Monday 5 November 2018

Essay - Renewing Feminisms - New Media, New Feminism - Andi Zeisler

The magazine industry is declining and many magazines are facing extinction, but for feminist media this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Historically, they are 'spaces showcasing a limited range of opinions and voices.' Feminist publications have existed on the periphery and have had 'limited impact on the print media landscape'. The internet offers an alternative to the traditional notions of 'expertise, authorship, ideological leadership and cultural relevance.' pg 178-179

'The contemporary feminism that is centered in new media, particularly blogs but also videoblogging, podcasting and social-media applications' - important to mention this was written in 2013 so things have progressed further since then. These share similarity with second wave feminism because they are 'consciousness raising', a connection between individual problems and societal ones. pg 179

However, the new media feminism also lends towards a strong tendency towards individualism and a resistance to the urge to universalize and speak for others. 'Although feminism can in many ways be seen to be more intersectional and wide-ranging than ever before, in many ways it can also be seen as more fragmented.' pg 181 Another consideration should be that not every person can access technology! pg 182. Although contemporary feminist magazines are probably harder to be made aware of in comparison.

'As with any canon, there's the risk that as new-media feminism evolves, it will replicate the erasure and underrepresentation of past canons.' - pg 182-3 is new media evolving the language of feminism so that past triumphs are forgotten? Being a new feminist might mean 'your feminist icon is a blogger or podcaster rather than a politically or historically recognized activist.' pg 183

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