Transmedia activism and co-creation of grassroots narratives: theories, models and practices

Abstract

The paper proposes a review of the main contributions to the study and creation of transmedia projects aimed at social, political and cultural activism. Specifically, it will show how the literature on the subject is mainly directed to the study and forms of activism related to top-down narratives. After a reinterpretation of the approaches to transmedia studies, an alternative model is proposed based on the co-creative practices of grassroots narratives inserted in a process of participatory worldbuilding. Then, actions that are generated by social movements in the hybrid media environment will be described. To do this, an updated reading of the research on transmedia activism will be presented, proposing an outline of communicative practices that actualize imaginaries on which the identities of social movements are based. To support this, communicative actions on web platforms by the collective Lucha Y Siesta and the association Baobab Experience will be presented as case studies.