Thinking about...Cyber communities

Thinking about...Cyber communities 

and the blogging phenomenon

The practise of blogging is a particularly prevalent mode of communication in our modern, Western society, and has created a community culture in a world beyond our physical space. According to Lim (2012), blogs have become a vehicle to produce a new communication sphere, allowing individuals to broadcast their own social and political commentaries and to build networks of individuals of similar interests. And that network should not be underestimated.

When we think of cyber communities a range of ideas may come to mind. Perhaps we initially think of our network of Facebook friends, most of whom we don’t speak to but somehow seem to know they are dating Danny Smith, the hunky but kind of inept boy from our old high school, planning a holiday to Europe with their best friend, and getting paralytic drunk every single weekend. Maybe we imagine our community and pseudo-family on “Family life” that we develop a kind of unnatural soft spot for. Or maybe it is our cyber community that we battle, converse and collaborate with in the realm of “Dungeons and Dragons” (Ah no, I don’t play it…). Whatever community you can most associate with, it is true to note that these cyber communities go beyond simple online interaction. It becomes a place of identity and escapism.

For example, in July 2006, three cyber communities met in a face-to-face event that served as a gathering for like-minded Indonesian Muslim’s to discuss the importance of cyberspace, specifically the blogosphere. In this case, the rapid expansion of the Internet enabled these Muslim groups to engage globally with a community of like-minded individuals with a cultural understanding of each other (Lim, M, 2012). Cyber communities can be therefore seen as cultural (Bell, D, 2000), not just in the sense that people are given the opportunity to connect with other people of the same ethnic background, but through the way it shapes the volatile nature and culture of society, and contributes to creating a global community.

The internet sifts through content to allow individuals to find others who are of a similar mind-set, and encourages them to converse about certain ideas and interests. Blogs in particular allow people to express their personal thoughts on a global platform, interacting with people who are interested in them and their opinions. Almost like e-harmony, except without the desperate desire to escape spending Saturday nights alone with a tub of ice-cream. Instead, anyone can engage, broadcast, have cyber arguments with people they don’t even know. You can’t get better than that.  

Sources:

Bell, D, 2000, ‘An Introduction to Cyber Cultures’, Routledge, London

Lim, M, 2012, ‘Life is Local in the Imagined Global Community: Islam and Politics in the Indonesian Blogosphere’, Journal of Media and Religion, vol. 11, pp 127-140

Image: http://massively.joystiq.com/screenshots/dungeons-and-dragons-online-unlimited/#/0

Thinking about prosumption

Thinking about...Prosumption!

The development of technology in our modern era has not only blurred the lines between cultural identities (ultimately lending to an increased sense of globalisation), but has also empowered human beings with the ability to connect, interact and essentially become, capitalists. In essence, we have become prosumers (Ritzer, G, Jurgenson, N, 2010).

Prosumption involves a process of both production and consumption (Ritzer, G, Jurgenson, N, 2010), an activity which has become increasingly popular in average civilians in correspondence with the rise of social media. A few years ago, the thought of a lazy, immature teenager being associated with having the power of a capitalist may have seemed implausible. However, now the average high-school drop-out can be the co-creator of a new and exciting product. 

I myself am a prosumer! …having realised that about two days ago when I read Ritzer and Jurgenson’s article on Consumer Culture (2010). As a bit of a gym junkie, I constantly scout through the Nike stores, searching for which shoes will best suit my fitness needs. However, Nike have encouraged prosumer nature by creating the NikeiD, a website that allows you to customize your own Nike shoes (Horacio, S, 2005). I am able to create my own product to satisfy my own needs and desires, whilst Nike get a hold of my cold hard cash because they know I’m getting exactly what I want.

Even if you haven’t bought Nikes online, you are still most likely still a prosumer. Do you use Facebook? Twitter? Instagram? I’m an active Instagram user, posting numerous annoying photos of my food, my new shoes and my dog. So, I (like all the other active users out there) are contributing to Instagram’s sole content. Without users’ photos, there would be no app, and therefore no profit. So where’s our cut?

Zwick et al. (2008) further assert this assumption, concluding that prosumption accommodates for consumers’ needs for recognition, freedom and agency. Although the nature of prosumption may be perceived as an exploitation of human creativity, I believe it has endowed the average human with the freedom of expression, of creativity and of communication that once may have been beyond imaginable.  

Sources:

Image: http://blog.ponoko.com/2008/04/25/mass-customization-the-the-big-end-of-town/

Ritzer, G, Jurgenson, N, 2010, ‘Production, Consumption, Prosumption: The nature of capitalism in the age of the digital ‘prosumer’’, Journal of Consumer Culture, vol 10, number 1, pp. 13-36, retrieved August 20^th 2013, http://joc.sagepub.com/content/10/1/13

Horacio, S, 2005, ‘Just Do It Yourself’, NY Times, 29 May, retrieved August 20^th 2013, 

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/29/magazine/29STYLE.html?_r=0

Thinking about file-sharing

Thinking about...File-Sharing

As a result of our modern, technologized and globalised era based on the sharing of information cross-culturally, ethical issues have arose and have been widely debated. This can be particularly noted in regards to file-sharing, piracy, copying and the notion of the current ‘remix’ culture. The development of the Internet and MP3s have created an easily adopted mode of distribution, making it easier for users to upload and download files from a network of other users alike (Martin, B, Moore, C and Salter, C. 2010). Music is being shared via the net amongst many internet users, almost diminishing the need for people to purchase CD’s and online tracks. This issue has provoked controversy amongst the public and major organisations involved. Consequently, powerful perpetrators commonly use many different tactics to inhibit outrage.

 One tactic used is the Devaluation versus validation tactic which outlines how powerful perpetrators try to devalue targets by applying derogatory labels to them, disseminating discrediting information or setting them up in compromising situations (Martin, B, Moore, C and Salter, C. 2010).  The music industry in particular have labelled file-sharers as thieves and criminals, seeking to emphasise the illegality of the act. In my opinion, this tactic may not be particularly valid in regards for this issue due to my personal experiences and exposure to media coverage.

I find it interesting to read about multiple cases of people being sued for downloading music illegally. Major organisations paint an image of file-sharers as criminals and pirates, instantly providing a false connotation of a muscular, fully-tattooed, bearded man smoking in a dark room as he hits “download” over and over again. Maybe you even pictured his evil laugh, followed by a serious of harsh smoker’s coughs. However, this stigma certainly doesn’t match the description of 12-year old girl, Brianna LaHara, who was sued for downloading music illegally (NYPost, Sept 2003). When the music industry cracked down on file-swappers, LaHara was one of those random perpetrators that were targeted. The image of such a sweet, innocent child characterised as a criminal seems almost incomprehensible. Cary Sherman of the Recording Industry Association of America believed the actions were necessary in order to target file-sharers, “…when your product is being regularly stolen, there comes a time when you have to take appropriate action" (NYPost, Sept 2009).

When people hear or read stories of these cases, the image of a “criminal” may not be extremely fitting. They may know, or be a file-sharer themselves, disregarding their activity as anything but fairness in leisure. Therefore, the Devaluation versus validation tactic may not be extremely persuasive in convincing people that sweet, studious Brianna LaHara is deserving of being associated with a criminal. For one, she doesn’t have a beard.  

Sources:

NYPost, 2009, ’12-Year-Old Sued for Downloading Music’, 9^th of September, retrieved August 6^th 2013, http://www.foxnews.com/story/2003/09/09/12-year-old-sued-for-music-downloading/

Martin, B, Moore, C, Salter, C, 2010, ‘Sharing music files: tactics of a challenge to the industry’, First Monday, vol. 15, no. 12

‘Piracy, It’s a crime’, video, Dec 4^th 2007, retrieved August 6^th 2013, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmZm8vNHBSU