Decoding Communications in the USC Annenberg Youth Academy

The story begins with the term “communications.” This initially evanescent word starts in
the narrator’s perception as a plain-spoken expression defining the exchange of information
between two individuals. However, after delving into topics such as the notion of American
superheroes as symbolism, the three frameworks of a truly good citizen, or the history of
photography and Fredrick Douglass in the abolishment of slavery, the defining factor of the term
“communications” ended shifting almost unrecognizably in the span of five days. Five days of
such, where the narrator grasped the fact that the once blunt and unambiguous communication
they knew, in actuality, “has a ‘complex structure of dominance’ because at each stage [it is]
‘imprinted’ by institutional power-relations” (During and Hall 507). Five days, in which the
notion of civic engagement was magnified to highlight not merely concept, but application and
opportunity to embody what was taught. Five days, where political participation and civic
engagement were drawn together with one aim of making a difference in civic life.

Indeed, this story of the past week is one depicting a wholly switched perspective. The narrator
themselves changed, much like how the long-held belief of the informed citizen being the ideal
societal figure changed to show that a monitorial citizen is most relevant. The narrator changed,
corresponding to the change photography brought through images of Frederick Douglass in
slavery. The narrator changed, resembling how communication has changed over the years to
embody changing people, changing opinions, and changing intent as the world evolves.
Communication itself exists simply as a depiction of gain in personal identity through
interactions with others. Thus, this is a story of change as communication is an emblem of
advancement. In the midst of such progress in the home of communication comes a particular
element the narrator was especially fascinated by: the new era of civics after new media. Indeed,
“it’s not that people aren’t interested in civic participation. They’re simply not interested in
feeling ineffectual or helpless” (Zuckerman 155). In the status quo, change has instilled yet again
in the new generation of media: the youth possesses a distaste of politics due to their inability to
make a change, leading to increased use of social media and what is seemingly Slacktivism. With
this problem comes a solution—yet another emblem of change.
The informed citizen symbolizes the past. Much like the narrator’s past of ambiguity clouding
the blunt term “communication,” the past society embraced an almost currently ignorant model
of democratic engagement titled an informed citizen. Here, their role was “to understand the
political process and the issues of the day, and to participate through voting for representatives,
voting on legislation through referenda, and contacting representatives when concerned about an
issue, whether local or global” (Zuckerman 155).

In this past view of ideality, however, the media-saturated status quo is lacking. In lieu, the view
of the monitorial citizen was realized, corresponding to the narrator’s realization of the role of
civics, human nature, and education in media. Indeed, the monitorial citizen serves as a novel
depiction of a rights-based, post-representative, and media-saturated citizen engaging in civics.
This creation of the monitorial citizen model served as the adequate change and realization
perfectly in correspondence to the narrator’s own epiphany. The monitorial citizen is a direct
depiction of change.

CLS2018 - Ignite Talks Round 1

Thus, the story ends on the same note as it began—with the term “communications.” This
fleeting word that started to the narrator as a word describing speech had expanded exponentially
in a matter of five days. In resemblance to President Harry Truman’s Domino Theory, the change
that the term “communications” underwent ended changing innumerable interconnected topics in
its own realm. In the end, the sole factor tying words, the wise, and a way for the future serves as
change.

Works Cited

Cardoza, Nicole. “Unpack Superheroes and the American Dream.” Anti-Racism Daily, 12 Oct.
2021, the-ard.com/2021/04/16/unpack-superheroes-and-the-american-dream-anti-racism-daily/.

During, Simon, and Stuart Hall. “Encoding, Decoding.” The Cultural Studies Reader, Routledge,
London, 2010, pp. 507–517.

Graeff, Erhardt, director. CLS 2018 – Ignite Talks Round 1. The Rise of Monitorial Citizenship,
2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47bFtw4-hew. Accessed 23 June 2023.

Westheimer, Joel, and Joseph Khane. “‘What Kind of Citizen? The Politics of Educating for
Democracy.’” Educational Research Journal, 2004,
actioncivics.scoe.net/pdf/Action_Civics-What_Kind_of_Citizen.pdf.
Zuckerman, Ethan. “New Media, New Civics?” Policy and Internet 6, 2 (June 2014): 151-168 ©
2014 Policy Studies Organization

“Frederick Douglass and the Power of Photography (U.S. National Park Service).” National
Parks Service, 29 Aug. 2022,
http://www.nps.gov/articles/000/frederick-douglass-and-the-power-of-photography.htm.