On virtuality and the aesthetics of spectacle: Nationalist imaginations of Mthwakazi and its passions of semblance

Abstract

Social networking and the individuated privacy of the virtual space have emerged as new forms of conflating social identities and free speech for most subaltern communities. While it is clearly accepted that the notion of social networking within most African communities has always existed as part of oramedia (orality), which also gained more positive value from grapevine as a notch of communication, current trends in communication, coupled with the rise of new media have brought normative and pragmatic values in the latter day communication culture. One social networking group from Matebeleland (a region of historical complexities in Zimbabwe), the "Forum", will be used to show how the virtual sphere has revolutionised the Habermasian public sphere. The new social networking sites enable participants to gather and connect through 'Internet portals.' We posit that these different fora define the extent to which engagement and free speech are practiced leading to changes in people's worldviews. Online fora now range from different Facebook and Whatsapp groups, such as; Inhlamba Zesintu, Luveve Ikasi Lami, Abammeli Mthwakazi, Not-Everyone-is-Zimbabwean, Thina AbaMpofu, to websites like iNkundla.net, Youtube, and other vibrant platforms created through mailing lists and listserv, such as Forum.

Nuevos Lenguajes Para Aprendizaje Virtual Herramientas Para Los Escenarios De Aprendizaje

“…Pero no es necesario remitirse a desarrollos muy tecnificados para poder explorar este tipo de reacciones. Otros estudios plantean la interacción de los participantes con sus redes sociales, explorando la posibilidad de interacción de los sujetos en plataformas sin un grado de simulación, como es el caso de un estudio realizado a Matebeleland (una región de complejidades históricas en Zimbabwe), donde en el sitio 'The Forum' se utilizó un caso de estudio para mostrar cómo la esfera virtual ha revolucionado la esfera pública habermasiana (Mhlanga & Mpofu, 2017), logrando identificar efectos sociales que bien pueden ser aprovechados por la educación.…”