Humans of the world: mediatization, narratives and identities in the digital society

• Grant number: 20/13927-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2021
• End date: July 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Linguistics - Applied Linguistics
• Principal Investigator: Eliane Fernandes Azzari
• Grantee: Fernanda Pradella Travaglini
• Host Institution: Centro de Linguagem e Comunicação. Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (PUC-CAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project proposes a mixed-approach research which consists of two different steps: firstly, it will focus on a quantitative WEB search, methodologically supported by digital ethnography (Pink et al, 2016). It aims to investigate the cyberspace using "#humansof" as a searching criterion, in order to map and quantify different types of digital media and platforms devoted to or linked to the project "Humans of New York". Then, the next step will consist of selecting and closing up to two of the digital media/platforms previously found (preferably, one Brazilian and one from a different nationality). The main objective of the second step is to perform a qualitative analysis of the selected final samples for the purpose of studying narratives in which contemporary subjects are construed and, at the same time, in which subjects constitute (their) identities. Additionally, it is expected that this investigation will make it possible for the researchers to project some light on otherwise silenced narratives, usually deemed less prestigiously. The qualitative interpretation will find theoretical basis on Bakhtinian discussions (Shields, 2007), as well as in the studies performed by Blommaert and May (2019), Androutsopoulos (2014), Azzari (2019) and Medina (2013).