ABSTRACT
In Asia, amidst its varied levels of economic development and diverse cultural traditions and political regimes, the Internet and mobile communications are increasingly used in every aspect of life. Yet the analytical frames used to understand the impact of digital media on Asia predominantly originate from the Global North, neither rooted in Asia’s rich philosophical traditions, nor reflective of the sociocultural practices of this dynamic region. This volume examines digital phenomena and its impact on Asia by drawing on specifically Asian perspectives. Contributors apply a variety of Asian theoretical frameworks including guanxi, face, qing, dharma and karma. With chapters focusing on emerging digital trends in China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan, the book presents compelling and diverse research on identity and selfhood, spirituality, social networking, corporate image, and national identity as shaped by and articulated through digital communication platforms.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|14 pages
Overview
part II|52 pages
Self and Identity
chapter 3|19 pages
My Letter to Heaven via E-mail
part III|50 pages
Group Processes and Collective Imaginaries
chapter 5|16 pages
Credibility, Reliability, and Reciprocity
chapter 7|17 pages
Ritual and Communal Connection in Mobile Phone Communication
part IV|52 pages
Discourses and Discursive Constructions of Meaning
chapter 9|17 pages
Tweets in the Limelight
chapter 10|17 pages
Shadow and Soul
part V|30 pages
Conclusions and Ruminations