Coman Mihai | University of Bucharest (original) (raw)
Papers by Coman Mihai
Open Theology
This study aims to demonstrate that media can achieve a religious construction of an event or iss... more This study aims to demonstrate that media can achieve a religious construction of an event or issue and set the public sphere in a religious frame through the sacralization of events and persons. This perspective can be supported empirically by the studies showing the way in which mass media framed different events in a religious imaginary and language and proposed this image as a frame for public sphere debates and theoretically by the concepts of media events, mediatization, ritualization, and sacralization, in order to reveal the processes through which the translation from a secular discourse to a religious discourse is produced. Under certain circumstances, mass media work as an “as if” (metaphoric) religion, and the events are presented through a religious frame – through themes and figures that come from the religious sacred narratives. Journalists accomplish this by setting events and leaders within the symbolic frame specific to religion: within this framework, those who re...
Routledge eBooks, Oct 25, 2020
Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Mar 1, 2010
Societies increasingly depend on means of public communication; hence, the importance of journali... more Societies increasingly depend on means of public communication; hence, the importance of journalism as a social institution can hardly be denied. If journalism plays such a pivotal role in modern society, studying the social forces that shape its practice is all the more important for anyone wishing to understand contemporary culture. Unfortunately, the quest for the principal forces that shape the news is not quite an easy one, since "the list of possible variables is almost endless." 1 To reduce the complexity of such a vast array of influences, many studies focus on selected aspects of the interrelation between news work and its social contexts. Among the areas that have
L'Homme, Dec 1, 2003
Mihai Coman 1 "IN HER REVIEW essay 'Anthropology and Mass Media', Debra Spitulnik stated 'There i... more Mihai Coman 1 "IN HER REVIEW essay 'Anthropology and Mass Media', Debra Spitulnik stated 'There is as yet no anthropology of mass media'. Eight years later, the significant and growing literature represented by this volume indexes an existent, if still emergent, discipline. Media anthropology, the brainchild of Mead, Bateson and Powdermaker has finally come into its own" 1. C'est sur cette note triomphale que s'achève l'introduction de Kelly Askew, éditrice, en collaboration avec Richard R. Wilk, de ce surprenant recueil de textes. Son propos suggère que les 22 contributions, provenant d'articles (dont la majorité publiés dans la revue Visual Anthropology) ou extraits de livres, ont été choisies non seulement pour présenter un ensemble de recherches de terrain, mais aussi afin de plaider pour le droit de cité d'une nouvelle discipline : la media anthropology. Ce qui soulève trois questions relevant du nom, du contenu et du choix de textes représentatifs pour cette branche de l'anthropologie.
SAGE Publications, Inc. eBooks, May 15, 2012
Anthropological Theory, Jun 1, 2005
such as case endings and plural suffixes that are not part of the grammar of 'ammiya: these stir ... more such as case endings and plural suffixes that are not part of the grammar of 'ammiya: these stir constant associations and resonances with widely memorized and recited passages of the Quran, so that the modern fuSHa can sound like a lesser imitation of the 'real thing' (p. 109). A subtle linguistic hierarchy obtains in the semi-official newspaper Al-Ahram, which like other publishers employs a team of copy-editors or 'correctors' (whose experience Haeri cleverly draws on). President Mubarak speaks almost exclusively in 'ammiya, yet his speeches are translated entirely into fuSHa. An interview conducted in 'ammiya with the novelist Naguib Mahfouz will be translated into fuSHa with a few graphic phrases of 'ammiya interspersed. A film star is reported as speaking in fuSHa with some extracts of 'ammiya within quotation marks. But when a popular comedian is interviewed, the questions are in fuSHa but his answers are all in 'ammiya (pp. 98-104). Haeri is an anthropology professor at Johns Hopkins as well as a distinguished scholar of Arabic (though no knowledge of the language is necessary to read this book), and she is particularly strong at analysing its political manipulations. Her own view comes through clearly. From the religious perspective, fuSHa is a priceless heritage. But the fiction that fuSHa can operate as an everyday lingua franca is disastrous for Egyptian self-respect and creativity, and for its school system. For the poet Iman Mirsal, the disjuncture between the language of speaking and that of writing is as if 'life' were in one place and 'culture' were in another (p. 141). The mistake, Haeri argues, is to seek 'to use the language of religion for creating a world where religion is not supposed to occupy a central place' (p. 157). This will not persuade those Egyptians who believe that 'Islam is the answer'. But Haeri's approach is firmly rationalist: she argues, for instance, that the supposed untranslatability of the Quran has no foundation in the Quranic text itself (p. 149). Egyptian 'ammiya is practically an oral lingua franca for all Arabs, being widely understood because of Egypt's prominent position in the Arab world and because of its export of films and television programmes. Yet many non-Egyptian Arabs would oppose any choice of Egyptian as a written lingua franca to replace fuSHa. Haeri places this linguistic dilemma in its wider geopolitical context, in which Arab governments' policies seem to be ossified by the need to buy off Islamist radicalism while maintaining the ideology of pan-Arabism.
SAGE Publications, Inc. eBooks, 2005
L'Homme, Dec 1, 2003
Mihai Coman 1 "IN HER REVIEW essay 'Anthropology and Mass Media', Debra Spitulnik stated 'There i... more Mihai Coman 1 "IN HER REVIEW essay 'Anthropology and Mass Media', Debra Spitulnik stated 'There is as yet no anthropology of mass media'. Eight years later, the significant and growing literature represented by this volume indexes an existent, if still emergent, discipline. Media anthropology, the brainchild of Mead, Bateson and Powdermaker has finally come into its own" 1. C'est sur cette note triomphale que s'achève l'introduction de Kelly Askew, éditrice, en collaboration avec Richard R. Wilk, de ce surprenant recueil de textes. Son propos suggère que les 22 contributions, provenant d'articles (dont la majorité publiés dans la revue Visual Anthropology) ou extraits de livres, ont été choisies non seulement pour présenter un ensemble de recherches de terrain, mais aussi afin de plaider pour le droit de cité d'une nouvelle discipline : la media anthropology. Ce qui soulève trois questions relevant du nom, du contenu et du choix de textes représentatifs pour cette branche de l'anthropologie.
Victor Turner and Contemporary Cultural Performance
Journalism Studies, Jun 1, 2011
Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf ... more Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution , reselling , loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.
L'Homme, Dec 1, 2003
Mihai Coman 1 "IN HER REVIEW essay 'Anthropology and Mass Media', Debra Spitulnik stated 'There i... more Mihai Coman 1 "IN HER REVIEW essay 'Anthropology and Mass Media', Debra Spitulnik stated 'There is as yet no anthropology of mass media'. Eight years later, the significant and growing literature represented by this volume indexes an existent, if still emergent, discipline. Media anthropology, the brainchild of Mead, Bateson and Powdermaker has finally come into its own" 1. C'est sur cette note triomphale que s'achève l'introduction de Kelly Askew, éditrice, en collaboration avec Richard R. Wilk, de ce surprenant recueil de textes. Son propos suggère que les 22 contributions, provenant d'articles (dont la majorité publiés dans la revue Visual Anthropology) ou extraits de livres, ont été choisies non seulement pour présenter un ensemble de recherches de terrain, mais aussi afin de plaider pour le droit de cité d'une nouvelle discipline : la media anthropology. Ce qui soulève trois questions relevant du nom, du contenu et du choix de textes représentatifs pour cette branche de l'anthropologie.
Coman Mihai. Sarah Sanderson King and Donald P. Cushman eds. (1992), Political Communication -Eng... more Coman Mihai. Sarah Sanderson King and Donald P. Cushman eds. (1992), Political Communication -Engineering Visions of Order in the Socialist World. In: Communication. Information Médias Théories, volume 14 n°2, automne 1993. pp. 344-347
Ethnologie française, 1995
Dans le folklore roumain, le processus cosmogonique se présente comme un ensemble unitaire assura... more Dans le folklore roumain, le processus cosmogonique se présente comme un ensemble unitaire assurant le passage du chaos originaire au monde «ordonné». Les animaux (hérisson, grenouille, abeille, araignée...) et d'autres êtres fabuleux participent à l'acte ...
The Global Journalist in the 21st Century, 2020
Open Theology
This study aims to demonstrate that media can achieve a religious construction of an event or iss... more This study aims to demonstrate that media can achieve a religious construction of an event or issue and set the public sphere in a religious frame through the sacralization of events and persons. This perspective can be supported empirically by the studies showing the way in which mass media framed different events in a religious imaginary and language and proposed this image as a frame for public sphere debates and theoretically by the concepts of media events, mediatization, ritualization, and sacralization, in order to reveal the processes through which the translation from a secular discourse to a religious discourse is produced. Under certain circumstances, mass media work as an “as if” (metaphoric) religion, and the events are presented through a religious frame – through themes and figures that come from the religious sacred narratives. Journalists accomplish this by setting events and leaders within the symbolic frame specific to religion: within this framework, those who re...
Routledge eBooks, Oct 25, 2020
Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Mar 1, 2010
Societies increasingly depend on means of public communication; hence, the importance of journali... more Societies increasingly depend on means of public communication; hence, the importance of journalism as a social institution can hardly be denied. If journalism plays such a pivotal role in modern society, studying the social forces that shape its practice is all the more important for anyone wishing to understand contemporary culture. Unfortunately, the quest for the principal forces that shape the news is not quite an easy one, since "the list of possible variables is almost endless." 1 To reduce the complexity of such a vast array of influences, many studies focus on selected aspects of the interrelation between news work and its social contexts. Among the areas that have
L'Homme, Dec 1, 2003
Mihai Coman 1 "IN HER REVIEW essay 'Anthropology and Mass Media', Debra Spitulnik stated 'There i... more Mihai Coman 1 "IN HER REVIEW essay 'Anthropology and Mass Media', Debra Spitulnik stated 'There is as yet no anthropology of mass media'. Eight years later, the significant and growing literature represented by this volume indexes an existent, if still emergent, discipline. Media anthropology, the brainchild of Mead, Bateson and Powdermaker has finally come into its own" 1. C'est sur cette note triomphale que s'achève l'introduction de Kelly Askew, éditrice, en collaboration avec Richard R. Wilk, de ce surprenant recueil de textes. Son propos suggère que les 22 contributions, provenant d'articles (dont la majorité publiés dans la revue Visual Anthropology) ou extraits de livres, ont été choisies non seulement pour présenter un ensemble de recherches de terrain, mais aussi afin de plaider pour le droit de cité d'une nouvelle discipline : la media anthropology. Ce qui soulève trois questions relevant du nom, du contenu et du choix de textes représentatifs pour cette branche de l'anthropologie.
SAGE Publications, Inc. eBooks, May 15, 2012
Anthropological Theory, Jun 1, 2005
such as case endings and plural suffixes that are not part of the grammar of 'ammiya: these stir ... more such as case endings and plural suffixes that are not part of the grammar of 'ammiya: these stir constant associations and resonances with widely memorized and recited passages of the Quran, so that the modern fuSHa can sound like a lesser imitation of the 'real thing' (p. 109). A subtle linguistic hierarchy obtains in the semi-official newspaper Al-Ahram, which like other publishers employs a team of copy-editors or 'correctors' (whose experience Haeri cleverly draws on). President Mubarak speaks almost exclusively in 'ammiya, yet his speeches are translated entirely into fuSHa. An interview conducted in 'ammiya with the novelist Naguib Mahfouz will be translated into fuSHa with a few graphic phrases of 'ammiya interspersed. A film star is reported as speaking in fuSHa with some extracts of 'ammiya within quotation marks. But when a popular comedian is interviewed, the questions are in fuSHa but his answers are all in 'ammiya (pp. 98-104). Haeri is an anthropology professor at Johns Hopkins as well as a distinguished scholar of Arabic (though no knowledge of the language is necessary to read this book), and she is particularly strong at analysing its political manipulations. Her own view comes through clearly. From the religious perspective, fuSHa is a priceless heritage. But the fiction that fuSHa can operate as an everyday lingua franca is disastrous for Egyptian self-respect and creativity, and for its school system. For the poet Iman Mirsal, the disjuncture between the language of speaking and that of writing is as if 'life' were in one place and 'culture' were in another (p. 141). The mistake, Haeri argues, is to seek 'to use the language of religion for creating a world where religion is not supposed to occupy a central place' (p. 157). This will not persuade those Egyptians who believe that 'Islam is the answer'. But Haeri's approach is firmly rationalist: she argues, for instance, that the supposed untranslatability of the Quran has no foundation in the Quranic text itself (p. 149). Egyptian 'ammiya is practically an oral lingua franca for all Arabs, being widely understood because of Egypt's prominent position in the Arab world and because of its export of films and television programmes. Yet many non-Egyptian Arabs would oppose any choice of Egyptian as a written lingua franca to replace fuSHa. Haeri places this linguistic dilemma in its wider geopolitical context, in which Arab governments' policies seem to be ossified by the need to buy off Islamist radicalism while maintaining the ideology of pan-Arabism.
SAGE Publications, Inc. eBooks, 2005
L'Homme, Dec 1, 2003
Mihai Coman 1 "IN HER REVIEW essay 'Anthropology and Mass Media', Debra Spitulnik stated 'There i... more Mihai Coman 1 "IN HER REVIEW essay 'Anthropology and Mass Media', Debra Spitulnik stated 'There is as yet no anthropology of mass media'. Eight years later, the significant and growing literature represented by this volume indexes an existent, if still emergent, discipline. Media anthropology, the brainchild of Mead, Bateson and Powdermaker has finally come into its own" 1. C'est sur cette note triomphale que s'achève l'introduction de Kelly Askew, éditrice, en collaboration avec Richard R. Wilk, de ce surprenant recueil de textes. Son propos suggère que les 22 contributions, provenant d'articles (dont la majorité publiés dans la revue Visual Anthropology) ou extraits de livres, ont été choisies non seulement pour présenter un ensemble de recherches de terrain, mais aussi afin de plaider pour le droit de cité d'une nouvelle discipline : la media anthropology. Ce qui soulève trois questions relevant du nom, du contenu et du choix de textes représentatifs pour cette branche de l'anthropologie.
Victor Turner and Contemporary Cultural Performance
Journalism Studies, Jun 1, 2011
Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf ... more Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution , reselling , loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.
L'Homme, Dec 1, 2003
Mihai Coman 1 "IN HER REVIEW essay 'Anthropology and Mass Media', Debra Spitulnik stated 'There i... more Mihai Coman 1 "IN HER REVIEW essay 'Anthropology and Mass Media', Debra Spitulnik stated 'There is as yet no anthropology of mass media'. Eight years later, the significant and growing literature represented by this volume indexes an existent, if still emergent, discipline. Media anthropology, the brainchild of Mead, Bateson and Powdermaker has finally come into its own" 1. C'est sur cette note triomphale que s'achève l'introduction de Kelly Askew, éditrice, en collaboration avec Richard R. Wilk, de ce surprenant recueil de textes. Son propos suggère que les 22 contributions, provenant d'articles (dont la majorité publiés dans la revue Visual Anthropology) ou extraits de livres, ont été choisies non seulement pour présenter un ensemble de recherches de terrain, mais aussi afin de plaider pour le droit de cité d'une nouvelle discipline : la media anthropology. Ce qui soulève trois questions relevant du nom, du contenu et du choix de textes représentatifs pour cette branche de l'anthropologie.
Coman Mihai. Sarah Sanderson King and Donald P. Cushman eds. (1992), Political Communication -Eng... more Coman Mihai. Sarah Sanderson King and Donald P. Cushman eds. (1992), Political Communication -Engineering Visions of Order in the Socialist World. In: Communication. Information Médias Théories, volume 14 n°2, automne 1993. pp. 344-347
Ethnologie française, 1995
Dans le folklore roumain, le processus cosmogonique se présente comme un ensemble unitaire assura... more Dans le folklore roumain, le processus cosmogonique se présente comme un ensemble unitaire assurant le passage du chaos originaire au monde «ordonné». Les animaux (hérisson, grenouille, abeille, araignée...) et d'autres êtres fabuleux participent à l'acte ...
The Global Journalist in the 21st Century, 2020
Audience Interactions in Contemporary Celebrity Culture Approaches from across Disciplines, In Gaëlle Ouvrein, Ana Jorge, Hilde Van den Bulck (eds),. Lexington Books. The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group. , 2024
The analysis of online texts of interactions between celebrity-priests and their followers show t... more The analysis of online texts of interactions between celebrity-priests and their followers show that they are turning from mediators of communication with the divinity to celebrity worship objects. In their interactions with their followers, they are providing solutions mainly to issues related to the world here (therapeutic function), ranging from physical and mental illnesses to tips about career success. They are functioning as a moral beacon, often against dogmas (see their attitude on women or the LGBT), they are (omni)present at each stage of their followers’ lives, modelling their social identity. Some of these para-social relationships (McCutcheon, 2013) are (according to posted texts) a testimony of extreme adoration. They have generated support reactions (often fanatical ones), especially in the scandals involving some of the celebrity priests (the paedophilia allegations against Cristian Pomohaci or those concerning falsifying an icon’s miracles, related to Vasile Ioana). While much research in the cultural studies area has been following the mechanism of celebrity sacralization (Coman, 2011, Rojek, 2001, Ward, 2010), this study shows the process of de-sacralization of priests, through an atypical mechanism of cancel-religious-culture.
Peter Gross, Gerd Kopper (eds) Understanding Foreign Correspondence: A Euro-American Perspectivem NY, Peter Lang, 2011
Loic Ballarini, Gilles Delvaux (coord), Nouveaux territoires mediatiques, Paris, France: Ed. Mare et Martin., 2014
Mass media et rituel Les relations entre les mass media et les systèmes cérémoniaux peuvent être ... more Mass media et rituel Les relations entre les mass media et les systèmes cérémoniaux peuvent être analysées selon plusieurs perspectives. Ainsi, Rothen-buhler (((((:-) distingue-t-il quatre zones d'interférence : a) la médiatisation des grandes cérémonies publiques ; b) l'utilisation rituelle des produits médiatiques ; c) des rites relatifs au travail des journalistes ; d) la télévision en tant que religion (tout au moins dans la société américaine contemporaine). Si nous utilisons un autre critère de classiication, à savoir l'innuence exercée par la presse sur les événements sujets à médiatisation, nous constatons que les relations entre les médias de masse et l'univers cérémoniel se déroulent sur deux plans distincts : celui de la diiusion de certains rites et celui de la création de manifestations (publiques ou de groupes restreints), aux caractéristiques rituelles très marquées : la médiatisation d'un événement peut ampliier les notes cérémoniales ou modiier de façon. J'adresse mes remerciements à mon ancienne étudiante Georgiana Niiă, qui a réalisé la base de données concernant le contenu de la grille des programmes de Pro TV pour les journées du er décembre. Mes remerciements également à mes collègues Erwin Kretz et Elena Maftei Golopennia pour la version en français de ce texte.
St John, Graham (ed).Victor Turner and contemporary cultural performance Oxford, Berghahn.
Of all the concepts configured by cultural anthropologists in the analysis of ritual/ceremonial e... more Of all the concepts configured by cultural anthropologists in the analysis
of ritual/ceremonial events, one in particular has enjoyed special attention in the analysis of mass media processes: liminality. For a number of media scholars, liminality has become an ideal vehicle
for defining both media production and media consumption, best fit to represent the symbolic interruption in daily life and the opportunity for detachment, reflection, and challenging social structures that media consumption entails.