Reading and writing in online culture

This course is part 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 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.

'I love you and I care about you’: How ASMR content creators establish parasocial relationships with their viewers

Paper

Eline Klaessens

15/04/2024

13 minutes to read

This paper is concerned with parasocial relationships in the context of ASMR-inducing content. Through analysis of two videos, it aims to identify tools used by ASMRtist to establish these relationships with their audience.

Citizen Journalists of Scandal: Navigating truth and fiction on Dutch juice channel lifeofyvonne

Paper

Michelle Saris

11/03/2024

10 minutes to read

This article explores how juice channels fit into the concept of citizen journalism and how juice channels such as lifeofyvonne contribute to the blurring lines between truth and fiction.

From rebel girls to gone girls - the inception and aftermath of the Riot Grrrl movement

Paper

Mikaela Raeva

14/02/2024

13 minutes to read

This paper explores the inception and subsequent downfall of punk's last truly countercultural movement - the Riot Grrrl, and attempts to find out whether it still exists today or its significance is just a distant memory.

War-damaged buildings as a canvas: Banksy’s art in Ukraine

Paper

Maaike Lobbezoo

15/05/2023

11 minutes to read

The anonymous artist Banksy has used the ruins of Ukrainian cities as his canvas to make a statement about the ongoing war. This article dives into the meaning of Banksy's art and how art can be a critical reflection of our world.

"Mobilisation is going according to plan": caricature art during the Ukraine war

Article

Anna Francuzova

04/03/2024

10 minutes to read

This paper explores the unique role of caricature art during the Ukraine war, examining how it functions as a powerful tool for propaganda, satire, and protest, challenging authority during times of war.

Longing for the present: Nostalgia in contemporary faux-vintage photography

Article

Iva Konstantinova

17/05/2023

11 minutes to read

In this paper, I will evaluate the trend of faux-vintage photography, questioning the intentions behind the practices of users indulging in nostalgia and the use of vintage editing tools, filters, and effects.

Mixing truth and fiction: Jeffrey Dahmer on Netflix

Article

Femke van Bree

20/03/2023

11 minutes to read

The internet is obsessed with Jeffrey Dahmer - especially in the latest Netflix series about him. This paper analyses the content that trivializes Jeffrey Dahmer. How does participatory culture lead to blurred lines between truth and fiction?

Dan and Phil posing for their live show "Interactive Introverts", looking shocked

Our Parasocial Relationship with Dan and Phil

Article

Clara Daniels

05/05/2023

9 minutes to read

In an age where children are brought up by the internet, many domains of everyday life have shifted online. The nature of virtual friendships raises concerns about the interactions we normalize under these new circumstances.