Vol 30, No 2 (2024)
THEORY AND METHODOLOGY
The Evolution of Sociological Approaches Towards Conceptualizing Consumption in Western Sociology
Abstract
The second half of the 20th century saw multiple directions of consumer research emerge in sociology, including a cultural turn, a material turn, a practical turn, a turn towards sustainability, and a digital turn. These turns indicate trends in sociological thought, which arise with increasing speed and overlap each other. On the one hand, these directions build upon ideas about consumption brought forth by the classics of economic theory and sociology, and on the other hand they constantly attempt to critically comprehend basic concepts and fill them with new meaning.The purpose of the article is to expand on the concept of consumption by reviewing the historical evolution of views on this concept in sociology of the 20–21 centuries. It first considers the integral definitions of consumption presented by contemporary sociologists (V. Radaev, E.R. McDonnell, A. Warde). From there it outlines the basic views on consumption held by classics of sociology (K. Marx, G. Simmel, T. Veblen, M. Weber, the Frankfurt School, P. Bourdieu). Finally, sociological approaches towards consumption that appeared during the second half of the 20th century are examined.A review of key approaches towards consumption demonstrates how the concept of consumption has consistently acquired new meanings and contexts, also acquiring an internal independent logic and transforming into a multidimensional concept in sociology. The paper covers a broad timeline and is based on key sociological works, without claiming to be able to comprehensively describe them. Also this paper does not consider the Russian tradition of research.
Sotsiologicheskij Zhurnal. 2024;30(2):8-32
8-32
74
The Elusive Fandom: The Problem Field of Foreign Fan Studies
Abstract
The article is dedicated to an overview of English-language fan studies as an interdisciplinary research area. In particular, it discusses trends in the development of fan studies, various approaches to the conceptualization of fandom and fans, as well as the phenomenon of “aca-fans” and the specifics of research ethics in fan studies. The author traces the complex path of formation and transformation of fan studies into an independent subdiscipline recognized by the academic community. This path is marked by a series of “waves,” which reflect both different approaches to understanding the subject of study and changes in the status of fan studies as such. The spread of fan practices and communities emerging around objects of mass culture contributed to their normalization and mainstreaming. Fan studies also demonstrates changes in its focus: the issue of stigmatization of fans is receding into the background, and fandom analysis in the context of social inequality, participatory culture and media consumption is becoming relevant. Contemporary discussions within fan studies are aimed at rethinking the key notions and searching for new interpretations and concepts that overcome the limitations of previous approaches. One of the main topics of discussion is whether the focus of fan studies is still on the fan community (a tradition started by Henry Jenkins) or whether it also includes individual fans. In addition to revising the concepts and boundaries of the subject field, the article addresses methodological and ethical problems in this area. Particular attention is paid to the position of “aca-fans”, belonging to both the academia and the fan world. The article also shows how the perspective of fan studies is beginning to be applied in related social science disciplines. Since many communities and movements (political, consumer, cultural, etc.) function in some ways similar to fandom, turning to fan studies theories can deepen our understanding of these phenomena.
Sotsiologicheskij Zhurnal. 2024;30(2):33-52
33-52
67
SURVEYS, EXPERIMENTS, CASE STUDIES
Family Assistance as a Factor in the Subjective Well-Being of the Elderly
Abstract
This study is devoted to analyzing the extent to which older people are involved in aid exchange with their social environment. We also analyze how providing (receiving) financial and instrumental assistance to children (from children) is correlated with the subjective well-being of older people. The study is based on data from the National Survey of the Older Generation (NISP) 2021. Data analysis was carried out using multiple regressions. Respondents aged 60 years and up were selected for descriptive analysis. The sample consisted of 1782 respondents. For regression analysis we selected elderly people aged 60 years and up who had children (1536 respondents). Our analysis shows that almost one in 5 elderly people receives assistance from other people with household chores or document related work. About 20% of the elderly take it upon themselves to provide practical assistance to other people. Approximately 25% of older people provided financial assistance or gave expensive gifts to other people. The elderly themselves were somewhat less likely to be recipients of financial assistance or expensive gifts from other people. The bulk of the aid exchange takes place between older people and their children. It was found that receiving instrumental assistance from children had a negative association with life satisfaction among the elderly. At the same time, receiving financial assistance from children was positively associated with the level of life satisfaction among older people. Furthermore, receiving financial assistance from children is important primarily for mothers, as well as elderly parents who have health problems. The relationship between life satisfaction and the provision of financial or instrumental assistance to children did not reach statistical significance.
Sotsiologicheskij Zhurnal. 2024;30(2):53-81
53-81
34
SOCIOLOGY OF LABOR
The Search for Sources of Conflicts: Supply and Demand in the Labor Market
Abstract
Classical approaches towards categorizing conflict within the field of social sciences may not be applicable to the labor market context because they are beyond economic theories. To the best of our knowledge, currently, neither national nor foreign literature contains any conceptual systematization of conflicts that occur during the hiring process. Such systematization would combine conflict factors at the intersection of economic, sociological, and conflict theories. The article proposes a categorization that is based on the prominent conflict theories while taking into consideration potential employment conflicts within the labor market. The proposed categorization groups market participants (supply and demand sides) and sorts conflicts by type (systemic and non-systemic conflicts). Four primary sources of conflict are identified, including market mechanisms and salary expectations (systemic conflicts), company values and human capital (non-systemic conflicts). Systemic factors of conflicts such as supply/ demand matching and wage expectations are determined by market mechanisms. These economic factors are determined by objective and predictable processes, but sociological theories of conflict are typically excluded from the aforementioned context, which can result in a biased portrayal of macroeconomic processes. In addition, the policy of a particular company and a job seeker’s expectations for a specific job position are nonsystemic, they depend on such types of factors as company values and human capital.This categorization enables early identification of the source of conflict and potential reduction of its destructive effects.
Sotsiologicheskij Zhurnal. 2024;30(2):82-101
82-101
62
URBAN SOCIOLOGY
Assembling Cities in Contemporary Discursive Practices
Abstract
The article presents issues that reflect modern strategies and tactics for constructing a holistic image of a city. The so-called assembly (reassembly) is executed in response to the challenges of a scattered, fragmented, decentralized, hybrid city, but a developing city nonetheless. We reveal several types of “assembly”, depending on who the “outlook collectors” are: each time these are either those who generally approve of the policies of the powers that be, or opposition-minded bloggers, popular leaders of urban communities; or members of research groups. The authors consider the city as a dynamic system that forms many vectors of development and makes for diversity of urban discourse. The article proves that in the media three types of discourse compete in the city space: the discourse of sustainable development, critical urbanism, as well as a softer version referred to as the discourse of new urbanism. We conduct subject analysis of texts and statements made by members of social media communities (from three Siberian cities: Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Tomsk), who conduct spatial development audits and offer their own scenarios for putting together a city. The role and the importance are shown of virtual assemblies, which, if social media communities are anything to go by, can lead to creating actual assemblies and to the interaction of all city actors in the process of transforming space, to revising the modes of involvement of citizens in process of designing urban life. Discussions related to putting together a city may also slow down the process of implementing urban projects and hamper practices of further developing cities that are considered historical settlements. Moreover, citizens’ demands for an authentic urban space that can be called genuine and historic are often neglected by government officials. Each of the analyzed cities demonstrates its own unique set of institutional mechanisms and interactions of participants in decision-making arenas that are a product of a certain unique cultural, social, political and historical context.
Sotsiologicheskij Zhurnal. 2024;30(2):102-123
102-123
34
HISTORY OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociology and Metaphysics of Technique by N.A. Berdyaev. To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Russian Thinker
Abstract
The article examines the social philosophy of technique by N.A. Berdyaev, which he positions as Christian-personalistic-socialistic. Its main provisions are reconstructed, “metaphysical” and “sociological” aspects are identified. It is shown, firstly, that Berdyaev refers to metaphysics of technique as a criticism of the modern idea of man considering himself to be “homo faber” or a “tool-making animal”, which arose as a result of him violating the eternal order of values and idolizing technique. Secondly – that, according to Berdyaev, technique creates an ontologically “new reality”, which, in turn, determines the specifics of the modern “technical and economic” era. Thirdly, that a correct from a Christian standpoint, spiritualized attitude of man towards technique is a necessary and essential element of Berdyaev’s apocalyptic eschatology. Sociology of technique is interpreted by the Russian thinker as social philosophy and philosophy of history. In their light, on the one hand, the cultural and real-historical prerequisites for the emergence of the “technical” era are revealed — Berdyaev considers humanism and capitalism to be such, respectively — on the other hand, ways are proposed to overcome its essential flaws in the light of the personalistic-socialistic ideal of society. At the beginning of the article and at the conclusion the author emphasizes the relevance of Berdyaev’s philosophical ideas in the context of recent historical realities.
Sotsiologicheskij Zhurnal. 2024;30(2):124-138
124-138
ESSAY
“Games” of Enlightenment: The Contribution of Historical Studies to Sociological Theory of early Russian Modernity
Abstract
This essay is constructed in the form of a sociological re-interpretation of the ideas outlined in a book written by A. Stroyev titled “Avantyuristy Prosveshcheniya [Adventurers of Enlightenment.]”, representing by itself a unique example of humanitarian synthesis of historical and philological methods in studying the very phenomenon of European adventurism. The author, an internationally recognized expert in the history of western literature, realized a long-term project dedicated to researching European adventurers and what life was like for them in the Russian Empire during the second half of the 18th century. At that time the word “adventurer” had less of a negative connotation than before or since. The term was used to define an individual who was not restricted in their mobility, be it territorial, textual or societal. There were quite a few personalities who etched their names into Russian history books. They were mostly Frenchmen and Italians, among which were famous figures like Casanova and Cagliostro, but a lot of those adventurers were not nearly as well known, as impactful as they were. They were not scammers or charlatans; moreover, their identity was not about fooling members of society by any means. All of them were highly educated, extremely creative persons and gifted writers. They were not content with their identity being boiled down to any single aspect: they constructed their lives as a piece of art, regularly changing their image and occupation. All of their behavioral patterns appealed to play and theater-like acting. Thus, Russian elites were very attracted to them, this including empresses, as were ordinary lay people. In this sense they contributed to the very process of conceiving new social roles in Russia’s conservative society, while disseminating values of freedom and equality, republicanism, and network-societies, and finally promoting and embodying the philosophy and ideals of a highly mobile modern individual. Playing the roles of knowledgeable “consultants”, they cultivated the taste for social imagination and utopianism among Russian aristocracy, and not only. French philosophers, visiting Russia as adventurers and keeping respectful relations with Kathrine II, offering her their consultancy, nevertheless did not influence the course of Russian modernization. They failed in all attempts to prove their theoretical constructions in practice. And Russian authorities, on its side, rejected their advice as being inadequate to our realities, strengthening so far anti universalism in politics and culture. To sum things up, we can say that European adventurers inadvertently facilitated the early Modern process of transgression of the vast majority of old principles and stereotypes. But nevertheless, all of these social consequences were unintentional and, in many ways, accidental. Adventurers were ego-driven, and with them being the new social “facts per se” they were a powerful driving force that contributed to long term repercussions in Russia’s westernization.
Sotsiologicheskij Zhurnal. 2024;30(2):139-162
139-162
SOCIOLOGISTS ABOUT SOCIOLOGISTS
Nearing his 90th Anniversary. Not so Cheerful Memories. Yakov Gilinsky Answers Boris Doktorov’s Questions. Interview prepared by B.Z. Doktorov
Abstract
Strictly speaking this is an anniversary interview with Yakov I. Gilinsky, a renowned Russian sociologist and criminologist who dedicated many years of his life to researching various forms of deviant behavior. But in reality this is me having a discussion with a colleague and a friend who is approaching an important milestone in his life – his 90th birthday. With this being far from our first discussion about his life experience and accomplishments, as ten years ago he spoke about himself in a book titled “Me in the World, the World in me”, and bearing in mind that there are multiple videos on YouTube where he was interviewed, I thought it would be appropriate to avoid going over every stage of Mr. Gilinsky’s life and instead suggested we talk about events that transpired within the previous 20 years, leaving the more distant past in the background. Thanks to this key component of the conversation readers can get some insight into the trials and tribulations that his ancestors went through, into his path towards becoming a scientist and his accomplishments in the field, as well as into the happy and most productive years of his life during the perestroika. Readers learn about Mr. Gilinsky’s frequent communication with the world’s most renowned criminologists, his participation in major scientific conferences, his business trips and travels with his wife – who was always by his side – when they visited many countries in Europe and located on other continents. But aside from that we discuss the dynamics of important global and national macro-political processes, negative tendencies in the development of social sciences in Russia, overwhelming hardship in his own personal life, all of which made our conversation not all that cheerful. That being said, overall Yakov Gilinsky made it in life, his achievements will be relevant for many years to come.
Sotsiologicheskij Zhurnal. 2024;30(2):163-182
163-182
REVIEWS, SUMMARIES
Housing Sociology will become a Thing. Discussing the Book Edited by B.J. Mccabe, E. Rosen Titled “The Sociology of Housing: How Homes Shape our Social Lives”
Abstract
Housing sociology is a fairly modern branch of sociology. It originated in the USA in the mid-20th century and continues to gain popularity all around the world. However discussions about its viability as an independent discipline continue to this day. The publication of the book “The Sociology of Housing” in 2023, which was edited by modern sociologists and researchers of the housing industry B.J. McCabe and E. Rosen, actually puts an end to this dispute. The collective work of the authors reveals not only the variety of issues and the methods for studying them that housing sociology addresses, but also demonstrates the problems and prospects for the development of this discipline, the possibilities of interdisciplinary cooperation, and the specifics of sociological imagination and the thought process of people from the industry. This is precisely what the author of this review focuses on. In fact, this book can be considered a manifesto for housing sociology (by analogy with the manifesto of sociology of mobilities by J. Urry), something not mentioned by its authors and editors out of modesty.
Sotsiologicheskij Zhurnal. 2024;30(2):183-191
183-191