© 2000-2004 by Marc W.D. Tyrrell1 Oral, Written and Digital Cultures I Lecture 1.2

© 2000-2004 by Marc W.D. Tyrrell

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Oral, Written and Digital Oral, Written and Digital Cultures ICultures I

Lecture 1.2Lecture 1.2


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What this lecture coversWhat this lecture covers

• The concept of “culture”The concept of “culture”

• What is an “Oral Culture”?What is an “Oral Culture”?

• What is an “Written Culture”?What is an “Written Culture”?

• What is an “Digital Culture”?What is an “Digital Culture”?


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The concept of CultureThe concept of Culture

• Culture is the shared set ofCulture is the shared set of

– values (e.g. what is right and proper),values (e.g. what is right and proper),

– beliefs (e.g. “X is…”, and concepts/language)beliefs (e.g. “X is…”, and concepts/language)

– behavioral expectations (e.g. definitions of behavioral expectations (e.g. definitions of roles and actors), androles and actors), and

– artifacts (material objects)artifacts (material objects)

that comprise the way of life of a people.that comprise the way of life of a people.


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The concept of Culture IIThe concept of Culture II

• What do we mean by “a shared set”?What do we mean by “a shared set”?– A collection (set) of all the “normal” and A collection (set) of all the “normal” and

“recognized” values, beliefs, expectations and “recognized” values, beliefs, expectations and artifacts.artifacts.

• Sometimes these values, beliefs, Sometimes these values, beliefs, expectations, and artifacts form a expectations, and artifacts form a “cluster” or “sub-set” that is referred to as “cluster” or “sub-set” that is referred to as a “part-”, “sub” or “counter-culture”.a “part-”, “sub” or “counter-culture”.


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The concept of Culture IIIThe concept of Culture III

• Culture as process/ability (abstract)Culture as process/ability (abstract)– Inherent in our evolutionary inheritance Inherent in our evolutionary inheritance

(e.g. our evolved psychology, etc.)(e.g. our evolved psychology, etc.)

– Culture, in this definition, is the human Culture, in this definition, is the human ability to “make sense” of what we are ability to “make sense” of what we are experiencing either at first or second experiencing either at first or second hand, and to communicate that “sense” hand, and to communicate that “sense” to othersto others


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The concept of Culture IVThe concept of Culture IV

• Culture as specific observable (concrete)Culture as specific observable (concrete)– A particular, recognizable “set” that forms a A particular, recognizable “set” that forms a

“culture of…”“culture of…”

– As a concept, specific observable “cultures” As a concept, specific observable “cultures” operate on a sliding scale, hence the same operate on a sliding scale, hence the same operational approach to sub-cultures may be operational approach to sub-cultures may be used.used.


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The concept of Culture V:The concept of Culture V: Day to day interactionsDay to day interactions

• ““Normal” communicationNormal” communication– ConversationConversation

– Information gatheringInformation gathering

• Data storage and recallData storage and recall– Information storage, retrieval and analysisInformation storage, retrieval and analysis

– May use memory enhancersMay use memory enhancers

– May be restrictedMay be restricted


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The concept of Culture VIThe concept of Culture VI Social RitualSocial Ritual• Categorization of the “other” Categorization of the “other”

– The use of stereotypes and “roles”The use of stereotypes and “roles”

• Social theatreSocial theatre– Interpersonal interactions as role-playingInterpersonal interactions as role-playing

– The development of set scenesThe development of set scenes

• Presentation of selfPresentation of self– Constructing imagesConstructing images

– Harmonizing imagesHarmonizing images


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What is an “Oral Culture”?What is an “Oral Culture”?

• Primary means of communication is via Primary means of communication is via face-to-face interaction, includingface-to-face interaction, including– Day to day interactionsDay to day interactions

– Data storage and recallData storage and recall

– Social “ritual”Social “ritual”• Social theatreSocial theatre

• Presentation of selfPresentation of self

• Categorization of the “other”Categorization of the “other”


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What is a “Written Culture”?What is a “Written Culture”?

• Primary face-to-face communication is Primary face-to-face communication is augmented via written interaction, includingaugmented via written interaction, including– Everyday interactionsEveryday interactions


– Social “ritual”Social “ritual”• Socio-historical theatreSocio-historical theatre

• Categorization of self and “other”Categorization of self and “other”

• Discourses with the deadDiscourses with the dead


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What is a “Digital Culture”?What is a “Digital Culture”?

• Primary social communication is mediated Primary social communication is mediated via written digital interaction, includingvia written digital interaction, including– Everyday interactionsEveryday interactions


– Social Rituals and basic categoriesSocial Rituals and basic categories• Personal/family ritualsPersonal/family rituals

• Categorization of space and timeCategorization of space and time

• Definitions of relevanceDefinitions of relevance


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The Development of The Development of “Generation D”“Generation D”• The first developments appear to in both North The first developments appear to in both North

America and Europe (the UK) in the mid to late 19America and Europe (the UK) in the mid to late 19 thth century.century.– Electric TelegraphElectric Telegraph

– TelephoneTelephone

– RadioRadio

– TelevisionTelevision

• Analog and Digital communications technologies Analog and Digital communications technologies create “warps” in basic concepts of space, time and create “warps” in basic concepts of space, time and relevance.relevance.


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RedactionRedaction

• Three meanings:Three meanings:– √ √ To extract core meaning and recompile itTo extract core meaning and recompile it

– √√ To generate new meaning from two or more To generate new meaning from two or more sourcessources

– XX To hide certain components of meaning To hide certain components of meaning

• Lab ExerciseLab Exercise

Documents

© 2000-2004 by Marc W.D. Tyrrell1 Oral, Written and Digital Cultures I Lecture 1.2