Citizen Framing of Ferguson in 2015: Visual Representations on Twitter and Facebook

Abstract

Using a critical race lens and framing theory, this exploratory study of visual representations on Twitter and Facebook explores the cultural narratives citizens used in their framing of the Ferguson riots in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death in 2014. Findings indicate citizens posted photographs, texts, and videos to characterize the incident both positively and negatively using various frames and cultural narratives.