Introduction to the Workshop: "The Politics of Digital Culture"

Social interactions are gradually shifting to virtual spheres and culture is digitally created. This digitally created culture seems to differ from traditional forms of cultural expression. New forms of creativity challenge established notions about art and communication.

The distributed architecture of the Internet, the easy-to-use and available tools of editing and distribution and the separation between ownerships of the media and the access to it - all contribute to the flourishing of Internet creativity. The Internet enables users to express themselves, to create genuine culture, to develop new narratives and to explore new means of expression. The cultural sphere is more open and accessible than ever before. Online, culture is created, among other ways, in open, participatory, collaborative and communal methods which divert from the traditional modes of production. The way in which we consume culture is also changing. Digital culture invites passive consumers to turn into active users who interact with their culture artifacts.

The Internet, thanks to its open design, enables every individual to develop new technologies and new tools for expression. These new tools for expression enrich our cultural and social sphere. Blogs, Podcasts, Talkbacks, Forums, Video-Communities - these are only some of the tools of expression that have been developed online. With the use of these tools and others, the boundaries between play, entertainment and work blur online and the public and private spheres are redefined.

The emerging digital culture has not yet received adequate social attention. It is yet to ask: Is digital culture different than traditional culture? What are the characteristics of digital culture? How does digital culture affect the cultural sphere, the political discourse and the social interactions? For example: Do talkbacks contribute to social accountability? Do video communities change the cultural menu? Do new tools of expression empower marginal groups in society? What is the political role of the Internet?

The workshop is aimed to examine these questions and beyond and inquire: How can we develop a rich and pluralist digital culture? And, what are the conditions to promote the cultural growth offered by the Internet?

While examining cultural creativity, we need to inquire about the economic and political powers that struggle for control over the cultural scene. Observing contemporary communication environment we can notice story battles among the various players. Infrastructure owners, providers of communication services, content owners and Internet companies are often holding conflicting views regarding the emerging network. Providers of communication services who wish to control the uses in their networks are often challenged by “disruptive technologies”. Owners of content distributed digitally lose control over cultural process and the methods of cultural consumption. The powers to control culture once held by them are currently in question.

It is time to ask: Who controls the emerging communication environment? How do disruptive technologies affect the growth of the Internet? What interests are at stake? Who can challenge the dominance of incumbent Telecos in the new communication sphere? How will the struggle for power affect the growth of the Internet? And, what is the affect of these power struggles on cultural processes and creativity?

In such a vibrant and dynamic communication environment, policy making becomes commonplace. This is the point in time for policy makers to question the appropriate policy for the Internet to assure cultural growth. We have to ask, among other questions: How can we promote digital culture? What role, if any, regulation should play in the new cultural sphere? And more specifically: Should we oblige the providers of Internet services to neutrality in content distribution? Should we set basic rights to access the knowledge? Should we redesign copyright laws to limit the restrictions on the processes of creativity?