The Power of "Slacktivism"

Natalie Fang
CCS 313
Blog Post #3

                A month ago, Oxford dictionary named their word of the year vape. Among those in the running was the term "slacktivism," a merging of the words "slacker" and "activism," defined as "actions performed via the Internet in support of a political or social cause but regarded as requiring little time or involvement." In a time where your Facebook activity is almost as important as what's on your resume, it's easy to see how this term came to be. However, denouncing those who sign an online petition to show that they "care" undermines actual progress on causes via the internet.

                Henry Jenkins describes the convergence of old and new media in "Photoshop for Democracy." In the chapter, Jenkins backs the use of the internet by grassroots organizers to mobilize. Jenkins says that the difference between the Internet and TV news is that the Internet reaches the hardcore while TV news sways the undecided (224). I don't find this to be completely true. As a recipient of Internet media, I would take the stance that the Internet gives voice to the hardcore and informs the uninformed and undecided. It seems apparent in sites such as twitter and Tumblr, where users are given access to thousands of individuals and use that access to spread information about certain issues in a digestible way. Terms like slacktivism take away that agency from these Internet activists.

                More so now than ever, the public relies on sites like twitter to receive the truth. With the problems in Ferguson, igniting a movement throughout the nation, and even reaching overseas, social media has become the keystone connecting all the protesters. It also gives the public a firsthand account of the actions which they can't expect from news sources, which are unabashedly filtered through bias. It is not a surprise that during the press conference announcing the grand jury decision in the Ferguson case, Prosecutor Robert McCulloch in his second breathe expressed concern over the social media presence over this case and issue. "McCulloch acknowledges that much of the social media coverage has been fueled b public frustration with the lack of information coming from his office or the police," but also claims that this social media flood is filled with speculations and is inevitable harmful to the case as a whole. But McCulloch fails to acknowledge the power that this noise stirred up in social media has had on the movement. The growth of the numerous hashtags named after the endless list of black individuals unlawfully gunned down by police in recent months has kept this issue in conversation on older media sources.

Works Cited

Jenkins, Henry. "Photoshop for Democracy." Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York: New York UP, 2006. 217-50. Print.

Scola, Nancy. "Ferguson Prosecutor Slams "Non-Stop" Social Media While Calling for Increased Attention to Race." The Washington Post. N.p., 25 Nov. 2014. Web. 6 Dec. 2014.

Blog Post 3

Dana Macaluso

Blog Post 3

      For this final blog post, I decided to analyze and discuss how the television show Talking Dead relates to specific theories and concepts that we have covered in this course.  The Walking Dead is one of the most popular television shows currently on television, attracting millions of viewers each week and is also one the highest-rated series that is currently on television. This show has created a large dedicated fan base, who tune in every Sunday night making sure they never miss an episode. As a result of the huge popularity of this show, the Talking Dead was created. This show directly relates to the idea of interactivity because of what the show is about and what happens during the show.

     

     For those who have never seen Talking Dead, it is essentially a talk show that only discusses the events that occurred in the previous Walking Dead episode. Each week different people, often cast mates and other celebrities who are fans of the show, come on the show and express their opinions and discuss their questions concerning the episode that had just aired.  What really shows how Talking Dead uses interactivity to connect with its large fan base is all of the ways the viewers can connect and contribute to the show.

     

     One example is that before every commercial break, there is usually live polling of a question asked about the previous Walking Dead episode. People tuning in can go online and answer the questions and you can see the percentages changing right before your eyes. This give viewers the sense of a connection to the show, because they can visually see how they are able to interact with it from the comfort of their home. This in a sense helps the show form a relationship with its viewers. As Caldwell describes this, "Interactivity, then, was not a cybernetic product, but a way for programs to seal a relationship with viewers."(Caldwell, 260).

     

     Talking Dead does many things to try to create a relationship with its viewers. Aside from the polling questions, the host and the guests answer questions that people post on Twitter. Also, there are times that the show plays video submissions that viewers have sent in. In my opinion, Talking Dead is one of the most interactive shows that is currently on television.

Works Cited

Caldwell, John T. “Televisual Audience: Interactive Pizza.” Televisuality: Style, Crisis, and Authority in American Television. New Brunswick: Rutgers UP, 1995. 249-83.

Blog Post 3

Zachary Fortgang

CCS 313-1

Professor Smith-Casanueva

Due: 25 November 2014

The True Value of an Audience

            As the end of the semester nears, I have gained strong insight pertaining to televisual studies.  One major aspect we have discussed in class involves the understanding of televisual audiences.  It is interesting to see how different shows can impact an audience through political as well as social concepts. 

            Examples of specific shows include Glee, The New Normal, and Modern Family. The visibility of openly gay characters in these shows has had a direct impact on audience’s stances on the LGBT community (Huffington Post 1).  During the time of the 2012 election, statistics reported that twenty-seven percent of viewers who were surveyed said that gay television made them more in favor of gay marriage, leaving twelve percent more opposed (Huffington Post 1).  Also, there were indications that Obama voters were twice as likely to watch Modern Family as compared to Romney voters, twice as likely to watch Glee, and three times more likely to watch The New Normal (Huffington Post 1).    

Views on gay marriage have exponentially gone in its favor since 2002 (1).  In the past ten years, about three times as many voters have become more pro-gay marriage as have become more anti-gay marriage (1).  The percentage for pro-gay is thirty-one while the percentage for anti-gay is ten (1).

Caldwell brings up solid points when discussing the three persistent myths of communications studies.  First, he states how there is a single type of viewer that television affects (Caldwell 250).  Secondly, how television itself is a single or unified force that can wield these influences (250).  Lastly, he claims that the audience is a victim worked upon by this unified force (250).

Based on Caldwell’s research, their bolds truth when referring to specific audiences.  The viewer will establish his or her own opinion in regards to what he or she viewing.  It can influence a person to watch something that will give them a more valid understanding of a major issue.  With shows such as Glee and Modern Family, the audience is targeted by an underlying message to have a voice on a political issue such as gay marriage.  All in all, the televisual audience is a key element in televisual studies and will continue to change and adapt over time. 

Works Cited

Caldwell, J. "Televisual Audience: Interactive Pizza."Televisuality: Style,

Crisis, and Authority in American Television. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers UP, 1995. 249-83. Print.

Wong, Curtis M. "'Glee,' 'Modern Family' And Other LGBT-Themed TV Shows Drive Gay Marriage Support: Poll." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 05 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.