Sunday, August 11, 2013

Will Marshall: Online 1.0


I have a fairly basic name with nothing uncommon or unique about it. The thing is, it can bring some confusion for new friends when we both decide to digitally interact- I am difficult to find on Facebook, Skype, Twitter and Instagram.

Amidst all the occasional confusion I continue to represent myself online by sharing my photos and activities, opinions, likes and dislikes with whoever is out there. I don’t always agree with the privacy options, or lack of, but I do not change who I am to bypass it, which is why my most recent Facebook profile pictures can be referred to as a ‘glamour shot’ to auto-objectify myself to others’ (Hills 2009, p.118) rather than to provide a non-representation of myself.

My Facebook privacy settings are fairly strict (I checked again this morning to just make sure) only my friends can view my profile pictures and other pictures I have been ‘tagged’ in. The cover photo, currently one from the movie Dodgeball, is the public so I try to limit the information shared on Facebook to my 1,069 friends who span from Australia, England, Germany and the USA…so really I'm not all that private.
Facebook I find is my only networking site to immediately communicate with the friends I have here and all over the world. Creeber and Martin (2009, p.7) identify this by commenting “we are now in touch with people and events internationally with a frequency, speed, quality and affordability never imaginable in the analogue age.”

My Twitter profile is extremely bland, partly because I'm a new user still learning about ‘tweets’ and ‘retweets’. It is not at all extensive and contributes little to my online profile, particularly in comparison with my Facebook identity. However, having never played cricket or particularly enjoy the game, 8/11 tweets have been about the #ashes. I have six people following so the audience that I am broadcasting to is of miniscule proportions.
I have accidentally created and maintained the Twitter version of an abstract image to stand in for myself. (Hills 2009, p.118)

My Instagram profile, similar to my Facebook, is set on private; I have posted 11 photos and follow 202 people. The last photo I posted was in June so once again the images I supply can be dated or misrepresented to those who view them. I do find Instagram the most enjoyable of my social profiles, as it is remarkably quick to use and scan through other people’s profiles. After all a picture tells a thousand words. How many a real-time moving picture tells is anybody’s guess. Skype is my main contact tool to my friends and family living abroad, however since 2011 when Facebook added this feature to their instant messaging I have been using Skype less and less.

I hope to use more of Twitter in the future to expand my online self; I have no intention of joining AboutMe or Tumblr as they do not appeal to me. I am yet to join LinkedIn however I do see myself attempting it in the near future.

References:
Creeber, G & Martin, R 2009, Digital Cultures: Understanding New Media, Open University Press, Maidenhead, United Kingdom.

Hills, M 2009, Case study: social networking and self-identity‘, in Creeber, G and Martin, R (eds.), Digital Cultures: Understanding New Media, Open University Press, Maidenhead, United Kingdom.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

MAKING CULTURES: HOW IT CHANGES


Defining what the current Australian culture is among citizens is one, which can provide many alternative responses. It is not a question of the values you hold, or where you live, but to me it is simply, ‘What makes us Australian?'

Through the migration of many cultures to our shores the ‘Australian way of life’ has considerably changed in the past 50 years.
In the modern day of age we live in, it is very easy to see Australia as a multi-cultural nation with exceptionally heavy influences from the English, Indian, Greek, Chinese and Islamic cultures.

In Australia, with many different cultures spread across the country, it is becoming harder to define what the full current national culture is. Adding to the difficulty is the globalisation occurring, whereby the world is coming closer together through the technologies that continue to evolve.
With the world becoming seemingly smaller, the once distinct separations of a nations culture are progressively becoming hazier. Just as the multiculturalism and the globalisation within Australia changes the definition of many cultures, so do the cultures utilising diasporic marketing and social media in Australia to change alter their culture and align with what they define the Australian culture as.
Globalisation however does not just effect the culture changes within Australia, it of course changes the cultures of people all around the world.


Globalisation continues to bring the world together and in turn can change cultures through developments in the internet and modern technologies.
An example is of the Bollywood films gaining enormous popularity in Hollywood and the rest of the ‘film’ world.

Bollywood films began circulating outside of India in the 1960’s and 1970’s after the war in Britain where it can be thought that the globalisation of Indian culture began.
‘Contemporary Bollywood films can be seen as diasporic and global cultural texts that transcend national sensibilities’ [Dudrah 2002].
From the 1970’s until the late 1990’s, Britain continued to support Bollywood cinema and Indian culture as the mass migration of Indians called England home.

Similar to the culture change in Britain, as a result of the technologies causing globalisation in India, Richard D. Connerney comments,  “as recently as the mid-1990s, when I returned to India as a graduate student, television consisted of a few channels with low production values and simplistic programming. Now the airwaves carried a full array of cable and satellite programming from every nation and culture.” [Connerney 2009]

From recent globalisation, the changes in Indian television programming highlight the rapid change globalisation has on a culture. The British culture is influenced through the Bollywood culture that enters the film screens, and likewise the Indian cultures that are exposed to the various non-Indian television shows.

Likewise to cinema, television has a diaspora effect; “Diaspora television is made in the host country by liminars and exiles as a response to and in tandem with their own transitional and/or provisional status. Television programs produced by Iranians, Arabs and Armenians and some of the programs of the Jewish television network (JNT) fall within this classification.” [Naficy 2003]

With the effects globalisation has on cultures, diasporic marketing can influence an existing culture to adapt to a fresh one. The scatter effect diasporic marketing has social media strategies has resulted in changes of everybody’s cultures, as many of Australia’s immigrated population own small businesses used this as a way.

The cultural changes many which have occurred have resulted in many small businesses using the internet and varying marketing tools to promote their business in an ‘Australian’ way.
In recent times, many Greeks, Chinese and Indians are adjusting their culture to suit the current one which they now live in, adding to the multi cultural nation Australia is.


Being an Australian and the culture which Australians possessed 50 years ago certainly isn’t the same which is it today. Even in 1954 with the immigration of the ‘ten pound pom’ the existing culture in Australia was modified further to the English background that entered.
Following the rapid English immigration, the Welsh, Italians, Greeks, Chinese, Germans and Turks took up Australian citizenship adjusting their own culture to the Australian one.
Personally, I believe Australians are extremely proud of their current culture, as it is one that gloats in an exceptional performance, a culture that supports the Australian brand and the way of life where everybody deserves a long weekend.

The government also expresses their thoughts on Australian culture:

The Australian culture often represents a fair go, and in some respects, an easy way of life, something many other cultures in varying countries wish to poses.

The national culture that exists today is also one that is accepting of new cultures, especially with the multicultural lifestyle we now enjoy. The multicultural lifestyle results in many Australian communities having to change their own existing culture to suit the incoming ones.
It is not uncommon to have a main street in Melbourne filled with Indian, Chinese, Turkish and in some ways American restaurants, thus, the simplest way to understand the whole notion of a multicultural Australia. 
A culture does not simply change by itself, in Australia it has occurred naturally with the migration of existing cultures seeking part of the Australian culture. It’s a culture that can possibly be a new way of life, or just being provided with the straightforwardness of equal rights.

The developments of the internet, and particularly social media have allowed an even further change in culture, not just here in Australia but all around the world.

Through today’s social media, everybody has the ability to contribute to their definition of national culture. Whether that is through the online identities on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube, or simply engaging in the Australian news on television and in the newspapers.

Social media has the ability to change what the thought of a national culture is,
Brian D Loader (2007) comments, “Young people may be more influenced by television, for example, than by the internet.” (Livingston et al., Chapter 2)
While the internet has the capability to provide users with immediate information, it is television that instead can greatly change a culture.

It is easy for the public to look online for news stories from around the world for balanced perspectives instead of the Australian ones we are provided with, however, the television audience (particularly commercial stations), which can often receive predominantly Australian news and local stories therefore assisting in the shaping of the viewers Australian culture.

What makes a culture ultimately comes down to a person’s family and friends, and the amount of local, national and international exposure an individual is given. Should a person experience large amounts of international exposure, one would understand the different cultures and ultimately modify their own culture.



Cultures are developed and changed through globalisation, diasporia, existing cultures, and in today’s society social media. A person is born with an existing culture, they know of others but remain ignorant until they experience other cultures in life.
Similarly, a person’s culture will not remain the same their whole life; they will no doubt experience things that will change their culture for good, whether that is a change in lifestyle or living conditions, or the changes diasporia has on society through the media.
One thing is for certain however; there will never be a correct way to describing a nations culture. People experience culture in different ways and will continue to do so just as they modify their own to suit the incoming cultures from the ever-shrinking world.


References:

Citizenship 2012, 'What does Australian Citizenship mean?', retrieved 21 August, <http://www.citizenship.gov.au/learn/schools/citizenship.htm/>

Dudrah, RK 2002, ‘Vilayati Bollywood: popular Hindi cinema-going and diasporic South Asian identity in Birmingham (UK)’, Javnost - the public, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 19-36

Foreign Affairs Trade 2012, 'Australian Culture'. retrieved 22 August, <http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/people_culture.html

Loader, BD 2007, ‘Introduction : Young citizens in the digital age : disaffected or displaced?’, Young citizens in the digital age : political engagement, young people and new media 2007, Routledge, London, pp. 1-17

Naficy, H 2003,'Narrowcasting in diaspora: Middle Eastern television in Los Angeles', in KH Karim (ed.), The media of diaspora, Routledge, London, pp. 51-62





Thursday, September 6, 2012

Celebrity Culture


From the behaviours today’s celebrities I feel that todays culture is more and more about instant information predominantly fed through the ‘Twittersphere.’
The celebrity culture changes though. Two years ago it was to join a radical religion, five years ago it was to adopt African children, and ten years ago it was copy what Justin Timberlake was doing.

Though when trying to answer the question, ‘Which comes first, the celebrity of the culture?’ I cannot help feeling that it’s slightly similar to the chicken and the egg theory (am I stretching this too far?).

In my tutorial this week the question “Who was the worlds first celebrity?” was asked. After some thought, and bypassing of Jesus, we came to think it was in face Charlie Chaplin; the first great Hollywood actor.

If this is the case, then the culture of Hollywood movies in the United States created the ‘celebrity’.

So moving back to today’s era. The celebrity culture of building an extra-textual version of public individual occurs over social media, video and photos included.
http://cdn.crushable.com/files/2012/01/lady-gaga-kermit.jpg

Think of Lady Gaga, her appearance is a great example of an extra-textual version of somebody. The paparazzi, and public allow her to live in the culture specially created for her through the gossip magazines, newspapers and social media.
http://gottalovegossup.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Gossip-Magazines.jpg

The culture, which is continually created for the celebrity, will continue to have an impact through the media. The current alternative culture for the celebrity will soon be eradicated for something different.
In my opinion, something related to social media. 

References
Crushable, 'Lady Gaga Kermit', retrieved 6 September <http://cdn.crushable.com/files/2012/01/lady-gaga-kermit.jpg>

Gotta Love Gossup, 'Gossip Magazines', retrieved 6 September <http://gottalovegossup.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Gossip-Magazines.jpg>


Diasporic Marketing and cultures


Before social media, diasporic marketing could be thought of as a business flyer stuck on the car windshield.
Since the rise of social media, diasporic marketing has become an effective way to broadcast a message, whether that is for a large company or simply a small business trying to find possible valuable customers.
                                                                                                
The adaptation diasporic marketing to social media has also resulted in many businesses creating online Facebook and Twitter pages.

For example, the local hairdressers Loxx, the Yacht Club and even the Gym 

Diasporic marketing not only has to adapt to social media strategies but the cultures along with it, as many of Australia’s immigrant population own the small businesses.

While businesses also adapt so do the cultures associated with them. Just as the Greeks and Italians had changed their cultures when they migrated out to Australia, so too have the Chinese and Indians in todays society.

Many of the Chinese and Indians are adjusting their culture to suit the current Australian one, while many Australian made businesses are listed above have joined social media, so too has the Indian fast-food restaurant to use the success of diasporic marketing.

http://www.dfat.gov.au/images/countries-signpost.jpg

These small local businesses use diasporic marketing through social media to spread the information of their business. Social media provides the businesses the ability to advertise their message not only locally to everyone who uses social media but potentially also globally.

References:
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 'Embassies and Consulates', retrieved 5 September,<http://www.dfat.gov.au/images/countries-signpost.jpg>

Indian Express Facebook, 'Indian Express', retrieved 5 September, <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Indian-Express/109760843517?ref=ts>

Loxx Hairdressing Facebok, 'Loxx Designers of Hair', retrieved 5 September, <http://www.facebook.com/pages/LOXX-Designers-of-Hair/124742797550422>

Sandringham Yacht Club Facebook, 'Sandringham Yacht Club', retrieved 5 September, <http://www.facebook.com/SandringhamYC>

Recreation Trackside Facebook,' Re-Creation Trackside', retrieved 5 September, <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Re-Creation-Trackside/110213802355097>

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Al Jaz-Fox News


Having never heard of Al Jazeera before my tutorial I clearly am pretty inexperienced in knowing their type of broadcasting; the Fox News style of propaganda I am much more familiar with.

At first I thought that Al Jazeera is a counter to the western media of Fox News for simply believing that they publish the other side of the news. However at a second glance I see that it is far more similar to Fox News than first thought.

Just as Fox News has been accused of biased news coverage in the western world, so too has Al Jazeera in their coverage of the Syrian uprise.

Early in 2011, Al Jazeera were reporting on the conflict occurring in Syria, during that time they were criticised in their broadcast for supporting the rebels and foul mouthing the Syrian government.
Furthermore, they were similarly accused of fabricating many stories to agree the Emir of Qatar who is believed to have influence in the broadcasting.

Something that sounds far too familiar within the Fox News Network and Rupert Murdoch’s control. 
http://thinkpress.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/media-bias.jpg
“There is a fine line between a real reporting biased and presenting the news from an Arab point of view to Arab viewers throughout the world” (El-Narawy & Iskander, 2003:54)

So is Al Jazeera just reporting Arab news consistently to the Arab world? Or being biased through the potential bribery from the Emir of Qatar? 

In my opinion, while Al Jazeera attempts to report ‘the other side of the news’ they continue to be selective in the stories that they report, ultimately mirroring the propaganda used by Fox News. 

References:
Al Jazeera 2012, 'Al Jazeera', retrieved 30 August <http://www.aljazeera.com/>

Alakhbar English, 'Al Jazeera reporter resigns over "biased" Syria coverage', retrieved 31 August <http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/4941>

El-Nawawy, M. 2003, ‘The battle for the Arab mind’, Al-Jazeera, the story of the network that is rattling governments and redefining modern journalism 2003, Westview Press, Boulder CO, pp. 45-69, 217-218

Pulse Media 2012, 'Fox News: The most trusted, most ideological network in America', retrieved August 30 <http://thinkpress.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/media-bias.jpg>