As I was preparing to write this weeks blog, it was the news of the Primary School shootings in America that has changed everything. Nor did I hear it on the news or from papers. I heard it on Facebook. It was most of the statuses on my wall where the majority of my friends were expressing their sadness. It was them uniting as digital activists. I had a sudden urge to say something about it! When my little boy was sitting right next to me and I was so overwhelmed with sadness, I wanted to say something. I really did but what is the point? Did that mean I was being pessimistic about the value of digital activism? (Sivitanides&Shah, 2011). I recognized that living in a country where I had easy/relatively fast access to internet had meant that I was aware of horrific news like this in no time! (Joyce, 2010) At that moment, I almost wished I had no internet connection and no TV! On the other hand I realised that internet offered a platform for people in America to express their emotions and unite and more importantly become active at changing the gun laws that may prevent more incidents like that. I am only saying that 'may 'prevent because I do think this goes deeper that the ownership of guns... Leaving all my pessimistic points of view aside, I recognize that digital world is the modern platform for gathering and exchanging information between masses of people which otherwise physically would have been impossible! Thus the capacity to unite and collaborate for what ever reason creates a huge potential for real change. (Sivitanides&Shah, 2011)
Let me now move on to
the idea of culture jamming which is a relatively new term for
me. I,of course was aware of such resistance against media culture
and corporate advertising but did not know the term for it until
recently. I think culture jamming is intriguing and it is a great way
to give voice to the consumers in the world of brands. Culture
jamming manages to put a new perspective by using messages that can
be humorous or provocative. Does it do anything more than putting a
smile on our faces? It is debatable but I take culture jamming as a
reminder of the fact that brands choose a n image for themselves
through massive marketing campaigns and advertisements but it is not
all that it seem What better way to finish the blog with some images
and examples of Culture Jamming. I am hoping these will put a smile
on your face and you never know, you might even become a digital
activist;)
Thanks for reading my
blog! Have a great Christmas and remember.......
REFERENCES
Joyce, M. C. 2011,Complex and contradictory:a new way to think of digital activism.
Sivitanides, M & Shah, V 2011, The era of digital activism.
