The art of defusing online shaming : the theme of online misogyny and shame in contemporary art

Abstract

The theme of this thesis is online shaming and misogyny. Shame is a very powerful emotion that shakes people’s self-esteem and can make them feel unworthy, inadequate, regretful and disconnected, and at its worst, shaming can have life-long consequences. Shaming happens everywhere, and it is shockingly common in today’s communication on the internet. The purpose of this thesis was to get a better knowledge of the phenomenon of online shaming and to find out the reasons based on which people – especially women – are shamed and the consequences that shaming can have on victims. By conducting a literature review of the theme as well as discussing contemporary artists studying the themes of misogyny and shame, a deeper understanding was obtained. That understanding served as the basis for an artistic animation, the project part of the thesis.

This thesis includes a report of the artwork, a 2D animation called Have They Landed Yet?. The animation has characteristics of both experimental and independent animations, and it transmits the emotions that victims of online shaming may go through by means of abstraction. The objective of the animation was to make viewers realize the severity of the phenomenon as well as arouse compassion for the victims.

Although anyone can become a victim of online bullying, women are more likely to get insulted for their appearance and punished for any sexual behaviour. Slut-shaming, body-shaming, sextortion and revenge porn are quite common ways for shaming women online. Although movements such as #MeToo have had a major influence on what comes to sexism and harassment, much remains to be done – especially online, where the bullies and misogynists very rarely face any consequences of their actions.