Storytelling and Visual Designs in Collective Movements: The Case of GameStop 2021

Year 2023, Volume: 20 Issue: 53, 354 - 363, 30.05.2023

Onur Şahin Karakuş

https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1252483

Abstract

Interactive media involve the process of evaluating information flows by users, following which a chain reaction is initiated among various perspectives on the relevant topic. Dominant views arise as a consequence of the process of memetic selection. These feedbacks gain a visual form through posters, "memes," and illustrations designed by anonymous users. These designs are critically important in maintaining and storytelling of a social movement. In this article, the function of visual designs in storytelling processes is discussed in the context of collective movements. In this context, a recent financial conflict, known in the literature as “The Case of GameStop 2021" which is a recent social movement, has been taken as sample. Study is based on the “case study research method” a type of qualitative research method. The data used was obtained from a social media group actively involved in individual investing and data providers in the investment sector. With this data, the correlation between the two variables was investigated. My findings suggest that these visual designs were utilized as a means of impact in the relevant financial struggle and successful results were achieved. It has also been found that these visual designs can form the main outlines of a collective storytelling process.

Keywords

collective movement, memetic selection, storytelling, visual designs.

Toplumsal Hareketlerde Hikaye Anlatımı ve Görsel Tasarımlar: GameStop 2021 Örneği

Abstract

Etkileşimli medyadaki bilgi akışları kullanıcılar tarafından değerlendirilmekte ve ilgili konuya dair çeşitli düşünceler arasında bir tepkime başlamaktadır. Böylece memetic bir seçilimin sonucunda “baskın görüşler” oluşmaktadır. Bu geri bildirimler anonim kullanıcıların tasarladığı poster, “meme” ve illüstrasyonlar sayesinde görsel biçim kazanmaktadır. Bu tasarımlar toplumsal bir hareketin sürdürülmesinde ve hikayeleştirilmesinde kritik öneme sahiptir. Bu makalede, görsel tasarımların hikayeleştirme süreçlerindeki işlevleri, kolektif hareketler bağlamında ele alınmıştır. Bu kapsamda yakın döneme ait toplumsal bir hareket olan ve literatüre “2021 GameStop Olayı” olarak geçen finansal bir mücadele, örneklem olarak ele alınmıştır. Çalışma nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden biri olan "vaka çalışması" yöntemi üzerine kuruludur. Kullanılan veriler, bireysel yatırımcılık alanında aktif olan bir sosyal medya grubundan ve yatırım sektöründeki veri sağlayıcılarından elde edilmiştir. Bu veriler sayesinde iki değişken arasındaki korelasyon araştırılmıştır. Bulgular, bu görsel tasarımların ilgili finansal mücadelede bir etki aracı olarak kullanıldığını ve başarılı sonuçlar elde edildiğini göstermektedir. Aynı zamanda bu görsel tasarımların kolektif bir hikayeleştirme sürecinin ana hatlarını oluşturabildiği tespit edilmiştir.

Keywords

kolektif hareket, memetik seçilim, hikayeleştirme, görsel tasarım.

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