[ecrea] cfp: Participatory Digital Cultures and Contemporary Discourses of (De)Legitimization

*Call for Chapters*

(Deadline for abstracts: *November 30^th , 2016*)

**

*Participatory Digital Cultures and Contemporary Discourses of 
(De)Legitimization*

//

/In the framework of their worldview the members of a language community 
come to an understanding on central themes of their personal and social 
lives. /(Habermas, 1984: 59)

**

Digital communication is now ingrained in contemporary social life. The 
Internet and associated increase in popularity of social media platforms 
such as Facebook and Twitter have provided citizens and communities with 
a multitude of channels through which to express civic participation and 
engagement. Wiggins and Bowers (2014: 1891) reflect these observations 
through the term ‘participatory digital culture’, a notion characterized 
by “relatively low barriers to artistic expression and civic engagement” 
and “strong support for creating and sharing creations” (Jenkins, 2009: 
xi). For example, and in relation to political involvement, Loader et al 
(2014: 143) explain that the political identities of young people are 
now shaped more by “the manner in which they participate and interact 
through the social networks which they themselves have had a significant 
part in constructing”. Engagement of this type is not limited to the 
political sphere, however, and can also be seen in the domains of 
education (e.g. RateMyProfessor), institutions (corporations, government 
or non-profit - e.g. via Twitter), and in advertising and marketing 
(e.g. memetics and viral media).

Often underpinning participation in these digital cultures is a 
discourse of (de)legitimization. Legitimizing discourse is concerned 
with varying issues, decisions and actions and is specifically related 
to “power positions of actors and broader social structures – in other 
words, to institutions” (Vaara, 2014: 503). In particular, legitimacy 
has been a focus in relation to discourse in terms of individuals and 
authority (Van Leeuwen, 2007; 2008), political lobbying and campaigning 
(Davis, Glantz & Novak, 2016), corporate entities (Boyd, 2000), through 
music (Screti, 2013) and in relation to parliamentary discourse (Rojo & 
van Dijk, 1997). With the growth of social media platforms such as 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and increased access to 
participation through viral and memetic media, the discourse of 
(de)legitimization has begun to take a different shape. By incorporating 
chapters adopting a range of analytical approaches (e.g., Critical 
Discourse Analysis, genre analysis, netnography), the proposed volume 
strives to document how members of participatory digital cultures engage 
with the discourse of (de)legitimization in relation to individuals and 
institutions.

As members of such cultures of participation, we the editors hope to 
expand understanding of how participation in such digital cultures 
reflects a growing level of civic participation and engagement in 
contemporary society. Therefore, chapter proposals are welcome that 
document, investigate and analyze the ways in which the Internet and 
social media demonstrate this.

*Possible questions for exploration include, but are not limited to:*

·In what situations are social media (un)successful in (de)legitimizing?

·How can tools such as hashtags represent public sentiment in relation 
to legitimacy?

·What (de)legitimizing function can be served by Internet memes?

·In what ways are social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook 
used to (de)legitimize?

·Where does agency lie in the pursuit of (de)legitimization?

·How is irony/satire/humor employed within participatory digital 
cultures to (de)legitimize?

·How can the quest for legitimacy be aided by platforms such as YouTube 
compared to traditional media outlets?

·How do social media platforms promote civic participation in 
discussions of (de)legitimization?

While acknowledging connections with previous work on digital 
communication and the discourse of legitimization, chapters should 
strive to further raise awareness of the ways in which discourses of 
(de)legitimization occur within participatory digital cultures. All 
methodological approaches will be considered and we encourage authors to 
be creative and ambitious. Potential authors are invited to submit a 
400-word proposal and a short author-biography to the editors Dr. Andrew 
S. Ross <(andrew.ross /at/ scu.edu.au)> and Dr. Damian J. Rivers 
<(rivers /at/ fun.ac.jp)> by *November 30^th 2016*. Final chapter selection 
will be made by January 31^st , 2017 and full chapters of 7,000 words 
will be due on June 1^st 2017. Publication will be sought with a major 
international publisher.


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