Exit Strategies — Critical Dialogues and Alternative Media. A presentation on “Media Activism Against State Repression in the U.S.” by Chris Robé, author of Abolishing Surveillance: Digital Media Activism and State Repression

Hosted by Transilvania University of Brasov. Brasov, Romania
Sponsored by The Faculties of American Studies and Sociology and Communication

Thursday, March 28th, 2024. 18:00-20:00 (6-8:00 p.m.) Romania/Bucharest Time. Zoom Link here.

In Person Location (with Zoom presentation/Hybrid Event/Audience can attend remote). Transilvania University of Brasov, T Building, Room TP8, 25 Eroilor Boulevard. Brasov, Romania.

FREE EVENT. Open to the Brasov community and beyond.

Volume 4: Media Activism Against State Repression in the U.S.

Description (presentation via Zoom): Digital media production serves as a core element of
many grassroots struggles as cell phones and other handheld devices become more ubiquitous.
Yet such media can also provide a toehold for state repression that infiltrates and surveils
online spaces and digital devices used by activists. This talk explores how copwatchers, and
other groups use such media in their activism and confront various types of state repression in
the process within the U.S.  Dr. Robe will also personally reflect on his own activist experiences
over the years as well as his related research on Romanian New Wave (RNW) Cinema.
Bio: Dr. Chris Robe earned his PhD, Film and Media Studies/Literature from Lehigh University.
He is currently a Professor of Film and Media Studies at Florida Atlantic University.
Robés primary research concerns the use of media by various communities and social
movements. In the twenty-first century, media does not simply offer a representational platform
for different communities but more importantly serves as a material practice to engage in
collective struggles for a wide variety of purposes.

His most recent book Abolishing Surveillance: Digital Media Activism and State Repression (PM
Press, 2023) concerns the relationship between video/digital media activism and state
repression pertaining to animal rights campaigns, counter-summit protesting, Latinx
copwatching and community organizing, and Muslim-American youth resistance.
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Series Description: This speaker series features a combination of critical media scholars,
artists and activists.  It entails talks, conversations, media screenings and performances that
examine historical and contemporary issues related to critical media theory and active media
practices happening in the world.  The series reinforces the importance of independent and
alternative media that functions outside the dominant media systems in search of new ideas,
inspiration and critical thinking skills necessary for a democratic, humanizing and interesting
society.

This dialogue driven series is open to both the Transilvania University and greater Brasov,
Romania community.

Programmer Bio: Dr. David Gracon is a U.S. Fulbright Scholar and visiting professor of
American Studies/Communication at Transilvania University located in Brasov, Romania with a
project focused on critical media literacy education.  His research/creative and teaching
interests include critical media literacy, the political economy of media, alternative media and
documentary film.  He was previously a Fulbright Scholar in Ukraine (2017-2018) and has
served as a faculty member at Eastern Illinois University and Gonzaga University.  He is
currently developing an educational startup: Media Literacy Access Initiative (MLAI). His film
and video works have been screened at the Chicago and Seattle Underground Film Festivals
and at 50+ other venues.