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Previous research claims that youngsters are uninterested and unwilling to visit cultural activities such as theater, opera and ballet and prefer to take part in popular culture – specifically popular music. Popular culture (and specifically popular music) is characterized by high levels of collective emotion and participation, where audiences are encouraged toparticipate and sing or dance along. With this in mind this thesis explores the cultural consumption of youth, asking them what the importance of collective effervescence is innavigating their decisions to partake in cultural activities.

In this sociological study, combining Durkheimian and Bourdieusian thinking, Sam explores this question throughinterviews with 7 people between the age of 18 and 25 living in the Randstad-area of the Netherlands. The results show that consumption patterns are not so black and white with young people expressing motivations from both collective engagement – in for example raves and concerts – but also in individual engagement – in museum visits and movies.

For more information about this research, or to get in touch with Sam Lochs, send a message to sam@lochs.nl.