This two-day symposium considers online forms of shaming and denunciations, and features research from scholars looking at a global range of cases.
Students, staff and the public are invited to attend a two-day symposium entitled “Vigilant Audiences: Scrutiny, Denunciation, and Shaming in Digital Media Use.” Online justice seeking is a growing phenomenon, with users denouncing criminal and otherwise offensive acts around the globe. Digital media devices and platforms play a crucial role in justice-seeking, as do the countess spectators who bear witness and even participate in the events. On Wednesday 3rd October and the morning of Thursday 4th October we welcome international and interdisciplinary scholars to present on a range of global cases.
Today’s media landscape allows for scrutiny and intervention in the lives of others. Both police and the press are aided and even supplanted by digital media users, who can report and comment on events through any number of mobile applications and other web-based platforms. They may denounce high profile crimes, such as terrorism, sexual exploitation, or participation in riots. They may also target comparatively benign transgressions such as petty theft, bad parking, or disorderly conduct. In some cases, ordinary citizens may play a primary role in breaking a story, for example, by publishing footage of a criminal event. In other cases they may respond to a story that broke through a broadcaster, and go on to shape the visibility and public perception of that story through vitriolic comments, crowdsourced information about the perpetrator, and even physical interventions.
Presenters will share their ongoing research in the areas of policing, entertainment and citizenship, followed by questions and discussion. Faculty and students from all disciplines as well as members of the public are welcome to attend.
Please note that Studium Generale is organising an accompanying public event on the evening of Wednesday, 3rd October.
For more information, the event schedule, and signing up, please go here.