Meme As Resistance Post - Aileen Herrera

The Art of Activism - Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert:

“Even today, totalitarian governments restrict access to information, ban books and artworks, and repress intellectuals, activists, and artists, fearful of any ideas that might challenge their official Truth. When the economy of information is one of scarcity, knowledge does equal power.” (Duncombe, Lambert, 22)

The most recent demonstration of restricted access to information is the banning of TikTok. Even though TikTok was quickly back online people started to notice the censorship of videos and hashtags. Certain videos talking negatively or painting the president in a negative light were nowhere to be found, but available to view anywhere but the US. This was not the only platform that was slightly tweaked, Instagram was another where people noticed that they were following the president and vice president and even after unfollowing the app would refollow them. This type of quiet censorship screams that the people in charge 

“Undocubus activists forged an association between human immigration and a natural and majestic migration, reframing the image of a population unjustly feared and routinely degraded. Who, after all, can be enraged at a butterfly?” (Duncombe, Lambert, 22)

There has been a surge of protest around the country regarding immigration and ICE and in a lot of the posters that are brought to the protest I noticed butterflies. I was really confused by this since at the time I did not see the connection but after reading about the Undocubus it makes a lot more sense. I think it is a very beautiful comparison.

Memes:

Memes can definitely be used as a form of advocacy for change. Advocacy for change is simply taking action in order to change policies and practices. Although memes are not as big as signing petitions, protesting, lobbying, and volunteering, memes still serve as a way of raising awareness. Poking fun at things you want to change also can give people the initiative to look into what you are making fun of, creating a kind of chain effect. Memes condense the information that a lot of us do not have the attention span to read in a full-length article. In the memes above, our main topic was Target and how they have rolled back their DEI initiatives, which target (no pun intended) not only people of color, but women, people with disabilities, folks part of the LGBTQ+ community and so much more. I think our memes were pretty successful at conveying our message that we strongly disagree with Target's decision with taking away something that makes the workplace diverse and inclusive. A huge step back when it comes to equality. 

Meme As Resistance:

Patriarchy - oppressive system of power that dictates that men are superior to women in every aspect. This system deems men to keep not only women under but "weak" men as well, through means of violence and normalization of male dominance. 

Activism - efforts to change or challenge policies, practices, or even people in power through methods like signing petitions, protesting, lobbying, volunteering, and bringing awareness.