Has cultural studies sounded the death-knell of classical sociology prematurely?: the view from Romani studies

The paper will argue that although Bryan S.Turner's recent defence of classical sociology was seen as apostacy by some, it points to real problems in the idealism and a-historicism of contemporary cultural studies. The paper will examine the importance of the classical sociological problematic in getting the field of Romani Studies started, and the continuing relevance of a sociological approach rooted in history and political economy. [From the Author]

Heavy cultural industries

The present recession has prompted scholarly and journalistic questioning of the contributions of the cultural industries to the economy. The talent-rich metropolitan clusters of London and New York are well-placed to ride out a thoroughgoing shakeup of the media markets if they manage their infrastructure, space and resources strategically, as Richard Florida has recently argued. This seems to be the assumption behind the recent Digital Britain interim report, and the prime minister's remarks that a digital revolution "lies at the heart" of Britain's economic recovery and that broadband and the media industry can play a leading role in pulling the UK out of the recession. Focusing on the Digital Britain interim report, this presentation seeks to clarify some of the fundamental assumptions behind this link between digital infrastructure, creativity and profitability. [From the Author]

Individual crisis episodes and cultural transition: finding the macrocosm in the microcosm

According to dialogical self theory (Hermans, 2001), individual identities reflect cultural and subcultural values, and appropriate voices and discourses from the social environment. Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) systemic theory of human development similarly postulates that individual and social development occur in a symbiotic and interdependent fashion. It would therefore be predicted that individual changes in identity reflect macrocosmic changes in cultural values and social structures. The current study investigated narratives of crisis transitions within adults aged 25-40, by way of interviews with 22 participants. An intensive qualitative analysis showed that the narratives of crisis could indeed be viewed as individual manifestations of contemporary cultural changes. National statistics and academic research have documented in the UK substantial cultural shifts over the last twenty years including the lessening popularity of marriage, the rise of freelance and portfolio careers and the growth of accepted alternative gender roles. In individual crises, changes made over the course of the episode were invariably in the same direction as these social changes; towards flexible work patterns, non-marital relationships and redefined gender identities. Before the crisis, participants described their identity as bound into an established discourse of conventionality, a traditional sense of masculinity or feminitity and a singular career role, while after the crisis alternative and fluid identities are explored, and identity is less defined by role and institution. These findings show that changes in the social macrocosm can be found in the individual microcosm, and therefore support dialogical self theory.

Cross-cultural partnerships must talk to build trust

Academic partnerships bring knowledge and drive economic growth, but success depends on good communications that build trust, says Tim Gore.

Putting down routes: an examination of local government cultural policy shaping the development of heritage trails

This paper explores the significance of trails within local government cultural strategies by presenting the results of an audit of 1000 trails, content analysis of local cultural strategies and a series of interviews with local government cultural officers. It highlights the growing sophistication of trails as flexible and multi-faceted products promising an array of social, environmental, cultural and economic benefits. However, key issues emerge as challenges for local government cultural officers. These include the need for a realistic assessment of the relative importance of competing rationales, the design of methodologies to enable evidence-based policy making and more effective engagement with commercial organisations.

Datos florísticos sobre el parque natural del Cañón del río Lobos (Soria, España)

Se hace un comentario por su interés biogeográfico sobre algunos táxones del parque natural del Cañón del río Lobos (Soria).

Datos floristicos sobre la comarca de Las Corchuelas (Parque Natural de Monfragúe, Cáceres, España) IIi

Se comentan brevemente algunos taxones herborizados en la comarca de las Corchuelas (Parque Natural de Monfragúe), sector Toledano-Tagano, provincia corológica Luso-Extremadurense (RIVAS-MARTÍNEZ, S., Anal. Inst. Bot. Cavanilles, 30: 69-87. 1973).

Datos florísticos sobre la comarca de Las Corchuelas (Parque Natural de Monfragúe, Cáceres, España)

Se comentan brevemente algunos táxones interesantes herborizados en la comarca de Las Corchuelas (Parque Natural de Monfragiie).

Sobre la flora liquénica del Parque Nacional de Las Cañadas del Teide (Tenerife, Canarias)

Se citan o comentan una serie de táxones, en su mayoría nuevos para el catálogo liquénico de Canarias, recolectados en Las Cañadas del Teide, por encima de los 2.200 m. Se esbozan someramente las relaciones corológicas de la flora.

Museums as a factor for the social integration of art in the community. The experience of cultural volunteering by members of the senior community

After considering museums as cultural institutions responsible for preserving cultural memory and its evolution over time, this article describes the cultural practices within our society that are aimed at disseminating art and at reproducing and transmitting culture, history and identity. Further, it considers the key role that older people are steadily assuming in Spain’s ageing society. New social-empowerment activities based on volunteering by the elderly are linked to generativity because the individual and social groups acquire new skills through those activities, thereby strengthening a society for all ages. Never in the history of social work have so many older people been prepared to participate actively at the community level, and never has a social movement with these features gone so unnoticed by so many social agents.