Who would of thought 20 years ago we could
all converse, debate and liaise with a range of people from different
demographics across many of the 196 countries in the world. The 'blogosphere' acts as a
conduit for online discourse – a platform for global communication ‘in which
individuals & groups congregate to discuss matters of mutual interest and,
where possible, to reach a common judgment (Habermas, J, 1989).
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| Some spheres in a public place, Image source http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachaelvoorhees/ (CreativeCommons) |
The public sphere developed through blogs
presents us with new ways to integrate ourselves into our own interests. It is
a ‘place’ where I can discuss the most intricate details of regional Italian
cuisine with 3 Indonesians, 4 Swedes and 5 South Africans on my couch, in my underwear. However this medium is not always as neutral as forums where users have the ability to create there own topics and comment on a more active debate. The blogs author controls the content released - having the ability to structure the discourse to follow the original post.
A blog acts as a ‘spark’ to
ignite interests, ideas and the discourse involved in its given theme. The
‘spark’ can then promote, or suggest readers towards other influences of the
platforms author. This notion of the “reverse two-step flow” (Bruns, A et al,
2010, p. 281) of communication is very effective in facilitating the building of
online communities.
Look at my blog for example. Although by no
means is my take on globalisation and food inherently popular on a global scale
(yet!), I would like to think that it has encouraged interests or further
spurred people towards some of my own inspirations – from regional cuisines, to
food trends from around the globe and globalisation’s effect on how we eat.
This process sees me being a facilitator to the flow of my readers with
an aim to ‘generate a lively public debate by commenting on, and linking to,
newspapers articles and other blogs’ (van den Boomen et al, 2009, p. 244)
So I encourage you to pursue the links I
provide during my posts. They will often be motioned towards my interests
(food, chefs, etc.) and, if you enjoy my posts, hopefully yours too. How could
you lose? After all what is the Internet, and more specifically blogs, if not ‘an
instrument for the emancipation of subordinated social groups’ (van den Boomen
et al, 2009, p. 246).
Reference List:
Bruns, .A, Burgess, .J, Highfield, .T, Kirchhoff, .L & Nicolai, .T 2010, 'Mapping the Australian Networked Public Sphere', Social Science Computer Review, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 277-287.
van den Boomen, .M, Lammes, .S, Lehmann .A.S, Raessens, J & Schäfer, .M.T, 2009, Digital Material: Tracing New Media in Everyday Life and Technology, Amsterdam University Press, retrieved September 1st, <http://www.deakin.eblib.com.au.ezproxy-f.deakin.edu.au/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=474227>
Calhoun, C 1992, Habermas and the public sphere, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, September 1st, <http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy-f.deakin.edu.au/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/nlebk_48445_AN?sid=5da9040f-0e2a-4743-9e80-0d50fb3ba3fd@sessionmgr10&vid=1&format=EB&lpid=lp_III&rid=0>
Reference List:
Bruns, .A, Burgess, .J, Highfield, .T, Kirchhoff, .L & Nicolai, .T 2010, 'Mapping the Australian Networked Public Sphere', Social Science Computer Review, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 277-287.
van den Boomen, .M, Lammes, .S, Lehmann .A.S, Raessens, J & Schäfer, .M.T, 2009, Digital Material: Tracing New Media in Everyday Life and Technology, Amsterdam University Press, retrieved September 1st, <http://www.deakin.eblib.com.au.ezproxy-f.deakin.edu.au/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=474227>
Calhoun, C 1992, Habermas and the public sphere, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, September 1st, <http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy-f.deakin.edu.au/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/nlebk_48445_AN?sid=5da9040f-0e2a-4743-9e80-0d50fb3ba3fd@sessionmgr10&vid=1&format=EB&lpid=lp_III&rid=0>
Hello Michael,
ReplyDeleteUpon reading your insightful blog, one which reads well, is well informed and thought provoking. I must say that I have to side with you that ‘blogosphere’ has made significant inroads into creating online communication more accessible for people who abide by the principals of the public sphere.
You’re obvious passion for food shines through this blog, as it does most of your blogs in this ALC215 series, it’s very refreshing to hear of someone as young as yourself to be as a passionate about your interests as you are. Moreover it’s very encouraging that you urge your readers ‘to pursue the links’ that you have provided in previous posts so that people can be further enlightened by your passion in cooking. The culinary arts is something that I am not familiar with myself to a great degree, but thanks to your insightful passionate blogs, this is something that I will now follow with great interest.
I enjoy the subtle humour within the post suggesting that your blog posts have not become “inherently popular on a global scale (yet!)” while this may be a throwaway line to some, for me it reveals a man who has big dreams, ambition and the drive to make further inroads to make within the journalism side of your favorite industry. I truly believe that this will be a good career move for you and I look forward to one day reading published works from ‘Michael Morsello Australia’s leading food critic!