Abstract
This article explores the use of the Black American cultural tradition of "signifyin'" as a means of performing racial identity online. In the United States, race is deeply tied to corporeal signifiers. But, in social media, the body can be obscured or even imitated (e.g., by a deceptive avatar). Without reliable corporeal signifiers of racial difference readily apparent, Black users often perform their identities through displays of cultural competence and knowledge. The linguistic practice of "signifyin'," which deploys figurative language, indirectness, doubleness, and wordplay as a means of conveying multiple layers of meaning, serves as a powerful resource for the performance of Black cultural identity on Twitter.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 223-237 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Television and New Media |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Black American culture
- digital media
- race
- social media
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cultural Studies
- Visual Arts and Performing Arts