Culture Sticks: The Rise of Sticker Conventions in the Philippines

Abstract

Recently, there has been a boom in popularity with sticker conventions in the Philippine market (Marcellana, 2024). Sticker conventions establish an intricate interconnection between art enthusiasts, artists, and exhibitors. This study examines the rise of sticker conventions, and the sticker culture it creates, and the artistic trends that emerged from it. In order to do so, the researcher interviewed eight sticker convention exhibitors and the founders of the sticker convention, Sticky Expo and Sticker Con MNL. Guided by the theories of culture industry (Adorno and Horkheimer, 1944) and production of culture perspective (Peterson and Anand, 2004), this thesis was able to identify sticker conventions as a culture industry under the postmodern usage of the term (Protherough, 1999). This was done through the analysis of the current state and the organizational structure of the groups behind these sticker conventions. Lastly, the study presented that the artistic trends that emerged from sticker conventions are all in reference to popular culture.