Figure 1. Gathering at Sunset. 2025. Stock Images Microsoft.
I enjoyed this week's webinar. Various events and social impact on its host communities and its participants can end up yielding positive or negative outcomes (Richards et al 2013). For example, Comic Con can shape and strengthen Liverpool’s sense of community and identity. On the contrary, some popular events might create a negative outcome by giving rise to pollution, traffic congestion, and overcrowded car parks.
Along with the Beatles, I consider Comic Cons becoming a part of Liverpool’s identity. For instance, I was surprised at the sheer volume of people dressed in cosplay outfits. In fact, the local community has welcomed this event’s cosplayers as they breathe life into their streets. Upon reflection, all of this builds a sense of community and encourages expression through unique fan art and elaborate cosplay. It creates lasting friendships from all walks of life leading to inclusivity and acceptance. I personally find so much positivity in the way it impacts society and culture.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has”
— Dr Margaret Mead, cultural anthropologist, 1901-78
After watching David Binder’s TED Talk on “The Art Festival Revolution” (2012), I felt moved by how an event could bring small communities together. Binder showcased a festival called “Minto Live” which involves participants from a suburb in Australia who do an autobiographical performance on the front lawn of their own homes. It is another example of how an event can have such a strong social impact on a community wherein it promotes diversity and transforms neighbors into spectators as part of their community dialogue and civic pride.
Not every outcome is positive when it comes to socio-cultural impacts. Events can incur costs or have negative consequences that, to a lesser or greater extent, serve to reduce their intended net benefit (Sharpley and Stone, 2020). It could be negative in terms of economics, it can be political, or it can even be environmental. When I worked at Wigan Comic Con on my first day, I noticed that it did not have as many eco-friendly bins necessary for recycling purposes. Compared to Liverpool Comic Con, the bins were in every section of the convention center and placed in highly visible locations. From my perspective, smaller venues for Comic-Con tend to neglect the negative impact and consequences on the environment. Sharpley and Stone categorizes the people it attracts to the event as either participants and/or stakeholders as well as event organizers. It is quite possible that the interactions between these multiple groups might fail to discuss recycling goals because each group has their own agenda.
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Gathering at Sunset. 2025. Stock Images Microsoft.
REFERENCES
SHARPLEY, Richard, & Stone, Phillip R. (2020). Socio-Cultural Impacts of Events: Meanings, Authorized Transgression, and Social Capital. In Page, Stephen & Connell, Joanne (Eds), The Routledge Handbook of Events (2nd ed., pp 155-157). Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429280993
RICHARDS, Greg. et al. 2013. Exploring the Social Impacts of Events, Taylor & Francis Group. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/falmouth-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1154292.
BINDER, David. “The Arts Festival Revolution” TED Conferences [Video], June 2012. Available at
https://www.ted.com/talks/david_binder_the_arts_festival_revolution?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare [accessed 27 February 2025]