“Web generation”, “Nintendo generation”, “e-generation” and so forth, are just a few among the popular generational definitions often mentioned not only in journalistic simplifications but also in scientific publications. This paper presents a theoretical examination of the implications and the limits of the generational approaches to audience research, in order to show under what conditions they can in fact be both relevant and useful. Refusing the simplifying attitude that dominates in popularization just quoted, the analysis develops the sociological tradition, drawn on the work of Mannheim, that studies the generations as a collective subject bound by a shared historical semantics, a resource of models of interpretation and linguistic devices by means of which experiences are thematicized and crystallized in a common “we-sense”. On the basis of a certain body of empirical evidences, the authors outline some significant aspects and mechanisms of the mutually reinforcing relationship between media diet and generational semantics, pointing out the capacity of certain specific products to unite the generations in shared cultural legacy. The article concludes with a look to European framework, suggesting that a common European culture must be promoted by institutional strategies that look at the media as means for its dissemination, and that take stock both of local construction of identities and of cultural diversification between generations.
Colombo, F., Aroldi, P., Generational Belonging and Mediascape in Europe, <<JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE EDUCATION>>, 2007; 6 (Giugno): 34-44 [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/15043]
Autori: | |
Titolo: | Generational Belonging and Mediascape in Europe |
URL: | http://www.jsse.org/2007/2007-1/pdf/aroldi-colombo-mediascape-1-2007.pdf |
Data di pubblicazione: | 2007 |
Abstract: | “Web generation”, “Nintendo generation”, “e-generation” and so forth, are just a few among the popular generational definitions often mentioned not only in journalistic simplifications but also in scientific publications. This paper presents a theoretical examination of the implications and the limits of the generational approaches to audience research, in order to show under what conditions they can in fact be both relevant and useful. Refusing the simplifying attitude that dominates in popularization just quoted, the analysis develops the sociological tradition, drawn on the work of Mannheim, that studies the generations as a collective subject bound by a shared historical semantics, a resource of models of interpretation and linguistic devices by means of which experiences are thematicized and crystallized in a common “we-sense”. On the basis of a certain body of empirical evidences, the authors outline some significant aspects and mechanisms of the mutually reinforcing relationship between media diet and generational semantics, pointing out the capacity of certain specific products to unite the generations in shared cultural legacy. The article concludes with a look to European framework, suggesting that a common European culture must be promoted by institutional strategies that look at the media as means for its dissemination, and that take stock both of local construction of identities and of cultural diversification between generations. |
Abstract: | “Web generation”, “Nintendo generation”, “e-generation” sont définitions générationales presentés pas seulement par les journaux, mais aussi par la literature scientifique. Cet essay veuy analyser d’un point de vu sociologique les implications et les limites des approches générationaux à l’étude du public des media, pour comprendre les conditions auquelles ils sont utiles. L’analyse se develope à partir de la pensée de Mannheim, qui étude les générations comme subjets collectives fondés sur la condivision d’une specifique sémantique historique. Cette sémantique constitue une resource de modèles interpretatifs et de dispositifs linguistiques qui aident à lier les experiences dans un « sens commun » partagé. Sur la base des résultats de leur recherche, les auteurs soulignent quelques important aspects des rélations entre la reception des média et les sématiques générationales, qui rendent possible la condivision de products culturel à partir d’une vraie culture générationelle. L’essay se termine avec l’idée que une culture européenne doit être promotée à travers des strategies institutionnelles, qui utilisent les média comme instruments de dissémination, mais qui aussi respectent les différences culturelles des différents pays et des différent générations. |
Lingua: | Inglese |
Rivista: | |
Citazione: | Colombo, F., Aroldi, P., Generational Belonging and Mediascape in Europe, <<JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE EDUCATION>>, 2007; 6 (Giugno): 34-44 [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/15043] |
Appare nelle tipologie: | Articolo in rivista, Nota a sentenza |