Movementsthat

Movementsthat is a term used in sociology and cultural studies to describe a class of social practices in which collective action centers on coordinated movement as both process and message. The concept treats movement as a communicative form—through pace, direction, formation, and space—that signals collective intent and shapes public perception.

The term emerged in discussions of performative protest, flash mobs, and body-based activism in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, and has since been refined by scholars to analyze how mobility and choreographed sequences function as political rhetoric. It is not tied to a single organization or movement, but rather serves as a lens for examining a family of tactics across contexts.

Core features include the intentional design of movement sequences, the use of public space, messaging that blends clarity and ambiguity, and the integration of media coverage with live performance. Movements may be spontaneous or planned, local or transnational, and often rely on participatory involvement to broaden engagement beyond traditional audiences.

Reception and critiques emphasize questions of efficacy, safety, authenticity, and potential co-optation by political or commercial interests. Proponents argue that movementsthat expand protest repertoires, foster community, and democratize public discourse by making bodies visible and audible in public space.

See also: social movements, performative protest, flash mobs, protest choreography, embodied cognition.