Download Mike Wesch, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Cultural Anthropology

Mike Wesch, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Cultural Anthropology
Kansas State University
A Revolution in Communication
A cultural revolution is under way, according to Dr. Mike Wesch—digital media is
transforming our lives and influencing the way we communicate.
“The new landscape of media challenges the old thoughts of what media is about,”
Wesch said at the Re-visioning the Conference with Social Media session. Wesch, an
assistant professor of cultural anthropology at Kansas State University, elaborated on the
evolution of this phenomenon. Web 2.0, blogging and Web sites such as YouTube, My
Space and Twitter are examples of media that allow people around the world to break
social and geographical boundaries by connecting, collaborating and sharing ideas.
Providing background on more primitive societies and the value of face-to-face
interactions, Wesch explained how man’s identity is shaped through the medium of
communication. When tools change, societies and relationships change, he said.
From there, Wesch compared and contrasted more traditional methods of teaching and
learning. He believes digital information will force societies to rethink how we learn and
acquire information.
Wesch said he believes that integrating new media resources into the conference model
will be key for the industry. Using these resources could take meetings forward into
platforms where people can discuss ideas, generate information and make meaningful
connections.
In the last three years, people have seen the new opportunities digital information
provides, Wesch said. “It’s the network that connects us all.”