Transit Solidarity in Contemporary Network Culture: between Carnival and Trauma
The article discusses the phenomenon of network flash mobs as a new form of Internet users union in modern media culture. Authors distinguish special features of network flash mobs: spontaneous nature of emergence and virus mechanism of distribution; short duration of public demonstration of unity; a mobile basis of identification of participants with group; aiming on symbolic communication practices of interaction; priority of process of solidarity formation over result (the created and steady bases of unity). The set of the specified lines allows to designate this type of association as transit solidarity. The article analyzes various options for the formation of transit solidarity of Internet users on the example of the most popular flash mobs, provides examples of the Internet reaction of the audience to current cultural events, as well as artificially constructed information events. Substantial filling of network action is revealed through symbolical concepts "trauma" and "carnival". It is concluded that network flash mobs enable to compensate an individual injury by practicing collective involvement in a publicly demonstrated game.