#S1EP11 - Pop culture — commodity or confrontation?

#S1EP11 - Pop culture — commodity or confrontation?

Author: Kosovo 2.0 April 6, 2023 Duration: 58:07
Besa Luci in conversation with Lindita Tahiri and Jovana Gligorijević.Songs, movies, reality shows, video games, news — these products of popular culture shape our society. From the way we interact with others, how we view our own identities, how we dress — it's all influenced by popular culture and mass media.In this episode, we will talk about popular culture and specific cases from the region.Over the last few months, much of Kosovo became captivated with "Big Brother VIP Kosova," the first local edition of the international reality show series. The show, which featured contestants from across the dominant spheres of pop culture in Kosovo, reached unprecedented levels of popularity. It was due to this widespread popularity that some were particularly concerned about the misogyny and homophobia that was a prominent aspect of the show and the characters' conversation. How was this questionable celebrity culture shaping its viewers?Other forms of popular culture have also come under scrutiny. For example, mainstream music in our region often perpetuates sexist, nationalist or homophobic ideas. The daily news cycle, particularly entertainment news, often centers on personalities and spectacle. Internet culture is driven by constant comparisons to unhealthy and unrealistic lifestyles, which exacerbates teenagers' body image and mental health issues.These pop culture elements in our lives play a role in establishing common norms and social expectations — but many voices or groups are neglected or even oppressed in the dominant narratives.That is why pop culture's significance is not just tied up in concerns about quality or that it's material produced for the lowest common denominator. Pop culture is shaped by and shapes the ideological, political and economic values of the world around us.Academics have long discussed this aspect of pop culture. Is it merely the vulgar transformation of culture into a commodity? Or does pop culture have the potential to be a site of resistance — one where values and norms can be challenged and reimagined?Two guests joined us in this episode to discuss such questions.Lindita Tahiri teaches at the Department of English Language and at the Department of Journalism at the University of Prishtina. Her courses cover Literary Criticism, Mass Communication, Language and Culture, Language and Ideology. She has publications, including three books, in the field of literary criticism and critical discourse analysis, as well as two university textbooks in mass communication and media literacy.Jovana Gligorijević is a journalist at the Belgrade-based magazine Vreme and co-founder of the group “Female journalists against gender based violence.

In each episode of Other Talking Points, a production of Kosovo 2.0, editor-in-chief Besa Luci sits down with a guest whose voice and work challenge conventional narratives. These are not hurried interviews but considered conversations, often meandering through personal history, creative process, and critical thought. You’ll hear from authors dissecting the narratives of place, scholars questioning entrenched ideas, artists explaining the impetus behind their work, and activists detailing the realities of their struggles. The guests hail primarily from Kosovo and the surrounding region, but the scope frequently widens to include compelling voices from across the globe, creating a unique dialogue between local context and wider currents of thought. This podcast operates in the spaces between news and commentary, offering depth and nuance where headlines often fall short. The aim is to move beyond the usual soundbites and talking points that dominate public discourse, hence the name. By focusing intently on an individual’s journey and intellectual contributions, each discussion naturally opens up to reveal new perspectives on politics, culture, society, and what it means to engage with the world thoughtfully. Listening feels like being present for a genuine exchange, one that prioritizes understanding over simple debate. It’s for anyone curious about the forces shaping contemporary life in Southeast Europe and beyond, delivered through the intimate, unfolding format that only a thoughtful podcast can provide. The result is a collection of episodes that together build a complex and human portrait of the issues that define our time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 23

Other Talking Points
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