Power and resistance: A case study of satire on the internet

Tang, Lijun ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6815-0625 and Bhattacharya, Syamantak 2011. Power and resistance: A case study of satire on the internet. Sociological Research Online 16 (2) , 11. 10.5153/sro.2375

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Abstract

Past studies on print and TV satire have revealed that satire can be seen as a site of resistance to power. In light of this, interesting questions can be raised regarding Internet satire: what does the Internet contribute to the resistance and what kind of power relation is played out on this site? Using an example from China, this paper reveals that like its print and TV counterparts, Internet satire reflects a widespread feeling of powerlessness, rather than offering the general public any political power. However, the Internet helps to push the symbolic power of satire to a higher level. This is because it makes satire a tool for the grassroots which facilitates the creation and spread of satirical ideas, and also helps to release and stimulate the enormous reserve of public wit and wisdom. As a result, satire on the Internet has the potential to generate a chain of related satirical work, which can create a satire movement and subject power to sustained shame and ridicule.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC) Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
Uncontrolled Keywords:	CCTV; China; Empowerment; Internet Control; Internet Incident; Online Activism; Subversion; Symbolic Power
Publisher:	Sociological Research Online
ISSN:	1360-7804
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2022 10:49
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/25619

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