Losing and Gaining Identity within the Global Network

 

 

         Is the nation state disappearing? If so, will the concept of nationhood disappear along with it? Some may feel that the disappearance of the concept of national identity may bring peace and a decrease in conflict.  Others may feel losing nation may be a great loss for society.  I believe that losing our identities which we associate with our cultures and our ethnicities would be a great loss. And though it is possible that certain conflict ridden regions would benefit from the removal of ethnic identities, it must be considered that the new identities created along with globalization may be just as problematic. 

Why is the possibility of the disappearance of the nation state and national identity even a possibility?  It can mostly be attributed to globalization and the development of the global network society.  Global network society is the idea that social networks are now the basis for modern society.  The internet, media, and globalization has allowed for these social networks to operate on a global scale and rapidly.  The idea that you could have more contact with someone across the world via the internet than you do with your neighbor slightly frightens me.  If the physical space and area around us no longer matters, what will happen to community and personal face-to-face connection.  I think it’s great that people who hold certain political views in common or are minorities such as homosexuals can strengthen their identities by finding one another and developing relationships. I do hope, howver, the relationships we hold with the people around us will not consequently fade because we now have this giant pool of people to choose from to socialize with.

Cultural Imperialism

Cultural Imperialism is the idea that the ownership, structure, distribution, and content of media in a country is subject to external pressure from media interests of other countries, without the reciprocal act.  The idea is that the West (specifically America) exports its media to other countries and consequently its culture and values as well.  Cultural imperialism can limit a country’s self-development.  For instance, many countries just import American movies and tv shows, rather than creating their own.  It can also significantly change a culture’s values and identity.  Many feel that Israel’s ideals of collectivity, minimal material importance, and Zionism have been or are being replaced by American individualist, capitalist ideas.  We have seen how Israel slowly allowed the import of American goods, starting with Coca cola, the mall, and rock and roll.  Now there isn’t much in America that you can’t find in Israel.  Is cultural imperialism causing a process of an integration of Western culture into all cultures, resulting in one capitalistic, individualist society? Is this a bad thing?

     I believe it is a bad thing, and the most frightening aspect of it  is that there is no way to limit it.  It is not as if Americans sit behind closed doors plotting to open McDonald’s all over the world so everyone will be like them.  It is because if they open McDonald’s all over the world they will make money; this is the nature of capitalism.  Western companies make more money if they export their products.  The absorption of the cultural characteristics of these imports is just a side effect.  There are, however, countries like France and Canada who practice cultural protectionism, limiting the amount of non-local media that can be in the country. I wish Israel would begin to take similar steps.

Some argue the invention of the internet  ( by American scientists) is just another tool to spread their culture and products around the world.  There is no question that America dominates the web.  It holds ten times more web space than the second largest web-space owner : Japan.  Most websites and internet softwares are in English. Contrastingly some argue the commercial aspect of the web actually diminishes cultural imperialism because it allows for local advertising. 

         I think the Internet will affect culture in several different ways.  For one, it will certainly continue to influence lesser developed countries by showing them the “benefits” of Western and American life and thus injecting its values around the world.  It can also contrastingly allow for other cultural and non-cultural identities to network, grow, and strengthen.  The internet has also allowed for anti-American groups, like Islamic terrorists, to spread their views, network, and influence others with their ideals.  As the years go on I think we will see increased cultural imperialism, its effects only reversed if countries make strict policy decisions to prevent it.

Gaming world

I recently watched a documentary, “second skin” on the gaming world and people whose social life is mostly confined to the internet and with characters who represent people they have never really met before.  For the most part, it was very disheartening.  So many people feel more comfortable in a fake world than they do in reality.  Does this mean we should expand the virtual world so more can find happiness and solace?  I think ,as a society, we should be trying to understand the reasons why more and more people can’t find happiness or confidence in the real world today and attempt to solve these problems.

    There are aspects of virtual life that I think are a blessing to some.  Part of the documentary focused on a crippled, mute man.  In the virtual game he plays, he can walk, talk, climb, jump.  He described how when he does these things in the game he feels like he is really doing them.  When other peoples’ characters meet his in the game, they don’t see the wheel-chair, but the young, handsome, athletic man whose confidence he as absorbed. 

         There were other parts of the documentary which I found to be extremely disturbing.  They showed a wedding of a couple who met for the first time as their characters in the virtual game they both played.  Their relationship grew through their characters. It was unnerving enough that instead of bridesmaids walking down the aisle, there was a group dressed as star troopers from Star Wars, but to each his own!  When the bride and groom (both dressed as their characters from the game), met at the end of the aisle to recite their vows, they separated from one another and sat at opposite ends of a table, each seated in front of a computer monitor.   Projected on a large screen, for all the wedding guests to see, was the image fromm their computer screens: the couples’ virtual characters taking wedding vows with virtual voices.  While the virtual lovers, clasped hands and looked into one another’s eyes, the real bride and groom stared at a computer screen at least a meter away from one another.  After the vows, the couples stood up and kissed one another.  I think there is something to be said, when the union of a man and woman for the rest of their lives occurs not together, but separated by computers. Maybe they are really in love and the best of luck to them, but need I say more?

Amusement ....virtual joy?

Blog -- Amusement

 

I’m sitting in the backyard of the beautiful place I’m staying in Rosh Pinna.  There are flowers and trees wherever I look and below me is an incredible view you could only see in Northern Israel.  The view makes you feel peaceful and gives you so much perspective…You feel so small compared to everything else.

I wonder if you can see a view like his on Second Life. I understand there are those who for whatever reasons are unable to leave their homes and I would want for them to see photos of this place and maybe even “travel” to it on second life.  But for others who don’t have anything blocking them from experiencing the beauty of the world…….

         There are so many things that exist naturally in the world that can make us happy and content and experience beauty. If I were sitting on a patio on  second life like his one, I would see the mint growing, but I wouldn’t smell it.  I would see the sun, but I wouldn’t feel its heat on my face.  Could the cup of coffee I would be drinking possibly be as enjoyable as the one I really am drinking now? 

         I fear people are relying on technology to provide them with happiness and stress relief when the tools for these feelings are right in fornt of us already.  If I can feel so good just sitting in the world given to us, untouched, why would I want to experience virtual beauty and joy.  Is virtual happiness now real happiness as well?