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The social movement that happened in Taiwan (2014), Hong Kong (2019), and Thailand (2020) have once again highlighted the meaning of decentralization, civic awareness, and the new ways of gathering. Recent social movements continually call on potential participants by guaranteeing a share of decision-making on the management of the situation concerning them.
Therefore, people are not only gathering as part of a homogeneous organization before a protest but also because of the “co-sensus” which is the feeling of something that matters to me. This feeling allows people to show up individually. The scene surrounding the occupy movement, the media strategy, and the process to join the protest has also changed. Desperate people are willing to raise awareness and share their feelings, by using terms like “we” or “community” or “collective” to temporarily unify individuals. However, to what extent do people feel they are a part of a group or a community? In my research, I tried to answer this question with the concept of co-sensus, by intensively analyzing its formation and applications, and then getting to know "human plurality" by answering questions like: "Who they are?" and "What do they stand for?"
Chapter 2 starts from my own experience of seeking co-sensus through social issues. Being a digital native, I’ve always wondered where and how people form as “we” and try to change society? The obvious answers, like ethnicity, territorial affiliation, and professional identities, don’t stand firm on building a community. This doubt appeared when I took part in social movements, my art education, and by taking the train to my hometown.
Consequently, the core concern in Chapter 3 is:” Why do some social issues matter to me? When and where was this feeling triggered in me?” Three forms of co-sensus are distinct from each other: Group Belongingness, Sense of Community, and Sense of Coexisting. Any kinds of incidents may show a diverse type of co-sensus to advocate successfully for bringing awareness.
“Action” plays a primary role in Chapter 4, it expands people’s focus and also challenges the self-orientation of the spectators and actors. “Action” subjectivity shows us that Co-sensus is different from Consensus because it’s not only built on friendship or partnership but also built on the encounter between strangers.
Finally, this thesis doesn’t just focus on progressive values. On the contrary, we may observe other kinds of groups and communities that deeply influence today’s society through the combination of co-sensus and action.
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