The Effects of the Technical Breakthrough on Culture and Art, Essay Example

It is evident that technical breakthrough occurs to have one of the greatest influences upon the public and culture, respectively. The thing is that modern people are dependent on such issues as, for instance, IT advancement; as a result, the international storage principles are currently undergoing drastic changes in terms of its key goals as well as the strategy utilized. Considering the major changes within the field of the abovementioned human activities, it is basically about the process of digitalization. The process of digitalization proves to have mostly positive effects, since due to its unique “…on-screen formatting…” the digitalized information is hard to be damaged or lost with the lapse of time (Gilster, 1997, p. 139). Apart from new standards of preserving data, it is also worth saying that the advancement in the field of digital content resulted in a serious transformation of the world’s culture and art. As for the question whether digital literacy appeared as the necessary skill in today’s society, it is necessary to admit that the recent advances in technology have definitely made a real revolution within the approaches to conduct of life as well as its insight. Inevitably, such human activities as art movement, mass media and even philosophy emerge to be much impacted by the digital tendencies of the 21^st century; moreover, it is practically impossible to imagine the modern-day society without the positive improvements that, for instance, photography, television or recorded music underwent due to the revolution of digital epoch.

Digital literacy

Analyzing the notion of digital literacy, one should understand that it is mainly about the knowledge necessary while using a wide range of up-to-date devices, including, for instance, smartphones, tablets, lap-tops, etc. Digital literacy is beyond any doubt a significant entitlement for all people. The thing is that the digital culture is likely to outperform all the other forms of human activities and, consequently, one should take into consideration the need to get adapted to increasingly digital standards. It is clear that digital literacy furnishes people with the skills and corresponding understanding necessary in order to participate in intellectual, cultural and societal life. Speaking about digital literacy, it is worth making mention the fact that this ability requires the opportunity to apply to numerous digital tools. To be precise, one should clearly understand that digital literacy lies in the ability to utilize and share meaning in various formats; digital literacy is likely to satisfy “…our modernist impatience.” (Gilster, 1997, p. 139) Moreover, digitally literate person should be able to communicate and collaborate efficiently.

The importance of Digital Literacy

Considering the importance of digital literacy, it is necessary to clearly understand its major advantages that any category of people is likely to have while being digitally literate. The thing is that “…digital literacy doesn’t mean we have to become programmers.” (Gilster, 1997, p.28) Obviously, despite the fact that one cannot overlook the disparities in terms of having an access to information technologies, it is still necessary to make mention that digital media occurs as the pivotal aspect for many people. It becomes apparent that human digital awareness is the matter of great importance, since young people live in the world characteristic of recently-conducted digital revolution.

Since the technology appears to have an important role in modern social culture, digital literacy is absolutely significant in people’s lives. For instance, children as well as mature people are characterized by active manipulation of digital media so as take part in different aspects of life. Consequently, it is possible to conclude that people have to be able to convey information in various modes. What is more, it is worth saying that many young people utilize technologies in order authorize their personal media. The thing is that digital technologies allow people to uncover new talents hidden deeply inside; digitally literate people are likely to start absolutely creative things using digital devices. Apart from just having fun while using digital devices, it is necessary to draw attention to the ability to design creative things when being digitally literate and having access to certain tools (Davies & Merchant, 2009). Regarding the notion of digital literacy, one should take into account the thing that this term incorporates the support of people willing to turn into real “meaning-makers” (Prout & James, 1997). The engineers, involved in developing digital projects, are aimed at broadening the use of new technologies within the area of creative activity and increasing self-esteem. Considering the significance of digital literacy, one should be conscious that “… people today expect to be able to appropriate and circulate media for their own self-expression.” (Ito, 2009) Evidently, being digitally literate occurs as definitely significant modern knowledge; the point is that it helps people to unravel a new approach to their life. One should know that it is necessary to be capable of operating digital devices, since today’s trends are tightly connected with digital literacy. On the other hand, the lack of knowledge, necessary to be digitally literate, can easily affect people in a way that they will lose their confidence in cooperating with the others. As a result, teaching digital literacy is worthy of notice since the very childhood. Obviously, once the parents are interested in providing convenient conditions to bring up a socially-adapted child, initially, they have to accept the importance of digital literacy; ignoring the principles of modern-day society is likely to lead to serious deterioration of human development in the light of rapidly-moving 21^st century.

Conclusion

To sum up, it is worth saying that digital literacy has to be definitely considered as an important practice necessary to become aware of the meaning and skills in the world of increasingly digital culture. It becomes apparent that digital literacy plays a significant role today; the emergence of widely-spread notion of digital literacy proves the effects of technical breakthrough on culture as well as art to be obviously serious. A peculiar thing is that digital literacy can be useful not only in maintaining young people to be independent but also in expanding the experience mandatory to exist in the context of digital culture. Among the things that it is worth being aware of, digital literacy occurs as indisputably not the last one; the ability to operate unfamiliar digital devices gives an opportunity to coexist with the rapidly changing social tendencies.

References

Davies, J., Merchant, G. (2009). Web 2.0 for schools: Learning and Social Participation. New York: Peter Lang.

Gilster, P. (1997). Digital Literacy. New York: Wiley and Computer Publishing.

Ito, M. (2009). Media literacy and social action in a post-pokemon world.  A rough transcript of a keynote address for the 51^st NFAIS Annual Conference. Retrieved from http://www.itofisher.com/mito/publications/media_literacy.html

Prout, A., James, A. (1997). “A New Paradigm for the Sociology of Childhood? Provenance, Promise and Problems” In Allison James and Alan Prout (eds). Constructing and Reconstructing Childhood: Contemporary Issues in Sociological Study of Childhood. RoutledgeFalmer, London: Falmer Press.