Mediated scandals as social dramas: Transforming the moral order in Finland

In this article we apply Viktor Turner's ideas on liminality and social dramas to scandals involving the Finnish political and economic elites that have occurred since the early 1970s. We suggest that mediated scandals are transformative social dramas through which society's moral codes ar...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Acta Sociologica. - Sage Publications, Ltd.. - 56(2013), 4, Seite 295-308
1. Verfasser: Kantola, Anu (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: Vesa, Juho
Format: Online-Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 2013
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:Acta Sociologica
Schlagworte:Behavioral sciences Social sciences Political science Economics Philosophy
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:In this article we apply Viktor Turner's ideas on liminality and social dramas to scandals involving the Finnish political and economic elites that have occurred since the early 1970s. We suggest that mediated scandals are transformative social dramas through which society's moral codes are negotiated. In Finland, scandals have increased considerably and have become more dangerous for Finnish elites because they have caused increasing numbers to lose their positions. We suggest that the trend signals a long-term social transformation in society's moral order. The Finnish scandals have reworked societal moralities and addressed the problematic issues often associated with the Cold War political order, such as drinking and sexual harassment. As a result of this process, the media have developed into liminal-like spaces that are increasingly dangerous for elites.
ISSN:15023869