Virtual Online Identities
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| Image 1: Examples of Social Networking Sites (SNS) |
The need to document life events can be dated back several decades ago during the time of Aboriginal "dreaming" also known as "the dream time". The dreaming is many things in one including "a kind of narrative of things that once happened, of things that still happen and a kind of principle of order transcending everything significant for Aboriginal man" (W.E.H Stanner). The dreaming helped the Aboriginal people to interpret and explain their world around them. They did this through stories and images they painted on rocks. This was their own way of self-documenting their lives before internet and computers were invented.
These SNS create certain online communities who have a common interest. Community pages such as RSPCA local lost and found or Cairns buy swap sell are utilised to find animals or buy unwanted things. These communities thrive online due to more people being involved and the immediate responses by people.
SNS, such as Instagram have also shaped our perception of others by the ways in which it displays peoples information on the site. The user can choose how he or she wants to be perceived by what they post onto their personal profile page. This can change the way you relate to these people based on what they post and say on these SNS.
References:
Stanner, W.E.H. (1979). The dreaming (1953), in White man got no dreaming: Essays 1938-1973
(pp. 23-30). Canberra, Australia: Australian National University Press.
How many are there?. (2011). Social Networking Sites (Image). Retrieved from: http://howmanyarethere.net/how-many-social-networking-sites-are-there-in-the-world/
I agree with your comments regarding the importance of documenting life events. The Aboriginal people did this using 'the dreaming', whereas we are more likely to use forums and technology.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that we are able to affect how we are perceived on social media, by choosing what we share and how we share it. An example of this would be the many editing options available to us on the Instagram site. I believe however that this altered view is no less important. This can also be said with regard to aboriginal dreaming.
Stanner states that "these tales are neither illustrative nor simply explanatory, they are fanciful and poetic in content".(p.30) The ability within these sites to tell our story in a creative or artistic way is similar to that of the dreaming.
Reference:
Stanner, W.E.H. (1979) The dreaming, in White man got no dreaming: Canberra, Australia: Australian National University Press.