| Item Type |
Journal paper
|
| Abstract |
This article investigates artist and activist Ai Weiwei's media politics. In 1997 Ai Weiwei imagined a modernist movement that would practise a "non- compromising vigilance on society and power" and since 2005 he has embraced blogging and micro-blogging to enact such intent. We argue that his "communi- cation activism" is part of a broader artistic and political program that long pre- dates his online presence. The study examines how the artist has experimented with blogging and micro-blogging to spread his message of "awakening" in defi- ance of censorship and surveillance. It shows how Ai Weiwei's communication strategy combines an international celebrity status, criticism, irony and a round- the-clock interaction with his netizen audience and the media. It also critiques the effectiveness and coherence of this mode of activism from two perspectives - namely, Jean Baudrillard's analysis of "private telematics" and Jodi Dean's "blog theory" - and finally assesses its impact. The study aims to enhance our understanding of the web-based communication strategies of Chinese activists, shedding light on cultural production and consumption in Chinese cyberspace as a socio-political barometer. |
| Authors |
Strafella, Giorgio & Berg, Daria |
| Journal or Publication Title |
Asian Studies Review |
| Language |
English |
| Keywords |
China, Ai Weiwei, activism, art, blogging, communication, intellectuals, social media, surveillance, Twitter |
| Subjects |
cultural studies |
| HSG Classification |
contribution to scientific community |
| Refereed |
Yes |
| Date |
30 January 2015 |
| Publisher |
Routledge |
| Place of Publication |
Abingdon |
| Volume |
39 |
| Number |
1 |
| Page Range |
138-157 |
| Number of Pages |
20 |
| ISSN |
1035-7823 |
| ISSN-Digital |
1467-8403 |
| Publisher DOI |
https://doi.org/10.1080/10357823.2014.990357 |
| Depositing User |
Dr. Giorgio Strafella
|
| Date Deposited |
16 Feb 2015 17:08 |
| Last Modified |
30 Nov 2022 01:25 |
| URI: |
https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/publications/239287 |
Twitter Bodhisattva: Ai Weiwei's Media Politics
![[img]](http://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/style/images/fileicons/oa_orange.png)
