Abstract

SOARES, Manuel Pereira. SUBCULTURAL EVENTS AND THE CITY: STRATEGY FOR THE SYMBOLIC ECONOMY OR AN INTEGRATOR OF AN ALTERNATIVE CULTURE? THE CASE OF THE GOTHIC “ENTREMURALHAS” FESTIVAL IN LEIRIA. SOCIOLOGIA ON LINE [online]. 2021, n.25, pp.62-85.  Epub Feb 08, 2022. ISSN 1647-3337.  https://doi.org/10.30553/sociologiaonline.2021.25.3.

The city is a space of diversity with conflicts and tensions between dominant and alternative cultures. Festivals, acting as a leverage for the development of cities, bring different cultures into contact and can contribute to break down stereotypes and reduce stigma. This article assesses how a subcultural event can promote the image of a city as a space of culture and diversity. We analyzed promotional material produced by the municipality and articles about the Entremuralhas gothic festival published in newspapers. This allowed an understanding how the festival is communicated to the population and how members of the gothic community perceive it in terms of dispelling of stereotypes. It is concluded that the festival has been presented as one of the most important elements of city promotion, but that some of the stereotypes persist.

Keywords : Entremuralhas festival; gothic subculture; stereotypes; city festivalization..

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