Challenging power through social media
Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. However, in recent years, he has faced serious resistance from ordinary citizens. This article examines subversive internet memes that were created by ordinary Zimbabweans and posted on social media in the aftermath of Robert Mugabe’s col...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Johannesburg
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Communicare |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/jcsa/article/view/1596 |
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| _version_ | 1832593778794299392 |
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| author | Rodwell Makombe Grace Temiloluwa Agbede |
| author_facet | Rodwell Makombe Grace Temiloluwa Agbede |
| author_sort | Rodwell Makombe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. However, in recent years, he
has faced serious resistance from ordinary citizens. This article examines subversive internet
memes that were created by ordinary Zimbabweans and posted on social media in the aftermath
of Robert Mugabe’s collapse at the Harare International airport on 4 February 2015. Firstly, the
study reads internet memes of the Mugabe fall as forms of resistance to the regime. Secondly,
it interrogates the methods that internet memes use to challenge official discourse. Thirdly, the
study critically analyses the various ways in which internet meme creators imagine and represent
Zimbabwe under the Mugabe regime. The article argues that internet memes of the “Mugabe fall”
express subversive views that undermine the regime through humour, exaggeration, satire and
other stylistic devices. Internet memes present an alternative discourse that counters the official
narrative promoted by the regime.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7a67b2a5eb0b47f9aeebacc968af331f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0259-0069 2957-7950 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | University of Johannesburg |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communicare |
| spelling | doaj-art-7a67b2a5eb0b47f9aeebacc968af331f2025-01-20T08:55:44ZengUniversity of JohannesburgCommunicare0259-00692957-79502022-10-0135210.36615/jcsa.v35i2.1596Challenging power through social mediaRodwell Makombe0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3442-611XGrace Temiloluwa Agbede1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6734-5658University of the Free StateDurban University of Technology Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. However, in recent years, he has faced serious resistance from ordinary citizens. This article examines subversive internet memes that were created by ordinary Zimbabweans and posted on social media in the aftermath of Robert Mugabe’s collapse at the Harare International airport on 4 February 2015. Firstly, the study reads internet memes of the Mugabe fall as forms of resistance to the regime. Secondly, it interrogates the methods that internet memes use to challenge official discourse. Thirdly, the study critically analyses the various ways in which internet meme creators imagine and represent Zimbabwe under the Mugabe regime. The article argues that internet memes of the “Mugabe fall” express subversive views that undermine the regime through humour, exaggeration, satire and other stylistic devices. Internet memes present an alternative discourse that counters the official narrative promoted by the regime. https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/jcsa/article/view/1596Robert MugabeZimbabweinternet memessocial mediaRobert Mugabe’s collapse“Mugabe fall” |
| spellingShingle | Rodwell Makombe Grace Temiloluwa Agbede Challenging power through social media Communicare Robert Mugabe Zimbabwe internet memes social media Robert Mugabe’s collapse “Mugabe fall” |
| title | Challenging power through social media |
| title_full | Challenging power through social media |
| title_fullStr | Challenging power through social media |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenging power through social media |
| title_short | Challenging power through social media |
| title_sort | challenging power through social media |
| topic | Robert Mugabe Zimbabwe internet memes social media Robert Mugabe’s collapse “Mugabe fall” |
| url | https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/jcsa/article/view/1596 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rodwellmakombe challengingpowerthroughsocialmedia AT gracetemiloluwaagbede challengingpowerthroughsocialmedia |