Search

Exploring Life's Meaning in the Digital Age: A Cultural Perspective

Author(s)

Xuening Hu*

Affiliation(s)

Yan'an University, Yan’an, Shaanxi, China *Corresponding Author

Abstract

This paper explores the meaning of life in the digital age from a cultural perspective. With rapid advancements in digital technology, human lifestyles, social structures, and cultural forms have undergone profound transformations, significantly impacting individuals’ sense of life’s purpose. Utilizing analytical and critical thinking methods, the study systematically examines the meaning of life in the digital era through existing literature. Initially, it reviews fundamental concepts and theories of life’s meaning to establish a foundational framework. Subsequently, it analyzes the profound effects of digital technology on self-perception, social relationships, and cultural identity from a cultural standpoint. By comparing traditional and digital cultures, the paper explores how individuals find a sense of existence and belonging between virtual and real worlds. Incorporating interdisciplinary theories from communication studies, sociology, and cultural studies, the research delves into how different cultural forms reconstruct the meaning of life in the digital age. The study concludes that despite facing multiple identity challenges, individuals can find new ways of living and meaning by rationally understanding the dual nature of digital culture. The paper proposes pathways and suggestions for constructing life’s meaning from a cultural perspective, emphasizing the importance of cultural integration and innovation in the digital context, aiming to offer new insights for future humanities and social sciences research.

Keywords

Digital Age; Life’s Meaning; Cultural Perspective; Theoretical Analysis; Cultural Identity

References

[1] Xia Jing. A Study on Microfilm Narratives from the Perspective of Communication Studies [D]. Chengdu University of Technology [2024-09-12]. [2] Pu Lili. A Study on the Sustainable Development of Dunhuang Tourism Industry from the Perspective of Cultural Ecology [D]. Northwest Normal University, 2015. [3] Wang Ning. Intercultural Dialogue: Comparative Literature in the Digital Age—Towards a New Stage of Digital Humanities [J]. Journal of Yanshan University: Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition, 2017, 18(1):2. [4] Qiu Ting, Chen Ziying. Exploring the Mechanisms of Inheritance and Innovation of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the New Era from the Perspective of Post-Transmission Culture Theory [J]. Cultural Innovation Comparative Research, 2024, 8(7):173-176. [5] Gao Ying. An Analysis of the Impact of Digital Technology on Mass Cultural Construction [J]. Art and Technology, 2024, 37(9):247-249. [6] Wang Ning. Intercultural Dialogue: Comparative Literature in the Digital Age [J]. Journal of Yanshan University: Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition, 2017, 18(1):10-11. [7] Lin Qing. The Moral Ethics of Digital Culture—Review of "Postmodernity in the Digital Age" [J]. Foreign Literature, 2017(2):8. [8] Zou Hui. Research on Innovation in Ideological and Political Education in the New Media Era [D]. Wuhan University of Technology, 2019. [9] Zhang Siwang. Research on the Construction of University Brand Image from the Perspective of Regional Culture [J]. Journal of Higher Education, 2023, 9(14):83-86. [10] Wang Zhiyuan, Yang Ruining, Wang Xiaobing, et al. Research on the Development Direction of Jiangnan Regional Architectural Culture in the Digital Age [J]. Art and Technology, 2023, 36(20):201-203.