Alexandros Skandalis

Paradox, tribalism and the transitional consumption experience : in light of post-postmodernism

Purpose The aim of this paper is to explore how the paradox of individualism/tribalism is brought into play and negotiated by consumers in the wake of the post-postmodern era. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on netnographic and interview data from the Greek football manager (FM) online gaming community. FM is a simulation strategy game in which players act as “real-life” managers from the screen of their computer. Findings A central paradox and a set of four supporting paradoxes are identified. These paradoxes give rise to a transitional mode of experience, which lies on the borders of reality and fantasy, and is realised both at the individual and the tribal levels. Originality/value This study makes a threefold contribution. First, it advances the understanding of the paradoxical aspects of consumption experiences in light of post-postmodern consumer culture. Second, it shows how these paradoxes are negotiated by consumers between individual and tribal levels. Third, it extends the understanding of the nature of consumption experiences through the development of the concept of the transitional consumption experience.

The spatial aspects of musical taste : conceptualising consumers' place-dependent identity investments

Consumer research has largely left implicit the interrelationships of space and place with taste. This multi-sited ethnographic study explores how consumers enact, perform and further develop their musical tastes via their aesthetic experiences in popular (indie) and classical music places. Our findings suggest that consumers create place-dependent identity investments, which unfold via a tripartite experiential process of manifesting habitus, undertaking habitation and expressing idiolocality. Our study contributes to diverse streams of consumer research, such as consumer behaviour, consumer culture theory and experiential marketing, and opens up avenues for future research focused on the intersections of place with taste.

Marketplace orchestration of taste: insights from the Bridgewater Hall

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to explore how a concert hall can orchestrate and shape individuals’ classical music tastes. The paper is based on an 8-month ethnography at the Bridgewater Hall concert venue in Manchester. Our emergent findings illustrate how classical music tastes are influenced via the spatial meanings of the concert hall. These meanings include various physical, historical and sociocultural aspects that are revealed in the context of the Bridgewater Hall. Our study contributes to various streams of consumer culture theory research and opens up avenues for future research on the interrelationships of space and place with taste.

Spatial taste formation as a place marketing tool: the case of live music consumption

Purpose The aim of this paper is to explore how spatial taste formation and the interrelationships between place and taste can inform the development of contemporary place marketing and/or place management strategies. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on previous research conducted within the context of live music consumption and, in particular, within live musical spaces such as festivals and concert halls. Findings This paper illustrates how spatial taste formation can inform the development of topographies of taste which focus on the creation of field-specific experiences. It also offers insights for understanding the phenomenological uniqueness of various places and the role of place users and other stakeholders in the creation of place marketing and branding value. Originality value The paper elaborates upon the potential usefulness of spatial taste formation for place management and marketing research practice and draws out implications for future research. It advances a holistic and phenomenological understanding of place which illustrates how users’ perceptions of place are shaped by their experiences in various places and by the interplay of these experiences with their individual tastes and vice versa.

Reaching the limits of reform: medical education and the Hellenic academic institutions facing the euro-crisis

It is beyond any doubt that the euro-crisis also represents an opportunity of monumental proportions.[1,2] We have recently suggested a four-axons’ systematic action framework that we regard as essential to be set forward by the Hellenic scientific community and the Greek government in order to eliminate the adverse effects that the established recession and funding-deprivation have exerted upon the Hellenic academic institutions’ function.[3] Summarizing, this framework would ideally: (i) encourage the extroversion towards the international scientifi c community, (ii) enforce the compliance of the current academic practices with successful international administrative, teaching, and research ones, (iii) adopt extensive structural changes and innovative practices, as well as (iv) maintain the high standard of its excellence centers and prioritize the dedication of the country’s academic institutions to provide high-quality academic education.[3]