The Explosion of Post-Soviet Youth Cultures and the Decline of Soviet Conformism

February 8, 2012

February 8, 2012

Dr. John Schoeberlein, Harvard University, USA and Eurasian National University, Kazakhstan

Abstract: The talk examined the emerging non-conformism that has led to a dramatic rise in diverse cultural orientations in youth culture in Central Asia and elsewhere in the post-Soviet space.  It considered the changing cultural affinities as well as the concepts of authenticity and authority that shape them and the social networks through which they propagate and form the social landscape.  The new cultural orientations include forms of popular culture, reconceptualizations of the "national" and "traditional", foreign influences, and religious cultures.  The talk specifically focused on cases including new meanings of national culture, orientation to Islam, and involvement with Japanese cultural forms such as martial arts and anime.

Bio: John Schoeberlein served as director of the Program on Central Asia and the Caucasus at Harvard University since its founding in 1993. He received his Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from Harvard University.  His research focuses on identity, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, and community organization among the Islamic peoples of Central Eurasia, including especially Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.  Currently, he is teaching and doing research as a Visiting Professor at the Eurasian National University in Astana, and has previously been a visiting faculty member at the American University of Central Asia.

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