124263 KO Critical Media Analysis (2021S)

While the term “performative activism” has, in recent times, occasionally been used to denote inauthentic forms of showing solidarity with activist movements on social media (also known as “slacktivism”), activism and performance have a rich and productive history dating back several decades.

In this course, we will explore a range of examples where activism and performance converge, covering key concepts and theories in cultural, media, and performance studies, such as performance theory, participatory culture, “performance as activism” (Barlett), “dramaturgy of protest” (Gerbaudo) and others. We will discuss and apply methodologies used in the critical analysis of cultural performance and media in connection with different forms of activism and performance on- and offline (e.g. #BlackLivesMatter, #WakingtheFeminists, #OccupyWallStreet, etc.), addressing issues of positionality, intersectionality, and "produsage" (Burns) in this context.