Do you support the idea that demographic groups have begun to function like tribes or cultures?

Question

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/29/opinion/edbrooks.php

This is the opinion in David Brooks' NYTimes article "Demography Is King." Does social identity trump our ideology? In what ways are our demographic allegiances the new cultures or tribes?

Answer 1

Yes the massive leaps in communication has allowed people to form groups with people who are like minded, rather than having to group with those who happen to live close to you.

In 2000 the book 'bowling alone' made some good comments about the decline in aparant socaibility - but really missed the mark (http://www.bowlingalone.com/) - you have to be geographically close to form a bowling team (or other face to face social group).

Using the internet, and with globally homogenous news presentation - geography/locality is not such a significant arbiter of 'tribe' or 'group' as it was before this communicaton revolution.

Answer 2

I don't think the author is saying anything controversial. It reads like commonsense to me. Ideology and social identity go hand in hand and always have done. It's just that as society has divided into a more complicated social mix ideologies have become more complex accordingly.

Answer 3

Yes.

However, media also homogenizes culture to some extent by having shared TV experience. The stereotyping of groups however counters this by emphasizing black-gangster culture through  rap music and stereotypes in movies.

Shows like Gerry Springer also help create cultural icons of stereotypes.

Answer 4

Considering the heft that demography is given in so many aspects of our culture (census form time is just around the corner, kids), I would more deem this a self fulfilling prophecy than any kind of trend.