Negotiating Culture on the Visual Front: An analysis on the cover photographs of Sámi youth magazines

Abstract

This thesis examines how the cover photographs of Sámi youth magazines depict contemporary Sámi culture. The empirical data consists of the sixty-nine covers of Š magazine, from 2000 to 2015, and twenty-nine covers of Nuorat magazine, from 2009 to 2015. The discussion is framed around the fluid tension between local and global influence, that participates in transforming the current indigenous Sámi society. Visual culture is examined as socially constructed to build an argument on the significance of photographs as mediators and negotiators of culture and identity. The main argument is that the Sámi youth magazines expand and negotiate notions of Sámi culture and identity in their cover photographs. This research serves as a discussion opener on the use of photographs in Sámi media.

Dát dutkamuš geahččá mán lahkai sámi nuoraid magasiinnaid ovdasiidogovat čalmmustahtte sámekultuvrra. Dutkanmateriálas lea čohkkejuvvon 69 Š magasiinna ovdasiiddu jaginn 2000 - 2015 ja 22 Nuorat bláđi ovdasiiddu jagiin 2009-2015. Báikáláš ja globála gaskasaš ealli gealdagas bidjá rámmaid dutkamuša teorehtalaš ságastallamii, mán váikkuhus oidnojuvvo mearkkašahttin dálááigge sámi servvodaga hápmašuvvamis. Visuálalaš kultuvrra geahčaduvvo sosiálalaš struktuvrran, masa vuođđuduvvo argumeanta čuovgagova mearkašumis kultuvrra ja identitehta huksejeaddjin. Dutkamuša váldoárgumeanta lea, ahte sámi nuoraid magasiinnaid ovdasiidogovat viiddiidit áddejumi sámi kultuvrras ja identitehtas. Dutkamuš doaibmá ságastallama álggaheaddjin čuovgagova mearkkašumis sámi medias.