Making the world a better place, violently. A study of the narratives of Djurfront
(2021) SOCM04 20211Sociology
Department of Sociology
- Abstract
- In this thesis I investigate the narratives through which Djurfront makes sense of and justify animal rights, actions, demonstrations as well as the use of violence. But also how these narratives within Djurfront are formed and maintained. By using narrative theory and narrative criminology I investigate how Djurfront creates and shapes their narratives, but also how these are used to encourage (violente) action. The theory of underdog stories is used to understand Djurfront’s view on themselves, their opponents, the purpose of their struggle and what keeps them motivated. With netnography as my methodological approach I examine news articles, interviews, Djurfront’s instagram account and texts published by Djurfronts activists. I also... (More)
- In this thesis I investigate the narratives through which Djurfront makes sense of and justify animal rights, actions, demonstrations as well as the use of violence. But also how these narratives within Djurfront are formed and maintained. By using narrative theory and narrative criminology I investigate how Djurfront creates and shapes their narratives, but also how these are used to encourage (violente) action. The theory of underdog stories is used to understand Djurfront’s view on themselves, their opponents, the purpose of their struggle and what keeps them motivated. With netnography as my methodological approach I examine news articles, interviews, Djurfront’s instagram account and texts published by Djurfronts activists. I also asked Djurfront questions via email and conducted four qualitative interviews with activists from other animal rights organizations to answer questions the collected netnographic material could not fully cover. This thesis contributes to an increased understanding of how animal rights activists create meaning around their actions and approaches to conducting the fight for animals. But it also shed light on how they make moral sense of violent actions and what techniques they use to do this. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- What makes animal rights activists use violent methods to pursue their activism?
According to Djurfront, animal rights activism needs to become more radical. It is no more than right that people who use or eat animals suffer, or are being harassed. But how can Djurfront see it as a matter of course?
To answer this, I have examined the narratives through which Djurfront makes sense of and justify animal rights, actions, demonstrations as well as the use of violence. But also how these narratives within Djurfront are formed and maintained. A narrative can be seen as a story, something that explains what has happened, but also points to where one should go in the future. For example, when Djurfront talks about demonstrations they have... (More) - What makes animal rights activists use violent methods to pursue their activism?
According to Djurfront, animal rights activism needs to become more radical. It is no more than right that people who use or eat animals suffer, or are being harassed. But how can Djurfront see it as a matter of course?
To answer this, I have examined the narratives through which Djurfront makes sense of and justify animal rights, actions, demonstrations as well as the use of violence. But also how these narratives within Djurfront are formed and maintained. A narrative can be seen as a story, something that explains what has happened, but also points to where one should go in the future. For example, when Djurfront talks about demonstrations they have carried out and how they will not give up until a mink farm has closed down, it is a form of story.
Since the government designated animal rights activism as a special issue for the police in 2019, it is also important to create a knowledge and understanding behind the activism. What drives them, how do they view animals, why they sometimes use violent methods and what do they consider to be right and wrong. My study contributes to an insight into Djurfront and how they can see radical or violent methods as a matter of course in the fight for the animals. In order to solve a problem, we must also understand the root of the problem, which I want to contribute with the help of my study. By gaining an insight and increased understanding of Djurfronts motives and activism it will also be easier to design strategies for dealing with animal rights activism.
To investigate this, I have studied Djurfront's instagram, texts and articles that have been written by their activists as well as news articles that include Djurfront in some way. I also asked Djurfront questions via email, which they answered as a unified group. In addition to this, I have also conducted 4 interviews with members from the animal rights organizations Djurens Rätt, Djurrättsalliansen and a former member from Djurfront. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9053854
- author
- Carnefjord, Hannah LU
- supervisor
-
- Erik Hannerz LU
- organization
- course
- SOCM04 20211
- year
- 2021
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Djurfront, Animal rights, Animal Rights Activism, Narratives, Cultural Criminology
- language
- English
- id
- 9053854
- date added to LUP
- 2021-06-14 16:14:33
- date last changed
- 2021-06-14 16:14:33
@misc{9053854,
abstract = {{In this thesis I investigate the narratives through which Djurfront makes sense of and justify animal rights, actions, demonstrations as well as the use of violence. But also how these narratives within Djurfront are formed and maintained. By using narrative theory and narrative criminology I investigate how Djurfront creates and shapes their narratives, but also how these are used to encourage (violente) action. The theory of underdog stories is used to understand Djurfront’s view on themselves, their opponents, the purpose of their struggle and what keeps them motivated. With netnography as my methodological approach I examine news articles, interviews, Djurfront’s instagram account and texts published by Djurfronts activists. I also asked Djurfront questions via email and conducted four qualitative interviews with activists from other animal rights organizations to answer questions the collected netnographic material could not fully cover. This thesis contributes to an increased understanding of how animal rights activists create meaning around their actions and approaches to conducting the fight for animals. But it also shed light on how they make moral sense of violent actions and what techniques they use to do this.}},
author = {{Carnefjord, Hannah}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Making the world a better place, violently. A study of the narratives of Djurfront}},
year = {{2021}},
}