The Facebook Story

Language and symbols are generally used as a form of communication. However, they have another important purpose – they create stories and shape the sense of place and space. This concept was explored during this week’s lecture and readings.

Language, icons and pictures are all key tools for orientation. In the Facebook context, it is a large map that contains certain symbols and language. This not only helps to orientate, but it creates stories through interaction between users and shapes this space into a place. Thus this map becomes a narrative with a purpose (Kuttainen, 2016), a very powerful purpose.

For example, a key feature of the Facebook map is the reaction buttons which allow users to interact by showing how they feel towards other user’s posts. This action contributes to the creation of the place and orientates the user.

Visual orientation also relies on language, Tuan (1991, pg. 691) says, “Words enhance the picture by directing attention to sensory effects that cannot be directly shown, such as sounds and fragrances.” This language creates the narrative of the place, thus giving it identity.

Facebook status updates create the narrative of Facebook; posts are the core of this map. Everyone shares and creates their own narratives with other users through the use of words and images. It turns a collaborative space into a place as the written word is integral to the construction of place (Tuan, 1991, pg. 694). Although every user’s narrative (news feed) is different, there are certain feature in everyone’s narrative that are the same. Advertisements, memes, birthday celebrations, the latest news are all part of the larger Facebook narrative. This human communication adds to the warmth and aliveness of a place (Tuan, 1991, pg. 690) and creating its identity.

References

Kuttainen, V. (2016). BA1002: Our space: Networks, narratives and the making of place, lecture 5: Stories and Places. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au

Tuan, Y. (1991). Language and the Making of Place: A Narrative-Descriptive Approach. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 81(4), 684-696. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2563430