From Epic Tales to Digital Trails: Understanding New Mediascapes in Activism

This book offers a critical perspective on the digital landscape, and examines how societies can ensure technology serves the public good and does not exacerbate existing inequalities. It advocates for a proactive approach to address challenges presented by digital media, emphasizing the need for ethical guidelines and inclusive decision-making processes. Rather than merely outlining problems, the the volume offers potential solutions and frameworks for navigating the future, and advocates new forms of political engagement and innovative approaches to governance that leverage technology while safeguarding democratic values and human rights. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the chapters dissect critical issues, from the contours of digital landscapes to social media’s impact on communication patterns to the transformative power of digital mobilization.

Journeying into diverse facets of human engagement with digital media, the book also explores how actors navigate the geographies of digital spaces and the resources at their disposal. The volume will be essential reading for scholars and researchers of media and communications studies, sociology and politics.

Nalanda Roy holds the position of Professor within the Department of Political Science and International Studies at Georgia Southern University, where she also serves as the Coordinator of the Asian Studies program. At GSU, she holds the titles of Certified Diversity Executive and Inclusive Excellence Faculty Fellow. Dr. Roy has been recognized with the prestigious 2024 Professor A. Noam Chomsky Shining Star Research Award.