Melissa Biagioli
Professor Wesch
Cultural Anthropology
20 September 2008
Koobecaf (Facebook) Assignment
Facebook has become a major part of American culture. It has created a more connected society with the vast number of applications that can be added along with the multiple networks available to join. Just a few years ago, Facebook was something that some people participated in but was not extremely popular. Now Facebook has become some sort of necessity. Students spend a ridiculous amount of time of Facebook, which can be both positive and negative, yet they continue to log on day after day.
The barrel model of culture is composed of three parts: Superstructure, Social structure, and Infrastructure. Superstructure deals with ideas, concepts, and values. Facebook allows complete freedom of expression. Take the profile for example: name, birthday, religious views, relationship status, political views, etc. Then there is the extended profile where activities, quotes, music, and movies can be added. “Why?” would be the typical question asked here. The reason is to allow us to broadcast our identity to our “friends.”
Social structure resembles various social and political organizations. This can be easily applied to the Facebook craze for various reasons. Not only does this medium facilitate communication between friends, but it also allows campaigns to be run and specific causes to be supported. The first thing that pops up on the screen when anyone logs in to Facebook is the news feed. This shows the day-to-day activity on everyone’s Facebook. In other words, this is how gossip gets spread so fast. So what does this Social structure mean culturally? Facebook claims one’s identity; therefore, it all comes down to how each individual manages his or her time on this necessary creation.
Infrastructure is comprised of technology, demographics, and the economic system. Technologically, Facebook has been a success since the World Wide Web is so easily accessible. Demographically, we have already discussed the information on the profile. Economically speaking, the marketplace is a neat addition to the Facebook world primarily in the college atmosphere with athletic ticket trading.
Aside from the barrel model of culture, Facebook generates a quick mode of communication with the introduction of Facebook chat. This allows instant messaging to friends and is therefore ideal when compared with another major cultural change: text messaging. Why? It yields a faster response. Facebook allows individuals to show their personality in several ways, such as photos, bumper stickers, profile, and education info. One’s life is basically plastered on the Internet. Why doesn’t this concern Americans? Maybe it’s because of the privacy settings that Facebook permits. Or perhaps it’s due to the understanding that what one does and does not put on the page determines his or her risk.
Facebook has become an essential in the lives of Americans throughout these past few years. It is one prominent way in which we communicate with others and show our personality in today’s society. Whether we want to admit it or not, Facebook is on an entirely new level in terms of the importance in Americans’ lives. Instead of having it take over, perhaps each individual can find that happy medium and integrate it into our daily routine without letting our communication with others become a distraction.