DTC 475 Blog Post 8

When reading the article about media and the Egyptian Revolution, I was reminded of the events that took place a year after high school. I understood the conflict and, like many people, thought the conflict was basically resolved with Mubarak’s exit. When exploring technology’s effect on political unrest, comes and understanding that technology has and increasingly is affecting these conflicts.

The Egyptian Revolution began through social media as outspoken citizens began to document the unrest and call for action. As social media has been shown to do, these groups and their messages spread like wildfire, evoking passion and a yearn for change. One particular woman, Asmaa Mafhouz, had an online video blog which people say is what actually sparked the revolution. Next came a domino effect of informing, sharing, and encouraging action.

I think that the possibilities that have arisen with new digital technologies, specifically social media, have a profound effect on the citizen’s role in political change. The only hurdle to creating change, especially in America, is taking a position that is able to inform, inspire, and implement change. Many people, especially in America, are ignorant to many of the problems in America and take the stand of “I’m not troubled by any of this”, further separating social, economic, and racial hierarchies. In order for real social change in America to happen, people need to think of politics and the decisions that need to be made as issues that should be made for the betterment of our country. Many people’s own self-interest and the fact that there are only two political parties throws out the possibility of positive change for the country as a whole as there is an opposite side who will disagree. We need to see the benefits that improvement as a whole will have on everybody in our country, rather than seeing it as betterment on a group-by-group basis.

DTC 475 Blog Post 7

Chan’s article regarding Digital Universalism and Culture documents the problems the arise when merging business and digital technology for a culturally unique historic and historic region of the world. Not only did the Chulucanas, a small town in Peru, have distinct culture, they were very far behind in understanding and implementing new technologies. The implementation of technology in this region was primarily used as a way to encourage quality sales of the peoples’ artwork. However, as the ideologies of consumerism were brought into these small towns, the artisans’ motives changes from cultural expression to the yearn for profits.

The Chulucanas produced beautiful ceramics which were a staple of that area. In the advent of national and transnational sales of the ceramic work of the Chulucanas people began to change. Rather than selling these pieces of work as cultural identity, they began to seek profits. The plan to expand the sales of the unique ceramics came with the price of diluted production. People began stealing styles and ideas that used to be specific to one artist or area, tainting the authenticity of the artwork.

When implementing technological and economic standards in rural areas of the world, adverse effects can occur–as seen in this article. One must first understand the culture of the area that they are essentially exploiting. If profit is the number one concern, many times cultural aspects of business and production begin to wade in order to produce more, sell more, and earn more. If one understood the cultural significance that the ceramics held in Chulucana beforehand, the way they went about selling the artwork may have been a compliment to their artwork and cutlure, rather than clashing and destroying it.

What do you think should be the appropriate steps to take in regards to implementing new technologies and economic practices in rural countries. How important is research in these steps?