Czy mniejszości muszą być prowincjonalne? Media mniejszości językowych w globalnym świecie

Abstract

Despite the ethnic movements which took place in the second half of the XX century in Europe, the general perception of minorities is still based on XIX century romantic and folkloristic visions of autochthonic cultures. These groups are perceived as rural, conservative and immobile relics of another (archaic) culture. What is interesting is that this image of minorities is sustained both by the dominant (state) culture and by the minority group itself. The problem is that the young generation (within a minority group) does not want to identify itself with this kind of image. They are normal youngsters who wear the same clothes, listen to the same music and having similar problems as their peers all around the world. That is why the role of the minority media is very important today. They are creating the minority ‘imagined community’, promoting the minority language and – last but not least – changing the stereotypical image of the minority. The older forms of electronic media (such as Radio and Television) are expensive therefore financially difficult to use in the promotion of a modern vision of minority cultures. This role has now been taken up by internet users who can themselves create any kind of web sites and any types and forms of communication. Today minorities are a part of the global village. At the same time they are defending, for the future, their own cultures and customs.