“How sad prudence is”. Teatro Valle Occupato as a case of minority empowerment through media-activism

To be part of a minority group in nowadays society is becoming a recurrent practise of communication. Everyone shares opinions or comments or simply is „follower‖ of something or someone. Zuniga (2012) tested how much the usage of a social network plays a ―virtuous circle‖ for democratic process of civic and political participation. This could help us to go more in depth on the process of on line political participation by distinguishing structures, modes and contents of social network‘ s use. As to the structures we can identify vertical and horizontal social networks, and within the vertical one a political leader can built a more closed relation with his voters by means of constructive or negative techniques like ―daily updating‖ (Morpeau, 2011) or by ―provoking‖ and attacking a ―scapegoat‖ (D‘Errico et al, 2014). The communication strategies can affect on line dynamics of trust and political reactions. Another slice of on line political communication is the one based on horizontal structures formed by ―active minorities‖ promoting advanced form of social activism, viewed as a kind of participation in which individuals engage actions as members of a group with the aim of improving their conditions (Wright et al., 1990). On line social activism is linked to individual and social empowerment processes, but in what sense? When horizontal social networks are source of personal and social reinforcement? Some case studies will be presented to shedding a light on how active minorities (Moscovici, 1976) empower themselves in on line mediated setting. Can we consider on line interactions beyond the tribal form of communication and define variables that promote „minority social capital‖?