Understanding cultural and identity narratives in the age of advanced digital technologies

Masoud Kianpour, Anna Triandafyllidou and Thomas Allen (external link) , University of Ottawa.

With research assistance from: Gideon Brobbey, University of Ottawa, and Shiva Mazrouei, McMaster University.

This project aims to synthesize knowledge by developing an integrated framework for examining contemporary discussions on technology, cultural and identity narratives, and multiculturalism within Canadian and global contexts. Employing an interdisciplinary and multigenre approach, we seek to understand how shared narratives of cultures and histories can be constructed in this rapidly evolving landscape. Moreover, we are also looking ahead to understand how advanced digital technologies make the world increasingly interconnected, compressing time and space, but also more uncertain and polarized. 

Revolving around a central theme, "How do cultural and identity narratives evolve in the context of fast-developing digital technologies?", we will adress three specific research questions:

1. In what ways does technology influence individual and collective memory?
2. How does technology influence cultural memory and history when individuals migrate and establish new homes, particularly in places like Canada, that allow communities to celebrate and develop their own cultures and traditions?
3. What national and local narratives can be envisaged for the future of Canadian multiculturism and how can they be shaped in this new context of connectivity?

This project aims to critically review relevant literature in ethnicity and citizenship studies, diaspora studies, new media and communication, and literary studies. It seeks to bridge the gap between two bodies of literature: one analyzing 50 years of multiculturalism in Canada and the other examining advanced digital technologies and their impact on diaspora politics and societal polarization in identity politics and community mobilization. With a focus on the Canadian experience, the goal is to develop analytical tools contributing to SSHRC’s Knowledge Synthesis objective of recovering, revitalizing, and protecting cultures and histories amidst the movement of people and rapid technological change. Our methodological innovation lies in integrating materials from sociology, diaspora studies, and narrative analysis. While much research on technology’s impact on multiculturalism and identity has been confined to traditional disciplinary boundaries, our interdisciplinary approach recognizes the importance of personal narratives and oral histories in understanding how technology influences self-identity and social cohesion, alongside quantitative data.

The results of this project will offer crucial insights to community organizations and policymakers on how to bolster resilience against polarization, promote diverse cultural narratives, and cultivate harmonious coexistence among multiple cultural and identity narratives. In terms of knowledge creation and intellectual outcomes, this project will contribute to interdisciplinary knowledge production by introducing new research approaches and methodologies, such as narrative analysis. This will enhance academic dialogue and exchange in migration and diasporic research. Furthermore, the project’s outcomes will shed light on evolving cultural experiences and narratives, potentially shaping policies and practices in areas such as the development of culturally sensitive integration programs. Additionally, the project aims to raise public awareness about the importance of nurturing a vibrant multiculturalism that is both inclusive and harmonious.

This project is grounded in a scoping review, a type of exploratory study that systematically surveys the existing literature on a subject to identify key concepts, theories, and sources of evidence shaping the field. Our approach involves reviewing relevant academic and non-academic literature from the past decade to identify predominant theoretical and normative perspectives addressing our research questions in various humanities disciplines, with particular emphasis on migration studies, diaspora studies and literature. 

First delivery of articles and presentations will take place in 2024.

University of Ottawa

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), in partnership with Canadian Heritage, Genome Canada, and UK Research and Innovation’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (UKRI-AHRC). 

technology, cultural narratives, politics, stories, histories, identity, memory, multiculturalism and diaspora