Clicktivism and showing support
Blog 4 Activism and Protest
Community (Pixabay, 2015).
During week 6, we looked at digital citizenship of activism and protest, culture jamming, and adbusters. This was an interesting topic to explore and learn about how online communities can be involved in creating change.
Found this website ‘Permanent culture now’ that explains activism to be quite interesting http://www.permanentculturenow.com/what-is-activism/
The digital age has increased awareness of causes and online engagement, making it easier to participate in activism and protest through the click of a button. This is known as clicktivism and is a way in which participants can feel involved and part of the solution by clicking ‘like’ to a cause. As this is such an easy thing to do, does this necessarily make the sender an active protester? Is this an effective form of activism? Clicktivism itself, does not generate money or make any changes in a purposeful way. This is often referred to as ‘slacktivism’ as this action requires little effort (Halupka 2017).
The like or share buttons, can certainly raise awareness of a cause. This in turn may encourage some to act by donating or becoming more involved. However, if you are anything like me, I usually ignore these altogether. I do not even bother to click the button. Is there such a thing as ‘anti-clicktivism’? Yes, I am aware of the cause or current issue. Why do I need to prove that I care? And in all honesty, how does pressing a button make any difference?
The concept of Culture jamming, has been around a long time, however the digital age has increased awareness to the evil side of consumerism. This has created a culture that is anti-establishment and questions the status quo. Culture jamming objects to big corporations placing advertisements in public spaces and brain washing consumers into submission. Activists take the same advertising mediums and use these against the corruption and degradation of multinational corporations (Dery 2010).
The following YouTube video explains culture jamming and included footage from the film ‘They live’ by John Carpenter.
Learning about Adbusters, and the effects of consumerism on the environment, was something I had not given any thought to. Now, as I look around, it is just so much stuff! What is the point? And at what cost? It has made me reconsider my spending habits. Though, the ‘buy nothing day’, I can do and quite often. Though, nothing to do with consideration for the environment and more to do with waiting for pay day (Activist facts 2018).
The following YouTube video has an interview with the co-founder of Adbusters, Kalle Lasn and his explanation of the damage consumerism in the West is doing to the environment.
This highlights the greed and consumption of the western world at the expense of the rest of the world.
To learn more about Adbusters, this is the link to their website: http://www.adbusters.org/
Activist facts, 2018, Adbusters, viewed 23 January 2018, <https://www.activistfacts.com/organizations/36-adbusters/>.
Dery, M 2010, Culture Jamming: Hacking, Slashing, and Sniping in the Empire of Signs, Shovelware, viewed 21 January 2018, <http://markdery.com/?page_id=154>.
Halupka 2017, ‘The legitimisation of clicktivism’, The Australian Journal of Political Science, 16 December, p1-12, [peer reviewed journal], viewed 23 January 2018, <http://www-tandfonline-com.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/doi/full/10.1080/10361146.2017.1416586?scroll=top&needAccess=true>.
Pixabay, 2015, Community [image], viewed 23 January 2018, <https://pixabay.com/en/community-friends-globe-continents-909149/>.
Pixabay, 2015, PC mouse [image], viewed 23 January 2018, <https://pixabay.com/en/pc-mouse-mouse-pc-625152/>.
