Wired Cultures : Unravelling The Shades of Cultural Connectivity

In the delicate strokes of a painter’s brush, where every brush stroke whispers the tale of ancient rituals and model aspirations, cultural connectivity unfolds itself like a vibrant canvas blending the hues of traditions into a masterpiece of shared human experience. Before understanding its nature and discerning its epochal contributions, we have to know about its actual meaning in this context.

The word connectivity derives from the noun “connect”, which came from a Latin word “connectere”, which means to tie together. It represents the quality of being connected or joined together. Connectivity in this context is referred to the nature, processes, and the nodes of connection, including physical infrastructure, transportation, social interaction, and cultural exchange. The cultural connectivity or the cultural aspect of connectivity specifically emphasizes the interaction and exchange of the cultural elements between different groups or societies. It should be kept in mind that we cannot or dare not confine its cultural aspect in a near-tight compartment from the rest of its aspect.

Trade is one of the most important factors contributing to the roots of cultural connectivity. The silk trade not only connected China with the regions of Europe, but via the routes explored their own cultural tradition and heritage, leading to the cultural diffusion by furthering the process of hybridization. Indian-Oman relation primarily started with trade, and its connection can be traced back to 3000 BC between the Harappa and Mahenjadaro of Indus Valley civilization with the civilization of Majan, which is known as the modern day Sultanate of Oman. The Harappan pots were found in Ras al- Jinz and Ras al- Hadd of Oman, which serves as an epochal evidence of the earliest cultural exchange as a part of the connectivity. Soon the coast of Malabar, the parts of Kerala, adopted some of their practices and long-standing customs as a part of the larger Arab world. The Mapillas, a hybrid community from Malabar, was formed through courses of intermarriage and continuous cultural exchange between the Arabs and the people of Malabar. They contributed to several different art forms and oral literature of that specific geographical area, which gradually with the verdicts of time penetrated into the ethereal beauty of Indian culture. Many words that captures the heart of our vocabularies, and used while performing our daily activities, have their roots in Arabic words. For instance the words like “mausam”, ”bazar”, “diwan”, that we use everyday have it’s roots in Arabic language. Our favourite dishes and cuisines, like Biriyani or wide varieties of Kebabs are also sourced from Middle East. Their plethora of music and multitude of architectural styles, tremendously influenced the Indian art forms and literature.

It Is very much clear, from the above that “Cultural Connectivity” as a concept has been fundamental to the human societies and it’s progressive civilizations, though the all inclusive systematic study have become increasingly important in the contemporary times with the advent of globalization and advancement in the field of technology. In recent times, cultural connectivity is characterized by interconnectedness across the cultures via global, digital or local platforms. José van Dijck in her book, “The Culture of Connectivity” emphasized on the significant impacts of social media on our indigenous cultures and own sense of identity. For instance, social media platform like Facebook, Instagram, facilitates instantaneous communication between the individual personalities and their culture worldwide. The viral memes or trends rapidly emanating across the continents, influencing the youth and the societal norms in specific cultural framework. Through upholding the so called cultural chain of digital ecosystem with the conscious effort of “appliancization”, it indeed tries to rebuild a balance system , which accordance to Dijck is a” balancing act between stimulating users’ activity and exploiting it”. Though it surely aspires to criticise it’s negative impact, it’s intensity is bit low in comparison with other contemporaries on this subject matter. The impact of digital hyper connectivity on our culture has been criticized by Michael P. Lynch in his book, “The Internet of us”, which promises to effectively revolutionize our own identity in an era of “knowing more and understanding less” with the modified conception of individuals personality and it’s dynamics.

The evaluation of impacts of digital connectivity on our culture, surely includes both sides. Its positive impacts include the cultural exchange by sharing of ideas, tradition, art, language, values, and expressions across the geographical boundaries. Secondly, it enhances the global awareness and understanding it with the help of the accessed information. Thirdly it focuses on the preservation of the cultural heritage and also a place for cultural innovation, and collaboration. It’s negative impact mainly includes the erosion of local culture and tradition, loss of privacy, digital dependence, and isolation and sometimes also a source of misinformation. It could be possibly viewed that, all the above mentioned negative impacts are not a product of connectivity, rather a synthesis of “hyper-connectivity”.
We should recall what Lous Lange said , “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master”. We hope that we will be able to manage harnessing connectivity, for fostering all inclusive and culturally vibrant societies, to fuel the unity of mankind for it’s urge of equality and ,what Swami Vivekananda would say, the universal culture of brotherhood. By celebrating the fest of globalization, we are promoting the cultural connectivity. It can be accurately defined in the words of Tagore, “I met you in a place, where you touched the world” (বিশ্বসাথে যোগে যেথায় বিহারো/
সেইখানে যোগ তোমার সাথে আমারও॥)”

The next generation of wireless connectivity: Demystifying Wi Fi 6, telecomreview.com

List of references
1. Smith, John D., and Amy B. Johnson. “The Impact of Cultural Connectivity on Global Awareness.” *Journal of Cultural Studies*, vol. 15, no. 2, 2020, pp. 45-60.
2. Dijck Van José, “The Culture of Connectivity: A critical history of social media”, Oxford University Press, 2013,pp. 45
3. Lynch P. Michael ,”The Internet of Us: Knowing More and Understanding Less in the Age of Big Data”, Liveright Publishers, 2016, pp. 82
4. Wilcox, Hui N. (20 October 2015). “Review of The Culture of Connectivity”. The Information Society. 31 (5): 414–415.

Saranya Chattopadhyay
Intern, Asia in Global Affairs

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, in his personal capacity. It does not reflect the policies and perspectives of Asia in Global Affairs.