Description
Book SynopsisThis book, which takes the form of a graphic novel, looks at political activism in the public landscape. It has a particular focus on the UK activist group Led By Donkeys which has, since late 2018, been running a campaign to expose hypocrisy in the political classes. Their approach to activism involves the use of large posters and other forms of public display, which highlight the gap between the rhetoric and actions of politicians, and how language and communication is used to manipulate opinion. The activism discussed in the book includes four major issues: Brexit, Trump, Covid and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The book is both an innovative visual approach to the presentation of academic research and thought, and an exploration of how the linguistic landscape can be a key resource for the communication of political activism.
Trade ReviewThis is a brilliant non-academic academic book. An afternoon of deeply pleasurable reading is guaranteed for anyone who picks it up. In an act of public service the authors allow the reader to become immersed in a highly innovative style of visual and discursive representation revealing the power of semiotic landscapes in political dissent and democratic activism. * Angela Creese, University of Stirling, UK *
In a truly multimodal treatment of a multimodal subject matter, Seargeant grapples with the complex questions of political activism in the public space and presents them here in both a sophisticated and accessible way. This book not only critiques recent torrid political events but also slakes the public’s thirst for understanding visual communication in protest and activist movements. * Robert Blackwood, University of Liverpool, UK *
Table of ContentsSetting the Scene
A: Accountability
B: Brexit
C: Covid
D: Democracy
E: Emplacement
F: Freedom of Expression
G: Grassroots Campaign
H: Hypocrisy
I: Intertextuality
J: Just Joking
L: Law
M: Metalinguistic Landscape
N: Narrative
O: Online–Offline Nexus
P: Place (and Space)
Q: Quotation
R: Rule of Law
S: Social Media
T: Twitter
U: Urban Environments
V: Victory?
Z: Zed
Afterword
A Second, More Word-Based Afterword
Appendix
A Model of Context for Grassroots Political Protest
Bibliography
Cast and Crew
