Connecting After Chaos: Social Media and the Extended Aftermath of Disaster

Connecting After Chaos is a book that explores how New Orleanians used social media to cope with trauma following Hurricane Katrina. It portrays a distinct social condition of prolonged insecurity and uncertainty after disasters and shows how cultural work can motivate, guide, and energize collective action.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 11 July 2023
Publisher: New York University Press

Connecting After Chaos is a captivating portrayal of how one community utilized the power of culture to rebuild their lives and social connections in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster. Natural disasters and other catastrophic events often capture widespread media attention and public concern during their immediate aftermath. However, the process of rebuilding can span years or even decades, leaving communities to tackle physical and psychological damage on their own once public sympathy dissipates.

The book focuses on the story of how New Orleanians used social media to cope with the trauma experienced after Hurricane Katrina. Author Stephen F. Ostertag draws on nearly a decade of research to create a vivid portrait of life in "settling times," a term he defines as a distinct social condition characterized by prolonged insecurity and uncertainty following disasters. Through the narrative of how a group of strangers began blogging in the wake of Katrina, Ostertag illustrates how these individuals used their blogs to rebuild their lives and their city.

In the face of institutional failures, weak authority figures, and an overwhelming sense of chaos, the people of New Orleans turned to social media to gather information, foster camaraderie, establish support networks, advocate for and against proposed policies, and cope with the trauma they had endured. Ostertag's research reveals the remarkable capacity of social media and cultural cooperation to motivate, guide, and energize collective action aimed at navigating the ongoing instability of extended recovery periods.

Connecting After Chaos serves as both a compelling story of a community in crisis and a broader argument for the transformative power of social media and cultural cooperation. The book sheds light on the resilience and adaptability of human beings in the face of adversity and highlights the importance of community-driven initiatives in rebuilding and revitalizing affected areas. It encourages readers to explore the potential of cultural work in fostering social cohesion, promoting collective action, and shaping a more resilient and inclusive society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479815319