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Tactic as Art: Everyday Digital Resistance

Research Open House 2021

Xinyi Li
School of Design, Undergraduate Communications Design

This project uses cases from the early days of the pandemic to frame the concept of everyday digital resistance, unpacking the factors that contributed to the domination of this type of resistance.

While capitalism prioritizes digital platforms’ marketing values, online platforms are also venues for activism across borders.

Functions of art and design, tactics, example actions listed in a tabular view
Everyday digital resistance during Covid-19

Everyday digital resistance is characterized as tactics of micro-interventions integrated into life, standing opposite from radical confrontations on the continuum of activism. Often spontaneous and unorganized, the actions collectively create impact and the potential to undermine power, while individuals can remain relatively disguised and unnoticed, which is especially valuable for actors in high-risk contexts.