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.

How TikTok’s viral dance challenges taught me more moves than my dancing instructor

Article

Jessaline Tanjung

09/02/2021

10 minutes to read

This article analyses Zico's Any Song dance challenge that went viral on TikTok and discusses why TikTok challenges go viral. We also see how these videos are a reproduction of art and also why slang words form in the app.

Viral music on TikTok

Article

Marieke Weeda

09/02/2021

10 minutes to read

This article takes a closer look at the usage of music on TikTok, how songs can rise to virality on this platform, and what consequences this has for artists and the music industry.

QArmy vs. QAnon Debunkers: The role of confirmation bias

Paper

Federica Morgandi

23/03/2020

12 minutes to read

QAnon is an American conspiracy theory associated with Trump supporters and right-wing politics. How can one article - which seeks to explain what QAnon is - influence debunkers and believers of the theory?

Ellen DeGeneres: talk show host or CIA agent?

Paper

Iris Dumoulin

16/03/2020

12 minutes to read

In 2018, people believed that Eric Trump suggested that Ellen DeGeneres is part of a hidden government within the US. This essay analyzes how this conspiracy theory has come into existence, who plays a role in it, and what this means online.

QAnon: a wild conspiracy theory with Donald Trump’s support?

Paper

Idhuna Pastoor

29/01/2020

24 minutes to read

The pro-Trump conspiracy theory QAnon has been infiltrating mainstream media at a fast pace. While the president has never publicly stated his support for the theory, many clues suggest that his stance towards its supporters is not unfavorable.

QAnon: The alt-right war machine and social media mobilization

Article

Daniel Obubo

10/01/2020

12 minutes to read

QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory about an on-going war between President Donald Trump and the "deep state". This article examines how QAnon followers use social media to their benefit by inviting skeptics to read between the lines.

Ken M and wholesome trolling

Article

Iris Dumoulin

10/01/2020

10 minutes to read

Internet trolling: insults, off-topic comments, and weird jokes are something that we should avoid as much as possible. But is there a positive side to trolling? Ken M seems to be the perfect wholesome online troll.

Mom-shamers vs. celebrities on Instagram

Article

Sanne Graumans

09/01/2020

7 minutes to read

Mom shamers have been around since forever and, sadly, social media has only helped to amplify their voices. When it comes to being especially vitriolic, they take aim at Hollywood moms. This article examines how this unfolds on Instagram.