Similar Songlines

Image 1: Social Network (Techgenie 2016)

For the virtual to exist as reality it must first exist as the concept of the mind, and then talked about to be perceived by others (Chatwin, B. 1987. pp.14). When Facebook was created from the “storytelling” of a thought, converting it into an idea that became reality (Kuttainen, V. 2016. Powerpoint slide 22), similarly to the Aboriginal Australians conceptualization of the Earth being created, its vast social networks can be thought of as a ‘Songline’ that many walk down creating communication with the other side of the globe (Chatwin, B. 1987. pp.13). Many Facebooker’s go on journeys or ‘Walkabouts’ everyday traveling down these ‘Songlines’ meeting new like minded people who are also on the same journey as them (Chatwin, B. 1987. pp.13), that are willing help each other along the way. 

“Anywhere in the bush you can point to some feature of the landscape and ask the Aboriginal with you, “what’s the story there?” or “Who's that?” The chances are he will answer [...] depending on which Ancestor walked that way” (Chatwin, B. 1987. pp.13). On Facebook it can be seen as the same, any page that you access on Facebook there is always someone that will help others to continue down their ‘Songlines’. 


One difference between the two concepts is that, unlike the Aboriginal religious aim, to keep the land the way it is and how it should be (Chatwin, B. 1987. pp.14); Facebook’s network is constantly changing and adding new information not trying to keep itself as it was when it was first created. Another difference would be that, of the Aboriginal Australians ‘Songlines” that only exist within Australia itself on a local scale, whereas Facebook’s ‘Songlines’ are that of a global scale and can be easily undertaken by anyone around the world. 







Reference list:

Image 1: Techgenie. 2016. Social Network. Retrived from http://news.techgenie.com/latest/facebook-partners-with-security-vendors/ 

Chatwin, B. BA1002: Our space: Networks, Narratives and the Making of Place. The Songlines [weekly readings]. London, England: Robert Hartnoll

Kuttainen, V. 2016. BA1002: Our space: Networks, Narratives and the Making of Place. Lecture week 5. Powerpoint slides. Retrived from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au