 |
Welcome to my website |
Musicology, 17/2003, pp. 105-139
Athens: Exandas Publications
ISSN 1012-0203
Abstract
This paper - which presents only a part from a broader research - analyzes the dominant institutions of private music education in Greece from 1971 to 2000 (conservatories and private music schools). The analysis extends to the social groups involved in this particular institution of Greek musical life, with an emphasis on the educators. The second part presents the results of a sociological research carried out on 20 institutes of music education in 9 prefectures of Northern Greece. Two types of questionnaire were used along with the method of participant observation.
The structural changes of the social groups involved in this important institution (its history is longer than 130 years) have not been clarified so far. Moreover, most of the features of these social groups are still unknown. This shortcoming could hardly prevent mistakes in music education policy with unpredictable effects on the musical culture in Greece. Even though it is clearly stated that further analysis and research are necessary, the paper is original in terms of the data it provides for a discussion of the social reproduction and cultural socialization in Greece. Actually, this is the first research report of this kind published in the country.
International conference proceedings
Athens: Orfeus Publications/Journal Musicology, 2003
Abstract
The article analyses and discusses certain functions of commodity relations in musical life. Research on the implications and significance of these relations represent nowadays a serious challenge for the sociology of music that has provided in the past exemplary elaborations and critical approaches.
The analysis focuses on the fact that the modification of the commodity relations has a strong impact on every section of musical life and in several of its aspects. This impact seems to be reinforced in a multiplicative way in the context of a global economy, where time and space limitations - specific for the previous status quo - are removed. From this point of view, the form of globalization, that is dominant for the time being, takes on a special importance for musical life. It plays a part in the development of new patterns of musical culture in general.
In these unprecedented circumstances musical education acquires particular significance. It may function in a decisive way not only - and not mainly - as an autonomous form of education, but rather as an organic component embedded in a system of education that takes seriously into account aesthetics and art. This course involves a thoroughly elaborated reconsideration of musical education in its entirety. It also involves the kind of rearrangements that inescapably are tied up with political decisions.
In Power - Violence - Pain, Vol. 1, pp. 341-355
Editor: Klimis Navridis
Proceedings of the international conference on the same subject
Athens: Kastaniotis, 2002
Abstract
This chapter presents and discusses the findings of an empirical research on certain functions of printed media discourse. The research concerned the reproduction and cultivation of value systems, of representations and stereotypes connected with the appearance of conditions that favor the development of symbolic violence. This study elaborates and enhances the concept of symbolic violence, developed by P. Bourdieu, giving emphasis - inter alia - to some of the mass media functions in the immigrant-receiving societies.
A part of the findings from the sample analysis of printed media discourse concern the components of the so called neo-racism or cultural racism that is based on the argument of "cultural inferiority", "barbarity" and consequently on the stereotype about the "others" as dangerous. At the same time, the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the findings with the method of critical discourse analysis (adapted to this research and enhanced) showed - at least for the time period included in the research - the small degree of the in-group readiness to hear and respect - and not just tolerate - the discourse and the existence of the "others".
Sociology: A Lesson on Freedom
Hellenic Sociological Association
International Sociological Association (RC26)
National Centre for Social Research
Thessaloniki (Greece), 2002
In CD format
ISBN: 960-92263-0-2
Abstract
The article - based on the case of the music education - explores some of the effects of globalization on the institutions for the aesthetic, cultural and artistic reproduction and socialization. Several peculiar features of the institutes for music education in Greece were formed during the long period of its existence, that is in more than 130 years. These become more complicated in the new context created by changes in the broader fields of labor relations and the general education system - changes brought about by globalization. The changes introduced in the institution of general education restrict drastically or exclude almost entirely the advance of the aesthetic and artistic education, precisely during adolescence - a period important for the formation of aesthetic values and artistic culture. This is supported by the findings of an empirical sociological research. This study presents and interprets the data collected during this research with a self-completing questionnaire in conservatories of Northern Greece and with the method of participant observation.
The article argues that the developments discussed favor the education of the recipients of cultural goods as sentimental consumers rather than as critically thinking citizens. This tendency might - in the long run - have an impact on the value systems, the choices and preferences, and on collective attitudes towards the arts and the culture as well.
Annex to the volume: Anthony Giddens, Sociology
(Volume 2, The Handbook for Students), pp. 135-166
Translated & edited by D. G. Tsaousis
Athens: Gutenberg, 2002
Abstract
This chapter - using the opportunity to introduce an indicative bibliography of sociology - analyzes a peculiar phenomenon specific for the sociological literature in this country and connected with the development of the field in Greece. The chapter raises several issues concerning the sociology of knowledge and the sociology of science that have been hardly explored in Greece.
