I believe our common experience involves shared mass media in large quantities. The age of social media is a heavy factor in making that so. The constant sharing, retweeting, etc. allow for us to consume media in a variety of different ways and allows for people to see what is going on in major events and other stories in our lives. For example, memes are everywhere, and although memes are used to make light of certain topics, the spreading of memes can also let someone know about an ongoing situation; ie. memes about an on-pending World War 3 and a possible draft.
The media covers activists, acts of resistance, and protests in a very divisive way. I believe that our country is in a very divisive time and that is in main part of the media. Issues that affect every American and frankly every person in the world is made into a bi-partisan issue, which causes the divide. A lot of the media outlets feel obligated to choose a side rather than to report the news as unbiased as possible. Therefore, you have an image on activism that on one side seems like a powerful way to create action and conversation, while you have the other side demonizing these acts of resistance and protests, creating an image of negativity.
For example, about a year ago the media reported about a stand off between a Native American protestor and a white student outside of the Lincoln Memorial. When this was reported widespread outrage began against the white student, not only because he was white but because he was wearing a a MAGA hat while the situation occured. and again a divide on the situation began. In the end the situation was made more than of what it was and a teenager was framed for being disrespectful when in actual case the Native American and the white kid were both in the wrong, as well as an outside group that was harrasing the students.
Nathan Phillips, Nick Sandmann
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