The influence of Appadurai' work

As well as inevitably having been inspired by other theorist in cultural and media studies, Appadurai’ innovative and original theory is now also highly regarded and has influenced many other theorists in cultural and media studies.

Noted in ‘Disjuncture and difference in the global cultural economy’ it is clear Benedict Anderson has significantly contributed to Appadurai’ work in the ‘imagined worlds’ and vice versa.  Anderson suggests a theory of ‘print capitalism’ where by the power of mass communications and technologies have created a ‘paradox’ where the ‘imagined’ world overtakes reality. It seems through these communications people are ‘free of the need for face-to-face communication’ (Appadurai. A 1990 p.28). It suggests a media explosion enabling ‘Mediascapes’ and ‘Technoscapes’ that can spread globally.

While Appadurai’ work is fundamental other theorists such as Kenway and Fahey in their paper ‘Getting emotional about ‘brain mobility’’ have expanded on his idea’s suggesting that emotion is a key concept missing from his proposal. While Appadurai’ theory can be applied globally, nationally and to the human body (Kenway. J and Fahey. J 2009 global flows of emotions), emotions are significant as ‘they impact on the attitudes of people, the relationship between cultures and the behaviours of nations’ (Moisi 2009).

Kenway and Fahey suggest the creation of ‘Emoscapes’, in which emotion is also seen as global cultural flow between different cultures and places. Therefore suggesting that emotion is not just the physical feelings of an individual but can be created and flow in ‘relation to particular historical, political, social and cultural landscapes’ (Kenway. J and Fahey. J 2009 global flows of emotions). However Kenway and Fahey acknowledge Appadurai for his recent works in which he refers to ‘global geographies of anger’ (Appadurai 2006).

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References:

·         Appadurai, A. 1996. Modernity at Large. Cultural Dimensions of Globalization.

·         Kenway, J. and Fahey, J. 2011. Emotion, Space and Society.
In Getting emotional about "Brain Mobility" Journal [Online] 3. Available at:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1755458610000393