Emotions and Loneliness in a Networked Society

This book analyses loneliness and other emotions in the context of new emerging communication technologies, underlining the diachronic impact of loneliness in network-centric societies and providing solutions to tackle loneliness by employing digital technologies. In an era of enhanced social interconnectivity, where loneliness, isolation, anxiety and depression are increasingly in the spotlight, this multidisciplinary study identifies and bridges gaps in research on loneliness and will appeal to academics in a variety of academic disciplines, including culture and media studies and social psychology. Global in scope, with chapters on loneliness stigmatization in the US, Romania's senior population, Tinder in Mexico City and Madrid, Indian housewives in Bollywood cinema, and emotions in the African diaspora in Johannesburg, the book is a varied and timely collection that contributes to a growing conversation around digital networks and emotions.

Auteur

Bianca Fox is Senior Lecturer in TV, Broadcasting and Journalism at the University of Wolverhampton, UK. She is also Subject Leader for Film, Media and Journalism and Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Film, Media, Discourse and Culture.

Résumé
Loneliness affects quality of life, life satisfaction, and well-being, and it is associated with various health problems, both somatic and mental. This book takes an international and interdisciplinary approach to the study of loneliness, identifying and bridging the gaps in academic research on loneliness, and creating new research pathways. Focusing in particular on loneliness in the context of new and emergent communication technologies, it provides a wide range of theoretical and methodological perspectives and will contribute to the re-evaluation of the way we understand and research this contemporary global phenomenon.

Contenu

Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Loneliness Essentialism and Mental Illness Stigmatization.- Chapter 3. Media Representation of Loneliness in China.- Chapter 4. Making sense of the lonely crowd, today. Youth, emotions and loneliness in a networked society.- Chapter 5. Lonelier than ever? Romania's forgotten Seniors.- Chapter 6. 'Experiences of loneliness; people with a learning disability and barriers to community inclusion'.- Chapter 7. The emotional public sphere and social media: performativity, mobilization and media hypes.- Chapter 8. Mediatised Emotions: A Framework for Understanding the Display of Affect in the Network Society.- Chapter 9. Communication of loneliness emotions in the online vlogs, and their moral value.- Chapter 10. Connected emotions on Tinder: the development of social skills and a digital self among users from Mexico City and Madrid.- Chapter 11. Emotions of belonging and playing families across borders in Sub-Saharan Africa.- Chapter 12. Loneliness as Advertising Strategy. A Structurational Perspective on Health and Social Interaction in German Adverts.- Chapter 13. Lonely Indian Housewives: Gendered Portrayal of Loneliness in Bollywood Cinema.- Chapter 14. Online connectedness as a cure for loneliness?.- Chapter 15. Biodigital influencers and the feeling of surprise they leave behind: new alternatives to fight loneliness in a networked society.- Chapter 16. In defence of social media: Towards a digital strategy of combating loneliness.- Chapter 17. Conclusion.