Emotional streaming and transconnectivity: Skype and emotion practices in transnational families in Ireland

Abstract

In this article, I examine how transnational mixed families give and receive love through using Skype webcam technology to communicate. Many studies of transnational families have focused on the separation that families experience and how they are increasingly using technology (mobile phones, social networking or email) to bridge that socio-spatial distance. The increasing speed of communications and relatively cheap broadband access has meant that digital video communication (webcam, most popularly, Skype) is growing rapidly and in some instances replacing landline and mobile phone communication for many transnational families (Miller and Sinanan 2014). How and why are webcams used in practices of transconnectivity? And how do they shape emotional relationships over distance and time?By interviewing transnational families residing in Ireland with one Irish partner and a core partner from a different country, I examine the practices and embodied

Virtually in this together – how web-conferencing systems enabled a new virtual togetherness during the COVID-19 crisis

“…Brecher, 2013), and more recently personal use, such as by longdistance families (e.g. Follmer et al, 2010;King-O'Riain, 2015). Despite radical improvements in the infrastructure that underlies WCS, such as faster internet connections and the widespread use of mobile devices, persistent technical issues have led to every second videoconference starting with "Can you hear me?"…”

Closer to far away: transcending the spatial in transnational families’ online video calling

“…OVC, (Skype, Facetime, WeChat and similar) is frequently adopted by transnational families to communicate with distant family members and try to recreate everyday practices, thereby re-intensifying emotions of love and longing (Baldassar 2008;King-O'Riain 2014;Madianou and Miller 2012;Madianou 2016). A few studies have focused on how communication is mediated across such platforms and their capacity to 'imitate' off-line, face-to-face communication (Lin and Voong 2013;Lomicka and Lord 2007;Lamy and Flewitt 2011).…”

Introducción al número especial

“…Just as families may be products of culture, they too are producing new cultures and ways of accessing cultural capital. Such changes become evident in the ways that through globalization and transnationalism, families resort to using smartphones, blogging, internet communications to maintain their ties in multiple places (Wilding, 2006;Bacigalupe and Lambe, 2011;King-O'Riain, 2014). Their identities become less scripted and stationary and become more fluid, moving between and across cultural boundaries.…”