Potential for Change: The Power of Instagram as Space for Rhetorical Discourse on Disability
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Letizia Guglielmo
Department
RCHSS - English
Abstract
Social movements are often examined post-movement in terms of rhetorical appeal; that is, only after successful mobilization are social movements looked at rhetorically on a broad spectrum. Disabled people have, for decades, been organizing and mobilizing for social change, but the advent of social media has revolutionized access for disabled people. This access has facilitated the creation of many spaces for activism on social media that are deeply rhetorical. Among these spaces is instagram. This particular digital space has become a haven for raising consciousness in the disabled community, and my presentation will be exploring the ways that disabled activists are making rhetorical appeals on Instagram to unite people inside and outside of the disabled community, creating broad potential for mobilization that was formerly inaccessible to that particular community.
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities | Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Potential for Change: The Power of Instagram as Space for Rhetorical Discourse on Disability
Social movements are often examined post-movement in terms of rhetorical appeal; that is, only after successful mobilization are social movements looked at rhetorically on a broad spectrum. Disabled people have, for decades, been organizing and mobilizing for social change, but the advent of social media has revolutionized access for disabled people. This access has facilitated the creation of many spaces for activism on social media that are deeply rhetorical. Among these spaces is instagram. This particular digital space has become a haven for raising consciousness in the disabled community, and my presentation will be exploring the ways that disabled activists are making rhetorical appeals on Instagram to unite people inside and outside of the disabled community, creating broad potential for mobilization that was formerly inaccessible to that particular community.