Creating Technology for Social Change

The use of media and culture in the face of oppression

A possible idea for my project in this class is a case study of how media and culture can be successfully employed by people in the face of some form of oppression and, more importantly, what factors make this victory possible. As I was trying to recall examples that could possibly fit such scenario, I thought of the documentary “Favela Rising” that shows how in the slum areas of Rio de Janeiro, under oppression of criminal gangs, amidst drug-trafficking and corruption, there emerged an Afro-Reggae group that managed to create a community and divert many young people from the very common and profitable path of a drug dealer. The movement started “as a non-profit newspaper for black culture and the communities of the favelas”. Another way in which Afro-Reggae’s activity was marked by media use was the production of a samizdat film “exposing police brutality in the favelas, while also mediating between drug gangs and offering constructive role models”.

The rise of the movement happened as it united people through musical performances, as well as percussion and dance work-shops. This, in my opinion, prepares the ground for interesting discussion of how creation of alternative culture can shape and strengthen communities, inspire personal initiatives and civic action, resulting in real change.

The role of media is no smaller in this case as it greatly facilitated the spreading of Afro-Reggae ideas resulting in further extension of the movement to other favela regions, as well as in making the group visible to the international community. Afro-Reggae group was recognized as on official Brazilian NGO . Also, In 2013 UNESCO has published an open letter of solidarity dedicated to the group.

In the study of this example it would be interesting to look at what exactly allowed for the movement to thrive in the context of oppression as an everyday reality of favelas. Strong discontent towards the movement from the existing power structures of drug cartels has been expressed through recent gunfire attacks organized against Afro-Reggae. Revealing why the movement still lives, survives oppression and effectively combats it, would be useful for approaching similar oppressive structures around the world.