Michelle Choi Ausman, Gabriela Guillen, and Marianne Anthonette Miranda
Introduction
The recent increase in activism – both social and political – in the wake of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd’s murders, and racial injustice in the United States, has brought up numerous layers of embedded racist ideologies that lie within United States history, such as the legacy of slavery. Amongst outcries to condemn slavery, police brutality, and white supremacy, an unexpected mobilizing force in the cyber world has grown – the Kpop stans. Coming out of the confines of the internet, Kpop stans have blocked racist Twitter trends, utilized fancams, trolled white supremacists, blocked the July 2020 Oklahoma rally by reserving tickets, and so much more. While these acts continue to spread the message that BTS holds dear – love, respect, and equality – these acts showcase a new form of digital activism in the internet age and in the world of COVID-19. In this poster, we explore the ways that fancams have been used to expand the work of social justice activists.
About the Authors
Gabriela Guillen: 1L student at Santa Clara University, School of Law, and former National Co-Chair of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan, and has been interviewed on NPR for her contributions to Latinx student mobilization. Gabriela enjoys writing about social movements as they pertain to gender and racial injustices.
Marianne Anthonette Miranda: Mari is a recent Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies graduate at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, passionate about service design, research ethics, and UX research. In her spare time, she enjoys lifting, being a girl group stan, going on food adventures, and watching true crime documentaries.
Michelle Choi Ausman is a second year Science and Technology Studies PhD student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with interests in speculative design, engineering education, digital politics, and mass misinformation. When not studying or writing, she likes listening to podcasts, cooking, swimming (before COVID-19), and napping.
