Σεμινάρια της Τρίτης του ΕΕΠΓ – ΧΕΙΜΩΝΑΣ 2023-ΑΝΟΙΞΗ 2024

Landscapes of Protest Movements: Discourses that Mobilize and Prefigure Other Worlds

Luisa Martín Rojo
MIRCo-UAM

Περίληψη/ Abstract
In my ongoing research on protest movements since 2011 in the field of Linguistic Landscapes (Martín Rojo, 2014 [2016a & b]), I have focused on understanding how citizens shape urban and public spaces through linguistic and semiotic practices. Building on previous research, this presentation aims to explore the interplay between discursive and spatial practices within protest movements.
Beginning with a focus on spatial practices as exemplified by movements such as Occupy, my presentation examines how these movements appropriate and take control of urban spaces. Once these spaces are self-governed by these movements with alternative principles and ideologies, they are performed as political arenas.
In turn, graffiti, banners, flyers, and assemblies, as well as online/offline communication, which are integral components of these discursive practices, are significantly influenced by the specific spaces they occupy, such as streets and squares, and respond to the unique political demands of the protesters. As a result, these spaces go beyond mere protest sites to become arenas where alternative worlds can be prefigured.
After exploring the interplay between spatial and discursive practices, the presentation shifts to an examination of communicative practices. By examining features such as creativity, mobility, and multi-compositionality, two central discursive moves are identified: entextualization and resemiotization. These moves shed light on the transformative potential inherent in these movements and illustrate their profound impact on shaping not only physical urban landscapes, but also the power of discourse.