The Festivalization of Culture


Book Description

The Festivalization of Culture explores the links between various local and global cultures, communities, identities and lifestyle narratives as they are both constructed and experienced in the festival context. Drawing on a wide range of case studies from Australia and Europe, festivals are examined as sites for the performance and critique of lifestyle, identity and cultural politics; as vehicles for the mobilization and cementation of local and global communities; and as spatio-temporal events that inspire and determine meaning in people's lives. Investigating the manner in which festivals are no longer merely periodic, cultural, religious or historical events within communities, but rather a popular means through which citizens consume and experience culture, this book also sheds light on the increasing diversity of contemporary societies and the role played by festivals as sites of cohesion, cultural critique and social mobility. As such, this book will be of interest to those working in areas such as the sociology, consumption and commodification of culture, social and cultural geography, anthropology, cultural studies and popular music studies.




The Festivalization of Culture


Book Description

The Festivalization of Culture explores the links between various local and global cultures, communities, identities and lifestyle narratives as they are both constructed and experienced in the festival context. Drawing on a wide range of case studies from Australia and Europe, festivals are examined as sites for the performance and critique of lifestyle, identity and cultural politics; as vehicles for the mobilization and cementation of local and global communities; and as spatio-temporal events that inspire and determine meaning in people's lives. Investigating the manner in which festivals are no longer merely periodic, cultural, religious or historical events within communities, but rather a popular means through which citizens consume and experience culture, this book also sheds light on the increasing diversity of contemporary societies and the role played by festivals as sites of cohesion, cultural critique and social mobility. As such, this book will be of interest to those working in areas such as the sociology, consumption and commodification of culture, social and cultural geography, anthropology, cultural studies and popular music studies.




Festivalisation of Urban Spaces


Book Description

This is a multi-disciplinary scientific monograph referring to urban geography, urban regions management, event studies, tourism geography, cultural anthropology and sociology. It covers issues which are typically related to the most popular type of events: festivals. This book studies the origins, history, and the main factors of festival development, as well as the concept of a festival in the context of various scientific disciplines. It presents the existing festival typologies as well as the author's own comprehensive typology. The theoretical part concerns the basic research methods and approaches used in the analysis of these events, as well as their impacts on the urban space in the physical (festival facilities), social (a place where people may pursue their interests, meet with family and friends) and cultural aspect. The economic aspect of festivals (generating jobs and income from tourism, using festivals for city branding, etc.) is also discussed. The book presents practical examples in sub-chapters, references to literature (further reading) and the case study of the influence of festivals on urban space management and urban development, using the example of Łódź – a Polish post-socialist city. It may also be treated as a supplementary course book for students of urban geography, urban regions management, tourism, event management and, to a certain extent, anthropology of culture and sociology.




Focus On Festivals


Book Description

A powerful and unique case-study focused, theoretically rigorous and pan-European approach of our most ubiquitous cultural phenomena - festivals. Edited by a hugely expert and experienced team of editors and authors drawn from across Europe and is based on the groundbreaking work of the European Festival Research Project (EFRP).




Festivalising!


Book Description

Throughout the world festivals are growing - in numbers, in size, in significance - and serve as spaces where aesthetic encounters, religious and political celebrations, economic investments and public entertainment can take place. In this sense, festivals are theatrical events. Exploration of the theoretical frames of reference for the discussion about the present festival culture. Survey of 14 festival events throughout the world.




Festival Cities


Book Description

Festivals have always been part of city life, but their relationship with their host cities has continually changed. With the rise of industrialization, they were largely considered peripheral to the course of urban affairs. Now they have become central to new ways of thinking about the challenges of economic and social change, as well as repositioning cities within competitive global networks. In this timely and thought-provoking book, John and Margaret Gold provide a reflective and evidence-based historical survey of the processes and actors involved, charting the ways that regular festivals have now become embedded in urban life and city planning. Beginning with David Garrick’s rain-drenched Shakespearean Jubilee and ending with Sydney’s flamboyant Mardi Gras celebrations, it encompasses the emergence and consolidation of city festivals. After a contextual historical survey that stretches from Antiquity to the late nineteenth century, there are detailed case studies of pioneering European arts festivals in their urban context: Venice’s Biennale, the Salzburg Festival, the Cannes Film Festival and Edinburgh’s International Festival. Ensuing chapters deal with the worldwide proliferation of arts festivals after 1950 and with the ever-increasing diversifycation of carnival celebrations, particularly through the actions of groups seeking to assert their identity. The conclusion draws together the book’s key themes and sketches the future prospects for festival cities. Lavishly illustrated, and copiously researched, this book is essential reading not just for urban geographers, social historians and planners, but also for anyone interested in contemporary festival and events tourism, urban events strategy, urban regeneration regeneration, or simply building a fuller understanding of the relationship between culture, planning and the city.




Focus on World Festivals


Book Description

Focus on World Festivals: Contemporary case studies and perspectives provides the reader with a contemporary overview of festival activity from around the world based on over 30 case studies drawn from every continent. Through its case-study focus this book can be utilised in several ways; to examine different types and genres of festivals across the world; to consider in detail specific festivals in specific contexts; to look at management and organisational issues in festival provision, and to illustrate debates and theories pertaining to festivals throughout the world. This book is a companion to 'Focus on Festivals', it is written by a varied mix of academics, practitioners and cultural commentators. It expands many of the central themes and issues to reach a global understanding of festivals. The key themes this book discusses are: * The nature of festivals, festivalisation and the growth of festival provision around the world * Interest in festival's potential economic, social, place-making and political impacts * Festivals as 'glocal' players * The relationship between festivals and tourism * The management and business of festivals in different locations responding to differing social, political and market contexts * The role of festivals in identity making *Festivals as sites of participation, co-creation and experiences It is a dynamic and indispensable text for students in arts and festivals management, events, tourism, creative industries, cultural and public policy, music industry and management courses as well as for festival and events managers, public authorities and existing and potential sponsors. Through the variety of festivals illustrated in this book, the reader will discover that much about the nature of festivals crosses borders, they are a recognisable and growing part of societal and cultural delivery around the globe; their impacts, economic, social and cultural are a major driver in their development; their popularity with audiences, arts organisations and performers is undiminished in this ever-expanding cultural phenomenon of festivals..




Theatrical Events


Book Description

Theatrical Events. Borders, Dynamics and Frames is written to develop the concept of ‘Eventness’ in Theatre Studies. The book as a whole stresses the importance of understanding theatre performances as aesthetic-communicative encounters of a wide range of agents and aspects. The Theatrical Event concept means not only that performers and spectators meet, but also that the specific mental sets, backgrounds and cultural contexts they bring in, strongly contribute to the character of a particular event. Moreover, this concept gives space to the study of the role societal developments – such as technological, political, economical or educational ones – play in theatrical events.




Playing it Queer


Book Description

Popular music has always been a dynamic mediator of gender and sexuality, and a productive site of rebellion, oddity and queerness. The transformative capacity of music-making, performance and consumption helps us to make sense of identity and allows us to glimpse otherworldliness, arousing the political imagination. With an activist voice that is impassioned yet adherent to scholarly rigour, Playing it Queer provides an original and compelling ethnographic account of the relationship between popular music, queer self-fashioning and (sub)cultural world-making. This book begins with a comprehensive survey and critical evaluation of relevant literatures on queer identity and political debates as well as popular music, identity and (sub)cultural style. Contextualised within a detailed history of queer sensibilities and creative practices, including camp, drag, genderfuck, queercore, feminist music and club cultures, the author's rich empirical studies of local performers and translocal scenes intimately capture the meaning and value of popular musics and (sub)cultural style in everyday queer lives.




Eventful Cities


Book Description

* Analyses the process of cultural event development, management and marketing and links these processes to their wider cultural, social and economic context * Provides a unique blend of practical and academic analysis, with a selection of major festivals and cities where ‘the event' has had an important element of development strategy * Examines the reasons why different stakeholders should collaborate, as well as the reasons why partnerships succeed or fail