Japanese scandals and their production

This treatise conflates cultural sociology, media theory, and Japanese philology in order to better understand the way media scandals are produced in contemporary Japan. In cultural sociology, scandal is understood as a social performance between ritual and strategy. In my previous research I focused on the ritual aspect, analyzing Japanese scandals as dramatic public performances of confession, exclusion, and reintegration. In this treatise, I focus on the strategy aspect, approaching scandals as symbolic products of media routines and journalistic practices. The former part of this treatise examines how the actor-network of power circles co-defines the way scandals emerge and unfold in Japan. The latter part focuses on the role of Japanese media organizations in the process of transforming leaks into scandals.

ENTRE O “POVO” E A “ELITE”: CULTURA POPULAR E APROPRIAÇÃO DIFERENCIAL À LUZ DA PRÁTICA DO FOLCLORE “ALEMÃO” NO BRASILBETWEEN THE “PEOPLE” AND THE “ELITE”: POPULAR CULTURE AND DIFFERENTIAL APPROPRIATION IN THE LIGHT OF THE PRACTICE OF “GERMAN” FOLKLORE IN BRAZIL

No Brasil, verifica-se a existência de uma elite cultural responsável pela promoção e legitimação do folclore “alemão” autêntico. Tal constatação traz interessantes implicações, que podem ser sintetizadas no seguinte questionamento: “como uma prática cultural de origem popular pode depender de uma elite?”. À luz do aporte teórico- -metodológico da sociologia da cultura e das elites, o artigo propõe uma reflexão e um tensionamento acerca das fronteiras classicamente estabelecidas entre os domínios da cultura erudita e da cultura popular, tomando por base o caso do folclore “alemão” praticado no Brasil. Defende-se a pertinência da noção de “apropriação diferencial” para a análise da cultura popular (de modo geral) e do folclore “alemão” (de modo particular), conceito que possibilita a compreensão das múltiplas circulações, intersecções e apropriações de bens simbólicos entre os domínios do “popular” e do “erudito”, do “povo” e das “elites”, processos característicos e constitutivos dos produtos simbólicos de matriz popular.ABSTRACT In Brazil, it may be verified the existence of a cultural elite responsible for promoting and legitimating authentic “German” folklore. This finding has interesting implications, which can be synthesized in the following question: “How can a cultural practice of popular origin depend on an elite?”. In the light of the theoretical and methodological perspective of the sociology of culture and elites, the article proposes a reflection and problematization on the classically established boundaries between the domains of erudite culture and popular culture, based on the case of “German” folklore practiced in Brazil. I argue in favor of the relevance of the notion of “differential appropriation” for the analysis of popular culture (in general) and “German” folklore (in particular), a concept that allows the comprehension of the multiple circulations, intersections and appropriations of symbolic goods among the domains of “popular” and “erudite”, of the “people” and the “elites”, characteristic and constitutive processes of the symbolic products of popular origin.

Enhancing Consumer Attitude Toward Culturally Mixed Symbolic Products from Foreign Global Brands in an Emerging-Market Setting: The Role of Cultural Respect

The extant literature has not examined the conditions that govern integrative and exclusionary reactions to cultural hybrid products with sufficient detail. Within an emerging-market setting, this study explores how culturally mixed symbolic products (CMSPs) from foreign global brands can avoid antagonistic consumer attitudes. Building on social categorization theory, the authors argue that foreign global brands are viewed as belonging to an out-group and may thus encounter difficulties in tapping local cultural capital, resulting in a negative relationship between brand globalness and consumer attitude toward CMSPs. However, they contend that product category moderates this relationship such that there is a stronger negative effect for nonfood products than for food products. Moreover, the authors theorize that (1) cultural respect by foreign global companies directly enhances consumer attitudes toward CMSPs and (2) cultural respect attenuates the negative brand globalness–CMSP attitude link. These hypotheses are tested using a representative consumer sample from eight provinces/municipalities in China (n = 646). Results provide important implications for global companies on how to benefit from local cultural resources in their localization processes.

What Becomes a Nation?

Using marquillas cigarreras, the small printed papers in which bundles of cigarettes were sold, as case studies, this chapter analyzes the development of nationalist sentiment and the iconography of national identity through the visual imagery of commodities. Marquillas cigarreras featured a virtually encyclopedic array of imagery: from natural history, architectural monuments, almanacs, serials, military uniforms and insignia, some of the most memorable marquilla series depicted costumbristic scenes of Cuban life and types, including mulatas, blacks, proverbs, literary figures and social satire. The chapter discusses the significance of cardinal Cuban products—tobacco and sugar—in the context of economic, cultural and ideological conditions, and analyzes the ways they are presented and consumed through commodity consumption. These products were crucial to the economy and the symbolic products linked to national identity, as evident on marquillas. Furthermore, their production is inextricably linked to the colonial system, including African slavery, European mercantilism and European immigration.

The psychological imagination

The commentary presents an epistemological reflection about Dialogical Self theory. First, the theoretical issues of DS about the relationship between individuality, alterity and society are discussed, elaborating on the articles of this special issue. Then, it is presented the argument of psychologist's ontological fallacy, that is the attitude to moving from the study of processes to the study of psychological entities. Finally a development toward new research directions is proposed, focusing on the study of higher psychological functions and processes, taking into account complex symbolic products of human activity and developing psychological imagination.

Symbolic Product Attributes And Emulatory Consumption: The Case Of Rodeo Fan Attendance And The Wearing Of Western Clothing

Clothing is an ideal product for the study of emulatory consumption because it is visible, accessible, and relatively inexpensive. This study addresses the relationship between the purchase and usage of symbolic products (western clothing) and involvement with reference groups (rodeo society). Data presented are from a survey which was distributed to 1,559 rodeo fans who attended the 1991 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sociologiens performativitet - afvikling af det dårlige samfund?

Anders Blok: The Performativity of Sociology – Dismantling the Poor Society? This essay raises questions about the contribution of sociology to bettering or dismantling its always less-than-satisfactory society. What happens if we stop viewing sociological theory and analysis as explanations of society, and start seeing them as additions to society, as narrative equipment for societal ac¬-tors? And what consequences does such a performative perspective imply for the critical capacity of sociology? Drawing inspiration from actor-network theory (ANT), this essay suggests that the mundane symbolic products of so¬cio¬logy are co-constitutive for the continual (re)creation of “society“. Texts, concepts, statistics, and analyses contribute to collecting and effectuating social groups. Interesting sociology gains attention from various publics by participating in critical dialogues. Rather than cool-headed distance, a critical proximity is called for, with sociologists engaging the critical moments of social life, while developing a “sociology of criticism“ capable of respecting the critical capacities of social co-actors. Criticism is a practical endeavour, with various means of intervention available. This performative perspective suggests two important societal narratives for future sociological engagement are suggested: cosmopolitization of society and democratization of expertise.