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How Twitter Is Like African Tribal Drums

571 views
•
June 14, 2011
by
Big Think
YouTube video player
How Twitter Is Like African Tribal Drums

TL;DR

Social media is just an extension of historical communication methods, emphasizing human connection and performance.

Transcript

well it is just an extension of the diary and there is a wonderful book called the assassins cloak which takes diary entries from all centuries and arranged them according to day of the year so you can turn to January the first and there will be an entry from Lord Byron and there will be one from somebody during World War two and there will be one ... Read More

Key Insights

  • ❓ Social media is an evolution of historical communication methods, emphasizing human connection and performance.
  • 🪘 Historical communication methods like telegrams and tribal drums were efficient in sending messages over long distances.
  • 🤳 Clothing used to signify social status, now self-presentation has shifted to social media personas.
  • ❓ Advances in technology have continuously improved communication methods throughout history.
  • 🎭 People have always used various forms of communication to send messages and perform their lives.
  • 👻 Social media allows individuals to create curated personas and showcase only a portion of their lives.
  • 🍝 The evolution of communication has integrated past practices with modern technology for efficient and rapid interactions.

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Questions & Answers

Q: How does social media relate to historical communication methods?

Social media is a modern extension of diaries, letters, telegrams, and even tribal drums, emphasizing human connection and rapid communication methods from the past.

Q: How has self-presentation evolved from historical clothing to social media personas?

In the past, clothing signified social status, but now, individuals create personas on social media to perform and showcase themselves beyond mere appearances.

Q: Can social media posts reflect the entirety of someone's life?

No, social media posts only showcase a curated spotlight of someone's life, allowing them to perform and create a persona for themselves, not revealing their full story.

Q: How have advances in technology improved communication methods over time?

From diaries to tribal drums, telegrams to social media, advancements in technology have continuously enhanced the efficiency and rapidity of human communication across different eras.

Summary & Key Takeaways

  • Diaries and letters have evolved into social media, all forms of human communication.

  • Historical communication methods like telegrams and tribal drums were rapid and efficient.

  • Clothing used to signify social status, now self-presentation has shifted to social media personas.


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