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Publication Detailed Description
Instrumentalization of Light Festivals by Portuguese Municipalities: An Ethnographic Perspective (2015-2023)
16th ESA Conference, Tension, Trust and Transformation
Year (definitive publication)
2024
Language
English
Country
Portugal
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Abstract
Over the past decade, light festivals have become significant cultural events in Portuguese cities, serving as a distinct platform for artistic expression and urban entertainment. This study delves into how Portuguese municipalities have harnessed these festivals, exploring their transformation into instruments for urban development, tourism promotion, and the stimulation of nighttime economies.
This work is a critical analysis of how cultural practices can be co-opted by economic and political interests, more focused on economic development, city branding, and express night-time touristification.
The methodology used was a multi-sited ethnography conducted in Cascais and Loulé from 2015 to 2023. This included semi-structured interviews, online mapping, and documentary analysis. Such an approach enabled a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon from the viewpoints of organizers, promoters, entrepreneurs, participants, and local residents.
The findings of this study are significant, indicating that the commodification of these festivals is linked to the ongoing financial instability and precariousness faced by organizers, as well as to disputes of interest by local governments, which end in a power imbalance. I argue that these conflicts and the continual reduction in specific funding lead to the commodification of the festivals, distinctly illustrated by the shift in focus from cultural programming and mediation to light installations that prioritize entertainment over cultural value.
Acknowledgements
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Keywords
light festivals,ethnography,cultural management,place-making,commodification
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