The Logic of Cyberspace and Education în the 21st Century

The present paper looks at the way in which cyberspace interconnects with culture and how this relationship affects the image of our present day society. I will also look into various ways in which cyberspace contributes to mankind’s acquisition of education and knowledge, as well as discussing about the most commonly used virtual source in our lives i.e. the internet.

For starters, we must consider giving a proper definition to cyberspace. In order to do so, one has to look at the origin of this concept and the person to whom we must attribute this concept. The concept of ‘cyberspace’ is attributed to William Gibson, first used in 1984 in Neuromancer, and it refers to the “nowhere” space where e-mails are sent and received, electronic money-transfer takes place, digital messages move and world-wide web sites are accessed. It is a conceptual ‘spaceless place’ where words, human relationships and data are made manifest by people using computer-mediated communications technology.

The definition used by the famous novelist in Neuromancer is: “a graphic representation of data abstracted from the banks of every computer in the human system ... Lines of light ranged in the nonspace of the mind, clusters and constellations of data.” (Gibson quoted in Pj Rey, 138)

By considering cyberspace as part of cultural studies we begin to understand this new trend in multiple viewpoints. Nowadays, in our current society, the growth of telematics as essential to cities is an aspect of the new restructuring of global economies in which information is the key commodity. That said, one of the main places where the electronic technologies threaten to change is our home, leading to as some might consider a new home-centered society based on home-working. The way I see it, the home now becomes a sophisticated and complex electronic culture where new values and meanings circulate all over the world, a multidimensional virtual diversity. Thus, we can link it with the World Wide Web, international law, video games, virtual communities and so much more. The sole purpose of cyberspace is to bring pleasure and to simplify our lives.

A very sharp quote which I consider to be of great value to this essay regards education similar to the process of instruction in the military area:

Through education, then, man must be made — First, subject to discipline; by which we must understand that influence which is always restraining our animal nature from getting the better of our manhood…Secondly, education must also supply men with culture. This includes information and instruction. It is culture which brings out ability…Some accomplishments are essentially good for everybody—reading and writing, for instance; others, merely in the pursuit of certain objects, such as music, which we pursue in order to make ourselves liked…Thirdly, education must also supply a person with discretion, so that he may be able to conduct himself in society, that he may be liked, and that he may gain influence... This refinement changes according to the ever-changing tastes of different ages...Fourthly, moral training must form a part of education. It is not enough that a man shall be fitted for any end, but his disposition must be so trained that he shall choose none but good ends. (Kant, Immanuel. “Kant on Education (Ueber Paedagogik)”. Introduction by Foley Rhys Davids (Boston: D.C. Heath and Co., 1900). Chapter:”Thoughts on Education”. Liberty Fund, Inc. 23 Aug. 2011.Web. http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=356&Itemid=2)

So, where is the necessity of cyberspace in all this process? Well, for starters it creates a habit that increases throughout our century and computers are now the center of our activity and living as such. I will now draw a critical emphasis on the World Wide Web and its educational role. The popularity of the World Wide Web has grown ever since it appeared becoming as Rebecca Bryant remarks “a fixture of the Western world’s day-to-day life.” (Bryant, 140)

Concerning WWW and education, I would like to bring into discussion a new category of genre, one that is becoming little by little very popular and accessed online. I am talking about the educational benefit of anime (Japanese animation) and its influence on little children and teenagers. One might consider anime controversial and improper for the young audience. Why controversial? Controversial because there have been some responses, mainly negative to stereotype this work of art, particularly from parents which are not open to this new feature.