One of the most notable changes if current technology is the
many new connections and ways of meeting people from across the globe, from the
introduction of the internet, or more specifically to emails and social media. The
ability to instantly contact people on the other side of the globe with the
click of a button has expanded the horizons of communication, just like the
invention of mail, the telephone and the mobile phone but also made the world seem smaller (It’s a small world after all! J).
Facebook has created a platform from
which in theory anyone on earth can contact anyone else with the ease of a
google search and the accessibility of a Mc Donald’s after all their slogan is “Connect
with friends and the world around you on Facebook” (Facebook, 2015) .
This ability to connect people is in many ways changing a
number of aspects about populations and their spread (mainly diasporas), and
allows them to connect back with their homelands and cultural roots. A key part
of diasporas as stated by Emmanuel Ma Mung in Comparative European Research in
Migration, Diversity and Identities, are the links between those who migrated
and those who remained in the country of origin. This can unequivocally be seen
when those separated by vast distances, but are connected by culture and origin (Kuttainen,
2015) ,
use sites like Facebook. The budding new platform allows for messages to be
sent in different languages, include images and sound bites, not only creating
a feeling of home and connectedness between senders and receivers but updates
those far away on trends, dialogue (new phrases or words) and changes to people
or places (Safran, 1991) . Such communication encourages the passage of narratives
like, religion, cuisine, fashion, ideals and other similar factors. “As humans
communication is central to life, and every life is affected by communication
with others near and far” (Littlejohn & Foss, 2011) and with the
entirety of the globe at our fingertips and that far away family on our minds, links
between countries, cities and counties can only grow thicker and stronger.
Bibliography
Kuttainen, V.
(2015). People (Diasporas). Our Space: Networks, Narratives and the Making
of Place, Week 7 Lecutre 7.
Littlejohn, S.
W., & Foss, K. A. (2011). Theories of Human Communication. Long
Grove, Illinios: Waveland Press Inc.
Mung, E. M.
(2005). Comparative European. Bilbao: University of Deusto.
Safran, W.
(1991). Diasporas in Modern Societies: Myths of Homeland and Return. Diaspora:
A Journal of Transnational Studies , 83-99.
I agree with this blog post very much, it raises some very good points. Much like how music connected people during the Rasta movement mentioned in this week's lecture (Kuttainen, 2015), I do believe social media and technology is what connects people in this day and age. In fact I see a parallel in your idea about technology changing aspects of diasporas, to the Rasta movement.
ReplyDeleteMusic encouraged the passage of narratives (for example Boney M's 'Rivers of Babylon') through sound and voice, much like Facebook messenger nowadays allows you to record spoken messages. I definitely agree that nowadays Facebook is central to the diaspora, because in addition to messaging and the ability to connect, there is also the 'share' option, which allows people with family members overseas to share the trends of a foreign land with their friends and therefore further allow the passage of narratives between the poles of a diaspora.
Reference:
Kuttainen, V. (2015). People Networks [Lecture Slides]. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au/