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Power and Resistance: A Case Study of Satire on the Internet

Author

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  • Lijun Tang
  • Syamantak Bhattacharya

Abstract

Past studies on print and TV satire have revealed that satire can be seen as a site of resistance to power. In light of this, interesting questions can be raised regarding Internet satire: what does the Internet contribute to the resistance and what kind of power relation is played out on this site? Using an example from China, this paper reveals that like its print and TV counterparts, Internet satire reflects a widespread feeling of powerlessness, rather than offering the general public any political power. However, the Internet helps to push the symbolic power of satire to a higher level. This is because it makes satire a tool for the grassroots which facilitates the creation and spread of satirical ideas, and also helps to release and stimulate the enormous reserve of public wit and wisdom. As a result, satire on the Internet has the potential to generate a chain of related satirical work, which can create a satire movement and subject power to sustained shame and ridicule.

Suggested Citation

  • Lijun Tang & Syamantak Bhattacharya, 2011. "Power and Resistance: A Case Study of Satire on the Internet," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 16(2), pages 10-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:16:y:2011:i:2:p:10-18
    DOI: 10.5153/sro.2375
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rebecca MacKinnon, 2008. "Flatter world and thicker walls? Blogs, censorship and civic discourse in China," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 134(1), pages 31-46, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sonja Heintz & Willibald Ruch & Simge Aykan & Ingrid Brdar & Dorota Brzozowska & Hugo Carretero-Dios & Hsueh-Chih Chen & Władysław Chłopicki & Incheol Choi & Alberto Dionigi & Róbert Ďurka & Thomas E., 2020. "Benevolent and Corrective Humor, Life Satisfaction, and Broad Humor Dimensions: Extending the Nomological Network of the BenCor Across 25 Countries," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(7), pages 2473-2492, October.
    2. Ji Pan & Gang (Kevin) Han & Ran Wei, 2021. "Duanzi as Networked Practice: How Online Satire Shapes Psychological Well-Being, Social Support, and Issue Knowledge for Chinese with Different Social Capital during COVID-19 Outbreaks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Huiquan Zhou & Quanxiao Pan, 2017. "Blogging With a Mission, Blogging Within a System: Chinese Government-organized NGOs, Corporate-organized NGOs, Grassroots, and Student Organizations on Weibo," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 22(3), pages 95-119, September.

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