Analysis of Guo-Ming Chen’s “The Impact of New Media on Intercultural Communication in Global Context free essay sample

As technology has rapidly advanced, the ways in which humans communicate with each other have been dramatically altered. These technological advances have given birth to a variety of new forms of media, which include a multiplicity a communicatory devices including everything from mass media and social media, to digitization and data sharing. Within the journal China Media Research, (Volume 8.2, pg. 1-12, 2012) Professor Guo-Ming Chen of the University of Rhode Island authored, â€Å"The Impact of New Media on Intercultural Communication in a Global Context†. Within this piece, Chen illustrates the powerful influence that new media possesses within intercultural relationships, which in turn, have created new communities that challenge traditional norms. Chen presents her argument in a clear and concise manner, beginning with a brief history of communication studies, paralleled with how new media has been a dominant cause of globalization. This introduction establishes an outline from which she thoroughly expand her thesis (which I have previously noted) surrounding the theme of intercultural communication. This particular article aids the reader to further understand, and fully comprehend the difficulties that exist within technology’s effect on intercultural communication. Chen’s ideas relate to many of the course themes of CMNS 110, but specifically in Unit 2’s subsection titled the â€Å"Cultural Model vs. Transmission Model† of communication, which will further be elaborated within this paper. Throughout the entirety of her article, Chen aims to answer the overarching question: in what ways do sources of new media (ie. social media, data sharing, etc..) affect cross-cultural communication? She first begins to answer this daunting question by drawing on examples of the globalized world stating that â€Å"new media is the main force of accelerating the trend of globalization in human society†(1). At first one might not see the relationship between globalization, intercultural communication and new media, but Chen is able to illustrate how new media has been a driving cause in the trend of globalization. As a result, this weakens borders and boundaries between communities, fostering further communication between various cultures (2). She further explains that this shift in new media has â€Å"brought human interaction and society to a highly interconnected and  complex level†(2). This demonstrates that Chen clearly acknowledges that advances in technology and media have allowed people throughout the globe to be connected in ways they have never before. Initially, communicatory relationships were quite simple, but gradually becoming more complex. Different forms of communication have evolved from elements such as gestures and sounds, to complicated oral communication, to written word, to these forms of â€Å"new media†, demonstrating the complexity of current communication. International boundaries that have been lowered due to new media have made it far easier for humans to connect on a personal and interpersonal level, arguably creating new boundaries within communities and nations that juxtapose traditional norms (3). Immediately following her introduction of communication studies and globalization, Guo-Ming Chen continues by explaining how new cultures are being derived from the enhanced cross-cultural communication that is a product of the so-called â€Å"new media†. New forms of media have started so-called â€Å"virtual communities† which operate in both public and private realms in the forms of blogs, social media website, and various other online communities. With these innovative, high-speed and efficient forms of communication, not only individuals are affected, but entire cultures, value sets and social norms(5). Although people tend to see world communication interconnectivity as a positive element, Chen explains that it can also â€Å"create a continuity gap between traditions and innovations within a culture†(4). Immediately one can see that there are various implications that could arise from these newly-born virtual cultures. One major (potential) implication in which Chen draws on is the element of cultural identity. New media and new forms of communication that become dominant within many cultures have been said to challenge the traditional form and meaning of social identity(5). Since social and cultural identity is known to give individuals the feeling of a â€Å"sense of belonging†, cultural tensions can easily arise due to a disconnect within a physical community due to these alternate forms of communication (5,6). One could infer that this may be especially so for cultures with stronger collectivistic values, whom cherish a sense of community to a high degree. It is important to note that although some cultural identity is lost, new identities are being born, which will be further explained later. This is only one implication that Chen describes which is associated with the impact of new media on intercultural communication. An additional problem that can arise due to these new â€Å"virtual communities† being established is the threat of intercultural conflict that can develop as a result new, efficient forms of communication. G. Chen explains that not all cross-cultural communication results in positive relationships proclaiming, â€Å"different forms of media representation tend to reflect the asymmetry of intercultural communication and inevitably lead to the problem of intercultural confrontation or conflict in interpersonal, group and national levels†(7). This is a very critical point to raise, as new technologies creating more efficient forms of communication can actually be used as new tools to deceive, harm and negatively confront others. Before the technological era, humans had no other option but to confront their issues on a personal level, which naturally takes more time and resources to accomplish than with various forms of media and technology. Different opinions and values that are communicated through various forms of media set the stage to spark personal or international conflict as information is communicated with the metaphorical â€Å"push of a button†. However, Chen continues her article by acknowledging various positives with new media and new communicative vehicles. Chen concludes her argument by outlining the concepts of â€Å"communication competence† and â€Å"intercultural adaptation†, which can be viewed as positive facets of international communication as a whole. Intercultural adaptation in a communicatory sense refers to people from other cultures easing in to new surroundings by using forms of new media(6). Immigrants are able to establish new relationships and continue existing relationships by using various forms of technologically-based, interactive communication. As previously mentioned, although this weakens one’s sense of traditional cultural identity, an entire new hybrid identity is formed, one in which may be viewed as a more inclusive identity. In addition to cultural adaptation, international communication and new media helps encourage one’s communication competence. Chen explains that the more vehicles in which we use as communication device, the more competent we be come as animals of communication(7). Once again, this can be seen in a very positive light, as knowledge and competence are key values recognized worldwide, and in particular educational institutions. As students of communication, we are encouraged to apply various concepts that we discover to those we have learned in our studies. In the case of CMNS 110, we can apply Chen’s concepts to many of the Units that we have covered in the first three weeks of class. In particular, Unit 2 focused on various models of communication. In Chen’s article, we can immediately see similarities between her ideas and the cultural model itself. Unit 2 explains that the cultural model views â€Å"communication as the construction of a shared space or map of meaning within which people coexist†(Cultural Model par. 1). Immediately one can see that this runs parallel to Chen’s ideas surrounding intercultural communication, as well as the new â€Å"virtual communities† and cultural identities that are being created due to technological advances. As Unit 2 explains, the cultural model is more about communities that are developed due to communication, which directly supports Chen’s thesis (Cultural Model par. 3). One may argue that the transmission model is more related to Chen’s argument (as it deals with new media and technology), but since her focus was on the relationships and constructs (good or bad) that have been created by these forms of communication, I believe the cultural model is most fitting. After all, the cultural model strictly focuses on the concept of community, while the transitional model does not. Throughout â€Å"The Impact of Media on Intercultural Communication on a World Basis†, Guo-Ming Chen focuses on what she refers to as â€Å"new media† and how it has affected the way in which communities communicate between themselves, and throughout the world. She proclaims that due to phenomena such as technological advances and in turn, globalization, the human race is developing alternate definitions of communities that are consistent with these constantly developing forms of technology. Naturally, this concept carries both positive and negative attributes that greatly influence the way people live their lives on an interpersonal, group and governmental level. These constantly growing forms of communication have lead to progressions in intercultural adaptation and have strengthened intercultural relationships. Alternatively, new media and the communicative properties that are imbedded have created intercultural conflict and diminished cultural identity to a certain degree. By applying these concepts to the reading we have completed in class, Chen successfully furthered my understanding of the cultural model of communication, reinforcing the fact that this particular model revolves around the construct that communication is meant to form community and relationships of shared space. By making comparisons such as these, our understanding of the world of communication is further developed, strengthening our overall knowledge and competence.