Week 5. Making Cultures.

Traditionally, culture is something that has had a tangible aspect. Architectural wonders, literature, art, and music were once how we defined culture. But just like everything, the internet has changed this. While we once experienced a performance in a beautiful concert hall or a famous exhibit at an iconic museum, we can now also experience these events through our computers and mobiles. Live streaming, eBooks, Torrents, image galleries, and other various technologies allow us to access a world of culture through the click of a button.

An example of two of the most popular memes, 'Good
Guy Greg' and 'Scumbag Steve' (www.imgur.com).

But this is only how the internet allows us to explore the kinds of culture that has existed as long as recorded history. What about the culture that the internet has created? Social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter have developed social queues and terminology that is comprehended near unanimously amongst the users. The most distinctive and comprehendible aspect of the internet’s culture is its humour. The internet has created a unique new form of humour known as memes. They typically involve an image with text overlay captions and a humour that is usually widely relatable and often crude or in bad taste. Furthermore, people can belong to groups and use these websites to define their personality. With the sheer volume of knowledge users have provided about themselves to Facebook, the site has become a library of social behaviour and personalities. It is clear that one’s page is an accurate portrayal of their character (or atleast how they see themselves). 

References

http://www.facebook.com

http://www.twitter.com

http://www.knowyourmeme.com

http://www.gaarde.org/acronyms/

 Morrison, J 2003, ‘“The dark side of globalisation”: the criminalisation of refugees’, in R Robertson & KE White (eds), Globalization: critical concepts in sociology, Routledge, London, pp. 474–7.

Sun, W 2002, ‘Fantasizing the homeland, the internet, memory and exilic longings’, Leaving China: media, migration, and transnational imagination, Rowan & Littlefield, Lanham, Md., pp. 113–36.

Week 4. Are the Olympics a Truly Global Event?

Well my initial response is yes, but the more I think about it, the less convinced I become. When Ali Safina claims the the Olympics causes people to "rise above national barriers and overcome language and racial hurdles" I find myself conflicted. I agree that this is undeniably the purpose and intention of the Olympics and the IOC, but in reality, this goal is not entirely achieved .

When these nations compete for glory, it is impossible for their bias' and agendas to not intervene and influence our impression of the games. NBC who are broadcasting the Olympics across the US chose to censor a portion of the opening ceremony that commemorated victims of the London bombings because it did not cater to the US audience.

(http://www.laughedge.com)

(http://www.madmagazine.com)

The Olympics presents the inequality of nations on the grandest and most blatant of scales.  Throughout the history of the modern Olympics, we've seen the Western nations dominate the medal tables. In fact, in 1972, when Munich hosted the games, Germany managed to come third and fourth. In more recent years we've seen China grow as a major world power and subsequently as one of the greatest competitors in the Olympics. Between the turn of the century and day 14 of the current London Olympics, China and the USA have both won 148 gold medals out of a possible 1141.  Out of over 200 competing nations, the world's two major powers have won a quarter of the gold medals since the turn of the century. In an attempt to make their countries proud, they have shamed and embarrassed those of less affluent nations.

References

 Singer, JB 2007, ‘Bloggers and other “participatory journalists”’, in C Friend & JB Singer (eds), Online journalism ethics: traditions and transitions, M.E. Sharpe, Armonk, N.Y., pp. 115–50.

http://www.preservearticles.com/201105136546/short-essay-on-the-purpose-of-olympic-games.html