Learning Digital-Age Civics: Pathways From Cultural Production to Organizing, Mobilization, and Activation

• In Event: 66.061 - Cultural Production and Participatory Politics: Practices, Intersections, and Pedagogies

Abstract

Slam poets taught to compete individually for high scores decide to join forces, launching sustained campaigns related to violence prevention and diabetes as a social justice issue. Potter fans organize collective actions for free trade chocolate and marriage equality in Harry’s name. Knitters spread memes protesting a cease and desist order from the Olympics Committee. These are all examples of youth mobilizing skills and networks developed in their affinity groups for social and political action. The culture produced by youth in their recreational engagements and passion projects are a rich source of social and cultural capital that can be translated to civic and political idioms and actions. These pathways from what Henry Jenkins (2006) has dubbed “participatory culture” to participatory politics are varied and often unexpected, but are characterized by certain genres of translation, including: 1) organizing a loosely networked group into a more formal structure, 2) mobilizing a group or network already aligned around creative or cultural interests to pursue civic action, and 3) activating of group or network in a temporary but urgent response to a crisis or window of opportunity.

Authors

• Elisabeth M. Soep, Youth Radio

• Mizuko Ito, University of California - Irvine