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Tweeting Prayers and Communicating Grief over Michael Jackson Online

TitleTweeting Prayers and Communicating Grief over Michael Jackson Online
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsSanderson, J, Cheong, PH
Journal Bulletin of Science, Technology, & Society
Volume30
Issue5
Pagination328-340
Keywordsblogs, celebrity, internet, microblogging, popular culture, religion, social media
Abstract

Death and bereavement are human experiences that new media helps facilitate alongside creating new social grief practices that occur online. This study investigated how people’s postings and tweets facilitated the communication of grief after pop music icon Michael Jackson died. Drawing upon past grief research, religion and new media studies, a thematic analysis of 1,046 messages was conducted on three mediated sites (Twitter, TMZ.com, and Facebook). Results suggested that social media served as grieving spaces for people to accept Jackson’s death rather than denying it or expressing anger over his passing. The findings also illustrate how interactive exchanges online helped recycle news and “resurrected” the life of Jackson. Additionally, as fans of deceased celebrities create and disseminate web-based memorials, new social media practices like “Michael Mondays” synchronize tweets within everyday life rhythms and foster practices to hasten the grieving process.

URLhttp://www.paulinehopecheong.com
DOI10.1177/0270467610380010