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Agenda Shifting

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How might identity groups use media to react to, reshape, or even control the narrative being constructed about them in mainstream media? We are seeing many of the groups we study -- but especially the DREAM activists and the American Muslim networks respond quickly to news stories or popular culture programming that they feel places them in a negative light. They are using their collective capacities to pull together information, critique representation, construct alternative narratives, and get them into circulation, often in ways that commands the attention of major news organizations. In part, these strategies work because of the ways they are able to quickly mobilize dispersed and decentralized networks that are invested in helping them spread content.

Real World Example:
The Goatface video about the Sikh temple shooting addresses a serious issue related to a marginalized population while also complicating national definitions of “Islamic” identity. Hasan Minhaj opens the piece with “this is the truth”. He uses logical reasoning and explicit examples to construct an argument for how the shooting is doubly tragic: not just in the deaths but also in the complete lack of national attention. He says the only people responding are “brown, social Asian community” and then identifies specific names to make it more relatable and then generalizes it by claiming “black community has been talking about this for years”. He addresses both minorities and the white population. For the former he calls on them to Mobilize, stop the hate, address the fact that white, racist domestic terrorist are more of an issue that islamic terrorism. For the later population, he calls on them to be open and talked with Sikh members of the community to learn the nuances of culture and not assume they’re muslim. Stylistically he uses classical music, costume, and settings to create an aire of a cultured individual and lend credibility (doubled through a layer of parody) to his perspective.

This page has paths:

  1. Conversation Starters Sangita Shresthova

Contents of this tag:

  1. 19th Century Reforms: Crash Course US History #15
  2. "Fear the Boom and Bust" a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem
  3. 2013 Fourth Estate Summit // Day 3 // Samantha Power, Sophia Bush, & more // August 10. 6:00pm PST
  4. Black And Yellow - AnCap Remix
  5. Coming out of the Shadows - Dream Activist Philadelphia
  6. Ann Coulter Battles Stossel, Calls Libertarians 'Pussies,' And Gets Booed By Room Full Of Students

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