Dynamics of Success in Post-Communism. Codes, Behaviors, Possession, Exposure [DL: July 15 2011]‏

The Romanian Peasant Museum is seeking
contributions for its annual review Martor. The Martor review is an
unconventional academic journal established in 1996, with a focus on
cultural and visual anthropology, ethnology and museology. Some of its earlier
issues can be read here: http://martor.memoria.ro/?location=archive&action=details&id=6



The theme of Martor 16/2011 issue is Dynamics of Success in Post-Communism.
Codes, Behaviors, Possession, Exposure. We are looking to gather state of
the art anthropological research on achieving and displaying social, economical
and symbolic success in communist and post-communist societies. Among the
questions this issue is seeking to address are: What did it mean to “succeed”
in socialist countries? How did success behavior and communication change after
1989? What is the impact of increased mobility and migration on identity
redefinition? How are these behaviors of exposure and seduction (Baudrillard 1970, 1979) subject to domestication (Goody 1977) or translation (Clifford 1999, 2010)
according to the local codes
of success? What is the social logic that sustains and articulates these
behaviours of possession, exposure and self-communication?



We are theoretically proposing a concept of
success that is essentially relational. Constructed with reference to the
other, it is a permanent affirmation and communication of one’s social,
economic and symbolic status (Bourdieu 1972, 1979). For a better analysis of the concept and codes
of success we are proposing a wider vocabulary: succes (réussite) and its antonyms, failure and shame ; prestige,
honour, status; success displays such
as houses, cars, new technology (cell phones), music (manele), gestures, odours; the effects of mobility and migration on
local codes of success, and so on. These proposals are meant to incite
reflection; they are neither exclusive nor exhaustive.

 

We are expecting texts, in either English or
French, of 35.000 to 50.000 characters (with spaces) by July 15th, 2011. High quality images supporting the
argument are a plus in the selection process. 



Please e-mail your submissions and any
inquiries (e.g. editorial guidelines) to Simina Badica (siminarb@gmail.com) and Daniela Moisa (dalimoisa@yahoo.com).