Purpose

This study aims to consolidate and hone existing spectating and crowd theory. This is achieved by marrying socio-cultural ideas and concepts from related disciplines.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual review examines what people do when they congregate at an event, and in doing so, answers the question of what they forgo when denied a crowd. Concepts are teased from the literature as to what happens during participatory congregation (in company, in situ), punctuated by relegation without it.

Findings

Related concepts are organised into a typology. The metamodel is the essence of the paper and includes four themes: (1) identity construction, (2) interacting with others, (3) producing and co-producing the event and (4) the allure of tribalism.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is conceptual and therefore a typology (not a taxonomy). This implies that while it is likely transferable, it is not generalisable. It is manual and subjective, as opposed to objective and automatic. Notwithstanding future research implications, it is intended to inform those considering running virtual events.

Practical implications

Event organisers are informed as to the “what” and “why” of running community events. It encourages a more circumspect, humanistic view that events are not merely a source of revenue.

Social implications

This review contributes a macro understanding of human nature, complementing a micro understanding of crowd behaviour.

Originality/value

Virtual event management is a relatively new and burgeoning field. Prior to the Pandemic an event without a crowd was almost inconceivable.

中文翻译：

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聚集作为一种社会现象；社会粘合剂

目的

本研究旨在巩固和完善现有的观看和人群理论。这是通过结合相关学科的社会文化思想和概念来实现的。

设计/方法/方法

这篇概念性的评论考察了人们在活动中聚集时会做什么，并在这样做时回答了当人群被拒绝时他们放弃了什么的问题。关于参与式集会（在公司，在现场）期间发生的事情的概念从文献中被取笑，没有它就被降级打断。

发现

相关概念被组织成一个类型。元模型是论文的精髓，包括四个主题：（1）身份构建，（2）与他人互动，（3）生产和共同生产事件以及（4）部落主义的魅力。

研究限制/影响

这篇论文是概念性的，因此是一种类型学（而不是分类学）。这意味着虽然它可能是可转让的，但它是不可推广的。它是手动和主观的，而不是客观和自动的。尽管有未来的研究意义，但它旨在告知那些考虑举办虚拟活动的人。

实际影响

活动组织者被告知举办社区活动的“内容”和“原因”。它鼓励一种更谨慎、更人性化的观点，即事件不仅仅是收入的来源。

社会影响

这篇评论有助于对人性的宏观理解，补充对人群行为的微观理解。

原创性/价值

虚拟事件管理是一个相对较新的新兴领域。在大流行之前，没有人群的事件几乎是不可想象的。