Talk:Living in a Connected World 2018/In what ways does Instagram and Instagram culture flatten out cultural specificity?

I have created an essay page (with template) and started this discussion page for you. This discussion page is where the majority of your future discussion work will sit. Don't forget to use the 4 ~s when contributing to discussion Just to note: you should work on the essay page when drafting the essay itself. This is because, among other things, the platform lends itself to drafting and reworking, and you shouldn't hold off publishing work until the deadline - it should be a work-in-progress. Also note that when working on the essay page itself, there's no need to use the 4 ~s. Good luck!GregXenon01 (discuss • contribs) 13:39, 2 November 2018 (UTC)

Everything about the assignment
Lets start with a general idea on Instagram maybe?

Many people are using digital platforms to communicate, sharing cultural thoughts and images, representing an opinion on many themes from different perspective.

we can discuss how Instagram introduced us to other cultures around the world? maybe how Instagram flatten out the image of the modest Arabic women noways?

I think we should include this somehow : With such a huge amount of websites of the internet users advertising and broadcasting themselves and their personal opinions and worldviews, however will will the internet user distinguish? (Keen, 2011)

Just let me know if you had ANY idea in mind, or how should we start this because I am under a brainstorming processes ;P and with all these assignments!!!! we should be ready in no time ;S Zamzam (discuss • contribs) 14:44, 7 November 2018 (UTC)

Zamzam (discuss • contribs) 21:26, 5 November 2018 (UTC)

heyy Zamzam, I've been looking some articles about Instagram and cultural specificity on Turkey. I found somethings but these are not enough. We should meet and search together. See you! --Melsperspective (discuss • contribs) 01:23, 8 November 2018 (UTC)

Hey partner! so do you want to talk about Kuwait and Turkey?? I totally respect your idea however If we could present a general idea on what is happening in middle-east in general?? what do you think? I mean we can always include some examples from Turkey and Kuwait? We need to know what exactly should we include. please bear in mind that we want to impress the readers and most of all Greg ;P to show them how does Instagram changed the world especially from the cultural specificity's side. And Yes definitely, I would love meeting you to discuss our parts and to be clear about that we will be covering.. maybe after tomorrow's class? Zamzam (discuss • contribs) 20:54, 8 November 2018 (UTC)

Please have a look on these two and if you find anything intresting just post it here ;*
 * https://matadornetwork.com/read/8-instagram-accounts-will-help-reshape-view-middle-east/
 * https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/we-re-liking-the-middle-east-s-instagram-s-influencers-1.61580#7 Zamzam (discuss • contribs) 02:19, 9 November 2018 (UTC)

Hi there Melis, we come from middle eastern countries so, we have to shed the light on how is Instagram flattened out the cultural specificity over there, then we can use some examples from both Kuwait and Turkey.

Have a look on these Instgramers: Kuwait culture and Opera center : https://www.instagram.com/jacc_kw/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/ascia/?hl=en


 * Hi Guys. Just a quick note here - I've noticed that there's not much in the way of activity on this discussion page, and nothing on the essay page yet. I'm wondering what you are waiting for? Just go for it! A good place to start would be working on the discussion page and registering all of the reading you've done so far this term and discussing between you what you think is relevant to your essay question. From there, you can start reviewing the relevant scholarship in more depth and drafting the essay on the essay page. It's really up to you, but I would have expected to see lots more content and discussion by now.
 * Hi Guys. Just a quick note here - I've noticed that there's not much in the way of activity on this discussion page, and nothing on the essay page yet. I'm wondering what you are waiting for? Just go for it! A good place to start would be working on the discussion page and registering all of the reading you've done so far this term and discussing between you what you think is relevant to your essay question. From there, you can start reviewing the relevant scholarship in more depth and drafting the essay on the essay page. It's really up to you, but I would have expected to see lots more content and discussion by now.


 * Here's some text from the assessment brief - available for some time now on Canvas - to remind you of the importance of starting early:
 * There is no absolute fixed way to write the essay, but each team should aim for 3000 words in total. You can check this by copying and pasting text into a word doc periodically to check word count (Wiki*edia sites count characters, not words!). The Collaborative Essay you produce with your team on the Essay Page itself will be marked, in much the same way as any essay, and will be given a single mark. It is the only component that carries a collaborative mark. Everything else is individually assessed.


 * The assessment activities you undertake will be measured against an evidence trail of your editing and discussion activity – all of which is recorded and time-stamped by the wiki software via your contributions record. This is referred to as contribs. This is the most important aspect of the whole project, and there is video content which guides you through the process of checking this and the reasons why this is important. This is also something that will be confirmed in the Wiki Labs. The contribs trail is the reason why it is extremely difficult for groups to carry members who ‘coast’ through the project, and impossible for ‘coasters’ to get away with doing little work. It is also impossible to attempt to fudge this bit of the assessment the night before the due date, because every edit, every contribution, down to the last character, is traceable and publicly viewable on the platform. Whereas you may have been lucky with this last-minute assessment tactics in the past, DO NOT be tempted to leave this assessment to the last couple of days! You will fail. I cannot emphasise this enough, and absolutely mean it. Your individual contributions to Essay Discussion Pages, as well as the Essay Page itself are crucial, and you shouldn’t wait for others to start (you could be waiting forever). Start early!
 * GregXenon01 (discuss • contribs) 08:52, 15 November 2018 (UTC)

hey Zamzam, I found an idea. We can search some hashtags like #turkishtraditions, #arabictraditions #turkishculture or #eastmedditarianculture on Instagram and we can analyzed these pictures. I also find some Instagram users who are represent to Turkey. I will add these usernames below.

--Melsperspective (discuss • contribs) 15:18, 17 November 2018 (UTC)
 * Saffetemretonguc : https://www.instagram.com/saffetemretonguc/?hl=en
 * Mustafaseven: https://www.instagram.com/mustafaseven/?hl=en
 * Duyguozarslan: https://www.instagram.com/duyguozaslan/?hl=en
 * Topkapisarayi: https://www.instagram.com/topkapi_sarayi/?hl=en Official Instagram Page of the Topkapı Palace
 * Istanbulmodern: https://www.instagram.com/istanbulmodern/?hl=en
 * Sezyilmaz: https://www.instagram.com/sezyilmaz/?hl=en
 * Turkey_home: https://www.instagram.com/turkey_home/?hl=en
 * Turkeyandhotels: https://www.instagram.com/turkeyandhotels/?hl=enZamzam (discuss • contribs) 16:17, 17 November 2018 (UTC)

Hey again, I have started to search some articles on the library catalogue. --Melsperspective (discuss • contribs) 15:35, 17 November 2018 (UTC) --Melsperspective (discuss • contribs) 15:37, 17 November 2018 (UTC)
 * A networked self and platforms, stories, connections [electronic resource] / edited by Zizi Papacharissi
 * The influence of culture on instagram use, Al-Kandari, Ali J. Al-Hunaiyyan, Ahmed A. Al-Hajri, Rana
 * A cross-cultural comparison of Croatian and American social network sites: Exploring cultural differences in motives for Instagram use. Sheldon, Pavica1. Rauschnabel, Philipp A. Antony, Mary Grace. Car, Sandra

Hi Melis, I think the hashtag idea is really brilliant, never thought of it, we really should mention this as a major factor of letting Instagram spread out since it started using the Hashtag feature (#).

I think that was one of the main reasons of how does Instagram culture flatten out cultural specificity but, we have to proof it ;)

In my opinion: Indeed it makes it easier to assess the searching criteria on the platform on whatever people wanted to know, right?! lets go through your article and all our Instagram account then we will be having a wider perspective of how would we be answering and supporting our answer to our big question ;) Zamzam (discuss • contribs) 15:58, 17 November 2018 (UTC)

Hi guys, whilst researching for another assignment I came across this article that I thought may be useful for your essay as it talks about policies and initiatives in the age of social media and the use of hashtags in particular: Jeffares, S. (2014). Interpreting Hashtag Politics: Policy Ideas in an Era of Social Media. London: Palgrave Macmillan. (https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/stir/detail.action?docID=1685992#)

Hello Melis, I hope your doing fine, in our assignment together I think we do not need to sign our names after we submit, It will be counted under our contributions anyway but I think we have to now it from Greg meanwhile, keep up the good work partner! We can do it just let me know if you needed any help? Have a great Weekend ;* Zam (discuss • contribs) 15:37, 24 November 2018 (UTC)

Hi Zamzam, I am sorry, I didn't know this about sign our names, so I won't do it again! :) I am reading some articles about our assessment and still searching some new Instagram accounts. I will send these accounts on Whatsapp in a hour! See you. --Melsperspective (discuss • contribs) 21:11, 26 November 2018 (UTC)

Hi Melis, I know you can't post your parts unless I finish and post mine please bear with me because I have to pack as well as to finish the rest of the assignments ;P So, don't worry it will be sorted before midnight tonight :) Have a great day sis Xoxo Zam (discuss • contribs)

Suggestions
Hi, I was going through your conversation and being an Instagram addict I couldn’t resist to contribute! I see a lot of cultural talks here. If I may add then you guys could discuss how Instagram has its own strong online culture presence, which is fluid and boundary less. No matter what one’s geographical location is, they’ll still follow trends and that makes them a part of this online community. However, the way each society (and in this case regions like Turkey - Europe or/and Kuwait - Asia) reacts to that particular trend in terms of their own economical, political, religious and cultural settings can be discussed in both common and contradictory manner for example: makeup and skincare obsession (Zamzam you mentioned about Huda beauty products in the class that day, diet culture for Insta butt as Hanna Brooks says. https://medium.com/s/world-wide-wtf/the-newest-face-of-diet-culture-is-the-instagram-butt-6252c0467b26 I am mentioning this because I read about the perception of ‘modest Arab women’ somewhere above. Moreover, this research about ‘You Are What You Post: What the Content of Instagram Pictures Tells About Users’ Personality. This is basically a research article, in which through data analysis and relative methods they showed extract personality traits from social media. in this basically participants took part in online survey and gave access to their Instagram accounts through the Instagram API. This article is very precise. It is only 5 pages and could give you useful insights and a new direction for your essay. Here’s the link: http://hj.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1183753/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Good luck! Awesooome92 (discuss • contribs) 00:51, 21 November 2018 (UTC)

Hey friend, Wassup! (as you say it) ;p

Thank you very much Laila for putting the time to read our discussion page and we really appreciate your observations and suggestions here!

Yes, we will be talking about the whole cultural image over there and will definitely go though political/religion issues. Also, we will be talking about the other side of culture specificity as it can be seen though our suggested Instagram accounts above. And yes, we are including the famous Huda beauty ;) why not, she is a great example... sounds great!

About the article, its a nice gesture of you to send us such an article! It would be very helpful in the future researches maybe ;* but with all respect I think it talks more about the 'personal' point of view and attitudes toward what people 'post' on Instagram? It might be helpful somehow but I think it talks more about the persona perspective it self?! What to post and what should not, why people posting this and when? I am not saying that it's not relevant at all but this article is more into psychology maybe?!? because I could noticed that through the author's keywords there ware personality, Instagram, picture content and social media. which it would help but I would rather talk more about the cultural spread it self through Instagram in general. Hence, the article has discussed more on personal reflections, desires or behavior on the one’s affect? and why people posting this particular picture or post? So, I think it's headed more to the 'psychological orientation' which we are not going to discuses maybe? we are mentioning the personal perspectives in general but not in depth, eventually it will to lead to a very different path ;P

Regards...

Again, thank you and have a great rainy day ;P Zam (discuss • contribs) 14:55, 21 November 2018 (UTC)

Hey Leila! I was really sick and I've just saw your message. Thank you for you advises and thank you for your participating! If you need any help, I will be there. See you soon! --Melsperspective (discuss • contribs) 21:14, 26 November 2018 (UTC)

Hi Melis, Sorry to hear that you were sick :( oh, I hope you feel much better know ;* please do not hesitate sending me anything you finished from our main project because we DO NOT HAVE TIME LEFT <3 have a nice cup of ginger lemon tea and relax... Best Regards Xoxo. Zam (discuss • contribs)

Hey, hope you get well soon. The weather is going crazy. Please, keep yourself warm and take good care of yourself. Don't take stress and eat properly. And you already know what you are doing and you got such an awesome team partner, you won't struggle! :) You're welcome!:D Awesooome92 (discuss • contribs) 22:03, 26 November 2018 (UTC)

Oops I missed your comment, sorry. Hahaha! Those are just my suggestions, mate. And it seems you know what you are doing and that's great! Good luck to you guys! Awesooome92 (discuss • contribs) 22:06, 26 November 2018 (UTC)

what a great advice for you and me ;p !! Awwwww! Laila YOU are the greatest Xoxox thanks for the complement my dearest and have a wonderful night. Zam (discuss • contribs)

No, Thank you for creating this heading the suggestions, It is VERY helpful, to tell you the truth I did read the article you sent earlier and I was yeah... why not it does have some good ideas :) so, thank you for sharing it with us, you saw it from another angle that's why it makes it somehow different than what we were thinking. Regards Xoxoxo Zam (discuss • contribs)

Wiki Commons







--Melsperspective (discuss • contribs) 18:02, 2 December 2018 (UTC)

Hey partner! We finally did it! and thanks for sharing those images I only used the Instagram logo ;P but thanks!

Hey guys ! How are you getting on with the essay? Looking good so far! Just improvise mate (discuss • contribs) 01:23, 3 December 2018 (UTC)

Hey Richard! Thank you for supporting! :D I can see that you have done it with Zoe too, great job you two! Best of luck and happy holidays! Zam (discuss • contribs)

Feedback

Instructor Feedback for this Collaborative Essay
General Feedback:

Essays of this standard roughly correspond to the following grade descriptor. Depending on where your actual mark is in relation to the making criteria as outlined in the relevant documentation, it should give you an idea of strengths and weaknesses within the achieved grade band overall:


 * Good. Among other things, work of this standard will make a clear point in a clear way. It will relate concepts to original examples in a straightforward fashion. It will make effective use of the possibilities of the form (including links, as well as perhaps copyright-free videos and images, linked to from Wiki Commons). This work will demonstrate attainment of virtually all intended learning outcomes, clearly grounded on close familiarity with a wide range of supporting evidence, constructively utilised to reveal appreciable depth of understanding. The wiki markup formatting will be very clear.

In CMC, we generally look for the following as a guideline when assessing your written work in relation to specific briefs: Satisfactory. Good. Satisfactory.
 * Quality of research: evidence of critical engagement with set course materials; evidence of independent reading of appropriate academic material.
 * Originality of thought: well-articulated and well-supported argument; evidence of critical thinking (through taking a position in relation to key ideas from the course, and supporting this position); evidence of relational thinking (through making connections between key ideas from the course and wider literature; support these connections); evidence of independent critical ability.
 * Clarity of expression: appropriate writing style; clear and coherent structure; consistency and accuracy in referencing (APA/Wikipedia convention).

Specific Feedback:


 * You have submitted a fairly well written response to the brief. Here you outline a number of arguments that specifically address the themes of cultural flattening and social media within a globalisation context. Your discussion of the research evidences some interesting takes on some of the scholarship on your chosen topic. The examples that you have chosen to discuss your theme (using the case study of Instagram Modest Islamic influencers in particular) are very well-judged because they enable you to illustrate your argument.


 * You evidence quite a lot of independent reading on your subject matter – although I do think that reference to the set reading that is available to you on this module via the resource list on VLE would have really helped you to open things up theory-wise. I don’t quite understand why you would choose to not include such material, as it is readily available and discussed as part of the module, I must admit. I would have liked to have seen a deeper engagement with the Tay controversy – what is this case telling us and what can we learn about AI as a concept, about human-machine interactions, and about ethics in AI research? What does it tell us about the technological determinist biases of corporate press releases on their research and development (forever improving; always progressing; supersession etc.)? I would have also liked a little more (a paragraph, no more) explicitly linking Tay with emotion – because presumably, Tay interactions were based upon sentiment observation and simulation. Overall though, I feel that, after reading this I know a lot more about emotional intelligence and how it operates in microblogging contexts.


 * Although this essay is written in an accessible style, and your argument is fairly well structured for the most part, there are clear moments where you need to take much more care in your phrasing and use of academic English. Here too often, the use of hyperbole (e.g. the term “revolution” in digital contexts, which should really be used advisedly) and the use of conversational tone (“The amount of Photo sharing that takes place on Instagram is insanely high”) in sum detracts from the positive aspects of the work. There are, additionally, a small number of typos and grammatical slips that prevented you from attaining higher marks. This is something to take forward: attention to detail is an absolute baseline at this level.


 * You make good use of the wiki platform too – breaking up chunks of text into smaller, accessible sections, using captioned images, to deliver an aesthetically-pleasing and easy-to-read essay. I would have looked at the formatting and considered the balance of images and text on screen and perhaps moved things around a bit more to enhance the effect. You have demonstrated awareness of some of the complex underlying issues inherent in the theme itself, but making those connections with the workshop discussions and especially, the work encountered through the set reading on the module, would have benefitted this essay significantly. Nonetheless, this is a good attempt at a first essay at this level, using this somewhat unfamiliar platform – and shows some real potential, going forward.

'''N.B.: Feedback for your Discussion, engagement and contribs elements for the assessment will be given on your individual User Discussion Pages. That individual feedback should be considered in relation to the feedback here, because of the fundamentally connected nature of the two tasks. Grades for all work will communicated confidentially via Canvas.'''