COMMUNICATIONS AND MOBILITY: THE MIGRANT, THE MOBILE PHONE, AND THE CONTAINER BOX

Loved the way the author used current terms to describe the ongoing technologies in play. Also the author is definitely keyed into the potential for these technologies to be formed in a frame that is decidedly inhuman.The focus herein in on the mobility of information/communication in an old fashion sense, as the term communication is taken to once again include within it[as it was historically the case] the realms of material mobility, transport, and geography. The author, thus uses the phraseology of geopolitics, power, and territory - although, of course, the territories of concern are now both material and virtual, online and off.The focus then on this mobility of information then tends to neglect that of the people & communities. To understand this frame one needs to first of all ask the right questions to even begin to get the right answers. The questioning of eurocentrism, media-centrism and technical determination and the domination of what Jared Diamond coined WEIRD[Western educated industrialized rich democracies] nations in framing the terms and debate to study.The author argues to place the technological present in a historical perspective. To focus on media technological and inventions w/context of their socio-cultural effects, which may very well turn out to be quite different in varying cultural contexts.The author lays out a series of incisive and theoretical concepts w/academic evidence for his proposals. He then gradually breaks these down from the macro into subtopics, and further into one and/or two succinct discussions.Outstanding! Information rich and very telling in its basic regard for humanity.

"Communications and Mobility: The Migrant, the Mobile Phone, and the Container Box" by David Morley has an interesting combination in this book on media and communications. Admittedly, there were times when I thought it was a little hard to follow but overall, I thought the premise was supported. It isn't a long book so it is something that can be read over a short period of time. I wouldn't say I enjoyed the read but I did find it interesting.