Tweets and the Streets : Social Media and Contemporary Activism

Tweets and the Streets analyses the culture of the new protest movements of the 21st century. From the Arab Spring to the "indignados" protests in Spain and the Occupy movement, Paolo Gerbaudo examines the relationship between the rise of social media and the emergence of new forms of protest. Gerbaudo argues that activists' use of Twitter and Facebook does not fit with the image of a "cyberspace" detached from physical reality. Instead, social media is used as part of a project of re-appropriation of public space, which involves the assembling of different groups around "occupied" places such as Cairo's Tahrir Square or New York's Zuccotti Park. An exciting and invigorating journey through the new politics of dissent, Tweets and the Streets points both to the creative possibilities and to the risks of political evanescence which new media brings to the contemporary protest experience. From The Arab Spring To The 'indignados' Protests In Spain And The Occupy Movement, Paolo Gerbaudo Examines The Relationship Between The Rise Of Social Media And The Emergence Of A New Protest Culture. Gerbaudo Argues That Activists' Use Of Twitter And Facebook Does Not Fit With The Image Of A 'cyberspace' Detached From Physical Reality. Instead, Social Media Has Been Chiefly Used As Part Of A Project Of Re-appropriation Of Public Space, And As A Means To Exert A Form Of Soft Leadership, Involved In The 'choreographing' Of Collective Action Around Symbolic 'occupied Squares' From Tahrir To Zuccotti Park. Offering An Exciting And Invigorating Journey Through The Politics Of Popular Protest, This Book Points To Both The Possibilities And The Risks That Social Media Bring To The Contemporary Protest Experience.--p. [4] Of Cover. 'friendly' Reunions : Social Media And The Choreography Of Assembly -- 'we Are Not Guys Of Comment And Like' : The Revolutionary Coalescence Of Shabab-al-facebook -- 'we Are Not On Facebook, We Are On The Streets!' : The Harvesting Of Indignation -- 'the Hashtag Which Did (not) Start A Revolution' : The Laborious Adding Up To The 99% -- 'follow Me, But Don't Ask Me To Lead You!' : Liquid Organising And Choreographic Leadership. Paolo Gerbaudo. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 179-187) And Index. What should we make of the culture of the protest movements of the 21st century? From the Arab Spring to the'indignados'protests in Spain and the Occupy movement, Paolo Gerbaudo examines the relationship between the rise of social media and the emergence of new forms of protest. Gerbaudo argues that activists'use of Twitter and Facebook does not fit with the image of a'cyberspace'detached from physical reality. Instead, social media is used as part of a project of re-appropriation of public space, which involves the assembling of different groups around'occupied'places such as Cairo's Tahrir Square or New York's Zuccotti Park. An exciting and invigorating journey through the new politics of dissent, Tweets and the Streets points both to the creative possibilities and to the risks of political evanescence which new media brings to the contemporary protest experience. "From the Arab Spring to the 'indignados' protests in Spain and the Occupy movement, Paolo Gerbaudo examines the relationship between the rise of social media and the emergence of a new protest culture. Gerbaudo argues that activists' use of Twitter and Facebook does not fit with the image of a 'cyberspace' detached from physical reality. Instead, social media has been chiefly used as part of a project of re-appropriation of public space, and as a means to exert a form of soft leadership, involved in the 'choreographing' of collective action around symbolic 'occupied squares' from Tahrir to Zuccotti Park. Offering an exciting and invigorating journey through the politics of popular protest, this book points to both the possibilities and the risks that social media bring to the contemporary protest experience."--Page 4 of cover