As Agitators Occupy Occupy, Will Media Call It Out?
Shame on the Sacramento Bee for attributing the violence late Thursday night to Occupy protesters when the chaos was identifiably the responsibility of an outside contingent of black bloc agitators.
Continue Reading
Out Fawkes-ing the Mask
Given the ambiguity right now over how to frame the movement, the exhibition of the Guy Fawkes mask by BusinessWeek serves as much to perpetuate an unease over Occupy than an invitation to better understand it.
Continue Reading
"Protesters" vs. "Anarchists" — OWS Media Coverage and the Politics of Language
Labeling, and the politics of language is critical to the media coverage of Occupy right now. The fact the media is behind-the-curve in making that differentiating between the non-violent Occupy movement and violent agitators is very dangerous when it comes to informing the public as to what Occupy...
Continue Reading
Self-Policing: Another Part of the Occupy Story We're Not Getting
I'm assuming Occupy -- which is proving itself remarkably savvy at organization and "self-government" -- will continue to improve their self-policing. Something that remains to be seen, however, is whether traditional media picks up on the fact.
Continue Reading
Don’t Think of an Anarchist
What this photo does do, under the guise of quirkiness, is begin refashioning a peaceful, citizens-driven 2012 "Occupy" into the anarchistic mold of Seattle '99.
Continue Reading
Occupy Denver: "Normalizing" the Robo-Cops, and More Fuel for the "Violent Protester" Meme
If the photos from Occupy Denver Saturday night serve a constructive function, it's to establish that Oakland was not an anomaly.
Continue Reading
Occupy Entering Tar-and-Feather Phase? The Case of the Guy With the AK at Occupy Atlanta Rally
More the flavor of Tea (and militia) than anything else, the photo represents one more projection of hate onto a non-violent Occupy movement suddenly vulnerable to contamination, infiltration, exploitation -- and, yes, provocation -- by all forms of crazy.
Continue Reading
Occupy Oakland: Our Take on the Reuters Photo of Wounded Iraq Vet, Scott Olsen
What makes movements come into their own are martyrs.
Continue Reading
Occupy Oakland: Headbashing and Kittens
Maybe the question is: what's occupying the media?
Continue Reading
(De-)Occupy Oakland: Role of the Cameras and Comparison to Arab Spring
If it looks like the cop is pleading a case and the demonstrator is making one, that's how much "the revolution will be interactive" ... and we're all right there.
Continue Reading
Nina Berman at Occupy Wall Street: Magnetism on the Upper West Side
If the Occupy Wall Street movement has been born out of alienation and deep political cynicism, this first image is a hopeful and welcome sight.
Continue Reading
OWS: The Painted Lady
So, is OWS compromising some impact to the extent it has also become a spectacle or a tourist attraction -- or is that just some silly media idea?
Continue Reading
Julie Turkewitz at Occupy Wall Street: Love, Hope, and Economic and Social Violence
Given the surge of hope Obama inspired in America's youth four years ago, especially among African-Americans, that OWS represents the capacity to re-engage that spirit with so much positive energy is truly a cause for optimism.
Continue Reading
Demonizing OWS: Beware "the Anger Meme"
What's so significant about this photo is how it plants the seeds of demonization. Although the OWS movement has been overwhelming peaceful so far, my concern is seeing an "anger meme" creep into the reporting.
Continue Reading
The Pepper Spray Girl
So, watch out! Here comes the media hungrily eyeing the non-hierarchical, ego-less Occupy Wall Street movement with the typical aim to individualize, aestheticize, glamorize, romanticize and dole out some notoriety and fame.
Continue Reading
Nina Berman at Occupy Wall Street: Sweeping Victory
Really, if Bloomberg and Brookfield wanted a fight, the issues of hygiene and the consideration for public quality of life were some really odd values to try and hinge it on.
Continue Reading