MACMILLAN Emotions and Loneliness in a Networked Society

Loneliness affects quality of life, life satisfaction, and well-being, and it is associated with various health problems, both somatic and mental. This book takes an international and interdisciplinary approach to the study of loneliness, identifying and bridging the gaps in academic research on loneliness, and creating new research pathways. Focusing in particular on loneliness in the context of new and emergent communication technologies, it provides a wide range of theoretical and methodological perspectives and will contribute to the re-evaluation of the way we understand and research this contemporary global phenomenon. Review “This collection thoughtfully explores how technologies of togetherness contribute to – and challenge – contemporary experiences of loneliness. With case studies from Europe, Asia and Africa, this volume provides much-needed insight into the multiplicity of connectedness in the digital age.” (Zeena Feldman, King's College London, UK) “It is one of the 21 st century’s great ironies that the more advances in technology allow society to connect and network on a global scale, the more we are at risk of unprecedented levels of disconnection, social isolation and loneliness. By championing an interdisciplinary approach this volume provides new insights into what is one of the greatest social and health challenges of our time.” (Professor Michael Wilson, Loughborough University, UK) “In a world where each news cycle seems to bring news of another mass-shooting, of people stranded or killed crossing borders, or of intractable conflicts across the globe, it is all too easy to lose sight of the important questions around loneliness, solidarity, new media and human connection that this book poses. Bianca Fox has brought together a mix of fascinating, timely and compassionate scholarship which explores experiences of loneliness in different national settings, the complex significance of the internet therein, and the problematic reification of social media’s role in modern loneliness by both optimists and pessimists.” (Shakuntala Banaji, Associate Professor, Department of Media and Communication, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK) “We are more and more lonely in a world that seemingly offers more connectivity than ever. The volume Emotions and Loneliness in a Networked Society offers a very timely and valuable insight into loneliness, a phenomenon which is increasingly recognised as one of the key problems societies across the world face.” (Dariusz Galasinski, Professor of Discourse and Cultural Studies, University of Wolverhampton, UK) From the Back Cover This book analyses loneliness and other emotions in the context of new emerging communication technologies, underlining the diachronic impact of loneliness in network-centric societies and providing solutions to tackle loneliness by employing digital technologies. In an era of enhanced social interconnectivity, where loneliness, isolation, anxiety and depression are increasingly in the spotlight, this multidisciplinary study identifies and bridges gaps in research on loneliness and will appeal to academics in a variety of academic disciplines, including culture and media studies and social psychology. Global in scope, with chapters on loneliness stigmatization in the US, Romania’s senior population, Tinder in Mexico City and Madrid, Indian housewives in Bollywood cinema, and emotions in the African diaspora in Johannesburg, the book is a varied and timely collection that contributes to a growing conversation around digital networks and emotions. About the Author Bianca Fox is Senior Lecturer in TV, Broadcasting and Journalism at the University of Wolverhampton, UK. She is also Subject Leader for Film, Media and Journalism and Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Film, Media, Discourse and Culture.