Week 7
Post-Modern Diaspora’s
When looking at Diasporic Media you have to first know about broadcasting and narrowcasting. Broadcasting is to transmit signals or programs from a radio/television station to make something widely known, whereas narrowcasting is aiming a program at a specific audience or sales market.
Most Middle-Eastern Diaspora’s are clear examples of narrowcasting as they are in the language of the homeland and not English, therefore in Australia and America, when we view such programs on television or online we cannot understand them, unless we are part of the small minority they are designed for.
“Contemporary Immigrants in the West have formed post modern Diaspora’s that have not neglected their indigenous cultures, instead using electronic media, they have worked actively to celebrate and sustain them.” (Nacify 2003, p59)
A study was recently conducted on Chinese students living in Iowa, USA. These students all had access to the internet, almost 8,000 volumes of Chinese books, 300 current popular journals and 500 movies from Mainland China. Not to mention on Television they could watch Channel Four news which aired twice a day from Mainland China Central. (Shi 2005, 67)
Referencing
Naficy, H 2003, ‘Narrowcasting in diaspora: Middle Eastern television in Los Angeles’, The media of diaspora 2003, Routledge, London , pp. 51-62
Shi Yu, Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies, Vol. 19, No. 1, March 2005, pp. 55–72
globlogisation 
This post is clear and easy to follow because used right references and a clear and interesting example. I am interested in the example about Chinese students in America. I think it is a good example of narrowcasting and I could imagine the situation very easy. I think it is sad because they are not living in China but they are still stick to them own culture. Narrowcasting might impede progress of global thinking. This is a nice post. Nice work.
I think your example of the Chinese students in America is a very good example of narrowcasting and how diaspora can be good and bad. It is good that they are able to get films and journals in their own language and culture but at the same time, this might prevent them from embracing or trying to learn the culture or language in the place they are staying. Good post.