Tactical Media and Hactivism

Tactical media emerged back in 1996 relating to a movement created in order to challenge the viewers. Media, art and political activism became different types of methods used to induce different thoughts and feelings yet has continuously re-articulated through its practice. David Garcia, a media activist defined Tactical Media as “"what happens when the cheap 'do it yourself' media, made possible by the revolution in consumer electronics and expanded forms of distribution (from public access cable to the internet) are exploited by groups and  individuals who feel aggrieved by or excluded from the wider culture.”[1] This is what separates it from mainstream media.

Tactical media allowed artists to exploit technological changes and begin to self-produce media, along with initially recreating the ideas of what media has the potential to do/be. For example, artist Krzysztof Wodiczko used the tactical media method within his art to raise awareness of homelessness in New York City. The Homeless Vehicle Project was seen as a symbolic movement as his work was used to highlight huge problems with community but also making the public aware. Wodiczko explains the way the public responded to his work using " certain gestures, certain ways of behaving, speaking, dialoguing, of building up stories, narratives: the homeless become actors… things which they usually are not. The idea is to let them speak and tell their own stories, to let them be legitimate actors on the urban stage."[2]

Another more recent example of Tactical Media being used in art, is when street artist Banksy’s famous piece of “Girl with Balloon” was self-destructed, shredding itself after being purchased at an auction over £1m in front of everyone. With the piece of art now going down in history, the value of the art added around a 50% increase, this demonstrating how it represents the current values of commodification.

Banksy also posted a video to his Instagram account explaining and showing himself build the shredder months before the auction and also how it all went to plan. The video instantly had a major response being shared and commented on almost 100,000 times. The video has over 14 million views.

Hactivism is a term coined together in 1996 also, it is known as the use of technology to promote a political agenda or social change. Similar to Tactical Media it’s a prime example of freedom of speech, allowing people to share information that we need to know, it is a form of activism. For example, Julian Assange a computer programmer whom also was the founder of Wikileaks. The site included vital information and insights into Afghanistan war logs and so on.

I believe that Tactical Media and Hackitivism is helpful to the public and artists as it creates a platform for them to share on whilst also giving the public a rounded idea to the ins and outs of something that we may not be shown/told with the government having a huge say in what is shown in the media.

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[1] Garcia, D. (2008). The ABC of Tactical Media. Available: http://www.tacticalmediafiles.net/articles/3160/The-ABC-of-Tactical-Media. Last accessed 9th Jan' 2019.

[2] Wodiczko, K. (2014). Art About Poverty and Homelessness. Available: http://moreart.org/art-about-poverty-and-homelessness/. Last accessed 9th Jan' 2019.