Description
Where have emoji come from? Why are they so popular? What do they tell us about the technology-enhanced state of modern society? Far from simply being an amusing set of colourful little symbols, emoji are in the front line of a revolution in the way we communicate. As a form of global, image-based communication, they're a perfect example of the ingenuity and creativity at the heart of human interaction. But they're also a parable for the way that consumerism now permeates all parts of our daily existence, taking a controlling interest even in the language we use; and of how technology is becoming ever more entangled in our everyday lives. So how will this split-identity affect the way that online communication develops? Are emoji ushering in a bold new era of empathy and emotional engagement on the internet? Or are they a first sign that we're handing over the future of human interaction to the machines?
Table of Contents
1. The what, the why and the where of emoji; 2. Emoji and the history of human communication; 3. Making faces; 4. Metaphors and moral panics; 5. The shaping force of digital technology; 6. People, politics and interpersonal relationships; 7. Diverse identities; 8. Creativity and culture; 9. The emojification of everyday life.
