Digital Activism on YouTube. The Representation of Power and Counter-Power Relations in a Video Activism Piece During the Second Round of the 2021 Presidential Elections in Peru

Rantes-García G.M.; Vite-León V.O. · Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies (2023) · DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-6347-6_17

Resumen

Digital media has become a fundamental part of today's communication, and video activism is no stranger to this. This research analyzes the video “Elecciones generales 2da vuelta”, by the digital animator POLOVERDE ART, from a sociological perspective. This piece of digital activism, uploaded to YouTube, satirically narrates the political-electoral situation in Peru during 2021. This article seeks to delve into the relations of power and counter-power embodied in this video, investigating the video's comments on the platform. The methodology is based on social constructivism and thematic analysis, through which rejection of the electoral candidates was identified, as well as the congress, while the then president was supported by YouTube users. This concludes that, in this piece of digital activism, the traditional roles of power and counter-power are inverted, showing a president as a symbol of counter-power, while the opposition comes to represent power, within a technological environment of free opinion.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas