THE PROBLEMATIC OF CULTURAL IDENTITY BETWEEN THE REAL AND THE VIRTUAL: TOWARDS A SOCIO-CULTURAL APPROACH

Abstract

Through a conceptual process driven by modern technologies (the Internet, globalization, media, digitization, artificial intelligence, etc.), a new culture emerges, one that often differs from the original (traditional) culture. This traditional culture is reflected in various aspects of social life such as language, religion, marriage, beliefs, and clothing. Modern cultures, in their diverse forms, exert significant influence on the original (traditional) culture. Since values constitute one of the most essential components of culture, being embodied in customs, traditions, and norms, they are ultimately what shape a society’s identity. Identity, therefore, is fundamentally cultural, with the cultural dimension representing the highest level through which identity is expressed. This raises a central question: What is the status of cultural identity within the tension between the real and the virtual?