Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 11 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Diary   

The Public Intellectual and Social Media

Message Thorsten Pattberg
Become a Fan
  (5 fans)

THERE IS a current trend in the way world history is manufactured that deserves closer scrutiny: It is the complete surrender of the humanities to marketing mechanisms and branding strategies.
CAMBRIDGE - We don't have to leave England to find the revolution. Niall Ferguson, the British historian -- and now Harvard professor -, recently published an opinion article in the German Times in which he ruminates about '6 Killer applications' that the West invented to undo its competitors.

Ferguson goes on to say that, after having dominated world history for centuries, someone pushed the "wrong buttons" and we lost our pristine vantage. Meanwhile, the "new players in Asia" have picked up the rules of the game.
I dread to think it isn't quite as dramatic as the philosopher would have it: World history is still written by the Fergusons -- and Harvardians -- of this world. Social climbers from the east are rare in this sport. I agree, though, that indeed everyone  seems to be talking about the rise of Asia these days.
What's also new is the trending of fashionable internet fads or business allusions toward world historical events. Public intellectuals these days enjoy "the mass media" effect and have fully emerged, and have they ever, into the world of bloggingvlogging, and social media. [...]
[Read at Global Research]
Rate It | View Ratings

Thorsten Pattberg Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Dr. Thorsten J. Pattberg (è å æ Pei Desi) is a German philosopher and cultural critic.
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend