'Squaring the circle': A case study of justification vis-à-vis financiers in cultural industries
(2025) SOCK10 20251Sociology
- Abstract
- In light of the recent austerity measures affecting cultural policy in several Western countries, this thesis aims to investigate the values mobilised by a cultural festival in Cologne, Germany, to justify its activities to financiers. A qualitative case study approach was adopted, involving interviews with festival representatives and document analysis of funding applications. Drawing on Boltanski and Thévenot's theory on justification, it was found that the festival primarily justifies its activities within a civic order of worth, emphasising its importance in raising awareness about and empowering socially disadvantaged groups in society. However, it also engages with the industrial and inspired orders of worth, both in response to the... (More)
- In light of the recent austerity measures affecting cultural policy in several Western countries, this thesis aims to investigate the values mobilised by a cultural festival in Cologne, Germany, to justify its activities to financiers. A qualitative case study approach was adopted, involving interviews with festival representatives and document analysis of funding applications. Drawing on Boltanski and Thévenot's theory on justification, it was found that the festival primarily justifies its activities within a civic order of worth, emphasising its importance in raising awareness about and empowering socially disadvantaged groups in society. However, it also engages with the industrial and inspired orders of worth, both in response to the demands of financiers and in a deliberate “play” with multiple orders of worth. Close and ongoing communication with financiers and artists generally characterises the justification process, occasionally erupting into disputes between orders of worth. This thesis adds to the existing literature on justification in cultural industries by highlighting how balancing multiple orders of worth can serve as an effective tool for cultural actors to justify themselves to financiers. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9207234
- author
- Ström, Jonas LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SOCK10 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Justification, Cultural industries, Financing
- language
- English
- id
- 9207234
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-30 11:45:34
- date last changed
- 2025-06-30 11:45:34
@misc{9207234,
abstract = {{In light of the recent austerity measures affecting cultural policy in several Western countries, this thesis aims to investigate the values mobilised by a cultural festival in Cologne, Germany, to justify its activities to financiers. A qualitative case study approach was adopted, involving interviews with festival representatives and document analysis of funding applications. Drawing on Boltanski and Thévenot's theory on justification, it was found that the festival primarily justifies its activities within a civic order of worth, emphasising its importance in raising awareness about and empowering socially disadvantaged groups in society. However, it also engages with the industrial and inspired orders of worth, both in response to the demands of financiers and in a deliberate “play” with multiple orders of worth. Close and ongoing communication with financiers and artists generally characterises the justification process, occasionally erupting into disputes between orders of worth. This thesis adds to the existing literature on justification in cultural industries by highlighting how balancing multiple orders of worth can serve as an effective tool for cultural actors to justify themselves to financiers.}},
author = {{Ström, Jonas}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{'Squaring the circle': A case study of justification vis-à-vis financiers in cultural industries}},
year = {{2025}},
}