1st Edition

Worlding Identity, Media, and Imagination in a Digital Age

By David Trend Copyright 2013
    176 Pages
    by Routledge

    176 Pages
    by Routledge

    Worlding brings ideas about "virtual" places and societies together with perceptions about the "real" world in an era of mounting global uncertainty. As mass media and the Internet consume ever-increasing portions of our lives, are we becoming disengaged from face-to-face human interaction and real-world concerns? Or is the virtual world actually bringing people closer together and making them more involved with social issues? Worlding argues that the "virtual" and the "real" are profoundly interconnected, often in ways we don't fully appreciate. Drawing on sociology, cultural studies, philosophy, media analysis, and technology studies, Worlding makes the argument that virtual experience and social networking can be vital links to utopian visions and an appreciation of the world's diversity.

    Preface 1. Introduction 2. World Systems of Thought 3. Consuming Desires 4. Mapping Media 5. Destination America 6. Virtual Culture 7. The Mean World 8. Globalization Index About the Author

    Biography

    David Trend

    “Trend’s examples are rich, from consumerism to popular television shows and amusement parks, and relatable to the lives of the intended audience, allowing his readers to understand the meaning of “worlding” not just as a concept but also as a phenomenon that they experience. The book’s research and focus are interdisciplinary, integrating sociology, philosophy, cultural studies, and media studies, to name a few…the book is also pertinent to science, technology, and society. Summing Up: Recommended.” —CHOICE