Learning connected civics: Narratives, practices, infrastructures

Abstract

Bringing together popular culture studies and sociocultural learning theory, in this paper we formulate the concept of “connected civics,” grounded in the idea that young people today are engaging in new forms of politics that are profoundly participatory. Often working in collaboration with adult allies, they leverage digital media and emerging modes of connectivity to achieve voice and influence in public spheres. The rise of participatory politics provides new opportunities to support connected civics, which is socially engaged and embedded in young people's personal interests, affinities, and identities.

We posit three supports that build consequential connections between young people's cultural affinities, their agency in the social world, and their civic engagement: 1. By constructing hybrid narratives, young people mine the cultural contexts they are embedded in and identify with for civic and political themes relevant to issues of public concern. 2. Through shared civic practices, members of affinity networks lower barriers to entry and multiply opportunities for young people to engage in civic and political action. 3. By developing cross-cutting infrastructure, young people–often with adults–institutionalize their efforts in ways that make a loosely affiliated network into something that is socially organized and self-sustaining.

Drawing from a corpus of interviews and case studies of youth affinity networks at various sites across the US, this paper recasts the relationship between connected learning, cultural production, and participatory politics.

Keywords:

• participatory politics
• connected learning
• digital media
• youth culture

Acknowledgments

This paper is indebted to the researchers in the YPP and CLRN networks who have offered not only rich data and case materials but key insights that have informed the analysis represented here. Special thanks go to Elyse Eidman-Aadahl, Cathy Cohen, Howard Gardner, Henry Jenkins, Joseph Kahne and the members of the Leveling Up team: Ksenia Korobkova, Yong Ming Kow, Crystle Martin, Rachel Cody Pfister, Matthew Rafalow, Katie Salen Tekinbas, Amanda Wortman, Timothy Young.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation grants [13-103229-000-USP] and [10-97572-000-USP].

Notes on contributors

Mizuko Ito

Mizuko Ito, PhD is Professor in Residence and MacArthur Foundation Chair in Digital Media in Learning at the University of California, Irvine. Her most recently co-authored books on youth, digital media, and learning include Hanging Out, Messing Around and Geeking Out and Fandom Unbound.

Elisabeth Soep

Elisabeth Soep, PhD is Research Director and Senior Producer at Youth Radio, where she founded the Innovation Lab in partnership with MIT, and where she collaborates with young people on stories for broadcast and digital outlets including National Public Radio. Her 2014 report, Participatory Politics: Next Generation Tactics to Remake Public Spheres, is available through MIT Press.

Neta Kligler-Vilenchik

Neta Kligler-Vilenchik is a doctoral candidate at the University of Southern California, and a researcher with the Media, Activism and Participatory Politics project. She is a co-author of the forthcoming book, By Any Media Necessary: Mapping Youth and Participatory Politics.

Sangita Shresthova

Sangita Shresthova is the Director of Henry Jenkins' Media Activism & Participatory Politics (MAPP) Project at USC. Her recent work includes her book Is It All About Hips? about Bollywood dance and globalization. She is also a co-author on the forthcoming book, By Any Media Necessary: Mapping Youth and Participatory Politics.

Liana Gamber-Thompson

Liana Gamber-Thompson is a Postdoctoral Research Associate with the Media, Activism and Participatory Politics project at the University of Southern California. She is a co-author of the forthcoming book, By Any Media Necessary: Mapping Youth and Participatory Politics.

Arely Zimmerman

Arely M. Zimmerman is an Assistant Professor and Faculty Fellow in Latino Studies the Department of Social & Cultural Analysis at New York University. She is a co-author of the forthcoming book, By Any Media Necessary: Mapping Youth and Participatory Politics.