Research the Ian Tomlinson case. What would the traditional, hegemonic view of the police be in a case like this? How did new and digital media create a different story? What does the police officer's subsequent aquittal suggest about the power of new and digital media?
1) A Traditional Hegemonic view of the police may be that they have great power over the majority of the diverse society. The Ian Tomlinson case shows a police officer striking Ian Tomlinson, causing him to die shortly after. The police who were involved in this incident were not charged or punished, showing that those in the elite class have a great influence to manipulate the news in order for their benefit and to oppress those from a lower status and class. However, despite the officers not being convicted, their action were exposed with the citizen journalism video, clearly showing how Ian Tomlinson was assaulted. This is very disadvantageous as it goes against the story that the elite is trying to create to protect their law enforcers. The acquittal of the police officer shows the great power that some people have in society as they can completely eradicate many issues and avoid situations that is to their disadvantage.
What does the author argue regarding whether hegemony is being challenged by Web 2.0?
2) The article shows that with the internet increasingly giving power to the working class, the internet acts as a platform that allows people to challenge hegemonic views and people are no longer oppressed by societies normalities of the elite having utmost power. Sites that encourage audience participation and user generated content such as You Tube, allows for audiences to post up videos of anything they choose which can threaten the elite's power. The article provides an example of how much new and digital media has transformed the power that people of lower class and status have. In 1979, Blair Peach had a very similar incident occur to Ian Tomlinson, however, to this day, no one has been charged with the death of Blair Peach. The Ian Tomlinson case occurred in 2009, and with the rise of new and digital media, people pressured the elite that this case should go to court. The article continues to say that without the increase of new and digital media, the Ian Tomlinson case would have never been taken to court. The author finally says that the power has not completely shifted from the producers to the audience but it has definitely upset the balance as people can easily create texts similar to the producers and do not need to rely on the traditional media offered to us.
In your opinion, does new and digital media reinforce dominant hegemonic views or give the audience a platform to challenge them?
3) In my opinion, new and digital media, to certain extent, offers a platform for audiences to challenge hegemonic views as it allows them to confidently voice their views, ideas and perspectives on issues that would probably be hidden by the elite without new and digital media. The internet especially offers a platform where the audiences can join together to push forward their opinions to challenge the hegemonic views more powerfully. Despite the powerful elite having a strong hold over the media and its portrayal of events and incidents, new and digital media such as user generated content greatly helps audiences to challenge the hegemonic views rather than reinforce them.
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