Performing Media Activism in the Digital Age

Performing Media Activism in the Digital Age explores how activism is performed in the digital age, extending beyond public space and social gatherings to consider mediated social connections. It utilizes social network analysis to identify social structures within movements and locate influence, combining social psychology, sociology, and graph theory. This interdisciplinary approach provides insights into the organization and power dynamics of social movements in a networked society.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 02 August 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

In the realm of media activism, a groundbreaking approach emerges, conceptualizing activism as a performance that transcends public space and momentary gatherings to encompass the broader perspective of social or political movements as mediated social connections. This transformative book delves into primary data extracted from social media platforms, employing a social network analysis (SNA) approach to unravel the intricate web of individuals, organizations, and media driving their specific agendas. With a keen eye toward understanding the dynamics of social movements in a networked society, it seeks to unravel the mechanisms by which these movements operate.

The primary objective of social network analysis is to identify the social structures within a movement, such as communities or clusters, and to locate the influence within these structures. Applied to media activism, this interdisciplinary field encompasses social psychology, sociology, and graph theory, making it an invaluable resource for scholars and students in these and related fields.

In the digital age, social network analysis undergoes a paradigm shift, as analytical and data visualization tools become accessible for interdisciplinary exploration. By integrating data science with sociology or cultural anthropology, researchers gain the ability to visualized networks of individuals and organizations engaged in social movements, observe how movements are structured into communities, clusters, and niches, and discern power structures within social movements to understand who holds sway.

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the world of media activism, shedding light on the ways in which digital platforms have become powerful tools for social change. It provides valuable insights into the strategies employed by activists, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they create for collective action. By examining the intersection of technology, social movements, and politics, it offers a roadmap for building more inclusive and effective media activism in the years to come.

Weight: 354g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030738068
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021