Παρουσίαση στο διεθνές συμπόσιο Hybrid Cities που διοργάνωσε στην Αθήνα το τμήμα ΜΜΕ του Παν. Αθηνών

1. Hypothesis: Student occupations are not self-contained places but rather political expressions of broader translocal networks, that form around resistant discourses * Collapse of production-consumption model in the circulation of information (Bruns, 2008) * Reflexive intellectual culture through New Media (Giddens in Ahmed&Shore 1995) * Same fabric for social phenomena, but different “texture” New elements: -Horizontal communication across borders -Heavy new media usage (internet, mobile phones) -Diffusion of values, symbols, methods in the mediascape

3. Field of Study: SOAS occupation -Between November and December 2010 - In the center of London - Next to the Senate house of ULU - Opposite to main building Landmarks Manifesting structure and antistructure (Turner,1995) Derangement in the daily liturgy (Holmes, 1973) Rearrangement of political dynamics (Lefebvre, 1991) But field is multisited, really…

4. WHO -A core of around thirty students (day-to-day activities, security of the space) -A larger - undefined number of students took part in associated activities. -All of the students of SOAS knew about the occupation through two mailing lists “ People with specific affiliations to political groups come in order to push their agenda and hijack the occupation. Thanks to technology we can keep now strong contacts with other groups through the internet and practice direct democracy”. Informant Report, Field Notes, 2010 FUNCTION Quotidian rituals: -Assembly of the students, almost every day at about one o’clock in the afternoon -Every morning cleaning the space Manifestations -Concerts -Talks and discussions Field of Study: SOAS occupation MEANS Mobile phones Email Facebook page Blog of the occupation Brunei gallery - space Posters Flyers, Events

6. Occupations are nodes situated within the present geographical and cultural system (Apandurai, 1995), permeable localities (Moores, 2004). Translocal particular political expressions within context. Connected to broader networks of individuals and groups within the wider political discourse (in the national, European and global context) largely facilitated through new media New Media are ubiquitus, spontaneous, fast, fluid and therefore space was hybrid. SOAS occupation largely presented such charactristics in its function

7. Occupants used systematically Media and Communication devices in a collective manner, as part of their standard obligation towards the community (field notes 2010) Technomystical moment while a court injunction was served on the occupation. Individual articulation and transmission but in a collective manner. Horizontal communication collectivity produced counter narratives of the events.

8. Diffusion of methods, symbols and signs The students did not only answer to the government, but also showed to the young Greeks, Italians, French that they too are angry with what is going on

9. Informant noted that the New Media were empowering the movement Technology employed for the development of anti-kettling tactics (organic in this case) Students maintained a political identity through the construction of counter narratives in the New Media. Doubting the Press was a crucial part of the process Politics of melancholy (Lash, 2002) based on the division of actual/virtual collapse. Mobile phones crucial in this process Utilization instead of fetishization of New Media “ We discovered that we can organize and change things” (Informant report, field notes, 2010)

10. geoscape mediascape Students occupations, London 2010 were broad social networks Nodes on a map (London), communicating and coordinating action Links of communication map consisted of online fora, micropublishing sites, Hybrid Accelerated reactions, allows reaction, changes power relations

11. Globalization changes power relations – Communication technologies are its material basis National Level – Crisis of Institutions Horizontal (local, translocal) communication and information Compression of time/place Traditional consent tactics fail The combination of social institutions and a mix of media, creates reactionary mechanisms

12. More research needs to be done on the relation of organized institutions (political, parties, unions) and flows of information, the birth of anti-hierarchical movements. Thank you Matthaios Tsimitakis Journalist MA student Anthropology of Media SOAS Graphics: Eleni Spyridaki Azzura Muzzinigro