Bounded eCulture & Diaspora

Religion, nationality, ethnicity and cultural practices assist us in understanding the nature and background philosophies of bounded eCulture. The term “Diaspora” is an important concept that is also closely interrelated within bounded eCulture, and refers to people of any ethnic population that look for and pursue a connection with their places of origin rather than with the community in which they have settled in or migrated to. People that “disperse” themselves, either voluntarily or because they are forced to, often experience a sense of familiarity and comfort by doing so. Belonging to a Diaspora can not only influence an individual’s behaviour and the rules of social engagement they adopt (etiquette, manners, values, norms and beliefs); but also gives them the capacity to remain closely connected with their ethnic roots, while also helping them to become more aware of their heritage and cultural identity.

The convenience of the Internet has made it possible and easier for individuals to engage in Diaspora and remain connected with their cultural and ethnic roots. Like other interest groups such as gaming communities, fan communities and extremist groups, religious groups have been quick to colonise Cyberspace and utilise it to connect with others with similar roots or backgrounds. The electronic frontier has also provided access to church services such as live stream religious sermons and never-ending free GodCasts, which doesn’t intend to replace the traditional method of attending church, but simply aims to accommodate people in Diaspora. Many individuals have found that the freedom of being able to keep in touch with their place of origin at any given time is substantially adequate when they are unable to travel to their homeland on a regular basis. People of the younger generation that may have been migrated or uprooted to a country that is not their birthplace have found that practicing or keeping in touch with their religion via. the World Wide Web has made it easier for them to continue their process of cultural identity and construction. The interaction they also participate in with others of the same institution or ethnicity has also helped them to adapt into the country that they must now view as home.

Born and raised in New Zealand since my move to Australia in 2004, I consider myself to be part of a Diaspora. Now, 3 years later, I still consider New Zealand to be home, and this probably won’t change even if I remain in Australia for the rest of my life. Moving away from what was common and familiar to me at the age of 16 made me realise how hard it is to leave the things you are so familiar with at such a developed age. Undeniably, it was the Internet or “cyberspace” that allowed me to remain in touch with my friends, family and way of living – my established cultural identity, and something that can never be overshadowed or replaced by my time and experiences in Australia. Although I have since adopted a slight Australian accent and become a regular user of some uniquely “Aussie” terms, I still never fail to let the “Kiwi” side of me emerge and continue to get asked which footy team I go for – to which I still reply the All Blacks!

As human beings, our ties and connections with our cultural roots and those that belong to the same Diaspora can, unknown to some, be considerably stronger than the interests or personal likes/dislikes we may share with others. This is because culture defines individuals from birth, whereas interests or likes/dislikes are developed and adopted by the individual themselves at any given time. If Diaspora did not exist, people that are passionate on any level about their culture or heritage may feel lost and find it difficult to move on if have been dispersed from a place they could not come back to or keep in contact with. Cyberspace has enabled individuals to live their life in a country that is not that of their place of birth, whilst still being able to keep in touch with their cultural roots and practices that first established the person they are in today’s evolving society.