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<p>In this paper we analyse the impact of the mediatised strategy of the global protest group Femen. In addition to the concept of mediatisation, we employ the concept of counterpublics and find that Femen have limited impact in the Arab world due to a lack of embedment in local communities. We show how mediatisation of protest can hamper the dual function of counterpublic discourse and action. By focusing primarily outwardly and adopting dominant media logics (outwardly focused, <bold>inter</bold>public discourse), Femen’s protest strategies result in a sensational and top-down message. This is not embedded in a conversation with local communities (the inwardly focused <bold>intra</bold>public function of counterpublic discourse) and as such results in much resistance in the Arab world. Moving beyond an analysis of Femen’s message to include local Arab responses, our analysis allows us insight into the lived experiences of mediatised protest, which suggest that Femen’s antagonistic actions foster alienation rather than empowerment.</p>
</abstract>

In this paper we analyse the impact of the mediatised strategy of the global protest group Femen. In addition to the concept of mediatisation, we employ the concept of counterpublics and find that Femen have limited impact in the Arab world due to a lack of embedment in local communities. We show how mediatisation of protest can hamper the dual function of counterpublic discourse and action. By focusing primarily outwardly and adopting dominant media logics (outwardly focused, interpublic discourse), Femen’s protest strategies result in a sensational and top-down message. This is not embedded in a conversation with local communities (the inwardly focused intrapublic function of counterpublic discourse) and as such results in much resistance in the Arab world. Moving beyond an analysis of Femen’s message to include local Arab responses, our analysis allows us insight into the lived experiences of mediatised protest, which suggest that Femen’s antagonistic actions foster alienation rather than empowerment.

Counterpublics in the age of mediatisation: Local responses to Femen in the Arab world

PhD University of Amsterdam) is a Rosalind Franklin Fellow at the University of Groningen

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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

In this paper we analyse the impact of the mediatised strategy of the global protest group Femen. In addition to the concept of mediatisation, we employ the...

Counterpublics in the age of mediatisation: Local responses to Femen in the Arab world

Publicado en línea: 30 mar 2021

Páginas: 117 - 131

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7146/tjcp.v2i1.22273

Palabras clave
Mediatisation of protest, Femen, Counterpublics, Mediated social movements, Creative Activism

© 2021 Kaouthar Darmoni et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Counterpublics in the age of mediatisation: Local responses to Femen in the Arab world

Publicado en línea: 30 mar 2021

Páginas: 117 - 131

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7146/tjcp.v2i1.22273

Palabras claveMediatisation of protest, Femen, Counterpublics, Mediated social movements, Creative Activism

© 2021 Kaouthar Darmoni et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
Mediatisation of protest, Femen, Counterpublics, Mediated social movements, Creative Activism