Dreaming the World: U2 Fans, Online Community and Intercultural Communication (Hamton Press Communication)

During the second half of the 20th century, researchers warned of the negative effects of cultural imperialism, the overwhelming one-way flow of organized media and information from industralized nations to developing nations. Globalization theory tended to diminish the perceived negative influence of the one-way flow, framing it as more of a symbiotic relationship. But what happens when the flow of information travels not through organized media, but through regular people? The Internet allows people from all over the world to connect and share information in ways once unimaginable, but how does that information circulate? Do culture and language flow freely on the Internet in community forums or do the one-way patterns of media imperialism reappear? In this book the author explores the question through an investigation of the online activities of fans of the Irish band U2. The heart of the book provides an in-depth look at what type of information is circulated on the major fan mailing list, how this information builds online community, and whether it encourages or discourages the circulation of intercultural information. The book also offers a fresh take on U2 through an analysis of their ongoing relationship with media and technology.