(via https://pixabay.com/en/ballot-election-polling-vote-box-158828/)
In the digital age we are living in, the production and distribution of cultural expression is progressively carried out through social media. Indeed, among the many ways and forms that public opinion and engagement can be materialized in the digital social platforms, the cultural expression during or around traditional electoral events is very interesting. There are quite many such examples, from the 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns in the U.S., to more recent events such as this year’s Scottish Parliament elections, or last week’s Iranian elections, and those who turn to the social media venues, such as Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr -just to name a few- can be the candidates themselves or plain supporters/adversaries on a grassroots level. Whether such involvement has had specific effects on the campaign or the ultimate outcome is not easy to determine. Rather, as Denton (2013, p. 124-125) suggests, “the interest is in the rituals of engagement themselves and the opportunities available through such events for en expanded notion of what comprises meaningful citizenship”. Continue reading →
