Post-modernism and digital global communication

Question 1

What are the post-modernists main beliefs on globalisation ?

Answer 1

• reflect a shift to greater individual choice
• people have a greater scope for developing different parts of their identity
• greater scope for a range of social networks

Question 2

What are two characteristics of the post modern view and how do they link to the digital form of communication ?

Answer 2

Diversity = The internet means that contact with a wider range of different groups os positive.

Fragmentation of identity = Allows us to construct more hybrid identities by splitting and mixing our identities

Question 3

How do identity and digital communication relate ?

Answer 3

• Global digital forms of communication offer a range of different ways that identity can be created
• For example using facebook: You can create your own identity, how you see yourself and how others see you

Question 4

What did Bjorklund study ?

Answer 4

Facebook is a new form of autobiography:
- digital communication is an ongoing autobiography which can be manipulated and updated
- Facebook keeps a record of how people see their lives
- Identity is created online and offline

Question 5

What did Hart study ?

Answer 5

• Individuals are writing and re-writing their autobiographies on a daily basis
• This reflects their norms and values

Question 6

What did Case study about identity and digital communication ?

Answer 6

• There are two types of adolescence (one is online and one is offline)
• New social media makes it harder to remove mistakes because every interaction is visible

Question 7

What was Foucalt’s study about ?

Answer 7

• Surveillance is going to become the most effective means of regulating behaviour and crime
• Someone that knows that they are being watched are less likely to commit a crime as their chances of being caught are higher

Question 8

What was Miller’s study about the global media impact ?

Answer 8

• He aimed to study and report the use and consequences of social media for people around the world
• Uses ethnographic media to explore people’s online and offline lives
  Aims:
• 9 ethnographic studies which were 15 months long looking at social media
• Explored the impact of social media on people’s relationships looking at family, gender roles and intimate ideas

Question 9

What was Collin’s study ?

Answer 9

• micro sociologist
  -looks at how people construct their identity on social networks
• we learn about how people see the world around them
• e.g. catfish