FOSTERING DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE: THE ROLE OF FOLK MEDIA AND LITERATURE IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Tarakeswara Rao Ippili; John Babu Koyye

doi:10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i3.2024.1402

Authors

Tarakeswara Rao Ippili Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India
John Babu Koyye Assistant Professor, Department of Convergent Journalism, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Kashmir, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i3.2024.1402

Keywords:

Folk Media, Literature, Digital Platforms, Cultural Preservation, Socio-Economic Development, Community Engagement

Abstract [English]

Folk media and literature have immense potential to contribute to the development process in the current world, especially in preserving cultural values, education, and the power of people. This paper aims to expand and discuss the traditional forms of media and their relevance within the culture and modern society and their relevance in the contemporary world especially within the digital realm. Thus, as part of this research, the results of a literature review, surveys, interviews, and case studies are used to evaluate how these traditional forms of expression have become part of digital media for the enhancement of socio-economic development. The study used a survey of 200 respondents from different areas of Andhra Pradesh State in India plus interviews with various stakeholders from Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitaram Raju, and Anakapalli districts. The findings highlight the dual benefits of digital transformation: expanding the accessibility of folk media and literature, as well as promoting cultural continuity and emergency capacity in related communities. The research findings from the case studies of Andhra Pradesh concerning digital storytelling, online archiving, and social networking site trailblazers indicate the effective strategies of share-simple and community engagement on one side and cultural heritage on the other side. The findings of the study show that adversaries of folk media not only expand their audience but also facilitate cultural participation by the communities. This research therefore emphasizes the need for collective responsibility to ensure that all cultures are preserved and facilitated through the digital transition to avoid a technological divide.

References

Barber, K. (2007). The Anthropology of Texts, Persons and Publics: Oral and Written Culture in Africa and Beyond. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511619656

Chen, G. M. (2019). Digitization of Cultural Heritage: Preservation, Accessibility, and Cultural Beliefs. International Journal of Cultural Heritage, 15(3), 223-236.

Chuang, T.-Y., & Hwang, G.-J. (2020). Impacts of Digital Storytelling on Students' Engagement and Learning Outcomes: A case Study on "Folk Fridays". Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 23(1), 15-28.

Du, X., & Wagner, C. (2016). Collaborative Digital Preservation: Strategies for Heritage Institutions and Technology Companies. Digital Culture & Education, 8(1), 75-95.

Epskamp, K. (2006). Theatre for Development: An Introduction to Context, Applications and Training. Zed Books. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350254190

Finnegan, R. (1992). Oral Traditions and the Verbal Arts: A Guide to Research Practices. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203397237

Foster, S., & Dahya, N. (2017). Community-based Digital Literacy and Preservation: A Guide for Minority Teams. Journal of Community Informatics, 13(2), 98-115.

Gikas, J., & Grant, M. M. (2013). Mobile Computing Devices in Higher Education: Student Perspectives on Learning with Cellphones, Smartphones & Social Media. The Internet and Higher Education, 19, 18-26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2013.06.002

Guerrero, A. (2016). The Role of Digital Technology in the Representation and Preservation of Indigenous cultures. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, 6(2), 189-204.

Kidd, J., McAvoy, E., & Kirton, A. (2020). Cultural Preservation and Digital Storytelling: A study of new Possibilities. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 26(4), 285-300.

Kreps, D. (2011). My Social Networking Profile: Copy, Resemblance, or Simulacrum? In D. Kreps (Ed.), Gramsci and Foucault: A Reassessment. Ashgate.

McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. McGraw-Hill.

Norris, P. (2001). Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty, and the Internet Worldwide. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139164887

Ong, W. J. (1982). Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word. Methuen. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203328064

Robin, B. R. (2008). Digital Storytelling: A Powerful Technology Tool for the 21st Century Classroom. Theory Into Practice, 47(3), 220-228. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00405840802153916

Servaes, J. (1999). Communication for Development: One World, Multiple Cultures. Hampton Press.

Smith, J. A. (2018). Digital storytelling: A tool for cultural preservation and education. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 32(2), 145-158.

Srinivas, M. N. (2010). Social Change in Modern India. Orient Blackswan.

Srinivas, R. (2010). Understanding the Transformation of Indian Media in the Digital Age. SAGE Publications.

Srinivas, S. (2010). In the Realm of the Visual: Agency and Identity in Cultural Production. Oxford University Press.

Thompson, P. (2015). Digital Preservation, Archiving, and Dissemination: Ensuring the Future of Oral History. In R. Perks & A. Thomson (Eds.), The Oral History Reader. Routledge.

Tomlinson, J. (1999). Globalization and Culture. University of Chicago Press.

van Dijk, J. A. G. M. (2005). The Deepening Divide: Inequality in the Information Society. Sage Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452229812