Island connections: Icelandic spatiality in the wake of worldly linkages

The notions and materiality of connections, through electronic networks as well as modes of mobility, play an ever-increasing role in how we define, understand, engage and experience the world we live in and the islands we live on. This article presents an account of Icelandic encounters with techno...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: David Bjarnason
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Island Studies Journal 2010-11-01
Series:Island Studies Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.islandstudies.ca/sites/islandstudies.ca/files/ISJ-5-2-2010-Bjarnason.pdf
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author David Bjarnason
author_facet David Bjarnason
author_sort David Bjarnason
collection DOAJ
description The notions and materiality of connections, through electronic networks as well as modes of mobility, play an ever-increasing role in how we define, understand, engage and experience the world we live in and the islands we live on. This article presents an account of Icelandic encounters with technologies of telecommunication and explores how electronic connections have participated in formulating a particularly connected, island spatiality. It is argued that an island can be regarded as a kind of connected laboratory suitable for studying how associations form around technologies of connections, which can be traced through various actors. For this purpose, the historical genealogy of connections and telecommunication in Iceland is analyzed, as well as more contemporary ideas and representations of mobile phone usage and network connectivity. It is maintained that connections have fundamentally altered the spatiality as well as representations of Iceland. While still an island in a geographical sense, and in that manner remote and isolated, the social space of the island now denies such connotations in many respects, valorizing the connectivity of Iceland and its people.
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spelling doaj.art-6fd375bf318e4a9cb227d2c4fb63a3ec2022-12-21T18:42:00ZengIsland Studies JournalIsland Studies Journal1715-25932010-11-0152217236Island connections: Icelandic spatiality in the wake of worldly linkagesDavid BjarnasonThe notions and materiality of connections, through electronic networks as well as modes of mobility, play an ever-increasing role in how we define, understand, engage and experience the world we live in and the islands we live on. This article presents an account of Icelandic encounters with technologies of telecommunication and explores how electronic connections have participated in formulating a particularly connected, island spatiality. It is argued that an island can be regarded as a kind of connected laboratory suitable for studying how associations form around technologies of connections, which can be traced through various actors. For this purpose, the historical genealogy of connections and telecommunication in Iceland is analyzed, as well as more contemporary ideas and representations of mobile phone usage and network connectivity. It is maintained that connections have fundamentally altered the spatiality as well as representations of Iceland. While still an island in a geographical sense, and in that manner remote and isolated, the social space of the island now denies such connotations in many respects, valorizing the connectivity of Iceland and its people.http://www.islandstudies.ca/sites/islandstudies.ca/files/ISJ-5-2-2010-Bjarnason.pdfIcelandislandsconnectionsmobilitytelecommunicationmobile phonesmodernityglobalization
spellingShingle David Bjarnason
Island connections: Icelandic spatiality in the wake of worldly linkages
Island Studies Journal
Iceland
islands
connections
mobility
telecommunication
mobile phones
modernity
globalization
title Island connections: Icelandic spatiality in the wake of worldly linkages
title_full Island connections: Icelandic spatiality in the wake of worldly linkages
title_fullStr Island connections: Icelandic spatiality in the wake of worldly linkages
title_full_unstemmed Island connections: Icelandic spatiality in the wake of worldly linkages
title_short Island connections: Icelandic spatiality in the wake of worldly linkages
title_sort island connections icelandic spatiality in the wake of worldly linkages
topic Iceland
islands
connections
mobility
telecommunication
mobile phones
modernity
globalization
url http://www.islandstudies.ca/sites/islandstudies.ca/files/ISJ-5-2-2010-Bjarnason.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT davidbjarnason islandconnectionsicelandicspatialityinthewakeofworldlylinkages