Production companies and broadcasters no longer hold a monopoly over moving-images - instead, a new theatre of public information has emerged. Spread across the internet, television, festivals and campaigns this emerging ‘Video Republic’ is a messy, alternative realm of video creation and exchange, dominated by young people. Who inhabits, shapes and regulates the Video Republic?

As young people experiment with taking on powerful roles as reporters, distributors, commentators and artists, they are increasingly plotting their ‘route around’ existing political and cultural institutions. This poses a profound challenge to decision-makers, but it also creates opportunities. For European democracies starved of legitimacy, it could open up new channels for democratic expression and participation.


The Project and You
We are currently determining the scope of our research in a literature review. You can keep abreast of the project by checking the project blog and our themes. We will also set up a wikispace where you can keep abreast of what we are reading. We will post any interim papers here. During Spring 2008 we will make visits to several different countries across Europe. We will publish the dates and locations of these visits here (if you’d like to meet up).

Finland: We were in Helsinki from February 18th to 22nd. You can read some of our thoughts about the visit here; and watch a video of our trip here.
Berlin: We were in Berlin from March 24th to 26th.
Romania: We were in Romania from April 23rd to 28th.

Publishing
This project will lead to a public report in October 2008.

We are grateful for the support we have received from our friends at the European Cultural Foundation and the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation in funding this work.