Omnivorous Consumer or Omnivorous Producer?: Patterns of Cultural Participation in Korea *

Abstract

Studies on cultural omnivores have focused on consumption activities, largely overlooking cultural production activities. However, consumption and production activities are both essential fields of cultural participation. Through the use of comprehensive data about cultural consumption and production activities, this study attempts to explore patterns of cultural participation in Korea. It also investigates the determinants of these different patterns. Four major findings resulted from the study. First, four different types of cultural participation were derived: omnivorous prosumers, omnivorous consumers, omnivorous producers, and univores. Second, members of the new middle class, with higher educational levels and higher household incomes, are more likely to be omnivorous consumers or omnivorous prosumers. Third, demographic factors such as gender and age also have effects on the patterns of cultural participation in Korea. Lastly, it was revealed that the larger an individual’s social network, the greater the probability of being a cultural omnivore of any type. This study contributes to the expansion of the boundaries of prior discussions on cultural omnivores.