Existing and Resisting in Contemporary Society: Contributions to the Debate on Communication and Culture

[Excerpt] From activist art to independent journalism, from the occupation of urban spaces to the cultural expressions of peripheral communities, resistance manifests itself in multiple forms, confronting prevailing systems of domination. As power structures reinvent themselves, new forms of resistance also emerge. We approach the concept of resistance as a process that challenges power structures in various national contexts. Through a diversity of approaches, this work proposes a debate on cultural practices interpreted as critical, counter-hegemonic, and ongoing forms of work in the cultural field that, nonetheless, configure new possibilities for what it means to be human. Contemporary society presents a panorama of heightened complexity, marked by deep instability and social and cultural divisions, where uncertainties permeate both individual and community relationships. On the sociopolitical level, many peoples face the threat of disappearance as a result of violent processes of displacement, wars, new forms of colonization, marginalization, and the denial of recognition of the other. […]

Reference: Macedo, I., Oliveira, T., & Martins, M. de L. (2024). Existir e resistir na sociedade contemporânea: Contributos para o debate sobre comunicação e cultura. Húmus. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/96223

Migrations, Media, Mnemonic Activisms, and Anti-Racist Struggles

Abstract: Media narratives about migration often reinforce boundaries between “us” and “them,” relying on specific language that frequently silences and dehumanizes migrants, implicitly or explicitly reifying racial hierarchies forged during European colonialism. The decolonization of the public sphere is a complex, multifaceted, and sensitive process with multiple social impacts. In this text, we discuss key concepts that underpin an ongoing action-research project, which takes on two main challenges. First, it aims to contribute to greater visibility and recognition of those who occupy positions of otherness within the Portuguese context, acknowledging them as active agents in social transformation and the construction of more just and inclusive futures. Second, it seeks to promote the decolonization of communication, journalism, and media studies more broadly, and to foster constructive relationships among the various actors involved in these processes (journalists, filmmakers, artists, activists, etc.). This requires critical reflection on migration, media, and activism. From a situated and intersectional perspective—acknowledging the complexity of sociocultural dynamics in contemporary societies—we aim to challenge and rethink the ways we perceive, feel, and act upon ourselves and the world around us.

Reference: Cabecinhas, R. (2024). Migrações, media, ativismos mnemónicos e lutas antirracismo. In I. Macedo, T. Oliveira, & M. de L. Martins (Orgs.), Existir e resistir na sociedade contemporânea: Contributos para o debate sobre comunicação e cultura (pp. 31–50). Húmus. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/96223