The Network Society
Hello again!
Today I thought I would cover some of Castells' ideas mentioned in the Week 2 lecture concerning 'The Network Society'. What I found particularly interesting in Manuel Castells' theory (a Professor of Sociology at the University of California) is how networks on the Internet are affecting the way people communicate in modern society. The main crux of his theory lies within the importance of these networks of learning, entertainment, political activism, barter and exchange. (Leadbeater, 2001). Castell's idea of the networked society can not only be applied to social relationships and how we communicate with our friends, lovers and family on a day-to-day basis, but also how enterprises operate to do business. Castells also developed the notion of "Portfolios of Sociability" - which basically refers to how one keeps in contact with friends, family, colleagues etc. through these networks. For example, instead of just writing emails, people can now set up their own web blog where they can update images and information daily, place videos of themselves doing particular activities or commenting on what they've been up to, provide programs on their sites that others can download and develop new technologies with other Internet users. A great blog I discovered this morning which uses a few of these applications belongs to Katie Rice, a californian cartoonist. I found Funny Cute attention grabbing because Ms Rice used text to explain the images she had drawn and uploaded on her web blog. Another web site I was shown in a lecture on Friday, March 31 for KCB301 Media Audiences also uses these applications effectively. Google Idol is a hilarious site, whereby competitors lip sync to their favourite pop, rock, or original songs on video to compete for the Google Idol title. The website is also interactive so that viewers can vote for their favourite video. So far my favourite is Anthony and Katy's version of Kelly Clarkson's song 'Since you've been gone'.
According to Leadbeater (2001), "the applications that have really worked on the internet are tools that allow people to do something for themselves, often through peer-to-peer communication, networking and transactions: e-mail, file sharing programmes like Napster, bulletin boards, mass open auctions." Leadbeater (2001) also believes that "...participation sites that provoke people and empower them with tools to do something with the material, often in collaboration with others," are more successful than 'destination sites' where users are passive in consuming culture, news and information. I believe that Leadbeater's argument is correct - interactive sites that allow a free flow of communication between users are much more effective because they support Castells' idea of building a sense of community through virtual networks.
Anyway, that's it for me today, I hope that my opinion on 'The Network Society' has been somewhat insightful for you! Emilie x
References
Leadbeater, C. 2001. Participation websites; [Surveys edition].Financial Times, p.18. (accessed April 3, 2006, from ProQuest: Multiple databases).
Today I thought I would cover some of Castells' ideas mentioned in the Week 2 lecture concerning 'The Network Society'. What I found particularly interesting in Manuel Castells' theory (a Professor of Sociology at the University of California) is how networks on the Internet are affecting the way people communicate in modern society. The main crux of his theory lies within the importance of these networks of learning, entertainment, political activism, barter and exchange. (Leadbeater, 2001). Castell's idea of the networked society can not only be applied to social relationships and how we communicate with our friends, lovers and family on a day-to-day basis, but also how enterprises operate to do business. Castells also developed the notion of "Portfolios of Sociability" - which basically refers to how one keeps in contact with friends, family, colleagues etc. through these networks. For example, instead of just writing emails, people can now set up their own web blog where they can update images and information daily, place videos of themselves doing particular activities or commenting on what they've been up to, provide programs on their sites that others can download and develop new technologies with other Internet users. A great blog I discovered this morning which uses a few of these applications belongs to Katie Rice, a californian cartoonist. I found Funny Cute attention grabbing because Ms Rice used text to explain the images she had drawn and uploaded on her web blog. Another web site I was shown in a lecture on Friday, March 31 for KCB301 Media Audiences also uses these applications effectively. Google Idol is a hilarious site, whereby competitors lip sync to their favourite pop, rock, or original songs on video to compete for the Google Idol title. The website is also interactive so that viewers can vote for their favourite video. So far my favourite is Anthony and Katy's version of Kelly Clarkson's song 'Since you've been gone'.
According to Leadbeater (2001), "the applications that have really worked on the internet are tools that allow people to do something for themselves, often through peer-to-peer communication, networking and transactions: e-mail, file sharing programmes like Napster, bulletin boards, mass open auctions." Leadbeater (2001) also believes that "...participation sites that provoke people and empower them with tools to do something with the material, often in collaboration with others," are more successful than 'destination sites' where users are passive in consuming culture, news and information. I believe that Leadbeater's argument is correct - interactive sites that allow a free flow of communication between users are much more effective because they support Castells' idea of building a sense of community through virtual networks.
Anyway, that's it for me today, I hope that my opinion on 'The Network Society' has been somewhat insightful for you! Emilie x
References
Leadbeater, C. 2001. Participation websites; [Surveys edition].Financial Times, p.18. (accessed April 3, 2006, from ProQuest: Multiple databases).
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