Networks surround us on a daily basis, and they come in many shapes and forms. Our first thought when we hear the word ‘networks’ can be technological in nature, telephone networks, broadcasting networks, network cables, etc; however, there are other forms that networks can take such as the social networks we form within our communities and the ecological networks that shape our natural world.
My interpretation of ‘networks’ has been of the interconnection of experiences. How I remember my childhood in relation to my neighbours’ lives. And how an event such as a lockdown prompted me to start cooking a favourite dish that seemed far from reach, and in the process evoking memories of a childhood that was lived in close quarters to others, shaping an early understanding of what made me feel safe – the intimacy of a shared space, a collective presence, and the smells of cooking that call people home.
We are so used to networks being something accessible and mundane; in fact, we can’t help but be reminded of an image of the digital mechanism when we talk about ‘networks’. However, the network can also be an aesthetic subject – a topic about something bigger than us, something about how we came to being and live on in this universe.
When I think of networks, I start to snowball in my mind what that really means and where people find their own networks. Networks is such a broad topic; you can really work it into anything. So, whereabouts do you feel the essence of networks?
When I think of networks, I think of communities. And after more than eighteen months of COVID nothing has become more visible to me than the importance of my local community.
The theme of Sydney University’s 2021 Anthology is ‘Networks’. Students, staff and alumni are encouraged to interpret this theme in their own way. While we often associate the term ‘networks’ with technology and the ways we, as humans, connect with the help of technology, networks are also ever present in nature and the world around us. The natural world is made up of an incalculable number of complex systems, or networks, from a flock of birds, mushroom mycelium, schools of fish, ant hills and human brains. All these entities have a complex co-operative behaviour, the ability to pass information and energy, feedback, and hierarchal structures, or in other words, they are networks.
The 2021 Sydney University anthology is exploring the theme of 'Networks'. Networks can mean so many different things, from social connections to information technology to plants. If your struggling to figure out how to represent networks, or need a place to start, have a look at a collection of photography, all exploring the theme of networks in different ways.
The concept of networks has been explored in some of the Anthology’s previous blogs, however my interest in networks is more firmly rooted in our own personal, societal networks and how they affect our lives on a deeper level. This subject, however, is wide reaching, so throughout this blog I aim to dive into some of the core aspects of human networks and the part they play in our lives.
We have previously shared writing prompts that delved into some less common kinds of networks that might get you thinking outside the box. If you’re looking for something different to spark your creativity, let’s think about some types of social networks and how they might affect our sense of self-identity.
When you're thinking about what to write for this years anthology on the theme 'Networks', think about what social media and technology has done to our society. Has social media and smart phones brought us closer together? Or torn us apart?