experience that were conducted posttreatment on three separate occasions over a period of 2.5 years. Theories of identity formation were employed to analyze the interdependent dynamic between social structure, persona and social resources, and way of life and identity. The analyses identified four narratives related to how people present themselves through the process of changing practices. Following the work of Honneth, we argue that the positive identity formation revealed in these narratives is best understood as a struggle for recognition via the principle of achievement. However, the participants’ self-narratives reflected cultural stories—specified as formula stories—of “normality,” “addiction,” and the “addict,” which work into the concepts of self and confine options of storying experiences during the recovery process. This study demonstrate that the process of recovery is culturally embedded and constitutes a process of adaption to conventional social positions and roles. We suggest challenging dominant discourses related to “addiction as a disease” and “normality” in order to prevent stigma related to drug use and recovery. In so doing, it may contribute to broaden conditions for identity (trans)formation for people in recovery.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 205630512110132
Author(s):  
Olga Dovbysh

The study focuses upon “city public groups” (“gorodskie pabliki,” local newsgroups on social networking sites)—the new entrants in the local media space of the Russian province that have recently become important actors of regional public communication. Such groups combine news posting and citizen discussions, report on local affairs and gossip, and entertain. Some groups are based on user-generated content; others create their own content or act as aggregators. Being non-registered and grassroots initiatives, these media enjoy higher freedom in comparison to official local newsrooms. Given the popularity of city public groups among local citizens and local authorities’ interest toward them, owners and moderators of these media are playing an influential role for local mediated discourse. Based on the gatekeeping theory and its extensions for digital space, this article explores the emerging roles of these new gatekeepers in the local communities. Based upon 28 in-depth interviews collected by the author in Russian towns in 2017–2018, the article also analyses the professional norms and values of the owners and moderators of local city groups that they employ to perform their gatekeeping function.


2021 ◽  
pp. 146144482110148
Author(s):  
Vojtěch Mýlek ◽  
Lenka Dedkova ◽  
David Smahel

Adolescents commonly make new social connections online that sometimes result in face-to-face meetings. Despite potential benefits, risk-focused discourse dominates public debates and shapes information shared by sources important for adolescents—news media, preventive programs, peers, parents, and teachers. Our study examines how information about face-to-face meetings from these sources relates to adolescents’ risk perception and engagement in such meetings. Using a sample of 707 Czech adolescents (aged 11–16 years, 46% male), we analyzed these effects for male and female adolescents to reflect the gendered nature of the risk-focused discourse. Male adolescents’ risk perception was not affected by information from any source. Female adolescents’ risk perception was negatively affected by information peers with prior experience with face-to-face meetings but not by other information sources. Female adolescents also perceived face-to-face meetings as riskier in general. We discuss gender differences and the limited impact of information sources on risk perception and provide practical recommendations.


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