Who Breaks the Power of Images and Sounds? The Appropriation of Jihadi Media

Research on Jihadi-Salafi media production and audiovisual strategies often emphasizes the agency and ‘power’ of Jihadi imagery and sounds. This perspective also presumes a uniqueness of Jihadi-Salafi media, its formal design, and aesthetics. Based on research in the Junior Research Group Jihadism on the Internet, I argue that, to the contrary, such image and sound production is hardly unique, but rather builds on knowledge of widespread viewing and listening habits. I will furthermore show the diversity of audio-visual products created to challenge Jihadi-Salafi thought and action; hence to break the ‘power’ of images and sounds.