By Jaymi Quincey
Ma Mung (2005) discusses many aspects
of Diaspora, the people networks, traditions and reasons for Diaspora. Cited by
Ma Mung (2005), Sheffer defines diaspora with three main criteria, the third
point mentioning the significant contacts with the country of origin (p.38)
this refers to the exchanges between the diaspora community and the home land.
Relying on the diaspora’s country of origin and new settled home having the
able to access the internet, as most would, Social network significantly helps
to maintain connections with their family or like-minded people. Facebook is a
very easy way for any individual to connect with their community near and far.
This creates an instant ability to search for communities like your own
worldwide.
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| https://plus.google.com |
This use of Facebook for connections is not only useful for new age
diaspora of the 21st century but for new generations of the
older diaspora communities. For example; the local Italian community in Ingham, QLD. Having a big Italian
diaspora community, with friends and family within the area but easily able to
keep ‘up to date’ with their relatives all over the world. Also supporting my
argument, Kuttainen (2015) discusses diaspora, referring to the links between
various migratory groups – real or imaginary and now virtual. I would
argue that these links are stronger as the ability to connect is faster, more
likely to be received and readily available in comparison to the physical
exchange of information, money and experience. Not only is social media making
this connection but online banking making it easier to send loved ones money
either for gifts, financial support or to donate to their home land.
Groups of people who have been removed or displaced from their homelands
whether it was because of territorial disputes, war, forced migration or
immigration (Kuttainen, 2015) who have settled in civilised communities will
share a community connection but also a universal connection to who they are
through the ability to narrate using social media.
Reference:
Ingham. (2015). In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 11,
2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingham,_Queensland
Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Our Space: Network, narratives,
and the making of place: People Networks. [PowerPoint slides].
Retrieved from http://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au
Ma Mung, E. (2005). Diaspora, spatiality, identities.
Retrieved from http://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au
Image:
Diaspora, (2015). Diaspora [Image]. Retrieved from https://plus.google.com
Social media has certainly evolved the ways in which people communicate and exchange valuable goods, news and cultural history and to continue relationships with others. As you have described in your blog; social media allows people to narrate who they are. I definitely agree with your statement, as narrations are an important part in affirming a person's culture, identity, history and memory; which are described by Ma Mung (2005) are a justification for "...belonging to the diaspora" (p. 36). While social media does allow for a greater easily accessible form of worldwide communication, there is still a great emphasis on needing to consolidate one's identity that allows separate individuals to develop a community identity. Therefore, as described by Taun (1979) creates a sense of cultural value within a foreign space and constructing a place filled with the familiar, even if it is only through virtual links using social media.
ReplyDeleteReferences:
Ma Mung, E. (2005). Diaspora, spatiality, identities. [Class reading]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au
Tuan, Y. (1979) Space and place: The perspectives of experience. [class reading]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au
I completely agree with your argument regarding social media allowing those in a diaspora to remain linked with their hub of origin, it certainly empowers them through virtual reality, another great example of the benefits of social medias is Ma Mung's (2005) statement that, "diasporas represent a form of adaptation to the new means of transportation and communication...". Through the empowerment that diasporas have due to social media, and virtual reality, it isn't hard to notice the parallels to how some were disempowered originally when forced to leave a home country and to become a diaspora. Yet, despite their disempowerment they were able to become re-empowered through the 21st century and the blessing of technologies, like the internet. Not only does social medias, internet bankings, and virtual reality, in general, allow diasporas to communicate and to rekindle with their hub of origin, but it allows them to retain their cultural practices and beliefs while also allowing new generations to express themselves on social media and to share their cultures as well.
ReplyDeleteReferences:
Ma Mung. (2005). Diaspora, spatiality, identities. Retrieved from: http://www.learnjcu.edu.au.
Moving to a foreign country can be one of the most emotionally straining events in one’s life, especially if you are forced away from your homeland due to war or poverty and are unable to speak or understand the local language. The one thing that these diaspora groups can take with them is their culture, which plays a large role in the passing of generations to keep their unique culture and identity alive.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you when you state that “the links are stronger as the ability to connect is faster, more likely to be received and readily available in comparison to the physical exchange of information”. Since these migrant groups are spread all around Australia, social media platforms allow immediate interaction to share their culture, create memories and ultimately stick together as they try to maintain and create a somewhat new identity in a foreign country. I think we can agree when Ma Mung states that “diasporas represent a form of adaptation to the new means of transportation and communication and are particularly well integrated into the current globalization of economy as well as migrations or cultural phenomena” (Ma Mung 2005). Many diaspora groups have and are still continuing to adapt to their new countries culture and lifestyle while still maintain their own. Overall, I believe we owe a portion of this adjustment diaspora groups have made to social media platforms.
References:
Ma Mung, E. (2005). Diaspora, spatiality, identities. Retrieved from: http://learnjcu.edu/au