Final Research Proposal and Annotated Bibliography
Title of Proposed Research: Widening the Gorge: The Internet as a Social Boundary from an Eastern and Western Perspective
The assumption that the Internet has reached complete ubiquity is a false one, but it is true that many in the third world, namely the Far East, are using it to make their windfall and increase their social mobility. While limited Internet access causes a great social divide within places like China and India, it allows these countries on the other hand to compete on the international stage. While China continues to grow their national revenue, free economies struggle when global recessions hit. China and other post-communist countries still maintain control over information and wealth distribution over the Internet making them potentially recession proof and an increasingly growing competitor of the US economy. Will the “digital divide” within countries like China undermine their economic advantages, or will their cheap Internet-illiterate labor force grow and continue to carry China’s economic growth on their backs?
From a Western perspective, the Internet has already evolved to the point where access is virtually ubiquitous. The band Radiohead has attempted several times to use this prolific medium in order to interact directly with fans. In the bourgeois Western culture, it is faux pas to approach an elitist rock group such as Radiohead with intentions of collaboration or even friendship. Although Radiohead regularly commissions and approves DJs and remix artists to turn their songs into new marketable tracks, for someone that hasn’t found their place yet in this exclusive community, it becomes difficult to get a foot in the door. Radiohead attempted several times to level the playing field for both video artists and digital musicians by holding contests to see who can create the best Radiohead music videos and who can create the best Radiohead remix. I will relate my own personal experience in participating in one of their remix contests and decide whether the Internet has really come far enough to level the playing field and create a truly free market of ideas and money.
Abbott, Jason P. “Democracy@internet.asia? The Challenges to the Emancipatory Potential of the Net: Lessons From China and Malaysia” Third World Quarterly Dec. 2001: 99-114
It is widely assumed that the Internet is a medium that is breaking social and political barriers by creating an online Democracy for political views and free market wealth distribution. This article challenges that assumption by stating that there are two major components that affect the impact the Internet can have on two developing post-Communist nations (China and Malaysia specifically), the first being a “digital divide” that prevents certain genders, classes, and regions from receiving Internet services. The second factor has the opposite effect on the Internet’s impact: commercialism that is becoming increasingly globalized.
After reading this source I knew that it would be the centerpiece source for the “Eastern” focus of my argument. After my research concluded, I realized I agreed with Abbott that there are two main factors affecting the impact of the Internet’s democratizing powers and that the first factor listed above is by far still the predominant factor causing an increasing divide between the Internet-savvy elite, and the multitudes falling further and further behind in obscurity.
Kahn, Joseph. “World Bank Unit to Join In Internet Start-Up Finance.” New York Times 14 Feb. 2000, A6
This article, nearly 9 years old, describes a $500 million investment in Internet start-ups in third world countries; mainly in China and Latin America.
Kahn’s article about the World Bank’s $500 million investment in third world Internet start-ups should raise the eyebrows of any American in business on the Internet. In the US, landing a venture capital funding round of $20 million is definitely worthy of national attention.
Ravindran, Pratap. “Puffing Up the Info Highway.” The Hindu Business Line 5 Feb. 2003: 1.
Ravindran describes Russia’s plans on creating a central Russian Government Internet. This program, nicknamed “e-Russia” is determined to put a computer and the internet in every government agency and every school nationwide. The development of a central Intranet where governmental information can be exchanged efficiently is also underway. All plans are due for completion in 2010.
Putin’s move to proactively install the necessary hardware and software in every governmental agency building and school building is an obvious pre-emptive move to create an Internet culture of governmental control. Controlling the installation of these components gives Putin an opportunity to control information flow from the beginning. The alternative of course would be to leave it up to local governments to outfit their buildings with Internet devices.
Mallari, Rene. “Bridging the Digital Divide.” Asian Business Jan. 2001: 44-46
Mallari reports on who is and isn’t able to benefit from the Internet in places such as China and India. She gives statistics on who is able crack the code of exchanging information on the Internet and tap into some of the new streams of wealth available in these two Countries.
These statistics support the claim that the Internet is creating a deeper divide between the poor and privileged classes in areas of China and India. These are the same factors contributing to Jason Abbott’s claim that the Internet creates a less-even playing field by limiting access to certain genders, classes, and regions.
Maich, Steve. “Yes, Master” Maclean’s 20 Feb. 2006: 24-28
Maich comments on China’s seemingly tight grip on the three main Internet companies as they enter into Chinese territory: Google, Yahoo, and MSN. In order for these companies to claim their pieces of the pie, they often bend to China’s demands. This point was illustrated when Yahoo aided in the apprehension of a Chinese dissident who remains in prison by releasing files and logs to the Chinese government.
A great irony in the global commercialization of the Internet is that capitalization can at times drive goliaths in the free world to become the tools of repression in the hands of a nation such as China.
Vittachi, Nury. “China’s Elite: Surfing in Guangzhou.” Far Eastern Economic Review Oct. 2001: 46
Nury Vittachi reports on the statistics of internet usage and mastery in different social classes and conditions. She also reports that the Internet is widely regarded as something associated with foreign business.
This article not only describes the limited user base of the Internet among poor Chinese, but paints a picture that suggests the Internet will hold limited uses for generations to come.
Kirkland, Rik. “Will the U.S. Be Flattened by a Flatter World?” Fortune International 27 June 2005: 19-20
Kirkland’s report on the 2005 Fortune Global Forum in Beijing is summed up by a sense of urgency in learning to cope with the global economic changes occurring in this era where China and India are quickly growing in stature in the World Market.
Although the Internet can cause an economic divide on an intra-national level, the 2005 Fortune Global Forum was proof that on an international level, the Internet has brought Internet-using developing countries further into the World’s mainstream marketplace.
Radiohead and XL Records. Radiohead Remix Contest Site. 1 Oct. 2008 <http://radioheadremix.com>.
Radioheadremix.com is a contest conceived by the band Radiohead and XL Records to promote their new album in Rainbows, but also to attempt to bridge the wide gap between international rock star and the everyday fan.
In theory, the contest is genius. Being that I and thousands of others bought into the contest, and that Radiohead made international news, proves that moving toward social media is smart marketing for this era. But did it achieve the other goal, which was to bridge the gap between the rock star and the fan? I offer many factors that I gleaned first hand from this experience that demonstrates how far we have yet to go to turn the Internet into a truly free market.
“Radiohead Wants You.” Toronto Star 18 March 2008
This quick article explains a previous Radiohead contest in which contestants were to create a music video for one of their new songs.
This article describes another effort by Radiohead to turn the Internet into a more socially equal platform.
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