There's no place like home

Almost instantly after joining the world of the ‘cyber space’, you begin to learn a specific discourse that is used between each network and social platform. ‘Memes’, ‘spam’, ‘liking’ or ‘disliking’ – just to name a few – are all popular and well recognised words within the online world. Without thought, as soon as we hear these words, we immediately begin to picture a virtual space on the internet. These words begin to shape how we view ‘spaces’ on the internet, and transform them into a ‘place’ as they are given meaning. Tuan is quick to justify how big of an impact naming things has as a whole, “naming is power-the creative power to call something into being, to render the invisible visible, to impart a certain character to things.” (Tuan, 1991, pg. 688).

The concept of semiotics, which Kuttainen dissects within week five's lecture, explores the concept of use and interpretation of signs and symbols. A picture of a pipe was shown, however, that was only our interpretation of it. The truth was that it was not a pipe, but a painting of a pipe. It was the written language and naming beneath the picture that complemented and held the true power of meaning (Kuttainen, 2016).

 

Figure 1. The unknown power we behold (Jenkins, 2012).

In Tuan’s article, naming something is to give it power and create a sense of place – rather than space – thus complying the same concept with Youtube (Tuan, 1991). Mark Hauser from Tedx Talks, describes how powerful it is to name something and how naming is the proof of existence as such. Naming specific destinations or pages within this social network creates the feeling of belonging and being accepted within this space. The Youtube homepage is a perfect example of this. A space full of random videos, numerous links, and an undeniable sense of emptiness is the initial feeling one gets when on the page. However, once depicted with the name ‘home’, this page suddenly becomes this personalised outcast of vast landscape that beholds videos of preference, links relating to your hobbies and interests. This space, now named a home, begins to feel like a place of safety and comfort.

References

Chatwin, B. (1987). The Songlines (pp.11-15).

Jennings, N. (2012). Turning space into place. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/juicygeography/turning-space-into-place.

Kuttainen, V. (2016). BA1002:  Networks, Narrative and the Making of Place, week 4 notes [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu2004.jcu.edu.au

Tuan, Y-F. (1991). ‘Language and the making of place’. Annals of the Association of American Geographers.