Exercising power involves making and managing meaning.
What are the various roles that meaning now plays in the exercise of power?
How does global network capitalism use meaning to exercise power?
How is participation in the creation and circulation of meaning embedded in the exercise of power?
What role do our identities play in the circulation of meaning and exercise of power?
In this chapter we examine the:
- Difference between speaking and being heard.
- Difference between participating and managing participation.
- Difference between decoding and managing representations.
- Difference between being visible and being understood.
Cases & Activities
Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror
Black Mirror is a drama written by Charlie Brooker. Each episode in the series offers a critical reflection on life in a media-dense society. The episodes are forward-looking, they attempt to imagine the trajectory of media technologies and speculate about their impact on our intimate and public lives, society, culture and politics.
Watch Season 2 of Black Mirror. Each episode offers a critique of interactive and participatory forms of media.
The first episode Be Right Back raises questions about intimacy, surveillance, simulation and sentiment analysis. The episode follows a young couple. When one of them suddenly passes a way, media offers a way for their relationship to endure. What do our smartphones know about us that our intimate others do not? And, how might our smartphones be used in the future to create customized forms of media that simulate our intimate relationships?
The second episode White Bear offers a critique of our participation in media rituals where we are called on to judge others. The episode draws on the culture of smartphone witnessing, reality TV, tabloid media spectacles, and poses questions about of race, class, criminality and punishment.
The third episode The Waldo Moment explores mediatized politics. It follows a local by-election where the candidates include members of the major parties engaging in a highly professionalized and image-conscious form of campaigning. They are joined on the campaign by a satirical animated character intent only on pointing out the broken nature of the media-political process.
Each episode critically reflects on the nature of our participation in an increasingly responsive media system.
Be Right Back suggests that the more we participate the more value we generate, the more data we create, the more that data can be used to control the customization of media and affect how we see the world and live our lives. It asks us to consider to what extent customized media will be able to perform human relationships. After watching the episode, ask: What do you imagine are some of the consequences of media system characterised by a two-way flow of information that watches and responds to us in real time? What do you imagine are some of the consequences of a world where media technologies simulate humans? Would you want a simulation of a distant or deceased intimate other? How do media technologies affect our intimate relationships?
White Bear suggests that the more we participate the more we enact dominant frames of representation, uneven power relationships and rituals of judgment. After watching White Bear, examine media formats and practices where we participate in judging others. How do the rituals associated with these formats and practices enact power relationships? What role do smartphones play in ‘bearing witness’ to events in the world? And, how does that affect our public lives, popular culture or journalism?
The Waldo Moment suggests that the more we participate the more we add to an unending loop of cynicism, snark and apathy. After watching the episode consider to what extent do contemporary forms of popular culture and media enable meaningful and productive participation in the political process? You might consider one or more of: forms of media that involve satire, comedy and cynicism; popular and entertaining talk and panel shows, talkback and breakfast radio, comedy news; political activity and discussion on social media platforms.
Black Mirror provocatively suggests that participation doesn’t amount to much on its own. What we also need is more thinking. This involves careful deliberation, evidence gathering and argument testing. But, it also involves using our imaginations and creativity. Charlie Brooker reminds us of the power of creative and provocative thinking. He may not always get it right, but he does manage in much of this series to unsettle us and prompt us to think. To help us think critically about the media we need to engage with scholarly debate, political argument, and the worlds of art, popular culture and everyday life.
We need to be able to carefully and critically analyse how things are now. But that then needs to be coupled with the work of imagining how they might be otherwise, and going about the real activity of working together in the world. This demands our creativity and ingenuity. Being a good communicator is about more than attracting attention, using technology, or making compelling content. It is about knowing how to orchestrate meaningful and constructive relationships in the world.
We’ve taken a critical approach to media and society in this book, but that shouldn’t be mistaken for a negative position. We don’t think media technology is bad. But, we do think media technologies are bound up in larger relationships of power. The first impulse of a critical position is to draw attention to how media facilitate power relationships. We’ve attempted to puncture the ‘fantasy’ that one day with the right technologies and tools we will solve all the problems! Technical problem-solving will never be enough. We also need critical thinking: what does it mean to be human? What kind of social world are we making? How will we make space for each other in the world?
Black Mirror can be found on many library databases (like EduTV) and be purchased from content providers like iTunes.
British Film Institute Q&A with Charlie Brooker.
In 2014 the international open-access International Journal of Communication launched a forum for debate about participation. The forum featured leading international communication scholars in a structured dialogue about the ‘participatory promise of contemporary culture and politics’. The contributions to the forum address questions regarding creativity, labour, politics and platforms. The forum is unique because readers can follow leading scholars addressing each other in turn and responding directly to each other’s ideas.
Couldry, N. & Jenkins, H. (2014). Participations: Dialogues on the participatory promise of Contemporary Culture and Politics: Introduction. International Journal of Communication, Forum: 1107-1112.
Banet-Weiser, S., Baym, N., Coppa, F., Gauntlett, D., Gray, J., Jenkins, H., Shaw, A. (2014). Participations: Dialogues on the participatory promise of Contemporary Culture and Politics: Part 1: Creativity. International Journal of Communication, Forum: 1069-1088.
Andrejevic, M., Banks, J., Campbell, J., Couldry, N., Fish, A., Hearn, A., Ouellette, L. (2014). Participations: Dialogues on the participatory promise of Contemporary Culture and Politics: Part 2: Labour. International Journal of Communication, Forum: 1089-1106.
Allen, D., Carpentier, N., Bailey, M., Fenton, N., Jenkins, H., Lothian, A., Qiu, J., Schafer, M., Srinivasan, R. (2014). Participations: Dialogues on the participatory promise of Contemporary Culture and Politics: Part 3: Politics. International Journal of Communication, Forum: 1129-1151.
Bird, E., Couldry, N., Hepp, A., Livingstone, S., Losh, E., Mittell, J., Neff, G., Slater, D., Watkins, SC. (2014). Participations: Dialogues on the participatory promise of Contemporary Culture and Politics: Part 4: Knowledge and Education. International Journal of Communication, Forum: 1216-1242.
Clark, J., Couldry, N., Kosnik, A., Gillespie, T., Jenkins, H., Kelty, C., Papacharissi, Z., Powell, A., van Dijck, J. (2014). Participations: Dialogues on the participatory promise of Contemporary Culture and Politics: Part 5: Platforms. International Journal of Communication, Forum: 1446-1473.
Kutumia nguvu kunahusisha kutengeneza na kusimamia maana. Ni nini maana ya sasa ina jukumu mbalimbali katika matumizi ya nguvu? Ujasiriamali wa mtandao wa kimataifa hutumiaje maana ili kutumia nguvu? Ushiriki katika uumbaji na mzunguko wa maana umejumuishwaje katika utumiaji wa nguvu? Ni jukumu gani la utambulisho wetu katika mzunguko wa maana na matumizi ya nguvu? Katika sura hii tunachunguza: - Tofauti kati ya kuzungumza na kusikilizwa. - Tofauti kati ya kushiriki na kusimamia ushiriki. - Tofauti kati ya decoding na usimamizi wa uwakilishi. - Tofauti kati ya kuonekana na kueleweka. Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror ni mchezo wa kuigiza ulioandikwa na Charlie Brooker. Kila kipindi katika mfululizo hutoa tafakari muhimu juu ya maisha katika jamii ya vyombo vya habari-wingi. Vipindi vya habari vinaangalia mbele, vinajaribu kufikiria trajectory ya teknolojia za vyombo vya habari na kufikiria athari zao kwenye maisha yetu ya kibinafsi na ya umma, jamii, utamaduni na siasa. Tazama msimu wa pili wa Black Mirror Kila kipindi inatoa ukosoaji wa aina ya maingiliano na ushiriki wa vyombo vya habari. Kipindi cha kwanza Be Right Back huinua maswali kuhusu urafiki, ufuatiliaji, uigizaji na uchambuzi wa hisia. Kipindi hicho kinafuata wenzi wa ndoa wachanga. Wakati mmoja wao kwa ghafula hupita njia, vyombo vya habari hutoa njia ya uhusiano wao kuvumilia. Simu zetu za mkononi zinajua nini juu yetu ambayo watu wengine wa karibu hawajui? Na, jinsi gani simu zetu za mkononi zinaweza kutumiwa katika siku zijazo kuunda aina zilizoboreshwa za vyombo vya habari ambavyo huiga mahusiano yetu ya karibu? "Within the White Bear, ""With the White Bear,"" ni sehemu ya kipindi cha kwanza cha kipindi cha ""White Bear,"" ambacho kinaonyesha jinsi watu wanavyohukumu wengine." "Hii ni sehemu ya ""Utamaduni wa Ushuhuda wa Smartphone, TV ya Ukweli, na Tabloid Media,"" na inauliza maswali kuhusu jamii, darasa, uhalifu na adhabu." Kipindi cha tatu The Waldo Moment inachunguza siasa za vyombo vya habari. Uchaguzi huo unafuatia uchaguzi wa mitaa ambapo wagombea ni pamoja na wanachama wa vyama vikubwa vinavyofanya kampeni za kitaaluma na za picha. Wao ni alijiunga katika kampeni na satirical animated tabia nia tu juu ya kuelekeza juu ya asili kuvunjwa ya mchakato wa vyombo vya habari-siasa. Kila kipindi kinaonyesha kwa ukali juu ya asili ya ushiriki wetu katika mfumo wa vyombo vya habari unaozidi kujibu. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""Kama tunavyohusika zaidi, ndivyo tunavyozalisha thamani zaidi, data zaidi tunayounda, data zaidi inaweza kutumika kudhibiti ubadilishaji wa media na kuathiri jinsi tunavyoona ulimwengu na kuishi maisha yetu.""" Inatuomba tufikirie ni kwa kiwango gani vyombo vya habari vilivyobadilishwa vinaweza kutekeleza mahusiano ya kibinadamu. "Kama unavyoona, swali ni: ""Unafikiria ni nini baadhi ya matokeo ya mfumo wa vyombo vya habari unaojulikana na mtiririko wa habari wa pande mbili ambao unatazama na kujibu wakati halisi?""" Unafikiri ni nini baadhi ya matokeo ya ulimwengu ambapo teknolojia ya vyombo vya habari huiga wanadamu? Je, ungependa kuiga mtu wa karibu aliyefariki au aliyefariki? Teknolojia za vyombo vya habari zinaathirije mahusiano yetu ya karibu? White Bear anasema kwamba kadiri tunavyojihusisha, ndivyo tunavyoanzisha mifumo ya uwakilishi, mahusiano ya nguvu yasiyo sawa na desturi za hukumu. Baada ya kuangalia White Bear, angalia miundo ya vyombo vya habari na mazoea ambapo tunashiriki katika kuhukumu wengine. Desturi zinazohusiana na miundo na mazoea hayo huanzishaje mahusiano ya nguvu? Simu mahiri zina jukumu gani katika "kuwashuhudia" matukio ulimwenguni? Na, hilo linaathirije maisha yetu ya umma, utamaduni maarufu au uandishi wa habari? Waldo Moment inadokeza kwamba kadiri tunavyojihusisha zaidi, ndivyo tunavyoongeza kwenye mzunguko usio na mwisho wa ucheshi, uchongezi na kutojali. Baada ya kutazama kipindi hicho fikiria ni kwa kiwango gani aina za kisasa za utamaduni maarufu na vyombo vya habari huwezesha ushiriki wenye maana na wenye kuzaa katika mchakato wa kisiasa. Unaweza kufikiria moja au zaidi ya: aina za vyombo vya habari ambazo zinahusisha ucheshi, ucheshi na ucheshi; mazungumzo maarufu na ya burudani na maonyesho ya jopo, mazungumzo ya redio na kiamsha kinywa, habari za ucheshi; shughuli za kisiasa na majadiliano kwenye majukwaa ya media ya kijamii. Black Mirror inadokeza kwa uchochezi kwamba ushiriki haufanyi mengi peke yake. Kile tunachohitaji pia ni kufikiri zaidi. Hii inahusisha kujadili kwa uangalifu, kukusanya ushahidi na kupima hoja. Lakini, pia inahusisha kutumia mawazo yetu na ubunifu. Charlie Brooker anatukumbusha nguvu ya kufikiri kwa ubunifu na kusababisha. Huenda asingeweza kufanya hivyo sikuzote, lakini katika sehemu nyingi za mfululizo huu anafaulu kututatanisha na kutufanya tufikirie. Ili kutusaidia kufikiri kwa ukali juu ya vyombo vya habari tunahitaji kushiriki katika mjadala wa kitaaluma, hoja za kisiasa, na ulimwengu wa sanaa, utamaduni maarufu na maisha ya kila siku. Tunahitaji kuwa na uwezo wa kuchambua kwa uangalifu na kwa ukali jinsi mambo yalivyo sasa. Lakini hiyo inahitaji kuunganishwa na kazi ya kufikiria jinsi wangeweza kuwa vinginevyo, na kwenda juu ya shughuli halisi ya kufanya kazi pamoja ulimwenguni. Hilo huhitaji ubunifu na ubunifu wetu. Kuwa msemaji mzuri ni zaidi ya kuvutia uangalifu, kutumia teknolojia, au kutengeneza yaliyomo yenye kushawishi. Ni kuhusu kujua jinsi ya kupanga mahusiano yenye maana na yenye kujenga katika ulimwengu. Tumechukua mbinu muhimu kwa vyombo vya habari na jamii katika kitabu hiki, lakini hiyo haipaswi kuwa makosa kwa msimamo hasi. Hatufikiri teknolojia ya vyombo vya habari ni mbaya. Lakini, tunafikiri teknolojia za vyombo vya habari zimeunganishwa katika mahusiano makubwa ya nguvu. Msukumo wa kwanza wa msimamo muhimu ni kuvutia jinsi vyombo vya habari vinavyowezesha mahusiano ya nguvu. Tumejaribu kuvunja 'fantasia' kwamba siku moja kwa teknolojia na zana sahihi tutatatua matatizo yote! Kutatua matatizo ya kiufundi hakutakuwa na matokeo. Tunahitaji pia kufikiri kwa njia ya kuchambua: Inamaanisha nini kuwa binadamu? Ni ulimwengu wa aina gani wa kijamii tunaoufanya? Tutafanyaje nafasi kwa kila mmoja katika ulimwengu? Black Mirror inaweza kupatikana kwenye hifadhidata nyingi za maktaba (kama EduTV) na kununuliwa kutoka kwa watoaji wa maudhui kama iTunes. Taasisi ya Filamu ya Uingereza Q&A na Charlie Brooker. Mwaka 2014, jarida la kimataifa la mawasiliano la Open Access International Journal of Communication lilianzisha jukwaa la mjadala kuhusu ushiriki. Mkutano huo ulionyesha wasomi mashuhuri wa mawasiliano ya kimataifa katika mazungumzo yaliyopangwa kuhusu "ahidi wa ushiriki wa utamaduni wa kisasa na siasa". Michango kwa ajili ya jukwaa kushughulikia maswali kuhusu ubunifu, kazi, siasa na majukwaa. Jukwaa ni ya kipekee kwa sababu wasomaji wanaweza kufuata wasomi mashuhuri wakizungumza na kila mmoja na kujibu moja kwa moja kwa mawazo ya kila mmoja. Couldry, N. & Jenkins, H. (2014). Ushirikiano: Mazungumzo juu ya ahadi ya ushirikiano wa Utamaduni wa Kisasa na Siasa: Utangulizi. International Journal of Communication, Forum: 1111-112 (Jarida la Kimataifa la Mawasiliano, Forum: 1111-112). Banet-Weiser, S., Baym, N., Coppa, F., Gauntlett, D., Gray, J., Jenkins, H., Shaw, A. (2014). "Mkutano wa ""Mazungumzo juu ya ahadi ya ushirikiano wa Utamaduni wa kisasa na Siasa: Sehemu ya 1: Ubunifu""" International Journal of Communication, Forum: 1069-1088, na makala nyingine nyingi. Andrejevic, M., Banks, J., Campbell, J., Couldry, N., Fish, A., Hearn, A., Ouellette, L. (2014). "Mkutano wa ""Mazungumzo juu ya ahadi ya ushirikiano wa Utamaduni wa kisasa na Siasa: Sehemu ya 2: Kazi""" International Journal of Communication, Forum: 1089-1106 (Jarida la Kimataifa la Mawasiliano, Forum: 1089-1106) Allen, D., Carpentier, N., Bailey, M., Fenton, N., Jenkins, H., Lothian, A., Qiu, J., Schafer, M., Srinivasan, R. (2014). "Mkutano wa ""Mazungumzo juu ya ahadi ya ushirikiano wa Utamaduni wa kisasa na Siasa: Sehemu ya 3.""" International Journal of Communication, Forum: 1129-1151 (Jarida la Kimataifa la Mawasiliano, Forum: 1129-1151) Bird, E., Couldry, N., Hepp, A., Livingstone, S., Losh, E., Mittell, J., Neff, G., Slater, D., Watkins, SC. (2014). "Mkutano wa ""Mazungumzo juu ya ahadi ya ushirikiano wa Utamaduni wa kisasa na Siasa: Sehemu ya 4: Ujuzi na Elimu.""" International Journal of Communication, Forum: 1216-1242 (Jarida la Kimataifa la Mawasiliano, Forum: 1216-1242) Clark, J., Couldry, N., Kosnik, A., Gillespie, T., Jenkins, H., Kelty, C., Papacharissi, Z., Powell, A., van Dijck, J. (2014). "Mkutano wa ""Mazungumzo juu ya ahadi ya ushirikiano wa Utamaduni wa kisasa na Siasa: Sehemu ya 5: Majukumu""" International Journal of Communication, Forum: 1446-1473, ilitumwa zaidi ya mwaka mmoja uliopita