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Blog 5: Maintaining cultural ties through Social Media.
The movement of people around the world contributes to the
rich diversity of networks operating in society. Relating to this concept is
the term diaspora. Diasporas are groups of people who have been removed or
displaced from their homelands due to territorial disputes, war, forced
migration or immigration (Kuttainen, 2015). Within diasporas, a group identity is
developed based on the feeling of sharing common origin, be it real or supposed
(Mung, 2005).
Diasporic identities and histories are made and maintained
through narrative, myth, community memorialising that map journeys from one
place to another and history (Kuttainen, 2015). Virtual connections through
social media sites, such as Instagram, are a contributing factor in maintaining
diasporic identities and histories in the 21st century. Many people
use social media to connect relatives and friends overseas. Social networking
allows for instant communication between individuals that are thousands of
miles away from each. This allows easy communication between the homeland and
the new place of settlement.
Social media, as a form of narrative, can be responsible for
transforming new spaces into places: a new country may feel more familiar with
the easy accessibility of communication to the homeland. Instagram as a form of
self-narrative can be a way of maintaining a cultural identity that can be
viewed and confirmed by other members of the diaspora.
An article published in the guardian discusses the use of social
media in the African diaspora. It focuses on a range of concepts surrounding
the use of social media in the African diaspora, including the use of social
media to raise funding for projects on the continent.
Instagram is giving users the ability to maintain an
individual and community identity; it has the power to strengthen bonds between
members of a culture that a geographically separated.
References:
Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Our space: Networks, narratives and the making of place, week 7
notes [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu/jcu.edu.au
Mung, E. (2005). Comparative European research in migration, diversity and identities.
University of Deusto. Retrieved from http://learnjcu/jcu.edu.au
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ReplyDeleteMaddison, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post, as I found we share a similar viewpoint on this week's topic. There are several reasons why people move from their homeland to surrounding foreign countries, whether it is for job opportunities, to be with family, or in extreme cases, to seek asylum. With refugee communities as this week's focus of current news, it is hard to ignore the power the concept of diaspora has given to these people. Ma Mung (2005) describes the conflict between authors about what diaspora actually means. However, in his reading, he argues diaspora "concerns many different populations...expatriates, expellees, political refugees, alien residents, immigrants, and ethnic and racial minorities" (Ma Mung, 2005, p.38). Despite their homeland, and circumstance, such people have been able to create a community (diaspora) in which they feel they belong. This concept, along with the use of social mediums like Instagram have therefore essentially reinforced the individual and community identity, and further embedded the links people share with their culture.
ReplyDeleteReferences
Ma Mung, E. (2005). Comparative European research in migration, diversity and identities. Bilbao, Spain: University of Deusto.
Expanding upon your point of creating cultural groupings in a community, cliques if you will. I find that social media has aided greatly for all living generations in finding not only people who might share the same nationality as them if they are geographically displaced, Ma Mung (2005) writes that the collective conscience of diaspora is the knowledge that there are fellow people in these other places that share your identity. It has also helped those who seek to find like minded people who share the same interests, hobbies or views. This heralds in the 'identity' side of the argument. Many children and maybe even grandchildren are very proud of their cultural background, and though they may have been born here, schooled here and lived here their entire life, they may still identify as being of the country that their ancestors hailed from. I find this an interesting social convention. I myself am a first generation Australian, and have in the past been guilty of claiming the nationality of my parents even though I'm immensely proud to call myself Australian.
ReplyDeleteReferences
Ma Mung, E. (2005). Comparative European Research in Migration, Diversity and Identities. Bilbao, Spain: University of Deusto.
(Ma Mung, 2005, p. 43) explains the concept of a diaspora as a migratory movement and an exodus from a native to a foreign land. This becomes a social re-organisation which tends to develop forms of networks such as migratory, religious or political nodes.
ReplyDeleteFacebook may also be perceived as such; the movement from physical geographies to online virtuality. It has created diasporas of online culture using the power of six degrees of separation. Community pages can be used for communication or relationship building, where one can share experiences with family, friends or others who have common interests and goals.
Social media has dealt a major impact on global cultures as people tend to choose to communicate online, rather than face-to-face.
It has created an 'exodus' to online connectedness as an effective means of staying-in-touch - a 'virtual' migratory diaspora.
Reference
Ma Mung, E. (2005). Diaspora, spatiality, identities. Bilbao, Spain: University of Deuso.