Spraying the Walls, Feeds and Laws: Graffiti as Memetic Technologies of Contentious Politics

Milos Moskovljevic; Muhammad Masood; Marko Skoric

doi:10.1093/ccc/tcaf018

Spraying the Walls, Feeds and Laws: Graffiti as Memetic Technologies of Contentious Politics

Milos Moskovljevic^*, Muhammad Masood, Marko Skoric

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Media and Communication

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

This study examines alternative media (i.e., graffiti) use in contesting the public sphere in the context of the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests. Utilizing the observation method and a theoretical framework of (hybrid) mediation opportunity structure we demonstrate that the protesters have utilized graffiti and street art as the circuit for messages of political resistance in both the material and virtual world. Streets and walls were treated as an extension of the digital sphere by employing graffiti as a memetic means of self-mediation and political resistance in the city.

© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Communication Association. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Article number	tcaf018
Number of pages	14
Journal	Communication, Culture & Critique
Online published	6 Jun 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/ccc/tcaf018
Publication status	Online published - 6 Jun 2025

Bibliographical note

Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

Research Keywords

graffiti
Internet memes
Alternative media
Contentious politics
Hong Kong
mediation opportunity structure

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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abstract = "This study examines alternative media (i.e., graffiti) use in contesting the public sphere in the context of the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests. Utilizing the observation method and a theoretical framework of (hybrid) mediation opportunity structure we demonstrate that the protesters have utilized graffiti and street art as the circuit for messages of political resistance in both the material and virtual world. Streets and walls were treated as an extension of the digital sphere by employing graffiti as a memetic means of self-mediation and political resistance in the city.{\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Communication Association. All rights reserved.",

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AU - Masood, Muhammad

AU - Skoric, Marko

N1 - Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

PY - 2025/6/6

Y1 - 2025/6/6

N2 - This study examines alternative media (i.e., graffiti) use in contesting the public sphere in the context of the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests. Utilizing the observation method and a theoretical framework of (hybrid) mediation opportunity structure we demonstrate that the protesters have utilized graffiti and street art as the circuit for messages of political resistance in both the material and virtual world. Streets and walls were treated as an extension of the digital sphere by employing graffiti as a memetic means of self-mediation and political resistance in the city.© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Communication Association. All rights reserved.

AB - This study examines alternative media (i.e., graffiti) use in contesting the public sphere in the context of the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests. Utilizing the observation method and a theoretical framework of (hybrid) mediation opportunity structure we demonstrate that the protesters have utilized graffiti and street art as the circuit for messages of political resistance in both the material and virtual world. Streets and walls were treated as an extension of the digital sphere by employing graffiti as a memetic means of self-mediation and political resistance in the city.© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Communication Association. All rights reserved.

KW - graffiti

KW - Internet memes

KW - Alternative media

KW - Contentious politics

KW - Hong Kong

KW - mediation opportunity structure

U2 - 10.1093/ccc/tcaf018

DO - 10.1093/ccc/tcaf018

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1753-9129

JO - Communication, Culture & Critique

JF - Communication, Culture & Critique

M1 - tcaf018

ER -

Spraying the Walls, Feeds and Laws: Graffiti as Memetic Technologies of Contentious Politics

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Research Keywords

UN SDGs

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