American Elections and Modern Culture
There is a black man in the white house and modern culture had a whole lot to do with it.
The simple statements, 'go vote', which President elect Obama often made appealed to popular culture but mostly those, youths, new voters and internet and technology saavy generation. Telecommunications had a lot to do with it and the average age group of supporters and voters bringing the first African American to the white house is a reflection of modern 'culturism'.
What I would term modern culture is all the elements of popular culture plus today's concept and culture of openness facilitated by technology. The culture of openness, freedom, rights and expression becomes more profound in recent times. Larry Lessig, Yochai Benkler and Pierre Levy would talk about the culture of the internet and postulate on the openness and freedom that it should have. Open access movements, in the last decade have kicked every ethics of knowledge out the window, challenging the culture of hoarding knowledge for power. Indeed, empowerment has come with a large degree of openness. The advancements of the internet, user generated content, the bottom up approach to information and creation becomes additional elements of traditional culture, making it more modern.
Modern culture does not primarily erode aspects of traditional culture. It however, enforces it and gives it an opportunity to thrive using modern technology as a medium for widespread dissemination. The traditional social element would fit into modern culture when they spread technology enablers on their bread of traditionalism. This is the dividing line between modern and traditional culture. The ability for one to recognise the gulf that separates modern culture from tradition, and the bridge that links them.
Obama recognised this and therefore took the approach of modern culture that such entities like facebook, linkedin, myspace, google, etc are characteristic of. He challenged traditional culture of allowing a cap over his campaign finance and would rather take the approach of unlimited possibilities when every one dollar from unseen, unknown millions would amount more than $85million dollars of tax payers money.
Obama would use the internet to facilitate pyramid marketing techniques to encourage voters, volunteers, and donors to move one candidate forward.
He would use the mobile phone knowing clearly, that communications is the oil that wheels mass mobilisation. And though he could stand at a podium and do the famous, 'I have a dream' speech, he would rather disperse his 'voice' via sms and mobile phone calls.
If the world were to vote, it would be a landslide. The seesaw would tip as all weights shift to one side. The appeal to global audience, knowing the support that comes from the international scene was capitalised on by media networks. Though journalists feign fairness, one could tell certain biased reporting to global audience. He is much liked and thus appealed more to global consciences, a reflection of the after effect of modern culture.
The face of todays internet is the face of the average youth. The average youth, well mobilised can change anything including change itself. Thats modern culture and that was the difference between Obama and McCain.
The simple statements, 'go vote', which President elect Obama often made appealed to popular culture but mostly those, youths, new voters and internet and technology saavy generation. Telecommunications had a lot to do with it and the average age group of supporters and voters bringing the first African American to the white house is a reflection of modern 'culturism'.
What I would term modern culture is all the elements of popular culture plus today's concept and culture of openness facilitated by technology. The culture of openness, freedom, rights and expression becomes more profound in recent times. Larry Lessig, Yochai Benkler and Pierre Levy would talk about the culture of the internet and postulate on the openness and freedom that it should have. Open access movements, in the last decade have kicked every ethics of knowledge out the window, challenging the culture of hoarding knowledge for power. Indeed, empowerment has come with a large degree of openness. The advancements of the internet, user generated content, the bottom up approach to information and creation becomes additional elements of traditional culture, making it more modern.
Modern culture does not primarily erode aspects of traditional culture. It however, enforces it and gives it an opportunity to thrive using modern technology as a medium for widespread dissemination. The traditional social element would fit into modern culture when they spread technology enablers on their bread of traditionalism. This is the dividing line between modern and traditional culture. The ability for one to recognise the gulf that separates modern culture from tradition, and the bridge that links them.
Obama recognised this and therefore took the approach of modern culture that such entities like facebook, linkedin, myspace, google, etc are characteristic of. He challenged traditional culture of allowing a cap over his campaign finance and would rather take the approach of unlimited possibilities when every one dollar from unseen, unknown millions would amount more than $85million dollars of tax payers money.
Obama would use the internet to facilitate pyramid marketing techniques to encourage voters, volunteers, and donors to move one candidate forward.
He would use the mobile phone knowing clearly, that communications is the oil that wheels mass mobilisation. And though he could stand at a podium and do the famous, 'I have a dream' speech, he would rather disperse his 'voice' via sms and mobile phone calls.
If the world were to vote, it would be a landslide. The seesaw would tip as all weights shift to one side. The appeal to global audience, knowing the support that comes from the international scene was capitalised on by media networks. Though journalists feign fairness, one could tell certain biased reporting to global audience. He is much liked and thus appealed more to global consciences, a reflection of the after effect of modern culture.
The face of todays internet is the face of the average youth. The average youth, well mobilised can change anything including change itself. Thats modern culture and that was the difference between Obama and McCain.
Labels: Barak, Ben Akoh, culture, internet, Obama, US elections
posted by Ben Akoh at 1:32 PM
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