The Media is the Protest
#occupywallstreet is an example of a new kind of social movement. One which we saw first at the “fringes” of capitalism’s monosociety, in the Arab spring. Welcome to the age of the network, organization is horizontal, opt-in, and to communicate about it is to participate in it.
People have criticized this nascent movement because it’s goals aren’t clear but this is not a weakness, this is a defining feature. The lack of clarity is that of a polaroid developing. As people participate in it, as they communicate with and about the movement, its self-definition will increase, is increasing.
At the same time this horizontal organizing is spreading with #occupytogether movements starting in many major North American cities. I’ll be going out to the one in my city as part of a flash documentary crew. I don’t have any illusions that this is a neutral act, but then… some things are worth talking about.
