Events

CHAIRPERSON

Assoc Prof Maznah Mohamad, Department of Malay Studies, National University of Singapore. 

ABSTRACT

The popularity of social media and online communities among youth in Malaysia and Singapore exist amidst significant cultural and political struggles within both countries. The current crisis environment which include issues related to gender and sexuality, censorship, internet freedom, and the rights of migrant communities is the backdrop to the controversy surrounding the social media platform, which assumes political, cultural and moral manifestations. Recent and ongoing threats by the Malaysian and Singaporean governments to enforce Internet policies articulate the desperate attempts by the State to monitor the use of social media in mobilizing society to participate in offline events that contradict or challenge decisions made by the powers that be, particularly those advocating changes to the constitution. Based upon findings from an ongoing research project on ‘Social Media and Youth Agency in Malaysia’ and textual analysis of social media sites set up by youth activists in Singapore, this paper offers a comparative discussion on how these sites may be projected as spaces of culture and identity, as platforms to establish localized arenas for public debate and cultural expressions and to function, more importantly, as meaningful local public spheres. In recognizing the capacity of social media to interrupt or de-centre the political landscape of the nation, this paper addresses the use of online platforms by youth activists to facilitate the formation of social identities that have influenced political allegiances among youth. In addition, this paper highlights the differences (and similarities) in the way youth engage with social media – be it to voice dissent, to seek empowerment, and/or to affect (positive) changes within the society they live in. It argues that social media sites reflect how youth negotiate with current conditions of authority and power (c.f. Foucault’s governmentality), and the distinctive characteristics of ‘activism’ in both countries.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Joanne Lim (PhD) is Visiting Research Fellow at the Asia Research Institute (Cultural Studies in Asia Cluster). Joanne specializes in the areas of media and cultural studies including cultural policies and the creative industries. Her research is concerned with discourses on media and globalization, which explores the politics and implications of (new/social) media within Asian transformations (identities, cultures and state politics). She is also interested in the areas of youth engagement and participatory culture in Southeast Asia. She recently completed an International Development Research Centre (Canada) funded Pan-eGov project on ‘Youth, ICTs, and Political Engagements in Asia’ and is currently leading two research projects funded by the Ministry of Higher Education on ‘Social Media and Youth Agency in Malaysia’ and ‘Youth Theatre: Fostering Interculturality Through the Performing Arts in Malaysia’. Her work has been published in books and academic journals including the International Communication Gazette (75(3), April 2013) and more recently in the International Journal of Cultural Studies (October 2013).

REGISTRATION

Admission is free. We would greatly appreciate if you RSVP Mr Jonathan Lee via email: jonathan.lee@nus.edu.sg