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Generational Divide; Webcam

Webcam: Laurie Taylor explores how this media technology is changing human life. Also, how useful is it to view social inequalities via a 'generational' lens?

'Webcam' - the use of webcam, especially through Skype, has recently become established as one more standard media technology, but one with profound implications for many facets of human life, from self-consciousness and intimacy to the sustaining of long-distance relationships and the place of the visual within social communications. Daniel Miller, Professor of Anthropology at University College London, talks to Laurie Taylor about a study which took him from London to Trinidad.

Also, the 'Generational' divide: Today's social problems are the problems of generations, according to much public debate. Terms such as the 'baby boomers' and the 'jilted generation' are a common feature of discussions about debts, access to higher education, housing or pensions. Jonathan White, Associate Professor of European Politics at the LSE, talks to Laurie Taylor about his sociological investigation of contemporary uses of the generational concept: where did this form of thinking originate and does it disguise more than it illuminates in terms of inequality in modern Britain? He's joined by Mary Dejevsky, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Buckingham and the chief editorial writer at The Independent.

Producer: Jayne Egerton.

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28 minutes

Last on

Mon 3 Mar 201400:15
BBC Radio 4

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Jonathan White

Associate Professor of European Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science

Find out more about Dr Jonathan White


Abstract: Thinking generations

The British Journal of Sociology
Volume 64, Issue 2, pages 216–247, June 2013
DOI: 10.1111/1468-4446.12015

Mary Dejevsky

Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Buckingham and Columnist at The Independent

Find out more about Mary Dejevsky


The Britannica Guide to Russia
Publisher: Robinson
ISBN-10: 1845299213
ISBN-13: 978-1845299217

Daniel Miller

Professor of Anthropology at University College London

Find out more about Daniel Miller


Webcam
Daniel Miller, Jolynna Sinanan (Authors)
Publisher: Polity Press
ISBN-10: 0745671470
ISBN-13: 978-0745671475

Ethnography Award

Thank you for all your entries.

These are now being reviewed by the judges for the Award, Professor Dick Hobbs, Professor Henrietta Moore, Dr Louise Westmarland, Professor Bev Skeggs. The Chair is Professor Laurie Taylor. (Please do not contact any judges directly).

The judges will be looking for work which displays flair, originality and clarity, alongside sound methodology. The work should make a significant contribution to knowledge and understanding in the relevant area of research.

The panel of judges will select six finalists, and from that shortlist the judges will select an overall winner who will be awarded a prize of £1000.

The finalists will be contacted by telephone early spring of 2014 and the winner of the Award will be announced at the BSA Annual Conference in April 2014.

Please see the Terms & Conditions for all the rules.

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  • Wed 26 Feb 201416:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Mon 3 Mar 201400:15
    BBC Radio 4

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