Everyone has a story, and every story has a map. This map takes us
on a journey. Whether it be a short one or a long one. A journey of fiction, or
of truth. A journey of destruction or a journey of creation. Our maps lead us
there. They lead us to where we want to go and create stories along the way.
In Bruce Chatwin's Songlines (1987) a song is described as
"both map and direction finder. Providing you knew the song, you could
always find your way across country". This is similar, to a degree, when
navigating your way through a virtual communication network. If the network is
mapped well, you should always be able to find what you are looking for.
Cafemom is mapped well. It's range of topics for discussion or reading span
right across almost every aspect of motherhood, and whatever is not there can
always be added or located elsewhere via all sorts of hyperlinks. The
difference however, between the mapping of songlines and
the mapping of Cafemom is that there is flexibility when travelling through
Cafemom. Following the direction of songlines when travelling through the land
does not have such flexibility. The map is set. The stories are
unchangeable.
In week 4's lecture, according to Paul Brucks (neuropsychologist)
'The personhood of a person... is the story you tell yourself. Identity is the
story of what happened to that body over time'. Songlines are the essence of
identity, the stories of oneself right down to the last footprint; the last
note. Cafemom is a meeting place. A place for the sharing of all different
identities and stories.
Although Cafemom and songlines are both maps, each
one serves a very different purpose. Cafemom constructs stories and layers of
identity from the input of other 'mums'. Songlines are the identity and we
(Aboriginal people) become who we are by following them.
Brucks, P. (2013). BA1002: Our Space: Networks, narratives and the making of place, Week 4, Part 1: Networked Narratives. [Podcast]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au
Chatwin, B (1987). The Songlines, London: Jonathan Cape Ltd.
Joyzine, (1996). Artistwd.com. Retrieved from http://www.artistwd.com/joyzine/australia/abr_culture/songlines.php#.UiCjOhtmiSp
(2013). Cafemom.com. Retrieved from www.Cafemom.com
Image retrieved from:
Hi Melanie
ReplyDeleteYou've provided an excellent analysis of the contrasts between two very different forms of networked narrative and their respective roles in identity formation here :)
It's amazing how, once you start looking around, you see patterns of networked narrative employed throughout the world in so many diverse culture and in so many different forms. Narratives create networks connecting people to place, each other, ancestors, the past, spirits, & the natural environment. Thus, giving us an understanding of our place in relation to the world.
I also think you're analogy that describes online spaces like cafemom as meeting places is really apt. Here networks are created as people travel across their interweb connections from around the globe to one (virtual) spot.
v. cool post :)