NEW MEDIA AS A CULTURE FORMER IN KENYA AND KOREA : A COMPARATIVE STUDY : Benson K. Kamary

Kamary, Benson K 고신대학교 대학원 2013 국내박사

Postmodern Kenyan and Korean societies have embraced new media technology with a greater focus on the expansion of social economic spheres and with the objectives of playing leadership roles in new digital technology in Africa and Asia respectively. Korea has made significant strides in economic development in the past six decades and is already considered a key player particularly in Internet connectivity and the smartphone market. In this context, media production and consumption are plentiful, speedy and innovative. With similar goals, Kenyans are rapidly embracing Internet connectivity, online networks and related new media technology. Through digital technological growth, Kenya seeks to become Africa’s “Silicon Valley.” Although media technology is often explained from anthropological, epistemological, sociological and economic rationalistic perspectives, these viewpoints are one-sided and therefore leave significant metaphysical gaps. In both contexts, media technology has been celebrated as an indicator of or a path to economic success, even when obvious negative impacts have been recognized. From the contention that media technology is not neutral, this study examines new media’s liturgical nature and their capacity to form culture and shape cultural desires in both Kenya and Korea, presenting philosophical reflection and responses. Since human interaction with media is not simply a data transmitting process but an elemental human formative process, a clear understanding of media’s social, cultural and spiritual telos beyond an economic prosperity façade is essential. The comparative investigation identifies some of the dominant postmodern characteristics within which new media are designed, flourish and operate. Contexts with competing worldviews dominated by media require a fundamental understanding of the relationship between God, technology and humans, and ways of engaging new media with discerning wisdom in new media culture. From a ritual view of technology, this research brings a reformational worldview to bear in the area of media which prepares 21st century users to appropriately and satisfactorily engage media technology as stewards. 포스트모던 시대의 케냐와 한국 사회는 새로운 미디어 기술을, 사회경제적 영역의 확장에 중점을 두면서, 아프리카와 아시아에서 각각 지도적 역할을 감당하고자 하는 목적을 두고 수용해왔다. 한국은 지난 60년간간 괄목할만한 경제적 발전을 이루었고, 특별히 인터넷 연결성과 스마트폰 확산에 있어 중심적인 역할을 하고 있다. 이러한 관점에서 미디어 생산과 소비는 풍성하고 신속하며 혁신적이다. 비교적인 목표를 염두에 두고 보자면, 케냐도 새로운 미디어 기술을, 주로 인터넷 연결성과 온라인 네크워크에 있어서 빠르게 수용하고 있다. 면밀한 국가계획 아래 케냐의 디지탈 기술 성장은 아프리카의 “실리콘 밸리”로서의 지위 도달을 목표로 삼고 있다. 양측의 상황에서 공히 미디어 기술은, 명백히 부정적인 영향력이 인정됨에도 불구하고, 경제적 성공에 대한 지표로서 기념되고 있다. 그러나 미디어 기술을 평가하는 인류학측, 인식론적, 사회학, 경제적 합리적인 관점은 환원주의자이며, 상당한 철학적 공백을 남긴다. 미디어 기술은 중립적이지 않다는 의견으로 부터, 본 연구가 고찰하고자 하는 바는, 만연한 공백에 대한 철학적 반성과 반응들을 제시하는 가운데, 케냐와 한국에서의 새로운 미디어의 예배적 성질, 문화 형성의 역량과 문화적 욕구의 틀을 형성한다는 것에 관한 것이다. 미디어를 통한 인간 상호작용은 단순한 데이타 전송과정일 뿐 아니라 기본적 인간 형성과정이므로, 미디어의 사회적, 문화적, 영적인 텔로스에 대한 분명한 이해는 경제적 번영의 허울을 넘어 필수적이다. 본 비교 연구는 새로운 미디어가 설계, 번영, 운용되는 포스트 모던의 특징 중 일부 지배적인 요소들을 확인한다. 유비쿼터스적 미디어의 역동성이 구체화된 경쟁관계의 여러 세계관의 내용은 하나님, 기술과 인간의 관계에 대한 근본적 이해와 새로운 미디어에 참여 방법에 있어 부패되어 있는 미디어 기술을 분별하는 지혜와 선지자적 목소리를 필요케 한다. 본 연구의 결과는 특별히 두개의 다른 문화의 디지탈 미디어의 형성적 역량을 공유된 관점과 염원에 대해 탐구하는 것이다. 본 조사는 의례적 관점으로서의 미디어 영역에 개혁적 세계관을 접목하여 21세기의 미디어 기술 사용자들이 청지기로써 적절하고, 만족스럽게 참여하도록 준비하게 한다.

TRANSFORMATIVE CAPACITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL FUNCTION OF MASS MEDIA IN CONTEMPORARY KENYAN SOCIETY : 현대 케냐 사회에서 대중매체의 교육적 기능이 가지고 있는 사회변화 능력

Benson K. Kamary Kosin University, Graduate School 2010 국내석사

TRANSFORMATIVE CAPACITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL FUNCTION OF MASS MEDIA IN CONTEMPORARY KENYAN SOCIETY Department of Christian Education Kosin University Graduate School Abstract Mass media institution through its educational function has had a significant influence in Kenya since the colonial period. The impact of mass media in shaping the contemporary worldview particularly of economic rationalism and commodification has led to transformation in the society. The influence of mass media is especially profound because human beings are fundamentally creatures of habit and the media is mostly habitually repetitive, unreflecting routine. Marshall McLuhan coined the phrase ?the medium is the message? to refer to the influence of mass media like television and its ability to convey the same message instantaneously in sound and vision to millions of people at the same time than in the particular messages conveyed by specific programs. The message is not restricted to the content and programming. The theme of this paper is built on the premise that there is no neutrality in mass media contents. The media acts as a tool through which philosophical ideas and principles are reflected, disseminated and taught often at a pre-suppositional level. Since these philosophical ideas and principles are so powerful and do not simply develop under spontaneous historical, social, and cultural influences but are products of fundamental and directing commitment which lies at the very core of humankind, they should be subjected to an authentic critique. Media industry in Kenya has also had an outstanding degree of trust from the populace in the recent times. However, beneath this fa?ade lie fundamental needs for a critical awareness of the ways media shapes worldviews in the society. This critical awareness has to begin not with the content of the mass media, but with the ubiquitous nature of the media in itself. For a long time the critique of the fundamental educational function of media, has been unjustly neglected largely because of the commonly accepted perception of mass media content as neutral ? as speaking for the good of the common man, rather than reflecting the worldview commitment of media barons and their supporters or reflecting the cravings of a gullible society, or the expansionist profit-driven ambitions of producers intent on increasing their market share. The media professionals: writers; musicians; producers and journalists make and remake songs, stories, dramas and news items that selectively embody and frame the myths, issues, conflicts and ideals of the existing culture. Naively, most consumers of the media accept this selective interpretation of reality without much questioning since it appears attractive and entertaining. The mass media tend to reinforce and reflect the culture's dominant social, political and cultural assumptions. But because there is no neutrality in media, as in all of life, mass media should be subjected to a reflection, a critique and authentic responses. The subject of non-neutrality will be discussed further in the thesis. A realization of how much perception of the world is filtered through the media screen leads to aspirations for alternative ways of being and seeing the world. Once the illusion that the mass media offers us an objective, transparent view of reality is exposed for the lie that it is, numerous questions arise irrespective of what the particular media arrangements are within the culture. These may be questions about the ideological or political bias of news and documentaries; questions about the media portrayal of social, cultural and tribal alliances, questions about the values and attitudes presented through popular dramas, films and comedy shows, questions about the ownership, the control and organization of broadcasting or the press, and questions about the possibilities for minority points of view to be expressed. A critical engagement in mass media?s educational function, complex as it may seem, requires a shift from blind conviction to systematic analysis of all that technologically advanced mass media has to offer including its promise of a better future in an appeal to novelty and material acquisition as the keys to fulfillment. But the critical analysis, though useful and necessary, is inadequate if it only develops skeptical media consumers and the government operatives. Instead, critical analysis should also generate informed, critical appreciation because developing a critical awareness of the mass media milieu and mass media content deepens the perception of media culture. Furthermore, it encourages people to be better communicators, able to reflect on the communication process itself and mediate the influence of the media on how they think and live. Therefore, mass media, from an authentic worldview perspective as it recognizes its own biases, should function as a light to expose the impact of worldviews on culture and cultural formation. In the current Kenyan context, the media should pay particular attention to the forces of economic rationalism and begin equipping the populace to be aware of its powerful impact on their lives. The application of mass media?s educational function from an authentic worldview perspective in political leadership, education and the church is essential.