https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik 3 Working Groups: 1. Instagram Hashtag 2. Curated Lifestyle Mag 3. Pop Song Video en-us 2021-01-13 12:08:52 UTC 2021-05-06 10:41:42 UTC hello@padlet.com fredrikprobst https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik/wish/1082668231
Take a look at the instagram exploration page of the hashtag #blackgirlmagic and take some time to click through the content(5 min):
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/blackgirlmagic/

Then discuss and note the thoughts you have on the following questions in this column underneath. Of course you can use other examples you have in mind than the content in todays feed. (10 min)

1. What are the advantages and constraints of the hashtag medium on social media platforms for the dissemination of positive images of black femininity?
(You can f.e. think about the topics mentioned in the reading: challenging beauty standards and stereotypes, representation of diverse bodies, colorism, impact on consumers... but also what about change in material and structural conditions?)
- Continuation of the American dream, but without the material conditions
- Criticism of Instagram as a platform with very blurry messages and audience. What is a commercial, what is being sold or uplifted, what is the purpose of each post?
- Black women as a marketing group, but that's not inherent to Instagram (but to capitalism as a whole).
- Still, many women presented themselves as beautiful and strong, so it's a empowering movement.
- Who is targeted by the #, which algorithms promote it? You actievely have to search for it, Insta doesn't promote it. So it relies on promotion within Black culture and appeals to the peer group. But should it even be known/used by White women?
- For new generations, Instagram is huge, new field with potential. Which intersection of #BGM and #BLM ? Perhaps #BGM has initiated young, apolitical persons to political issues such as #BLM.
- Coronavirus and lockdown has fostered discoveries and reaching out to new content on social media, has merged the IRL and online realities even more.


2. Cashawn Thompson, ususally cited as the one who started the #BlackGirlMagic social media "campaign" sold T-Shirts with  a print of the slogan. Many of the Instagram content using the hashtag is advertisement. What about commercialisation in this form of activism? Is it to the advantage or a danger for the movement? Is it inherent in this forms of activism?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD5glIyjRMk: Google ad


3. #BlackGirlMagic has been criticized for presenting Black women as overly strong or resilient, sometimes event tipping in the cliché of the tough “Black Mamma”, instead of focusing on everyday lives. What do you make of this critique? Is this kind of stereotypical image reinforced through Instagram content?



After aprox. 15 min we return to the plenary. Please share the ideas you noted shortly and discuss what you think about the different forms of online activism and how they relate to #blackgirlmagic with the other groups.]]> 2021-01-13 12:20:41 UTC https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik/wish/1082668231 fredrikprobst https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik/wish/1082705153 Take a look at the main page of the RosaMag a german online lifestyle mag for Black women (5min):
 https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&u=https://rosa-mag.de/ (English)
https://rosa-mag.de/ (German)

Then discuss and note the thoughts you have on the following questions in this column underneath. Of course you can use other examples than the one mentioned above (10 min): 

1. What are the advantages and constraints of a curated online magazine for the dissemination of positive images of black femininity? 
(You can f.e. think about the topics mentioned in the reading: challenging beuty standards and stereotypes, representation of diverse bodies, coulorism, impact on consumers... but also what about change in material and structural conditions?)

2. Their has been a legal dispute between Essence a lifestyle magazine for Black women and the founder of an NGO called Black Girls Rock! about the intellectual property of the slogan Black Girl Magic. What about commercialisation in this form of activism? Is it to the advantage or a danger for the movement? Is it inherent in this forms of activism? 

3. #BlackGirlMagic has been criticized for presenting Black women as overly strong or resilient, sometimes event tipping in the cliché of the tough “Black Mamma”, instead of focusing on everyday lives. What do you make of this critique? Is this kind of stereotypical image reinforced through lifestyle mags?

After aprox. 15 min we return to the plenary. Please share the ideas you noted shortly and discuss what you think about the different forms of online activism and how they relate to #blackgirlmagic with the other groups.]]> 2021-01-13 12:35:30 UTC https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik/wish/1082705153 fredrikprobst https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik/wish/1082730170 Watch and listen to the music video of Janelle Monaés "Django Jane"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTjQq5rMlEY
You can read the lyrics of the song on this page. Also read the remarks of Monaé on the inspiration of the song (in the column on the right to lyrics) (5min): https://genius.com/Janelle-monae-django-jane-lyrics

Then discuss and note the thoughts you have on the following questions in this column underneath. Of course you can use other examples than the one mentioned above (10 min): 

1. What are the advantages and constraints of pop songs and their online aesthetics for the dissemination of positive images of black femininity? 
(You can f.e. think about the topics mentioned in the reading: challenging beuty standards and stereotypes, representation of diverse bodies, coulorism, impact on consumers... but also what about change in material and structural conditions?)

-you need to be aware that Monae and other pop artist are not monoliths who can speak for all Black women

2. Artists like Janelle Monaé realese their music inside a profit-oriented music industry? What about commercialisation in this form of activism? Is it to the advantage or a danger for the movement? Is it inherent in this forms of activism? 


3. #BlackGirlMagic has been criticized for presenting Black women as overly strong or resilient, sometimes event tipping in the cliché of the tough “Black Mamma”, instead of focusing on everyday lives. What do you make of this critique? Is this kind of stereotypical image reinforced through pop music aesthetics?

-rap very much tips rather into this cliché but at the same time there are pop genres like rnb and soul that show a more sensitive/sensual side

After aprox. 15 min we return to the plenary. Please share the ideas you noted shortly and discuss what you think about the different forms of online activism and how they relate to #blackgirlmagic with the other groups.

]]> 2021-01-13 12:45:03 UTC https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik/wish/1082730170 fredrikprobst https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik/wish/1082796262 2021-01-13 13:06:13 UTC https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik/wish/1082796262 fredrikprobst https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik/wish/1082799846 2021-01-13 13:07:22 UTC https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik/wish/1082799846 fredrikprobst https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik/wish/1082802183 2021-01-13 13:08:00 UTC https://padlet.com/fredrikprobst/cz7sd627o5vhmwik/wish/1082802183