Digital media and Politics

This article is written as part of one of the courses of the BA Online Culture: Art, Media and Society or the MA Online Culture at Tilburg University. Click on the link for more info on the courses and the programme.

In this international Bachelor’s program Online Culture: Art, Media and Society (Culture Studies) the focus is on digital culture and (new) media. From disciplines such as cultural studies and media studies you study how digitalization and globalization influence our way of living. You discuss new ways of communication, art expressions as well as (social) media expressions like memes and trolls. You research how such ways of communication and expressions are established and how they manifest in, and have influence on a society that increasingly takes place online. Additionally, you actively contribute to digital culture by writing papers and opinion pieces for our own online platform Diggit Magazine.

AOC, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez,

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's populism and relatability

Article
Nikoletta Georgiou
13/01/2020
12 minutes to read

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest congresswoman ever to be elected and a rising political star. This article analyses her "relatable" media presence with regard to how it boosts her continuously growing influence.

OK boomer meme online culture generations

The discursive construction of the OK boomer meme

Article
Elle Lüchau
10/01/2020
12 minutes to read

In this article, I analyse the discursive construction of the OK boomer meme, examining its political and ideological significance and its different modes of use in a digital media system.

VVD, Tiktok, political parties on tiktok, Rutte

VVD on TikTok: Genuine connection or political stunt?

Article
Idhuna Pastoor
23/12/2019
16 minutes to read

When the Dutch political party the VVD joined TikTok, reactions varied. Can the VVD effectively reach the youth on TikTok? Or are they missing the point and creating a ludicrous image for themselves?

Leonardo DiCaprio and his activism

Leonardo DiCaprio and online activism

Article
Iris Dumoulin
11/12/2019
13 minutes to read

Leonardo DiCaprio has been stealing hearts since the '90s. But next to his acting, he has also been an environmental activist. To this day, his online posts encourage others to change the world. Can such a famous actor honestly be an activist?

A Women's March protester holds up a MeToo sign

Will the #MeTooVoters make a difference in the 2020 elections?

Article
Maartje van Wagenberg
10/12/2019
12 minutes to read

The founders of the #MeToo movement have recently launched a new hashtag: #MeTooVoter. What is the purpose of this hashtag and what are the chances of success for the #MeTooVoter movement in the 2020 elections? 

Greta Thunberg: the climate striking catalyst

Article
Juliette Berndsen
10/12/2019
12 minutes to read

Greta Thunberg became well-known after she went climate striking one Friday in 2018. Thanks to digital media, she has become the catalyst for a global movement that inspired teenagers across the world to start climate striking.

Poster Extinction Rebellion on a lamppost

Extinction Rebellion's Global Hunger Strike

Article
Merel Groot
06/12/2019
15 minutes to read

Controversial activist movement Extinction Rebellion organized a Global Hunger Strike to raise awareness on food shortages globally, urging governments to take action. This article examines how they used Facebook's affordances for their campaign.