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How technology is shaping our culture | Angelene Naidoo | TEDxYouth@ISE


my name is Angeline we slide I was born

my name is Angeline we slide I was born as a South African of Indian descent in

as a South African of Indian descent in

as a South African of Indian descent in a small town and raised not only by my

a small town and raised not only by my

a small town and raised not only by my parents but by my grandparents aunts

parents but by my grandparents aunts

parents but by my grandparents aunts uncles and our next-door neighbors six

uncles and our next-door neighbors six

uncles and our next-door neighbors six years ago I moved away from my

years ago I moved away from my

years ago I moved away from my close-knit family

close-knit family

close-knit family first to England and then to this

first to England and then to this

first to England and then to this country the Netherlands so why did I

country the Netherlands so why did I

country the Netherlands so why did I tell you all of this information about

tell you all of this information about

tell you all of this information about myself

myself

myself well these are the things that define me

well these are the things that define me

well these are the things that define me this is my identity when people have to

this is my identity when people have to

this is my identity when people have to identify themselves they usually

identify themselves they usually

identify themselves they usually mentioned they homeland family race or

mentioned they homeland family race or

mentioned they homeland family race or life-altering experiences like moving

life-altering experiences like moving

life-altering experiences like moving countries or buying a dog most

countries or buying a dog most

countries or buying a dog most importantly they mentioned big culture

importantly they mentioned big culture

importantly they mentioned big culture cultures it’s the basis of our

cultures it’s the basis of our

cultures it’s the basis of our psychology which in turn drives our

psychology which in turn drives our

psychology which in turn drives our behavior and if our behavior doesn’t

behavior and if our behavior doesn’t

behavior and if our behavior doesn’t define us

define us

define us what does so what is culture culture is

what does so what is culture culture is

what does so what is culture culture is essentially about two factors

essentially about two factors

essentially about two factors it is about social group acceptance and

it is about social group acceptance and

it is about social group acceptance and familiar behavior and what really puts

familiar behavior and what really puts

familiar behavior and what really puts these two factors into context is when

these two factors into context is when

these two factors into context is when you can compare one culture to another I

you can compare one culture to another I

you can compare one culture to another I will compare South African culture to

will compare South African culture to

will compare South African culture to Dutch culture and I have lived in both

Dutch culture and I have lived in both

Dutch culture and I have lived in both countries and I have seen how people

countries and I have seen how people

countries and I have seen how people react differently to situations because

react differently to situations because

react differently to situations because of the cultural influences that people

of the cultural influences that people

of the cultural influences that people are considered to be very

are considered to be very

are considered to be very straightforward people otherwise term

straightforward people otherwise term

straightforward people otherwise term Dutch blackness South Africans in

Dutch blackness South Africans in

Dutch blackness South Africans in contrast are told to act differently

contrast are told to act differently

contrast are told to act differently based on the situation they are in or

based on the situation they are in or

based on the situation they are in or the audience

the audience

the audience thus it is quite easy to see why they

thus it is quite easy to see why they

thus it is quite easy to see why they can be a miscommunication between these

can be a miscommunication between these

can be a miscommunication between these two people coming from different parts

two people coming from different parts

two people coming from different parts of the world and this has to do with

of the world and this has to do with

of the world and this has to do with perception because culture affects the

perception because culture affects the

perception because culture affects the way we process information I remember a

way we process information I remember a

way we process information I remember a time when my cousin and I will watch in

time when my cousin and I will watch in

time when my cousin and I will watch in an advert on TV of two girls kissing as

an advert on TV of two girls kissing as

an advert on TV of two girls kissing as I have lived in

I have lived in

I have lived in Netherlands for the past five years I

Netherlands for the past five years I

Netherlands for the past five years I saw nothing new or extremely unusual

saw nothing new or extremely unusual

saw nothing new or extremely unusual about this my cousin on the other hand

about this my cousin on the other hand

about this my cousin on the other hand was shocked that they would show such a

was shocked that they would show such a

was shocked that they would show such a bold display on TV you see in 34

bold display on TV you see in 34

bold display on TV you see in 34 countries in Africa being gay is a death

countries in Africa being gay is a death

countries in Africa being gay is a death sentence and although that Africa does

sentence and although that Africa does

sentence and although that Africa does not have a law against it it is still

not have a law against it it is still

not have a law against it it is still unfortunately frowned upon

unfortunately frowned upon

unfortunately frowned upon to be gay culture is such a vast topic

to be gay culture is such a vast topic

to be gay culture is such a vast topic and it is so very different depending on

and it is so very different depending on

and it is so very different depending on the land and region you are looking at

the land and region you are looking at

the land and region you are looking at therefore it is quite difficult to fully

therefore it is quite difficult to fully

therefore it is quite difficult to fully understand every aspect of culture

understand every aspect of culture

understand every aspect of culture however throughout the years people have

however throughout the years people have

however throughout the years people have developed ways of looking at culture

developed ways of looking at culture

developed ways of looking at culture through certain viewpoints one of the

through certain viewpoints one of the

through certain viewpoints one of the viewpoints you can look at culture

viewpoints you can look at culture

viewpoints you can look at culture through is through the way they’re

through is through the way they’re

through is through the way they’re structured an example of how culture can

structured an example of how culture can

structured an example of how culture can be structured is the emphasis at places

be structured is the emphasis at places

be structured is the emphasis at places on hierarchy some cultures highlight the

on hierarchy some cultures highlight the

on hierarchy some cultures highlight the different positions of power based on

different positions of power based on

different positions of power based on social status or the amount of money you

social status or the amount of money you

social status or the amount of money you earn in some cultures the difference in

earn in some cultures the difference in

earn in some cultures the difference in power within the relationship between

power within the relationship between

power within the relationship between men and women there’s a more prominent

men and women there’s a more prominent

men and women there’s a more prominent aspect than in other colonies in South

aspect than in other colonies in South

aspect than in other colonies in South Africa the man undoubtedly occupies the

Africa the man undoubtedly occupies the

Africa the man undoubtedly occupies the higher position as the head of the

higher position as the head of the

higher position as the head of the family

family

family although the wife might have a higher

although the wife might have a higher

although the wife might have a higher paying job he is usually in charge of

paying job he is usually in charge of

paying job he is usually in charge of the finances and although the wife might

the finances and although the wife might

the finances and although the wife might have longer working hours she is

have longer working hours she is

have longer working hours she is responsible for the upbringing of the

responsible for the upbringing of the

responsible for the upbringing of the children in countries such as the

children in countries such as the

children in countries such as the Netherlands with gender equality start

Netherlands with gender equality start

Netherlands with gender equality start to fundamental aspect of the culture

to fundamental aspect of the culture

to fundamental aspect of the culture generally if the family dynamics are

generally if the family dynamics are

generally if the family dynamics are such that there is equal power within

such that there is equal power within

such that there is equal power within the relationship the women have equal

the relationship the women have equal

the relationship the women have equal financial power based on their personal

financial power based on their personal

financial power based on their personal earnings and I am witnessed whilst

earnings and I am witnessed whilst

earnings and I am witnessed whilst watching Dutch families interact for the

watching Dutch families interact for the

watching Dutch families interact for the past five years that the man has as much

past five years that the man has as much

past five years that the man has as much family responsibilities as the woman

family responsibilities as the woman

family responsibilities as the woman another place hierarchy can be seen is

another place hierarchy can be seen is

another place hierarchy can be seen is within the interactions between children

within the interactions between children

within the interactions between children and adults in the Netherlands children

and adults in the Netherlands children

and adults in the Netherlands children are respected and treated as individuals

are respected and treated as individuals

are respected and treated as individuals from a very young age

from a very young age

from a very young age generally if a child were to come up to

generally if a child were to come up to

generally if a child were to come up to his mother while she is in a

his mother while she is in a

his mother while she is in a conversation she will stop and she will

conversation she will stop and she will

conversation she will stop and she will talk to him

talk to him

talk to him also children stood at the dinner table

also children stood at the dinner table

also children stood at the dinner table with the adults as a result children in

with the adults as a result children in

with the adults as a result children in the Netherlands go low for confidence

the Netherlands go low for confidence

the Netherlands go low for confidence that they opinion will always be lesson

that they opinion will always be lesson

that they opinion will always be lesson 2 if not always respected it is very

2 if not always respected it is very

2 if not always respected it is very different in South Africa in South

different in South Africa in South

different in South Africa in South Africa children are treated as less than

Africa children are treated as less than

Africa children are treated as less than adults until they have matured to a

adults until they have matured to a

adults until they have matured to a certain point to refer back to the same

certain point to refer back to the same

certain point to refer back to the same example from before in that situation

example from before in that situation

example from before in that situation the mother would say be quiet the adults

the mother would say be quiet the adults

the mother would say be quiet the adults are talking also when I was a child I

are talking also when I was a child I

are talking also when I was a child I had at a different table from the adults

had at a different table from the adults

had at a different table from the adults whilst we were having dinner as such

whilst we were having dinner as such

whilst we were having dinner as such South Africans grow up with a mentality

South Africans grow up with a mentality

South Africans grow up with a mentality that you need up earn your right to

that you need up earn your right to

that you need up earn your right to express your opinion and often this

express your opinion and often this

express your opinion and often this mentality is a good motivation to

mentality is a good motivation to

mentality is a good motivation to improve yourself as any talking about

improve yourself as any talking about

improve yourself as any talking about all these aspects of culture makes it

all these aspects of culture makes it

all these aspects of culture makes it seem like very long term mechanisms but

seem like very long term mechanisms but

seem like very long term mechanisms but actually culture has changed and it has

actually culture has changed and it has

actually culture has changed and it has informed through various historical

informed through various historical

informed through various historical event to become what it is today and the

event to become what it is today and the

event to become what it is today and the biggest cause of cultural change can be

biggest cause of cultural change can be

biggest cause of cultural change can be seen as technology to fully see how

seen as technology to fully see how

seen as technology to fully see how technology has changed our culture we

technology has changed our culture we

technology has changed our culture we need to look at the history of

need to look at the history of

need to look at the history of technology so let’s go all the way back

technology so let’s go all the way back

technology so let’s go all the way back let’s go to 1760 imagine yourself as a

let’s go to 1760 imagine yourself as a

let’s go to 1760 imagine yourself as a worker during the industrial revolution

worker during the industrial revolution

worker during the industrial revolution this means long hours working in

this means long hours working in

this means long hours working in factories alongside people you have no

factories alongside people you have no

factories alongside people you have no relation to you are no longer surrounded

relation to you are no longer surrounded

relation to you are no longer surrounded by familiar behavior you no longer know

by familiar behavior you no longer know

by familiar behavior you no longer know what is socially acceptable because the

what is socially acceptable because the

what is socially acceptable because the rules aren’t as black and white as they

rules aren’t as black and white as they

rules aren’t as black and white as they have always been your culture has just

have always been your culture has just

have always been your culture has just drastically changed this transition from

drastically changed this transition from

drastically changed this transition from a small-town mentality to a city

a small-town mentality to a city

a small-town mentality to a city mentality was nothing less than chaos

mentality was nothing less than chaos

mentality was nothing less than chaos and as art is a symbol of our culture

and as art is a symbol of our culture

and as art is a symbol of our culture this chaos is reflected in

this chaos is reflected in

this chaos is reflected in literature associated with that time

literature associated with that time

literature associated with that time take for example William Blake’s poem

take for example William Blake’s poem

take for example William Blake’s poem the chimney sweeper during he talked

the chimney sweeper during he talked

the chimney sweeper during he talked about what he viewed as the evils of

about what he viewed as the evils of

about what he viewed as the evils of industrialization our culture was

industrialization our culture was

industrialization our culture was changed once again by every invention

changed once again by every invention

changed once again by every invention that made it easier for us to travel

that made it easier for us to travel

that made it easier for us to travel when people travel they are exposed to

when people travel they are exposed to

when people travel they are exposed to other cultures in the Netherlands when

other cultures in the Netherlands when

other cultures in the Netherlands when the bicycle was invented it very quickly

the bicycle was invented it very quickly

the bicycle was invented it very quickly became a reliable and accepted source of

became a reliable and accepted source of

became a reliable and accepted source of transport and there it is again that

transport and there it is again that

transport and there it is again that word accepted people liked it

word accepted people liked it

word accepted people liked it in fact they liked it so much that the

in fact they liked it so much that the

in fact they liked it so much that the Dutch government began to build an

Dutch government began to build an

Dutch government began to build an entire infrastructure for the bicycle

entire infrastructure for the bicycle

entire infrastructure for the bicycle thus they unavoidably routed bicycle

thus they unavoidably routed bicycle

thus they unavoidably routed bicycle into Dutch culture until today Amsterdam

into Dutch culture until today Amsterdam

into Dutch culture until today Amsterdam has considered the bicycle capital off

has considered the bicycle capital off

has considered the bicycle capital off the wall when people travel not only are

the wall when people travel not only are

the wall when people travel not only are they change as they are exposed to

they change as they are exposed to

they change as they are exposed to different cultures but also the people

different cultures but also the people

different cultures but also the people in the places they have travelled to are

in the places they have travelled to are

in the places they have travelled to are changed as they witness people with

changed as they witness people with

changed as they witness people with different lifestyles and ways of

different lifestyles and ways of

different lifestyles and ways of thinking so it is very much a two-way

thinking so it is very much a two-way

thinking so it is very much a two-way role and once again our culture has

role and once again our culture has

role and once again our culture has changed with the invention of the

changed with the invention of the

changed with the invention of the internet and social media with the

internet and social media with the

internet and social media with the internet we no longer have a need to

internet we no longer have a need to

internet we no longer have a need to physically travel to be exposed to other

physically travel to be exposed to other

physically travel to be exposed to other cultures as we have virtually free

cultures as we have virtually free

cultures as we have virtually free access to movies and music from all over

access to movies and music from all over

access to movies and music from all over the world one of the clearest examples

the world one of the clearest examples

the world one of the clearest examples of this influence this Bollywood which

of this influence this Bollywood which

of this influence this Bollywood which has increasingly become westernized we

has increasingly become westernized we

has increasingly become westernized we once the clothes for traditional sarees

once the clothes for traditional sarees

once the clothes for traditional sarees now you often see jeans and t-shirts and

now you often see jeans and t-shirts and

now you often see jeans and t-shirts and we once the dances with traditional

we once the dances with traditional

we once the dances with traditional Indian dances now you often now is

Indian dances now you often now is

Indian dances now you often now is heavily influenced by hip-hop and modern

heavily influenced by hip-hop and modern

heavily influenced by hip-hop and modern street dance forming an opinion about a

street dance forming an opinion about a

street dance forming an opinion about a subject which is a psychological process

subject which is a psychological process

subject which is a psychological process is influenced by culture because culture

is influenced by culture because culture

is influenced by culture because culture culture is the basis of our psychology

culture is the basis of our psychology

culture is the basis of our psychology and the way we think now not only are we

and the way we think now not only are we

and the way we think now not only are we influenced by clothes culture coming

influenced by clothes culture coming

influenced by clothes culture coming from our family and from

from our family and from

from our family and from government but my culture all across the

government but my culture all across the

government but my culture all across the world populist politicians don’t only

world populist politicians don’t only

world populist politicians don’t only have support from their own country but

have support from their own country but

have support from their own country but rather they political strength stems

rather they political strength stems

rather they political strength stems from a worldwide network of people

from a worldwide network of people

from a worldwide network of people people with particular political views I

people with particular political views I

people with particular political views I in contact with people all around the

in contact with people all around the

in contact with people all around the world that have similar views and this

world that have similar views and this

world that have similar views and this is because with social media not only

is because with social media not only

is because with social media not only are you exposed to other cultures but

are you exposed to other cultures but

are you exposed to other cultures but you can interact with them this

you can interact with them this

you can interact with them this interaction means that initiatives can

interaction means that initiatives can

interaction means that initiatives can lead to worldwide demonstrations within

lead to worldwide demonstrations within

lead to worldwide demonstrations within a matter of weeks and yet I am referring

a matter of weeks and yet I am referring

a matter of weeks and yet I am referring to the America

to the America

to the America the women’s March that happened after

the women’s March that happened after

the women’s March that happened after the American presidential inauguration

673 marches on all seven continents and

673 marches on all seven continents and the officials that organized this did so

the officials that organized this did so

the officials that organized this did so via social media we are the most

via social media we are the most

via social media we are the most connected generation as such this means

connected generation as such this means

connected generation as such this means two things one whereas in the past the

two things one whereas in the past the

two things one whereas in the past the affects of technology would take several

affects of technology would take several

affects of technology would take several years now it is a matter of weeks and

years now it is a matter of weeks and

years now it is a matter of weeks and two we have already had a seemingly

two we have already had a seemingly

two we have already had a seemingly worldwide set of values reflected in our

worldwide set of values reflected in our

worldwide set of values reflected in our human rights now with social media

human rights now with social media

human rights now with social media windows rights of you to be under threat

windows rights of you to be under threat

windows rights of you to be under threat it can gain worldwide attention within a

it can gain worldwide attention within a

it can gain worldwide attention within a matter of days if not hours

the woman’s March regarded a number of

the woman’s March regarded a number of rights that they viewed were under

rights that they viewed were under

rights that they viewed were under threat including women’s rights gay

threat including women’s rights gay

threat including women’s rights gay rights and health care reform yes the

rights and health care reform yes the

rights and health care reform yes the Internet has drawbacks so many

Internet has drawbacks so many

Internet has drawbacks so many situations are lost under the front of

situations are lost under the front of

situations are lost under the front of information we are bombarded with online

information we are bombarded with online

information we are bombarded with online but the fact of the matter is that

but the fact of the matter is that

but the fact of the matter is that technology has already changed the our

technology has already changed the our

technology has already changed the our culture in the past and now more than

culture in the past and now more than

culture in the past and now more than ever we see a rapid change as we are

ever we see a rapid change as we are

ever we see a rapid change as we are increasingly exposed to other cultures

increasingly exposed to other cultures

increasingly exposed to other cultures and other ways of thinking the question

and other ways of thinking the question

and other ways of thinking the question of change is no longer in question now

of change is no longer in question now

of change is no longer in question now the question is do we fight this change

the question is do we fight this change

the question is do we fight this change for a fear of losing our culture or do

for a fear of losing our culture or do

for a fear of losing our culture or do we embrace this incredible exposure to

we embrace this incredible exposure to

we embrace this incredible exposure to other

other

other mentalities as an opportunity an

mentalities as an opportunity an

mentalities as an opportunity an opportunity to learn and an opportunity

opportunity to learn and an opportunity

opportunity to learn and an opportunity to broaden our perspective thank you

to broaden our perspective thank you

to broaden our perspective thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

”

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