View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by DigitalCommons@Bryant University Bryant University DigitalCommons@Bryant University English and Cultural Studies Faculty Publications English and Cultural Studies Journal Articles and Research 2008 Are They for Real? Activism and Ironic Identities Amber Day Bryant University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/eng_jou Part of the Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Mass Communication Commons, and the Rhetoric Commons Recommended Citation Day, Amber, "Are They for Real? Activism and Ironic Identities" (2008). English and Cultural Studies Journal Articles. Paper 86. https://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/eng_jou/86 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the English and Cultural Studies Faculty Publications and Research at DigitalCommons@Bryant University. It has been accepted for inclusion in English and Cultural Studies Journal Articles by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Bryant University. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Amber Day 1 Are They For Real? Activism and Ironic Identities Political activists have not historically been known for their fun-loving sense of humor and playfulness. Nor do they have a reputation for communicating in riddles, deliberately speaking the opposite of what they mean. However, as the realities of mass media communication have evolved, so too have the tactics employed by activists for capturing the media spotlight. More and more groups are now building their actions around a playfully ironic sensibility, creating attention-getting stunts, graphics, and slogans, along with pre-packaged media sound-bites. Within this larger trend, one particular tactic involves a form of masquerade, as groups very deliberately assume the identities of their opponents.