Facebook as a Social Medium

The modern study of culture has served to provide meaning in social relations, communication and cultural politics.  Facebook as a social medium, fuelled by enhanced communications technology, has become an area of cultural interest because it is now the world’s largest social network with over 500 million Internet users. By transmitting what people are thinking on such a large scale, Facebook reflects the nature of its users and how they make use of digital communications technology.   It’s success as a social medium lay in the role it has played in ‘connecting’ people by ensuring a framework of wider coexistence.

Cosmopolitan Cultures

The Research Insitute for Cosmopolitan Cultures (RICC), established in 2007, is associated with the University of Manchester, a leading international centre.  Its focus is on contemporary cosmopolitanism including global variants, common perspectives, historical and geographic context.  There is interest also in movements for social justice which includes discussions on reconciliation and interconnection.  Perspectives include both local and transnational.  I'm particularly interested in understanding RICC's approach to global studies in terms of the cultural impacts of communications technology.
 
Reference:
Research Institute for Cosmopolitan Studies.  About Us. University of Manchester. Nov. 20, 2010.
http://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/ricc/aboutus/index.html