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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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Island Studies Journal
2010-11-01
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| Series: | Island Studies Journal |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.245 |
| _version_ | 1797800062846238720 |
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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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:28:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4e9e7fc6aa84a3bb654d0aa3f1de8de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1715-2593 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:28:24Z |
| publishDate | 2010-11-01 |
| publisher | Island Studies Journal |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Island Studies Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4e9e7fc6aa84a3bb654d0aa3f1de8de2023-06-19T23:09:05ZengIsland Studies JournalIsland Studies Journal1715-25932010-11-0152Island 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.https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.245 |
| spellingShingle | David Bjarnason Island Connections: Icelandic Spatiality in the Wake of Worldly Linkages Island Studies Journal |
| 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 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.245 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidbjarnason islandconnectionsicelandicspatialityinthewakeofworldlylinkages |