Helena Marie Fahnrich

I am gaining a greater familiarity with written forms of analyzation, my own as well as peers and authors introduced in class. The readings have been helpful in directing the analytical process of digital activism because it provides time and a method of writing. The combination of both technique and the material of rhetorical activism ( The Multimedia of Texts and the chapters from Jason delGandio's book for example) has created a sense of focus.  Regarding online activist websites, through the application of observational techniques to websites, I am beginning to see things I have not considered before. As I devote more consideration to aspects of web design, I am seeing a thread of coherence normally not considered when looking at a webpage. Research: The link posted to the World Socialist Web Site on the class blog is something I am increasingly interested in researching. Politics has always been a strong motivation for me regarding activism (for example I wa...

The second article for today discusses digital activism on a gobal scale, and is mentioned as "second-generation activism" (p.2). The bulk of the article is an analytical exploration of the various webpages occupied by Avaaz and how each one reflects and shapes its audience.  Kavada touches on  a discussion about the scattered organizational style of Avaaz and how it relates to  the individuals involved in the m ovement. The initial perspective of this style as "problematic," is soon approached differently. Does this style, rather, facilitate individual autonomy and creativity that enhance social media activist movements? How ties are made and the space that provides these social connections via the internet is evidence of activist roots. Regarding Avaaz, the youtube presence has a lot of information about what the organization does in social communities around the world (32 million members worldwide) and how Avaaz's actions are influencing political ...

". . .interrelated functions: transforming  perceptions of reality, altering self-perceptions of protestors, legitimizing  the social movement, prescribing courses of action, mobilizing for action,  and sustaining the social movement" (p.51). I appreciate that this quote brings out the important work of activism. It shows the commitment and meaning people bring to activism through  simple, well-organized language that is specific. After reading our first assignment,  I can't help but think  about the activism  I encountered outside the union last week surrounding issues that all deal with perception. First there was   an email I received from the chancellor discussing policy about on-campus protests and a couple of days later was the onslaught of the pro-lifers (it is hard not to reflect on the sense of blind protesting that was prevalent among them).  There was a group of  fundamenta list Christians I walked by who ...