Contributing to the discussion of different groups’ attitudes towards protest movements, this essay aims to examine and describe Swedish teachers’ attitudes towards students’ participation in protest movements during the school day. The topic is relevant since teachers can play a significant role in the political socialisation of the citizens, decision makers and legislators of tomorrow. It is nevertheless a neglected topic; little research has been done on teachers’ attitudes towards protest movements, and even less so on teachers’ attitudes towards students leaving the classroom in order to participate in them. Attitudes towards student participation in the protest movement Fridays for Future are examined and the selection of respondents is based on the least-likely logic; the respondents are teachers that are certified to teach the subject civics in the non-compulsory Swedish school form gymnasium (upper secondary school). The method used to collect data is semi-structured interviews and the framework of analysis is built on models developed in the research fields of didactics and political science. The results show a variety of attitudes among teachers, defined as how teachers value student participation in protest movements during the school day and to what extent teachers accept student participation in protest movements during the school day. No firm conclusions can be drawn from this study, but the results show that all of the respondents value and accept student participation in the protests organised by Fridays for Future during the school day to some extent, but that none of the respondents has an attitude towards the phenomenon that is undividedly positive.

Syftet är att belysa aktivisters, akademikers och bostadsetablissemangets roll i kunskapsproduktion. För att belysa vilken roll de spelat i utvecklingen av kunskap tänker jag utgå ifrån renoveringsfallet i Uppsala län under 2010-talet. Kunskapscirkulation visar på hur olika kunskaper har anammats, omformulerats och förmedlats vidare genom olika medier. De kunskapshistoriska analytiska begreppen översättningar och kunskapens aktörer som den svenska historikern Johan Östling och den tysktalande historikern Phillipp Sarasin myntat, gör det möjligt att förstå hur kunskap har konstruerats, samt att förstå vilka som har tolkat och förmedlat kunskapen vidare. Översättningar är i den här uppsatsen ingång till samhällelig kunskapscirkulation. Huvudfrågan inom samhällelig kunskapscirkulation är hur kunskap blir en del av den allmänna förståelsen. Genom att ta reda på vilka begrepp som kunskapsaktörerna aktivister, akademiker och bostadsetablissemanget anammar och vilka mål de har med översättningarna av begreppen, kan vi också förstå när kunskapen som olika processer generar blir allmän kunskap. Att dessutom undersöka hur kunskapen omformas för aktörernas olika syften, ger en inblick i hur spridningen av kunskap kan möjliggöras eller begränsas. Undersökningen visar att de nämnda kunskapsaktörerna använder olika begrepp för att beskriva samma fenomen inom renoveringsfrågan, nämligen det faktum att en del hyresgäster flyttar efter kostsamma renoveringar som lett till ökade hyror. De medier som publicerar kunskapen begränsar och möjliggör också spridningen av den på olika sätt. Förutom detta, kan valet av medieform också säga något om kunskapens karaktär, exempelvis dess politiska koppling. Slutsatsen är att kunskap som inte översätts inom renoveringskontexten i princip går att betrakta som allmän kunskap.

In the beginning of 2021, the stock of strained and heavily shorted company GameStop rose by almost 2,000 percent. The meteoric rise was caused after users of the subreddit r/wallstreetbets mobilized to buy up stock of the business, hoping that short- sellers would be forced to close their positions, leading to further upside. The purpose of this study is to describe the culture of the subreddit, using Stuart Hall’s (1997) theory of representation to explain how users create meaning. Furthermore, we attempt to explain how the digital nature of the movement affected its structure and organisation, for which Bennett and Segerbergs (2012) framework The logic of connective action is applied. The study used a netnographic approach for data-collection, which was later analyzed using qualitative text- analysis and semiotic-image- analysis. In total, 50 different posts were analyzed which included both texts and memes. Our results indicate that the movement is characterized by the lack of hierarchy and a substantial amount of user- generated content. Narratives and motives have been naturally constructed collectively through the interaction of users rather than enforced by a central authority. A unique feature of the movement is its exclusively digital presence, allowing for fluid participation and individualized framing. The premises and boundaries of activism change as activism becomes more dependent on the digital world. This study offers insight into how digital movements can be constructed and how the digital fundamentally changes the preconditions of activism and mobilization.

Podcaster är en alltmer populär verksamhet och har visat sig spela en betydande roll i sociopolitiska diskussioner. Studien syftar därför till att få en förståelse för vad som engagerar lyssnare av aktivistiska podcaster samt hur engagemanget i relation till sådana podcaster kan uttryckas. Genom att intervjua 16 lyssnare av aktivistiska podcaster i fokusgrupper kunde studien identifiera följande viktiga egenskaper för en podcasts innehåll: 1) Kopplad till lyssnarnas intressen & värderingar, 2) Pålitlig & genuin, 3) Lärorik, 4) Underhållande och 5) Aktuell. Studien identifierade också ett antal bakomliggande faktorer för dessa, exempelvis förstås att programledarnas personligheter och samspel spelar en viktig roll. Dessutom finner studien att en podcasts multimediala närvaro spelar en central roll för att engagera lyssnare. Slutligen förstås att lyssnares engagemang uttrycks i form av känslomässiga band och beteenden i relation till podcasten och dess programledare, något som kan leda till flertalet fördelaktiga företagsekonomiska effekter.

The subject of this work is research of the transformation of public spaces in the modern European city structure. Modern life is changing, but there are more and more examples proving that urban spaces only partially correspond to the changing environment and the demands of people. The result is noticed as „emptying“ of some public spaces, which is characterized by lack of diversity and richness of the physical and social content of space and the subsequent loss of their meaning. This paper aims to describe the emerging „empty“ public spaces, to creat their definition and classification. The work generally examines the current situation of public spaces and describe the factors that cause their transformation. The work also presents an analysis of the problems emerging empty spaces and highlights the possible potential of these areas. Finally, it is described the current trends in the revitalization of empty public spaces, which are an example of their potential use.

The aim of this study is to explore whether activism can counteract and prevent exclusion in Christian tradition and practice. The analysis is helped by queer theologian Marcella Althaus-Reid as a primary theoretical standpoint. The study is based on Petra Carlsson's exploration of the queer nuns and activists: The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and the movement will be elucidated and interpreted through queer theology as expressed by Althaus-Reid. The method used is a textual analysis, where the study will compare Althaus-Reid’s queer theology and Carlsson’s radical material theology; with the aim to present, analyse and discuss activism.  First, Althaus-Reid’s queer theology is systematized thematically based on the studies analysis points: the body, symbols and activism. Secondly, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are presented and depicted through Carlsson’s interpretation of the movement. After this the queer nuns are compared to Althaus-Reid's queer theology, followed by a comparison of Althaus-Reid’s and Carlsson’s theologies. Lastly, with the help of Erik Gyll, the study discusses the situation for LGBT people in religious environments, such as church, and possible consequences of queer activism- and theology in Christian communities.  Althaus-Reid emphasises the need to do theology from different bodies/parts, especially those that have been excluded. She wants to liberate theological concepts from a heteronormative framework, which she believes limits people’s understanding of and access to God. Multiplicity is also prominent with Carlsson. She advocates for a performative viewpoint, that through adding expressions and expanding the imagery, it is also possible to create and change reality. The analysis indicates a need for theology which can embrace real life and experiences. The research shows that for those who create and engage in alternative expressions or activism, such participation enables access to symbols and spaces from which they were previously excluded. Therefore, it is also reasonable to conclude that it is a relevant and fruitful approach as long as people are still excluded from Christian communities, and the church is not a safe place for everyone.

Hur fungerar Internet som politiskt verktyg i praktiken? På vilka sätt förändras förutsättningarna för politisk kamp med ökade möjligheter till oberoende medieproduktion och global distribution?Med ett tvärvetenskapligt förhållningssätt grundat i ett medie- och kommunikationsvetenskapligt perspektiv intervjuas representanter från den svenska miljörörelsen samt organisationer som arbetar för mänskliga rättigheter i Tibet.Resultatet av undersökningen visar att sociala rörelser arbetar i digitala nätverk där autonomi, decentralisation och flexibilitet är nyckelord – precis samma organisationslogik som globaliserade företag arbetar under. Detta möjliggör en oberoende sfär för information och kommunikation som i sin tur leder till ett symbiotiskt förhållande med etablerade mediekanaler. Vi går därmed ifrån att vara ”konsumenter” till att bli ”användare” – en radikalt förändrad maktrelation mellan producent och mottagare. Detta paradigmskifte resulterar i en enorm mängd publicerad information och det är svårt att skapa uppmärksamhet. När det gäller kampanjarbete används Internet därför som en kanal bland andra, mer traditionella kanaler. De globala kommunikationsmöjligheterna fungerar å andra sidan som ett socialt bindemedel, och Internets decentraliserade struktur möjliggör en sidsteppning av censur. Internet kan därmed fungera som en tillflyktsort, en frizon för utsatta grupper.

Uppsatsens syfte är att undersöka hur fan-aktivistiska praktiker online kan skapa gemenskap bland fans och bidra till social förändring för hbtq-personer. Genom att använda kvalitativ innehållsanalys fördjupar jag mig i åtta artiklar som analyserar fansens engagemang, gemenskap och praktiker, relationen mellan producent och fans samt begreppet bury your gays. Då jag positionerar mig inom fältet fanstudier betraktar jag publiken som en aktiv och kreativ aktör. Det speglar även mina teoretiska perspektiv där jag utgår från begreppen medborgarskap, identitet och publikens taktiker kontra producenternas strategier. Resultatet av studien visar att fansen kollektivt kunde skapa en långvarig och handlingskraftig rörelse för att belysa hbtq-frågor. Då konvergensen och fankulturen utvecklats tillsammans kunde fans förlänga producenternas kulturproduktion och ge utrymme för egenproducerat material som även stärkte fansens identiteter. Slutsatsen blir att producenter har makt över mediet då de kan definiera och konstruera normer men det innebär också att publiken har kontroll över sitt eget formade och tolkande av innehållet. / The purpose of the essay is to investigate how fan activist practitioners online can create community among fans and contribute to social change for LGBTQ people. By using qualitative content analysis, I examine eight articles that analyze fans' involvement, community and practices, the relationship between producer and fans, as well as the concept of bury your gays. When I position myself in the field of fan studies, I consider the audience as an active and creative participant. My analysis also reflect my theoretical perspectives, assuming the concepts of citizenship, identity and the audience's tactics versus the producers' strategies. The result of the study shows that fans could collectively create a long-lasting and effective movement to highlight LGBTQ issues. When convergence and fan culture developed together, fans could prolong producers' culture production and provide space for self-produced material that also strengthened their identities. The conclusion is that producers have power over the medium as they can define and construct norms, but it also means that the public has control over their own form and interpretation of the content.

During the 1980s, an acute and deadly epidemic appeared in the United States. AIDS, a disease that initially affected mainly gay men, required a rapid and effective treatment. Due to tough regulations form government agencies and the stigma surrounding the disease, it would take a long time for a treatment to be developed. To break the silence, demand action and push for changes to combat the AIDS epidemic, the activist group ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) was formed. A network formed around their actions that created an environment capable of developing new treatment methods. Using interviews, articles, and reports, this analysis will draw on Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to examine how ACT UP mobilizes lay expertise and navigates conflicts within its network to influence research processes and AIDS treatment. This analysis highlights the mobilization of lay expertise and shows how the constructive management of conflicts within networks can play a crucial role in challenging established research structures, influencing decision-making processes, and ultimately shaping the response to public health crises like the AIDS epidemic.

Background: In 2017, brands have started to use their advertisements to take stance in political issues. However, since this trend has emerged in 2017, research in the field is limited. The research that is available is focused on how attitudes toward advertisements in general affect consumer attitudes toward the brand, which calls for deeper knowledge on how the political activism trend affect consumers’ attitudes. Purpose: To explore how political activism in advertisements affect consumers’ attitudes toward the brand behind the advertisement. Research Question: How does political activism in advertisements affect consumers’ attitudes toward the brand? Methodology: This study is of qualitative nature and took an explorative approach. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews based on a convenience sample of 11 respondents. Conclusion: The main findings from this study was that political activism in advertisement had an enhancing affect on respondents’ attitudes toward the brand behind the advertisement. Respondents that had positive attitudes toward the brand before were more positive toward the brand after the political advertisement, while the ones who were negative became more negative after the political advertisement.  Keywords Political activism, attitudes toward advertisements (Aad), attitudes toward brands (Ab), incongruity and involvement.