Demonstrations as Narrative
Who are we talking to? How do we measure our success?
In this space, we try to explore the history, strategy and tactics of demonstrations: the wide spectrum of actions which includes marches, rallies, and other similar forms. Our observation is that these actions often take place without specific strategic goals. Yet historically demonstrations have served many different kinds of purposes in different contexts. It's possible to theorize these events as theater, media, forms of popular sovereignty, and many other ways. By exploring these issues we hope to encourage activists to plan their actions around the questions that seem key to us: what is this action intended to achieve?, and how can we measure its success?
More Information
- Ted's blog
- The Crowd in History: A Study of Popular Disturbances in France and England, 1730-1848, Rudé
- Out Now! A Participant's Account of the Movement in the U.S. Against the Vietnam War, Halstead
- The Spitting Image, Lembcke
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