topic 3: theoretical interpretations of globalisation and digital communication Flashcards

1
Q

define superstructure

A

the cultural institutions that are used by the bourgeoisie to control the thoughts and ideas of population (e.g. mass media, religion, education system)

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2
Q

what 5 ways do the Frankfurt School believe the bourgeoisie control and use media?

A
  1. DISTRACT us from real problems of capitalism + break down community bonds πŸͺ
  2. control our UNDERSTANDING OF REALITY and induce appropriate values amongst the public πŸ’­
  3. to HARVEST DATA which can be sold πŸ“Š
  4. to control people / SURVEILLANCE πŸ‘
  5. to make PROFIT πŸ’°
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3
Q

Adorno on distraction from capitalism

A

media makes ppl less likely to become politically active + class conscious
β€” digital media takes up time ⏰ and dumbs down thinking 🧠
β€” trivial media takes precedence (cat videos etc) over important issues
β€” addictive social media algorithms prevent working class from being politically conscious

spending time online alone divides βž— proletariat community (divide and rule)

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4
Q

Frankfurt school on media + our understanding of reality

A

ppl who control media PRESENT IT AS THE ONLY VERSION OF REALITY
β€” e.g. Facebook is controlled by Mark Zuckerberg who hugely controls what is published
β€” alternative views are censored 🀬
β€” fake news is circulated to confuse population: stultifies political action?

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5
Q

Frankfurt school on data harvestation

A
  • when using digital media we leave DIGITAL FOOTPRINT πŸ‘£
  • big data = millions of records bundled together πŸ“Š
  • data may be used by companies or sold to others
  • CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA illegally harvested data from 50 million Facebook accounts to use in election campaigns

ethical issues:
Cambridge Analytica influenced democracy?
lacking consent?
company profits but individual doesnt: who owns the data?

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6
Q

how does the media control and survey people?

A

EDWARD SNOWDEN ❄️
- worked for US secret service
- discovered that Western governments were breaking law, illegally spying on citizens’ internet/phone activity
- was OUTRAGED 😑 at fundamental breach of trust + law breaking so leaked thousands of files
- US want to charge him for treason, he hides in Russia

Rise in digital tech hasn’t revolutionised society as much as we think: powerful still control flow of info

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7
Q

marxism on digital media making profit

A

HUGE profits, BARELY ANY tax
tax evasion: 2016 Google payed less than 1% of taxes, majority of UK pay 30%

Amazon: poor working conditions to maximise profits

wealth makes tech companies rich and powerful: undemocratic redistribution of power from government β€”> Bezos, Zuckerberg

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8
Q

CASTELLS (positive neo-Marxist interpretations of digital tech)

A

DIGITAL REVOLUTION: empowers πŸ’ͺ masses
Arab uprisings: digital social networks helped organise ideas, protests, new forms of info sharing
β€”> videos of police brutality on youtube

proletariat access more info 🧠 , can organise revolutions

tackles inequalities, more even distribution of power

digital media = tool for change, creating outrage and hope

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9
Q

strengths of Marxist theory abt globalisation + digital tech

A
  • criticises subtle, underlying COVERT forces
  • gives alternatives to Eurocentric view
  • opens doorway to equality
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10
Q

weaknesses of Marxist theory of globalisation + digital tech

A
  • too deterministic
  • overlooks positive aspects
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11
Q

Haraway 1995

A
  • new tech πŸ“± should be EMBRACED by women: solution to misogyny?
    β€”> future tech e.g. cyborgs break down gender dualities
  • women were previously left behind in AGRICULTURAL πŸ₯• and INDUSTRIAL 🏭 revolutions due to structural constraints
  • if women don’t step out + assert themselves into digital revolution they risk being sidelined
    β€”> Apple 🍎 health app β™₯️ doesn’t include menstrual cycle
    β€”> female astronaut couldn’t do spacewalk bc spacesuit was designed for man so she couldnt see out
    (MALE STREAM THINKING PERVADES TECH)

Already happened: the pill, fertility treatments

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12
Q

Ebert (marxism)

A

HARAWAY = OVERSIMPLIFICATION

  • fails to acknowledge that gender inequality maintains capitalism
  • ruling class will maintain status quo of gender inequality in tech to maintain capitalism
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13
Q

criticisms of Haraway

A

β€” Ebert
β€” too impractical!! (H replies, saying that she meant metaphorically)

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14
Q

Fourth Wave 🌊 Feminism

A

metoo

2000 β€” 2010

Feminist discourse revived

Digital tech gives a voice to the voiceless, lowers risk of essentialising womens’ experiences (assuming all are the same)

#FGM
Everyday Sexism Project

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15
Q

NAKAMURA

A

ethnic minority women have made especially good use of digital tech
(jobs, networking etc)

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16
Q

Natasha Walter

A

LIVING DOLLS: negative impact of media on women.

New sexism: women judged on physical appearance more.
β€”> HYPERSEXUAL CULTURE, OBJECTIFICATION of women

Internet + media allow:
-pornography, sexualised images of women (UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS)
-emphasis on clothes, plastic surgery (EATING DISORDERS)

Increasing pressure to look GOOD for MEN.

increased by digital tech:
most searched term = porn
ratemygirlfriend.com
Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto

17
Q

Sarkeesian

A

Tropes vs Women in Video Games blog series

gaming = male-dominated, objectifying/sexualising/trivialising women e.g. Grand Theft Auto

18
Q

Caroline Criado-Perez

A

Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men

  • Siri can find prostitutes but not abortion providers
  • Siri can help with heart attacks but not rapes
  • Apple health app can’t track periods
  • Smartwatches too big for female wrists
  • Map apps look for quickest route, not safest
  • No seatbelt designed for pregnant people
19
Q

Arlaccki

A

government are FAILING to regulate and prevent patriarchal oppression online
e.g. porn access leading to sexual objectification of women

digital tech has increased human trafficking

Stopthetraffic.org 2019:
71% of human trafficking were females
21% of sexual exploitation victims were children

20
Q

positives of feminist theory

A

empathy, generally considers oppression of all marginalised groups as well as gender (sexuality, ethnicity. class, disability etc)

21
Q

weaknesses of feminist theory

A

many different types, so can be difficult to apply to new topics (e.g. radical and liberal may see something v differently)

22
Q

Giddens (positives)

A

β€” increasing choice = LIBERATING + EMPOWERING πŸ’ͺ
β€” DETRADITIONALISATION: increased opportunity to discard old oppressive traditions
β€”> #metoo, #girlsnotbrides ➑️ decline in child marriage + FGM

β€” postmodernist ideas: increased consumerist choice (from TTT) brings EXPLOSION πŸ’₯ OF OPPORTUNITY and HIGHLY PERSONALISED CHOICES

Liberating, exciting, fulfilling.

23
Q

Katz and Sugiyama 2005

A

mpact of MOBILE PHONES on YOUTH’S IDENTITY
Phone πŸ“± = status symbol, signifies cool 😎
US πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ + Japan πŸ‡―πŸ‡΅ interviewed 🎀, people prioritised STYLE over battery life

What we buy defines us.

24
Q

Boellstroff 2008

A

β€” SOCIAL ACTORS: we can now construct and act out new multiple identities
β€” investigated role-playing games e.g. Second Life
β€” identities are highly adaptable, endless opportunity
β€” increased opportunity for new relationships β™₯️

freedom of choice can be liberating, but anonymity can be DANGEROUS (virtual rape etc)

25
Q

Jurgenson

A

digital dualism (digital and physical are seperate) ➑️ AUGMENTED REALITY (digital and physical enmeshed)

  • β€˜cyborg’ β€” techno-human syntheses
  • medicine (breast implants, contact lenses)
  • communication (increased during lockdown)
  • mobile phone increasingly becoming a part of us
26
Q

Bauman

A
  • increasing uncertainty + instability
  • identity is NO LONGER stable, secure, concrete
  • fluid, fragmented, short lived

cyberspace is β€œpretense and alienation πŸ‘½, a poor substitute for the real thing”

Facebook, Tinder etc: identities are highly adaptable, ephemeral, superficial

27
Q

Marxist interpretations of Bauman’s study

A

RICH PPL πŸ€‘ have more chances to use multiple media sources to flex their online identities

class is still a very real and restrictive barrier

28
Q

Baudrillard

A

β€” SIGNIFIED (reality) ➑️ SIGNIFIER (projected version/image of reality communicated to us)
β€” media creates false illusion; HYPER REALITY πŸ’­β“
β€”> Iraq war was manufactured illusion

β€” in new INFORMATION BLIZZARD 🌨 ❄️ πŸ’¨, can no longer distinguish truth + illusion
β€” power has disappeared πŸ˜” we r stuck in endlessly exchanging meaningless symbols

BUT he lacks empirical evidence and is purely theoretical so may be wrong??

29
Q

strengths of postmodern interpretation of globalisation

A

1st theory to be in the SAME TIME FRAME ⏰ as globalisation so most relevant…?

30
Q

weaknesses of postmodern interpretation of globalisation

A

it doesn’t explain WHY these changes are occuring

Marxism: it fails to offer critical STRUCTURAL analysis

31
Q

Philo

A
  • reality defo still exists!!
  • we still have digital duality
  • we don’t have equal access 🚫🟰 to new forms of identity + consumption: postmodernism exaggerates choice