Toward a Network Sociality

Abstract

This article explores some current transformations of the social. It argues for a shift from a model of sociality based on community towards a network sociality. This shift is particularly visible in urban spaces and in the cultural industries. However, it seems to become paradigmatic more widely of the information society. The article is to be read as a cultural hypothesis. In the first part I introduce some examples that document the rise of a network sociality. Most of these examples are drawn from a two-year ethnographic study of London's new media. The second part consists of a critique of some theoretical accounts of contemporary transformations of sociality. The third part is an attempt to outline the concept of network sociality. It is a form of sociality that is ephemeral but intense, it is informational and technological, it combines work and play, it is disembedded and generic, and it emerges in the context of individualization.

Transcultural Brokerage: The Role of Cosmopolitans in Bridging Structural and Cultural Holes

“…This ideal-type of a disembedded broker has an expansive transnational network with many weak ties, but apparently few strong ties (see Beaverstock, 2005;Kennedy, 2004;Kesselring & Vogl, 2008;Larsen et al, 2006). The global connector "sees" and "knows" many people and many new people pass through his or her life, but these encounters tend to be casual and transient, yet intense (Larsen & Urry, 2016;Wittel, 2001). Wittel (2001) refers to this style of network ties as "network sociality," in contrast with traditional long-lasting ties based on shared cultural, historical, and personal experiences.…”

“…The global connector "sees" and "knows" many people and many new people pass through his or her life, but these encounters tend to be casual and transient, yet intense (Larsen & Urry, 2016;Wittel, 2001). Wittel (2001) refers to this style of network ties as "network sociality," in contrast with traditional long-lasting ties based on shared cultural, historical, and personal experiences. Network sociality reflects social relations that are primarily transactional and informational, based on information exchange, data transfer, and "catching up."…”

Consumo colaborativo e relacional no contexto do turismo: a proposição de um modelo entre a sociabilidade e a hospitalidade em rede

“…Em virtude de indicação da existência de uma lacuna interpretativa sobre o consumo na perspectiva relacional e considerando-se a possibilidade de contribuição deste estudo a partir das reflexões anteriormente apresentadas sobre o tema, propõe-se um framework teórico que tem como objetivo uma reinterpretação teórica que busca explicar os aspectos sociais e relacionais do consumo colaborativo no contexto do turismo, baseando-se na perspectiva da hospitalidade em rede de Molz (2014) Fonte: Wittel (2001), Molz (2014), B. G. Matos, Barbosa & Matos (2015).…”

“…Therefore, the essay brought a literature review based on reflections on the collaborative and relational consumption, sociability and hospitality network within tourism. This article was structured around three objectives: (1) understand the concepts of collaborative consumption and sharing; (2) describe the network sociability and hospitality offered by Wittel (2001) and Molz (in 2014), respectively; (3) to propose fundamental aspects that feature the collaborative and relational consumption in the tourism context. As a result, it presents an interpretive framework of the collaborative and relational consumption within tourism, which can serve as the basis and stimulus for further development and research on the theme.…”

“…Así, se llevó a cabo una revisión de la literatura sobre la base de las reflexiones sobre el consumo colaborativo y relacional, la sociabilidad y la hospitalidad en red no turismo. Este artículo se estructura en torno a tres objectivos: (1) entender los conceptos de consumo colaborativo y el sharing; (2) describir la sociabilidad y la hospitalidad en red ofrecida por Wittel (2001) y Molz (2014), respectivamente; (3) proponer aspectos fundamentales que caracterizan el consumo colaborativo y relacional en el contexto del turismo. Como resultado, se presenta un framework interpretativo del consumo colaborativo y relacional dentro del turismo, que puede servir de base y estímulo para el desarrollo y la investigación sobre el tema.…”