An Investigation into Social Capital Generated or Impacted by Transformational Festivals
My dissertation studies the relationship between Social Capital (the ties between individuals and within social networks and the trustworthiness and reciprocity that is generated amongst the group as a result) and Transformational Festivals (typically week-long festivals in harsh or challenging environments with an emphasis on co-creation and ritualisation), expanding on previous festival and events literature and deploying a sociological lens within the field of Transformational Festivals. The Research utilised 11 semi-structured interviews over 4 time-zones and thematic analysis to identify and analyse recurring themes. Key findings were a high prevalence of Social Capital building at Transformational Festivals by most respondents, and a belief that powerful connections were built more rapidly than elsewhere. However, there was the understanding that these bonds were often temporal and not likely to expand beyond the festival perimeter, whereas occasionally bonds were not built at all, particularly when attending within a group with pre-defined social dynamics. Although these festivals are typically geared towards to collective experiences, the study found higher than expected levels of individual Social Capital. Finally, interviewees tended to agree that Transformational Festival attendance leads to societal advancement, yet the source of these improvements was disputed with more respondents believing them to be the result of transformational experiences and personal growth, rather than the building of community or social ties, again alluding to the individual dimension.
Read the full dissertation from Ryan Webster, MSc International Festival & Event Management