Authors

Svetlana Chuikina¹; Denis Bilunov²;  ¹ Karlstad University, Sweden;  ² Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

Discussion

Our goal is to examine media strategies deployed by antiwar Russian activists as ways to appropriate technological environments for their needs ‘by coping with’ digital technologies.

By departing from an understanding of media as environmental conditions of modern societies we are aiming to shed light on the question of how those involved with activism deal with digital (dis)integration. We propose ‘transmedia-event’ as a key concept which can help to grasp the dynamic of experiencing ‘co-presence’ between those who are involved in activism on a practical level.

The theoretical part will be underpinned by the case study of a global street event of anti-Putin Russian groups which took place in June (67 cities in 32 countries). 

On the semiotical level, the symbolical feature of these rallies was massive use of white-blue-white banners instead of the official Russian white-blue-red one, thus implying a rupture with Putin's state, arguing for and claiming a sort of new Russian identity. 

Our guiding question is to look at: How are those involved in activism adopting to/coping with digital (dis)integrated environments as to experience co-presence with remote others. We will interview organizers of 7-9 key event rallies. We will ask them about their experience of a fully online global coordination, the perception of their media presence and of their allegedly created communities.