Introduction
Within this critical analysis of a research paper, the selected piece is concerned with topics of cultural heritage, education, technology, accessibility, and the development of cultural heritage and identity. The paper relies on literature for its resources as well as the author’s interpretation of the topics and supporting information. While the author makes decisive arguments that are most consistent with general knowledge and statistical information, there is still a lack of concrete evidence for certain statements. Despite this, the author argues that current technology has the potential to impact cultural heritage in India through education and is able to support this statement effectively. This work is more reliant on the author’s perspective and opinions than more quantitative and qualitative academic papers but is still able to communicate the thesis, evidence, and conclusion of its selected theme.
Brief Summary
The following paper analyzes the fundamental necessity of communication within human society through cultural heritage and traditional media. The work analyzes the ways in which activities and legacies are associated with Indian culture through the means of technology and digital preservation. A collective of traditional, folk, and digital media is observed in order to better understand the relationship between these factors and the perception of collective cultural identity. The technological impact is especially relevant to the study as it has shaped many other facets of society, such as consumerism, cross-cultural development, and growth in the scope of communication. The work employs a literature review methodology in order to create an outline of media and cultural heritage. Several directions are explored with accessibility to integral aspects of Indian culture, online marketing, development of culture through technology, and shared culture through overcoming geographical, linguistic, or logistical barriers. Primarily, the paper illustrates the specific facets that have impacted the consumption and state of Indian cultural heritage within the modern day and through the scope of education.
Critique and Evaluation of the Essay
The review of the paper will be segregated into several vital components, including the focus of the piece, the author’s perspective, the theorized conclusions that are formed within the work, methodologies employed in its research, and its relations to other works within its field.
First, the main point of the paper can be summarized as follows: the development of communication technology within India has improved accessibility, interpretation, and the development of cultural heritage. The author references the early recordings of culture through more modern mediums, such as the provision of folk dance, music, and other components becoming more widely available through television or the internet presentation.
They have also mentioned that India is the current leader in photographic distribution via social networks. The consistent sharing of Indian culture has also become more prevalent via mediums such as television, which contribute to the exposure of identity and tradition via cartoons, dramas, informative programs, and more. Specifically, “Indian television programming now reaches 253 million households”, an aspect Nachimuthu (2012) considers a “crucial engine of cultural influence and transformation”. The author’s use of these examples suggests that examples within regular facets of communicative technology are directly associated with the state of Indian culture.
While the author makes references to factual data regarding culture and communication technology, their opinion and perspective are also prevalent within the paper. This becomes especially visible within the section of the piece that analyzes the negative notions presented by communication technologies. The primary argument of the author against extensive technological involvement in culture is mainly in the misrepresentation of beauty and health due to advertising. There is substantial evidence to suggest that both advertisements and social media have adverse effects on mental health, well-being, and even confidence, especially among adolescents and children. However, the author does not include any direct references to such materials and relies mainly on general knowledge or opinion regarding the issue. As such, while the arguments posed by the author are legitimate, they are not sufficiently supported by evidence.
Similarly, due to the extensive scope of the paper’s topic, references to theoretical aspects of social science are made frequently. The themes of culture, identity, accessibility, and education also appear frequently in their relation to the advancement of technology. For instance, the author cites that the interaction of three facets of Information and Communication technologies has influenced the educational landscape in India. ICTs are able to offer teachers preparation effectively, provide ICT-specific materials, and assist value-oriented education for teaching staff. While the data that supports this application of the ICTs is varied from region to region and in levels of education, the author uses the theory to support their argument for the ways in which technology has positively influenced education. Using the aforementioned conclusion, the author also suggests that education impacts cultural identity, also through the means of modern technology. The author also references that youth are less apprehensive in engaging with culture through technology and “are generally more open to trying new foods, music, clothes and so on than adults” (Nachimuthu, 2012). Such information suggests that the author is also aware of the generational differences that impact cultural heritage perception.
The methodology implemented within this work consists of extensive literature reviews, the author’s interpretation of data, and its relationship with the overarching themes. The author is able to illustrate the development of technology within India in terms of education, culture, and communication through comScore, a digital tool that analyzes internet activity. As such, some statistical data the author depicts include the wide use of internet cafes, offices, and mobile within India in order to access online content. Similarly, demographic data is made accessible and reveals that while men use the internet more on average, women between the ages of thirty-five and forty-four have the most excessive utilization of the web. The data, as the author proposes, depicts the growth of culture as the exponential engagement with the web correlates with both factors of cross-cultural sharing, interaction with media, and more.
The author makes multiple references to well-known works that are important to Indian culture. The sharing of knowledge includes recipes for food, health care products, traditions, and other vital components of Indian cultural heritage. The author also notes that the widespread use of such information is incredibly widespread, especially with the influence of television. As such, while examples of the ways in which culture engages with technology are substantial, there is a lack of evidence that supports this link between the two concepts. Better use of current references is required to support the author’s thesis in a decisive manner.
Conclusion
The author has an intricate and developed perspective on the topic of cultural heritage and technology in an Indian setting. However, the paper currently lacks detailed and relevant data to support the hypothesized influence of modern technology on changes within the culture in a way that is concrete. As such, the statements made by the author do have accuracy and effectively communicated connections but lack appropriate and strong academic evidence. However, the values of the paper can also not be understated as the author makes clear connections between culture and technology through accessibility, education, and development. The recommendations that can expand the impact of the paper consist of utilizing more concrete statistical evidence in support of the connection between culture and technology.
Reference
Nachimuthu, K. (2012). Technology is an embedded agent of cultural impact. Journal of Educational Technology, 9(1), 23-30. Web.