Cultural citizenship

 debates around ‘cultural citizenship’ focus attention on issues of cultural membership, belonging and
expression that shape and are shaped by the activities citizens enjoy for participating in society at various
levels (local, national, global)
 Toby Miller
o cultural citizenship (the right ot know and speak)
o political citizenship (the ride to reside and vote)
o economic citizenship
 new technology can offer new opportunities for social connectivity and development of culture identity (new
virtual communities) but also raises questions about equality of acces to and ethical standarts within these
commmunities
 focus on nature of identity in virtual spaces as they allow more fluidity (plynulost)
 the risks of ‘cultural tourism’ in the online sphere (minority ´exotic culture´ can be filtered and
decontextualized)
 Internet is perceived as platform for the extension of Western cultural hegemony and for deepening
inequalities of access to cultural capital
 digital divide-leaving disconnected and poorly resourced communities at an ever greater disadvantage

The attention economy

 internet never functions just as a tool it is also a sharper of culture (utalitirian bias)
 individuals and groups are shaped using media and internet, it forms our cultural
 analyses concentrate on cultural expression, images, reputations, (mis)representations, stereotypes and so
forth circulate in the online world
 in ‘using’ the Internet, individuals, groups and cultures are also being shaped and potentially transformed by
and through it
 Interrnet is interactive, less passive medium than TV

Dimensions of cultural citizenship

 Access to the means of expression

 Cultural visibility
 Recognition

Someone who enjoys access to technologies of expression does not necessarily possess the wherewithal to be
seen or heard (visibility); and even where visibility is achieved, we cannot assume as a matter of course that this
will lead to greater understanding or respect (recognition), or even tolerance on the part of those they reach.

 Xenophobia, hate speech

Question to be discussed

1. Which cultural groups have access to the means of expression and which do not? (digital divide)
2. What levels of access are enjoyed by different members of a culture?

 Attention economy
o competition for attention intensifies with the multiplication of media channels in the difital age