In this paper we discuss the development of consumer culture in Estonia, which is a vivid example... more In this paper we discuss the development of consumer culture in Estonia, which is a vivid example of the ways consumers make do in rapidly changing circumstances. Our specific focus was on the period of 2008-2010, a time of severe economic crisis, unemployment and reduction of income, when consumption per household fell by a total of 12 percent compared to the pre-crisis period. We employed quantitative content and discourse analysis of media texts published in the Estonian-language press, on forums and in blogs to study representations of consumer culture during crisis. In general, the media discussion featured (self)-criticism about succumbingwith little calculation and thought about the precariousness of the future-to the hedonistic allure of the market. Nor was a serious alternative offered to the economic crisis, which was portrayed by the media as a temporary condition and not as a new normality. Thus the mediatization of the people's experiences of the downturn during 2008-2011 did not bring about any principal change to the pre-crisis normalities of Estonian consumer culture. This can partly be explained by the fact that consumption-related aspects of the recession were mainly represented in the Estonian media from the point of view of the middle class, who had sufficient resources. Social media channels also mainly reflected the middle class's experience of perceiving the crisis as temporary and only involving slight lifestyle modifications that could be endured by working hard and being a smart consumer. Any critique of consumerist values and calls for solidarity expressed by journalists or the cultural elite did not resonate with the grassroots level social innovations born of everyday frugality and sharing.
Page 1. Eesti Uimastiseire Keskus UURIMISRAPORT Narkomaania representatsioonid Eesti ajalehtedes ... more Page 1. Eesti Uimastiseire Keskus UURIMISRAPORT Narkomaania representatsioonid Eesti ajalehtedes 2003. aastal Liina Laastik Tallinn, 2004 Page 2. Narkomaania representatsioonid Eesti ajalehtedes 2003 2 Sisukord Sisukord ...
AIMS – Adolescents’ abstinence from alcohol has not been much researched in terms of providing su... more AIMS – Adolescents’ abstinence from alcohol has not been much researched in terms of providing suggestions for prevention strategies. This study aims to fill that gap by offering a practice theory-inspired analysis of how the unwritten rules of partying practices are communicated between posters of Estonian youth forums.
DATA –These forums are novel objects of analysis in research on teenagers’ alcohol use, and the article shares some topical experiences.
RESULTS – The findings of the analysis show that non-drinking at teenagers’ alcohol-related social gatherings is generally communicated as a non-tolerated individual performance that is seen to erode the whole collective partying practice. Young people therefore suggest in forums various mimicry strategies to justify non-drinking.
CONCLUSIONS – The article casts doubts about the efficiency of risk awareness raising and teaching individual skills in this context because they provide little help for those youngsters who have already been recruited into partying practices and who need peer legitimation to leave these practices. The authors pose suggestions for gradually making the current alcohol-related partying practices more tolerant of non-drinkers, thus opening “subculturally supported roads” to personal autonomy.
Annotatsioon. ELi keele poliitilisi eesmärke on keelelise mitme kesisuse edendamine liikmes riiki... more Annotatsioon. ELi keele poliitilisi eesmärke on keelelise mitme kesisuse edendamine liikmes riikides ja ELi kodanike keeleoskuse suurendamine vähemalt kahe võõr keeleni. 1 Esimene eesmärk kajastub ELi lepingus2 ning rõhutab, et liit austab oma rikkalikku ...
Sociolinguistica Internationales Jahrbuch Fur Europaische Soziolinguistik International Yearbook of European Sociolinguistics Annuaire International De La Sociolinguistique Europeenne, 2013
In this paper we discuss the development of consumer culture in Estonia, which is a vivid example... more In this paper we discuss the development of consumer culture in Estonia, which is a vivid example of the ways consumers make do in rapidly changing circumstances. Our specific focus was on the period of 2008-2010, a time of severe economic crisis, unemployment and reduction of income, when consumption per household fell by a total of 12 percent compared to the pre-crisis period. We employed quantitative content and discourse analysis of media texts published in the Estonian-language press, on forums and in blogs to study representations of consumer culture during crisis. In general, the media discussion featured (self)-criticism about succumbingwith little calculation and thought about the precariousness of the future-to the hedonistic allure of the market. Nor was a serious alternative offered to the economic crisis, which was portrayed by the media as a temporary condition and not as a new normality. Thus the mediatization of the people's experiences of the downturn during 2008-2011 did not bring about any principal change to the pre-crisis normalities of Estonian consumer culture. This can partly be explained by the fact that consumption-related aspects of the recession were mainly represented in the Estonian media from the point of view of the middle class, who had sufficient resources. Social media channels also mainly reflected the middle class's experience of perceiving the crisis as temporary and only involving slight lifestyle modifications that could be endured by working hard and being a smart consumer. Any critique of consumerist values and calls for solidarity expressed by journalists or the cultural elite did not resonate with the grassroots level social innovations born of everyday frugality and sharing.
Page 1. Eesti Uimastiseire Keskus UURIMISRAPORT Narkomaania representatsioonid Eesti ajalehtedes ... more Page 1. Eesti Uimastiseire Keskus UURIMISRAPORT Narkomaania representatsioonid Eesti ajalehtedes 2003. aastal Liina Laastik Tallinn, 2004 Page 2. Narkomaania representatsioonid Eesti ajalehtedes 2003 2 Sisukord Sisukord ...
AIMS – Adolescents’ abstinence from alcohol has not been much researched in terms of providing su... more AIMS – Adolescents’ abstinence from alcohol has not been much researched in terms of providing suggestions for prevention strategies. This study aims to fill that gap by offering a practice theory-inspired analysis of how the unwritten rules of partying practices are communicated between posters of Estonian youth forums.
DATA –These forums are novel objects of analysis in research on teenagers’ alcohol use, and the article shares some topical experiences.
RESULTS – The findings of the analysis show that non-drinking at teenagers’ alcohol-related social gatherings is generally communicated as a non-tolerated individual performance that is seen to erode the whole collective partying practice. Young people therefore suggest in forums various mimicry strategies to justify non-drinking.
CONCLUSIONS – The article casts doubts about the efficiency of risk awareness raising and teaching individual skills in this context because they provide little help for those youngsters who have already been recruited into partying practices and who need peer legitimation to leave these practices. The authors pose suggestions for gradually making the current alcohol-related partying practices more tolerant of non-drinkers, thus opening “subculturally supported roads” to personal autonomy.
Annotatsioon. ELi keele poliitilisi eesmärke on keelelise mitme kesisuse edendamine liikmes riiki... more Annotatsioon. ELi keele poliitilisi eesmärke on keelelise mitme kesisuse edendamine liikmes riikides ja ELi kodanike keeleoskuse suurendamine vähemalt kahe võõr keeleni. 1 Esimene eesmärk kajastub ELi lepingus2 ning rõhutab, et liit austab oma rikkalikku ...
Sociolinguistica Internationales Jahrbuch Fur Europaische Soziolinguistik International Yearbook of European Sociolinguistics Annuaire International De La Sociolinguistique Europeenne, 2013
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Papers by Triin Vihalemm
DATA –These forums are novel objects of analysis in research on teenagers’ alcohol use, and the article shares some topical experiences.
RESULTS – The findings of the analysis show that non-drinking at teenagers’ alcohol-related social gatherings is generally communicated as a non-tolerated individual performance that is seen to erode the whole collective partying practice. Young people therefore suggest in forums various mimicry strategies to justify non-drinking.
CONCLUSIONS – The article casts doubts about the efficiency of risk awareness raising and teaching individual skills in this context because they provide little help for those youngsters who have already been recruited into partying practices and who need peer legitimation to leave these practices. The authors pose suggestions for gradually making the current alcohol-related partying practices more tolerant of non-drinkers, thus opening “subculturally supported roads” to personal autonomy.
DATA –These forums are novel objects of analysis in research on teenagers’ alcohol use, and the article shares some topical experiences.
RESULTS – The findings of the analysis show that non-drinking at teenagers’ alcohol-related social gatherings is generally communicated as a non-tolerated individual performance that is seen to erode the whole collective partying practice. Young people therefore suggest in forums various mimicry strategies to justify non-drinking.
CONCLUSIONS – The article casts doubts about the efficiency of risk awareness raising and teaching individual skills in this context because they provide little help for those youngsters who have already been recruited into partying practices and who need peer legitimation to leave these practices. The authors pose suggestions for gradually making the current alcohol-related partying practices more tolerant of non-drinkers, thus opening “subculturally supported roads” to personal autonomy.