Studying social media as semiotic technology: a social semiotic multimodal framework

ABSTRACT

How do we study social media technology? While social semiotics provides an extensive toolkit for analysing multimodal texts and semiotic practices, the study of social media as semiotic technology poses a significant challenge to existing research methodologies. In this article, we present a social semiotic framework that allows us to describe in analytical details the multimodal meaning potentials offered by digital social media technology and connect these to multimodal text-making and semiotic practices while underscoring the role of technology. Our framework is organized around seven interrelated and inherently informed dimensions: (1) multimodality, (2) practice, (3) the social, (4) medium, (5) the material, (6) the historical, and (7) the critical. This framework could pertain to most types of semiotic technologies, but will here be developed for accounting for social media technologies, and its viability will be illustrated with examples from Instagram. By developing this framework, we aim at elaborating the theoretical basis and analytical tools of social semiotics, and thereby contributing to bringing forward increased understanding of how social media technology enables making, enacting and managing meaning.     

Changes in the dimensions of political competition in Europe and their impact on citizens’ engagement via Facebook

ABSTRACT

This article focuses on a little-explored area of research, seeking to explain how political changes influence the participation of citizens in the social networks of local governments. In the context of the recent upsurge of anti-system movements and political parties in the European Union, we analyse a new set of data on participation via local governments’ Facebook pages during a turbulent period in European politics. The results obtained show that when a local government is affected by changes in political competition there is a greater degree of citizens’ engagement through social networks. Our analytical framework shows that this increased engagement is directly associated with the vulnerability of political parties, especially when the governing party loses its absolute majority and is constrained or prevented from carrying out political initiatives.     

处置突发性公共事件时应对新闻传媒的策略

在处置突发性公共事件时,新闻传媒的作用不可忽视。为保证妥善处置突发性公共事件,公安机关应当认真研究应对新闻传媒的策略,准确把握突发性公共事件中新闻传媒的介入时间、方式,以引导新闻传媒正确发挥舆论导向作用。     

发挥网络媒体优势建立良性互动的警察公共关系

利用网络媒体建立警察公共关系是一种大胆尝试,是对传统公共关系的有益补充和发展。网络技术能够改善现有警察公共关系的信息基础;网络技术能够提高公关人员的素质;网络媒体是一种新型的警民沟通渠道,它能够最大限度地实现信息对称和警民互动;网络媒体有可能带来双赢警察公共关系。     

‘The Rape Joke’: censorship,affective activisms,and feeling subjects

Abstract

This paper follows the affective impact of a story on rape culture in a school magazine in a US high school. Immediately following its publication, the school administrative enacted a policy of prior review on all future publications. The event made waves in US national news and online media and was denounced as an act of censorship and infringement on students’ freedom of expression. In concert with other students and faculty at the school, the author of the piece engaged in various forms of protest and on- and off-line activism. This piece tracks the multiple political affects and effects activated by the article through a notion of affectivisms. This case study further explores notions of ‘positive’ school climate and the increasingly imbricated textures of schooling experiences with online media.     

Tangles,tears and messy conversations: using a media discussion group to explore notions of strong women

In this article, we discuss the experiences of six female secondary-school students participating in a media group that encouraged critical discussion and analysis of gender, particularly with respect to notions of strong women in popular media texts. Throughout the study, the participants viewed various forms of media and critically discussed gender representations. We describe the ways that we encouraged critical discussion that prompted the participants to challenge dominant perspectives and develop personal positions regarding gendered representations in popular media. Many discussions were convoluted and often contradictory. Throughout these debates, however, moments emerged in which participants identified complexities associated with gendered representations of strong women as related to privilege, beauty ideals and autonomy. We identify these moments as messy yet critical, requiring the researchers to challenge participants’ postfeminist notions of strong women. We emphasize the importance of ongoing dialogue and the potential of media for encouraging discussion.     

Public Outrage,Media Spectacle and the Kapunda Road Royal Commission

The article focuses on the relationship between the executive and the judiciary in respect of a legal case that provoked public outrage. This outrage entered into the media spectacle and was channelled by the executive into calling a royal commission. The royal commission was charged with re‐examining the police actions and the legal case. However, hidden behind its narrow terms of reference was the larger question of justice being ‘blind’ to a network of privilege. As such, the royal commission had the potential to threaten the independence of the judiciary.     

浅谈警察公共关系工作与媒体沟通

在新时期的警察队伍建设中,警察公共关系工作特别是在警察形象建设上发挥着越来越重要的作用。然而,在实践过程中,警察与媒体的沟通成为影响警察形象建设的重要问题。其中也暴露了一些由于双方各自特点以及沟通理解不当而造成的问题和矛盾。应提出构建和谐的警察与媒体关系的方案,以期在矛盾与冲突中同样可以实现二者关系的和谐互动,通过双方的和谐互动关系而使得整个社会健康、有序的发展。     

论警察临战中的媒体关系管理

警察临战危机管理中的新闻传播策略,旨在掌握报道的主动权,有效管理现场媒体,从而澄清事实真相,消除公众误解,维护和恢复警察组织形象。本文分析了警察临战状态下媒体工作的特点和性质,并对警察临战危机关系管理的原则和应对新闻媒体的若干技巧进行了实践性的探讨。