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| Image 1: 'Facebook Times' |
The Facebook Times: A Virtual Real Community
- by Tammy Finlay
Facebook does not exist in space per se, it is not a tangible
location that you visit, yet it is a place that has been created meaningful by its users. We
log on several times a day to see what is happening in ‘our world’ – it is where
we go to hang out, to connect with family and friends, to see what is happening locally. We share, we announce, show-off, discuss,
comment, read and peddle our wares. It could be said then, that not only does Facebook mimic a local community paper, albeit one that is both written by you (and it seems for you), but it is also the place you go to, to enjoy 'the paper'.
According to Pierre Bourdieu (cited by Van Luyn, 2013) those who have the right to speak (hold cultural capital) impose the narrative. Tuan (1991) agrees and argues more precisely that speech itself and the right to "speak and be heard" is a form of empowerment (p. 685). The internet and Facebook has democratized this power, allowing the once silenced 'ordinary people' (Van Luyn, 2013) to have a voice.
According to Pierre Bourdieu (cited by Van Luyn, 2013) those who have the right to speak (hold cultural capital) impose the narrative. Tuan (1991) agrees and argues more precisely that speech itself and the right to "speak and be heard" is a form of empowerment (p. 685). The internet and Facebook has democratized this power, allowing the once silenced 'ordinary people' (Van Luyn, 2013) to have a voice.
Tuan (1991) reminds us, through the retelling of Rat's description of Mole's house (p.690), that words have real power, and accordingly, everyone has the capacity to empower. In the digital age, this capacity has now met opportunity through social networking sites like Facebook. The "layering of voices" (Van Luyn, 2013) ensures that everyone can contribute and participate in the place-making of Facebook, through the sharing of our stories.
References
Tuan, Y.- F. (1991). Language and the making of place: A
narrative - descriptive approach.
Annals of the Association of American
Geographers, 81(4), 1991, pp.684-696.
Van Luyn, A. (2013). BA1002: Our Space: Networks,
narratives and the making of place, Lecture 5: Stories and Places. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au
Image Source
Hi Tammy
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog and relate to the idea that Facebook has indeed become a regular part of peoples lives.
I believe that Facebook for some is a way to express ones self to their network of friends and family. Facebook is a place where we can share stories and a place where one can express themselves, like a diary, writing your true feelings down or in this case posting your true feelings.
Which creates many arguments, some say that it is authentic and truthful for a person to post their intimate personal thoughts, others criticise others for doing so, saying it is attention seeking. As McNeill (2011) states 'the internet diary has ignited firestorms of controversy among users, particularly those who maintain that blogs and diaries are separate entitities..."
Really good read :-)