French protests

From “Bismillah, c’est les ténèbres” to Anime Flags: Popular Culture in the French Protests

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Research cut-off: 25 October 2026. A strange Snapchat greeting becomes a slogan. A cartoon pirate’s flag appears in demonstrations thousands of kilometres apart. A childhood soundtrack accompanies school blockades. A wetland bird becomes an emblem of resistance to luxury development. These examples suggest that understanding contemporary protest requires attention to the cultural materials through which … Read more

The story of an AI-generated image in French Protests.

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I saw an X post claiming Israeli involvement in spreading disinformation related to the French protests. The post’s central claim has independent corroboration: an AI-generated image falsely presented as evidence of violence during the French protests originated with a pro-Israel outlet and then circulated widely. But “Israel-based disinformation” needs an important qualification: the reporting establishes … Read more