Seminar: John Downing at Roskilde University

“Democratic Process, Social Movements,
Their Media, and the Issue of Timescale”

John D.H. Downing will speak on this subject at an Ørecomm seminar on 30 November 2011 at Roskilde University. You are most welcome! For logistical reasons you must register – see the form below.

Professor Downing writes:

Social movement media have a very long history, albeit often overlooked or dismissed. Currently, they are in public focus as perhaps never before. A considerable emphasis in the present has been on digital social networking media, an emphasis which seems to recycle, yet again, the wondrous forecasts concerning new communication technologies which have continually resurfaced over the decades. Debate has consequently pivoted on a simple Either-Or: are these media a radically fresh opportunity, or merely coincidental – or worse, dangerous new technologies for surveillance agents?

This presentation will explore approaches that permit placing these newer media technologies and ‘legacy’ media in a certain symbiosis. It will also address the crucial but usually neglected issue of time-frame in discussions of media roles, democratization and the democratic deficit, and social movements. Transnational revolts arising during the year 2011 will be drawn upon for illustrations and arguments.

I will first address the problem of democratic process; then proceed to discuss social movements and their media; and conclude with reflections on some frequent assumptions about timescale and political and social change. …

John D.H. Downing, Professor Emeritus & Founding Director, Global Media Research Center, Southern Illinois University; Affiliate Professor, Information and Media Studies, Århus University. Among his recent publications is The Encyclopedia of Social Movement Media, previously announced on orecomm.net. If you are new to Roskilde University, see directions here.