Previously when I thought of anthropology, my mind would immediately jump to historical societies (i.e. the ancient Greeks, and the Roman empire) and how they communicated and laid the framework for many ideals that are still being developed today.
These articles provide a completely different look at Anthropology, one that applies much more to today’s world. This new look at Anthropology requires us to see the subject through a modern, technological lens, and appropriately so. From modern technological warfare, to the social media frenzy, the world operates on a virtual level, and for us to successfully communicate and learn in the world today, we must first grasp a firmer understanding of this virtual universe in which we live.
In Computing and Social Change, Hakken points out an interesting dynamic of the decreased importance of race/gender/nationality/ect. in this growing, technology based international community. He explains that these categories only hinder our technological progress as a human race. I think he is right on in this observation. We can point to history as evidence for this claim – the cold war, when the Americans and the Russians were hiding strategies for space exploration, technology, ect. which undoubtedly slowed down progress on both sides.
All in all, understanding the technology based world in which we now live through modern Anthropologists is very important. The world’s leaders need to look to these pioneers of the future in order to benefit our race, which may be in trouble if changes are not made.