Re-orienting global digital cultures | Culture and communication in digital worlds

Author(s): Gerard Goggin

Year of publication: 2016

Keywords: Asian media theories, Digital cultures, Constructivist media logics, De-Westernization, Decolonization, Internationalizing media studies, Global communication, Cultural frameworks, Online social networking

Methodology/Sample: _/_

Reference: Goggin, G. (2016). Re-orienting global digital cultures. In S.S. Lim & C. Soriano (Eds.), Asian Perspectives on Digital Culture (pp. 191-198). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315731650-17/re-orienting-global-digital-cultures-gerard-goggin

Abstract

This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book contains a number of studies that tackle resonant and apparently well-known Asian’ concepts, thinking them through in relation to digital cultures in the region and potentially globally. It demonstrates the constructivist nature of media logics and the extent to which local values contribute to the construction and operation of such logics. The book builds creatively and tellingly on the last two decades of work toward Asian theories of communication and media, as an integral part of de-Westernizing, decolonizing, and internationalizing the field. It provokes authors to rethink how they approach global digital cultures not just as objects of study but in terms of the fundamental ways they frame, conceptualize, and theorize such deeply cultural, social, and political phenomena. Sun Sun Lim and Iccha Basnyat’s nuanced study of online social networking takes up the categories of Asian thought best known globally face.

> Summary

The paper explores how Asian perspectives enrich the understanding of global digital cultures.
It critiques dominant Western theories and emphasizes local values in media logics.
The research highlights the importance of regional contexts in shaping digital cultures.
It calls for a re-orientation in media studies to include diverse cultural frameworks.
The study identifies significant gaps in knowledge between Anglophone and non-Anglophone research communities.

> Problem statement

The paper highlights a lack of comprehensive understanding of global digital cultures, emphasizing the need for international research perspectives.
It identifies significant gaps in research on various media and communication systems worldwide, particularly in non-Anglophone contexts.
The dominance of English in research limits the recognition of diverse local communication traditions and knowledge.
The paper argues that globalization oversimplifies the complexities of local contexts in digital culture studies.
It points out the disconnect between digital cultures’ global networks and their specific cultural, social, and political settings.

> Methods used

Not addressed in the paper.

> Practical implications

The paper highlights the need for a re-orientation in research approaches to better understand global digital cultures.
It emphasizes the importance of recognizing local contexts in digital communication research.
The paper suggests fostering international collaboration to bridge knowledge gaps in non-Anglophone communities.
It calls for increased attention to underrepresented regions in digital culture studies.
The findings advocate for a more inclusive understanding of media and communication practices globally.