Тhe Spectacles of the Crisis: Local Perception of Economic and Social Change in Valenza

• Published in: Etnoantropolos̆ki problemi Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 65 - 83
• Main Author: Fontefrancesco, Michele Filippo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Филозофски факултет, Универзитет у Београду 23.02.2012; Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade; University of Belgrade
• Subjects: Anthropology; artisan; crisis; Early Modern Philosophy; Financial Markets; Italy; jewellery; Kant; Socio-Economic Research; Transformation Period (1990 - 2010); Italy; jewellery; artisan; crisis; Kant
• ISSN: 0353-1589; 2334-8801
• DOI: 10.21301/eap.v7i1.3

In this article, the case of the economic crisis of Valenza (Italy) and its jewellery industry is presented. The crisis has occurred since 2008 as an effect of the plunge of international jewellery market. Drawing from ethnographic materials collected during my fieldwork in the city (2008-2010), I intend to point out that an the most recent economic downturn had strong cultural effects on local population (goldsmiths and others). Following Kant’s concept of category of reason, I will show that the crisis itself had become a category of reason for local population that uses it to make decisions and plan their future.