Witnessing: iteration and social change

Area of Science:

• Media Sociology
• Digital Humanities
• Cultural Production Studies

Background:

• Iteration, often perceived as simple repetition, is explored as a catalyst for social change in the digital age.
• This special issue examines iteration across diverse cultural productions, including digital media, activism, and artistic works.
• The study highlights how iteration, deeply integrated into communication technologies, shapes possibilities for collaboration and persuasion.

Discussion:

• Iteration's dual nature is discussed: it can enable critical engagement and collective labor, but also reproduce power structures and the status quo.
• The pervasive nature of iteration in digital platforms can normalize existing power dynamics and reduce space for critical reflection.
• Analysis of iteration as a communication practice of transmission reveals the interplay of knowledge reception, evaluation, and production.

Key Insights:

• Iteration is a powerful mechanism for persuasion and social change, enabling deeper engagement with meaning, values, and knowledge.
• Examining iteration through specific examples like 'witnessing' in the digital age exposes how power influences what and who is iterated.
• Understanding iteration's components—reception, evaluation, and production—is crucial for analyzing its impact on visibility and persuasion.

Outlook:

• The collection advocates for theorizing through empirical evidence and developing critical praxis to leverage iteration for grassroots goals.
• Further research can explore how to critically engage with iteration to challenge unequal power relations and promote desired social change.
• This work provides a rich foundation for understanding iteration's role in shaping contemporary society and envisioning future possibilities.