VIRTUAL JINGPO:A VIRTUAL JINGPO/KACHIN

TECHNO-COMMUNITY?

Daphné Richet-Cooper

I. Motivations• The Jingpo/Kachin: a Transnational Group• From Orthodox Representation to

Technoculture• The Effects of Globalization and Economic

Development on the Jingpo/Kachin• Internet Regime in China and Burma

a) Questions

• Is there a Jingpo/Kachin transnational popular representation, promoted by trans-national Jingpo/Kachin actors on the Internet?

• Are new spaces created by the Internet altering the nature of Jingpo/Kachin transnational cultural transactions and perception?

b) Arguments

• Differences in economic development and political goals between the Chinese and the Burmese side of the border are further emphasized on the Internet.

• In the “real” world, Jingpo and Kachin still constitute a single cultural entity, but, in the “virtual” world, expressions and representations of Jingpo/Kachin identity differ according to where they live.

II. Outline• Literature Review• Empirical Strategy• Results• Conclusion

III. Literature Review• On Kachin, Jingpo and Singhpo

• Ethnic Minorities and the Internet– Andrew Chapman– Nicholas Tapp

IV. Empirical Strategya) Methodology:

Research conducted on Google, Baidu, Myspace, Youtube and Youku.

Keywords: Kachin, Jingpo, Jinghpaw,景颇 , Kachin Song, Kachin Karaoke…

Relevant information on:• Youtube/Youke• Blogs• Websites• Online groups

b) Analysis of the Websites• Type of sites• Languages• Content• Location• Online Activity

V. Results• General Trends• Images and Representations of Jingpo/Kachin on

the Internet– Websites, Groups and Blogs

• Performative and Self-Advertising Websites• Educational and Informational Websites• Jinghpaw Pages Directed at an Internal Audience• Western Material on Jingpo/Kachin• Official Representations

– Videos• Youku• Youtube

VI. Conclusion• New icons of Jingpo/Kachin popular culture• The counter-effect of globalization on

Jingpo/Kachin culture• A fragmented and localized pan-Jingpo/Kachin

culture