Vargens värde. Upplevelsevärden av vargen och vargjakten i media under licensjakten 2010

Abstract

This thesis examines the experience value of the wolf and wolf hunting presented in media during December 17, 2009-Feruary 15, 2010. I analyze news articles, editorials and letters to the editor in three newspapers. In order to investigate the experience value of the wolf and the wolf hunt, I have with inspiration from a model employed in the assessment of experience value of tangible cultural heritage, developed a model which I use to analyze the media material according to the criteria of aesthetic value, identity value, value of tradition and symbolic value. In order to analyze the results of the analyze, I employ experimental and sociocultural theory and method, which means that I assume the experiences of the wolf and the wolf hunt as related to a social and cultural perspective that partly depends on how we identify ourselves and what kind of experiences and understandings we have of the landscape and large carnivores. Since media affects how we perceive our surroundings and the wolf hunting attracted much attention in media, I found it interesting to examine how the wolf and the wolf hunt were displayed in news articles and letters to the editor. The results of my study suggests that the wolf and the wolf hunt have symbolic and aesthetic values. Identity values were also present as well as the understanding that it is important to maintain traditions. The wolf hunt was also found to have a social value.