A1 Journal article (refereed)
Nostalgia, community and resistance : Counter-cultural politics in a Finnish skinzine (2019)

Kotonen, T. (2019). Nostalgia, community and resistance : Counter-cultural politics in a Finnish skinzine. Journal of European Popular Culture, 10(2), 127-143. https://doi.org/10.1386/jepc_00005_1

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kotonen, Tommi

Journal or series: Journal of European Popular Culture

ISSN: 2040-6134

eISSN: 2040-6142

Publication year: 2019

Volume: 10

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 127-143

Publisher: Intellect

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1386/jepc_00005_1

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/67594

Abstract

Culture and community building are an essential part of the appeal of the far-right and fascist movements. Studying their cultural products is therefore important for a deeper understanding of the movement and their modus operandi. One elemental part of their culture are the so-called zines, small-scale do-it-yourself magazines intended for scene members. In certain respects, the far-right zines, skinzines, follow the forms and trends of other underground publications, especially punk-zines, with which they also share the resistance identity as stigmatized and marginalized actors. However, the political visions in skinzines are more or less opposite to ‘democratic zines’, creating certain tension between their political goals and the general media logic. In this article, I will explore a Finnish skinzine Ukonvasama and their community, analysing the efforts to build a nationalist movement and to mobilize support in relation to a retreat to nostalgic counter-culture they also promote. Ukonvasama is both a nostalgic project of former skinheads and a political project of far-right activists.

Keywords: far right; fascists; communities (organisations); countercultures; resistance (politics); skinheads; nostalgia; nationalism; zines; communication

Free keywords: Finland; counter-culture; far-right; fascism; nostalgia; resistance; skinzines

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2019

JUFO rating: 1