Influence of Digital Media on Culture - Term Paper Example

? Digital media and Culture Annotated Bibliography Bailey, M., & Redden, G. . Mediating faiths: Religion and socio-cultural change in the twenty-first century. Farnham: Ashgate. This book serves as guide to the neglected aspect of culture in relation to the digital media influence. It portrays the significant abilities that the media has in the shaping of ideas and in the scramble for more faithful by religions. A book reflects on the greater revolutions that bring understanding to the religious culture. It illustrates the adaptation of technology in to the cultural developments especially delving on religion. Lastly, it reflects on how the digital aspects have influenced the rise of secular religions with its popularization. Metzger, M. J., & Flanagin, A. J. (2008). Digital media, youth, and credibility. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. This book portrays the way society has unlimited access to broad spectrums of information through extremely portable and easy to access digital forms as compared to the past. It expounds on the comfort brought by the availability of media tools as forms of entertainment and quality information providers. It also touches on the youth as possible audiences and implementers of the same. In addition, it emphasizes on the need by the youth to use the internet as a health information seeking to tool for their personal gain. Miller, R. (2008). Digital art: Painting with pixels. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books. In this book, the digital form of art is on the spotlight by giving the meaning of this art form then building up on its impact on culture. It differentiates the digital way from the traditional form of artistry by presenting its historic background. Additionally, the book encompasses how technology in the digital world has evolved to give birth to sophisticated outputs in the advertising field. Lastly, it gives insights in to contemporary art and the influence that the tool has on cultural growth. Morgan D. (2008). Key Words in Religion, Media and Culture. Taylor & Francis: London. This book is an introduction to cultural interrelation between the digital media and religion. It gives the extent to which the media tool has affected important concepts within the religious walls. Morgan has incorporated a number of scholars in this book to bring out seasoned rationale revolving around inquisitions on the constitution of culture. it provides a basis in to which future generations may refer to when it comes to leads towards theological explanations in the future through the digital media. Finally, it gives insights in to the curiosity that has led to the inception of secular religions and idol worship as part of the digitally revolutionized culture. Ricardo, F. J. (2009). Cyberculture and new media. Amsterdam: Rodopi. In his book, Ricardo depicts the state of the exposure in which the youths have used the digital forms for their own selfish gains. It reflects how distant the youths have gone in terms of the basic concept of internet use. It highlights on the other ways in which the youths have conveniently applied the virtual concepts to promote moral decay and immoral creations. Ideally, it is a study guide that shows disconnect between self-ideologies and societal culture. Shelly, G. B., Cashman J.T., Gunter A. G., Gunter R.E. (2008). Teachers discovering computers: Integrating technology and digital media in the classroom. Boston, Mass: Thomson/Course Technology. The projections in this book explain the transformation of the educational sector concerning dynamic approaches of advanced learning. It covers on digitized media concepts in relation to the advancement in technological forms of simplified learning. It also depicts the ease within which instructors find their carriers to be more fulfilling than that of past tutors because of the remarkable aspect of simplified learning. Straubhaar, J. D., LaRose, R., & Davenport, L. (2012). Media now: Understanding media, culture, and technology. Boston, MA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. This book highlights the critical view of Cultural Revolution on the advancements in technology for the benefit of society. It dwells on the internet use as a mode of knowledge expansion within the concepts of modernity and technological thriving. In addition, it portrays the technological, cultural, vital concepts in a rapidly changing digital society that influences societies day to day running. It also serves an orient feature in to global media and the various transformations in the technology and digital media industry in ensuring that culture is substantive. Subrahmanyam, K., & Smahel, D. (2011). Digital youth: The role of media in development. New York: Springer. The book, Digital youth: The role of media in development is a tactical approach in the understanding of today’s youths as ambassadors of technology and kills in global platform. It presents the risks and benefits of incepted technology in to the lives of teenagers and young adults. Moreover, this book gives an in depth view of the moral and ethical challenges presented by the unsupervised media access by the youths. In essence, it addresses matters sexuality and civic engagement by youths in relation to internet use. Lastly, it serves as a guide to healthy cultures through the featuring of health issues and technology for societal progress. Digital media and Culture Digital media is a mode of electronic media in which data storage is in digital form. It is the cryptic aspect of data storage and transmission of information or the result. Sequentially, sampling is the technological aspect of converting analog signals in to digital product through an analog into digital converter. This conversion is through standard modes of processing where the output is of high expectations. Technological advances have given birth to various forms of digital arts that involve the use of computers in to displaying the artistic productions. Over the years, media and culture have established close relations as the two have become an inevitable part of modern day life. In essence, the evolution of the media has improved on the lifestyle of many urbanites as it has facilitated the demarcation of class and sophistication. Ideally, the digital media has helped in the learning field in the making of teaching much easier. It has paved way for distant learning in which students enroll for online programs without having to visit there learning institution in person. In this regard, the essence of this essay will be to highlight a topic in which the digital media has had influential impacts. Essentially, the topic of choice is the influence of digital media on culture. Self-reflection on culture and digital media In my view, culture draws its evolutionary aspects to the advancements made in the media industry especially digitally. In essence, improved forms of technological applications have overshadowed the old ways of engaging in different activities. Generally, the digital media associates to negativity and promotion of uncouth behaviors that forms the stereotyping of this media tool. Ideally, digital imaging and transmission has led to improvement and effecting communication in a dynamic scope. Ironically, the digital forms of television transmission have marked an era of sophistication within the elite and not so elite members of society. On the other hand, digital media access influences the effective health communication toward the increase in societal access to health and health related information. In the recent past, the incorporated outbursts of digital aspects of learning in my view have revolutionized the learning approaches that are more user-friendly and economical. The old form of learning involved the use of textbooks in the tracing of needed knowledge. However, in a remarkable change of trend internet learning has transformed the learning culture and influenced the youthful culture. Surprisingly, the digital media has had an immense impact on the youthful age, as many recent time researchers have established. Sequentially, its ability to reach millions of people at a short span makes it an ideal pace setter for cultural development. In this regard, the digital transformation has significantly influenced culture because of the fact that it has shelled down regional barriers and created no virtual boundaries. Therefore, this means that people from all lifestyles can share in the cultural aspect of other societies through the established channels hence making the world a minimized and virtual community. The use of digital technology has had a substantive influence on painting works, sculptural productions, and musically related forms of art. Incidentally, the impact has been both positive and negative depending on different levels of understanding existing in a society. Essentially, digital application portrays the level to which a society has attained in terms of development and trend setting. It has its foot in all aspects of culture that may include education, health, lifestyle, and religion. In this regard, the pillar to which culture bases its relevance has to be the technological pillar where in this case digital media becomes the subject basis. General perspective and analysis Impact on the educational culture Arguably, the digital media has had substantial roles in the educational sector because their inceptions on to various aspects of the field have made learning be of relative ease. In the past, class attendance used to be the only form of education attainment. It was a strenuous and expensive venture for those who intended to expand on their educational levels. In recent times, the evolution of education has seen the widening of the gap between the olden forms of education and the advanced and modernized learning forms. For instance, the internet as a digital media tool has been effective in the administration of knowledge in institutions of higher learning. The transmission of assignments gets to a greater number of students despite their presence in class or absenteeism in an avenue. It has shifted the learning experience from the old furniture and classroom form of learning into a digitized way of knowledge acquisition (Shelly et al 2007). Commendably, data and internet service providers have made considerable strides in the upgrading of their services to ensure that speed couples with high service delivery levels in their area of relevance. The application of advanced digital media forms has made it possible for relevant advancement of education standards. This means that instructors are no longer limited to the classroom walls and the olden use of textbooks as guides in to completion if the syllabus. Ideally, the worldwide web has enhanced the research on various topics essential for the learning process of students. Initially, research had its limits as the information accessibility was through textbooks and journalist articles found in libraries (Shelly eta al, 2007). With the digital media revolution, learning has become easier and improved. The quality of education in the education sector has risen since the upping of the technology levels raises the status of an institution. Subsequently, the digital media through its data storage abilities has minimized on the bulk of using paper and volumes of books to store relevant information. In the past, information storage had to be in files or tones of books that proved overwhelming especially when seeking wanted information. Wastage of time was inevitable in a strenuous process. On the contrary, the digital media made information search and data storage a matter of ease with the access of these made possible through the click of a mouse button. In this regard, the digital media has played a substantial role in reforming the learning sector. Lifestyle In recent years, the digital media has become a tool in which the grading of the people’s lifestyles has basis. The availability of a larger number of clearly broadcasted channels within a digital setup makes this form of technological advancement to be the envy of the century. Ideally, the picture quality exhibited by the digital media is exceptional because the technology used reflects the improvement of picture signals. For many urbanites, the application of digital media rather than analog media depicts one’s societal status. For instance, it shows one’s ability to sustain a flashy lifestyle since to many additional television channels is not a matter of necessity. Sequentially, it brings forth the issue of inequality and social class segregation because of the complexity of society’s developments. On the other hand, the racial aspect in the digital media accessibility remains a factor that many societies tend to overlook. For instance, the underprivileged state of the minorities makes their lifestyle remain undesirable. In this regard, emphasis becomes on the need to see the digital media as a way of improving the lifestyle of people rather than promote inequality (Straubhaar et al, 2011). Influence on health The digital media has revolutionized the communication of health related information to ensure that the healthy culture of a society do not lag behind. Sequentially, communication becomes one of the fundamental pillars in the promotion of quality health and health related services. Primarily, the available digital forms have the ability to relay relevant and much needed information to a worldwide audience in a short span of time. Some of these media channels include social networks, electronic health avenues, and television health programs. In addition, the relaying of needed information on how to remain healthy as a society and as individuals serves an opportunity to empower people to take care of their health levels. Moreover, the cultural aspect features because the digital media acts as a medium in to which access to health information is available for all translating to a healthy society and growth in culture. On the contrary, the digital media strengthens society’s confidence in the existing health care channels that helps the health practitioners to streamline their services in accordance with the current times. Additionally, the research mechanisms put in place by this media form allow patients to find treatment options that may improve their health states (Metzger & Flanagin, 2008). The digital media offers a lot of information for all on all aspects of disease, treatment, and maintenance of medical conditions. In this regard, a healthy and fit society forms the basis to the development of cultural attributes contributed by the digital media influence and application. Artistic culture Remarkably, the digital inception led to the incorporation of digital art in to the art. Subsequently, digital art is the collective term for a distinguished array of artistic productions that use the digital media and technology as a component of creative presentation (Miller, 2008). In addition, it is a form of contemporary or modernized art, which mainly encompasses the use of digital media technology. Moreover, their application is mainly in the advertising world for the production of attractive sound effects and visuals. This form of art is purely computer dependant that makes the generation of images be of desired quality and attributes using certain computer software to generate images. This has made it possible for the world to draw the difference between traditional forms of advertising and the latest trend in relaying of advertising content. Ideally, visual media forms should grasp the attention of the audience at the instant visual contact. In this regard, the cultural aspect of the marketing world experienced a turnaround in the usage of digital media to attract more clientele and increase on their sales. The impact of digital media on the youths In essence, this form of media has helped in the development of interpersonal relations among the youthful bracket through personal research and growth. Over the years, the internet has served as a medium for minimizing civic disengagement of the youths from critical forums. For instance, the social networks available make it possible for the youths to access information without undergoing much struggle. Initially, youths bused to neglect any sort of information that required much of their precious time in its acquisition. However, the digital media has made it possible to access the information through the following of certain links in a manner that attracts the youth bracket (Metzger & Flanagin, 2008). These avenues have established forums within which dissemination of policies that affect the youths directly find the exchange of views vital for the improvement of policy frameworks. In this regard, these digital media offer anonymity to the youths who fear victimization when they give their views in public forums. They have led to the participation of youths in the formulation of policies that have led to the progression of the society’s cultural aspects. Additionally, the digital era has given birth to digital youths who are youths with competent abilities and skills in technology revolving around computer hardware and related subjects. However, with the remarkable traits exhibited by the digital media there has also been an increase in cyber sex, a condemned vice by society (Ricardo, 2009). The amount of privacy that the internet as a media tool gives enhances the chances of an unsupervised youth to engage in internet pornography because of the easy access to these obscene sites (Subrahmanyam & Smahel, 2010). In addition, frequent visiting of online chat rooms have facilitated the rise of pedophiles in modern day society, as they tend to pose as the youths peers in to luring them in to satisfying their sexual urges (Subrahmanyam & Smahel, 2010). In this regard, the easy accessibility of the internet and other digital media avenues has given birth to societal perils that are endangering the sexual; health of the youths especially that of naive teenagers. On the contrary, it is a cheap way of communication between youths living in different continents. It has emphasized on the reality of making the world a global village using technology and digital conveyance of information. Ideally, tools like Skype and online conferencing have made it easy for youths to exchange ideas with natives of other countries for the benefit of knowing their kind of lifestyle and the way of living. Incidentally, the youths opt to use the digital media for the access of information related to their sexual health and overall health. Many do not access the health facilities within their locality for fear of intimidation and victimization by either their peers or the care providers. Essentially, the delayed on set of sexual relations has become outdated as many teenagers find themselves engaging in sexual activities at extremely tender ages. Therefore, the internet offers relevant information on how well to execute the process of seeking treatment and information on how to deal with such related issues (Subrahmanyam & Smahel, 2010). Subsequently, it emerges that the digital media has had both negative and positive impacts on today’s younger generation despite its inception being timely. The levels to which these youths have managed to adapt to the transformation are proof enough that cultural evolution has taken a new dimension. The youthful culture is an equal beneficiary to technological advancements and improvements to the realization of societal accomplishments. This is proof enough that there is an unpleasant side to every good side. The digital media and the religious culture In a remarkable view, the digital world has interacted with the religious aspect of culture in various forms. For instance, the availability of religious study material on line has affected the ease to which faithful can access religious information and excerpts from religious books. In the past, the sole means of acquiring study religious information, but in recent times the fundamental s of religion are available on internet links. Essentially, there is the online bible and other religious books captured on the internet accessible to everyone at any time. In addition, the digital media has had an intense impact on the airing of religious contents across various channels to a worldwide audience. It has enhanced the belief in supreme beings and religious attributes that form the basis for the facilitation of relevant culture. Ideally, most of the religions have devised ways in which they have exhaustively used in winning the souls of the worldly population (Bailey & Redden, 2011). Some use live televangelist digital broadcasts while others use the internet to try to win the souls of none believers. In addition, the digital media appears to be an infinite source of religious related contexts for religious audiences. Finally, the availability of too much information has also led to the quests to prove the validity of existing religions to be questionable (Morgan, 2008). The questioning of Godly aspects has given rise to secular religions such as atheism and other forms of idol worship. Additionally, the theories in existence on the worldwide web instigate individuals to rely on their inward abilities rather than other religious aspects in the solving of religious puzzles. Moreover, the digital media is an avenue to which religious brainwashing may occur in naive individuals. The rise of occults and modern forms of religion that tend to question the existence of God can attribute a large growth in following to the digital media platforms that are readily accessible by many. However, some countries have limited the access and penetration levels to which the media can air their content as a safety measure to safeguard its population. This is common in the Muslim countries where the perceived content for display goes through government authorities to ascertain whether it is worth consuming by its population. Ideally, the filtering of content allows for the regulation of religious material that may otherwise be detrimental to the religious cultural aspect of the state in general. References Bailey, M., & Redden, G. (2011). Mediating faiths: Religion and socio-cultural change in the twenty-first century. Farnham: Ashgate. Metzger, M. J., & Flanagin, A. J. (2008). Digital media, youth, and credibility. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. Miller, R. (2008). Digital art: Painting with pixels. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books. Morgan D. (2008). Key Words in Religion, Media and Culture. Taylor & Francis: London. Ricardo, F. J. (2009). Cyberculture and new media. Amsterdam: Rodopi. Shelly, G. B., Cashman J.T., Gunter A. G., Gunter R.E. (2008). Teachers discovering computers: Integrating technology and digital media in the classroom. Boston, Mass: Thomson/Course Technology. Straubhaar, J. D., LaRose, R., & Davenport, L. (2012). Media now: Understanding media, culture, and technology. Boston, MA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. Subrahmanyam, K., & Smahel, D. (2011). Digital youth: The role of media in development. New York: Springer. Read More