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Explore the impact of blogging on Chinese culture, comparing it to Western norms. Delve into censorship, freedom, and cultural nuances in online expression.
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Syncopated Communications & Identities Blogging in China
Observe how blogging has affected Chinese culture and how blogging culture in China is different than Western blogging culture Objective
Methods • Qualitative • Observation • Yao Chen • Blocked on Weibo • Interviews • International Chinese students at UCLA • Tumblr users • Literature • Case studies done by other researchers
Background • Chinese government censorship • National image • Bribery • Structure • Coercion • Ambiguity • Liberalization of economy • Chinese social media • SinaWeibo
Illusory Freedom • Government controls all data • Replicated social media • Blogging is the freest form of speech • Real life implications • Imprisonment, restructuring, raids • Covert behavior
Chinese Culture • Accustomed to censorship • Digital media is new • Culture is emerging and developing • Self-censorship is an automatic behavior • “You don’t crave for an idea you’ve never known.” – Tiffany Chi • The notion of democracy • Blocked communications from outside
Chinese blogging culture • Metaphors, satire, encoding • High context blogging culture • Must be embedded in culture • For example: • River Crab / héxiè • Phonogram for censorship • All content is dominated by censorship
Western Blogging Culture • Dominated by self interest and the notion of celebrity • Messages are low context • Some high context • Media specific • For example: “what is air” • Community and socialization • Versus disjointed compartmentalization
similarities • Celebrities are the news • Newsmakers, news finders, etc. • Growing sense of individualism • Popular topics: • Social justice & gov’taccountability • Public safety • Controversial topics • Topics of entertainment
Blogging Reality • Government accountability • Case Study (Yang Lan) • Mass urbanization • Lots of evictions, home loss, and even death • Public outrage via blogs • State council passes regulations on house requisition and demolition • Empowerment
But… • Political evolution vs. revolution • No community, no centralization, no martyrs • Censorship…**********…censorship • Still too early (even for Western blogging) • Complacency • High potential, but may require major controversy as call to action
In summary • Covert communications • High context • Blogging has opened up new avenues of communication • Globalization = inevitable exposure • New sense of identity and individuality • Witnesses of a developing and transforming culture
Thanks! Questions? • Have this kitten for your troubles.