DIGITAL INNOVATIONS AND CULTURAL CONTINUITY: A MULTIDIMENSIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN CULTURAL REVITALIZATION

Abstract

Cultural revitalization is a significant intellectual and policy issue of the twenty-first century, as globalization, migration, and digitalization are redefining social identities and heritage systems worldwide. Technological modernity is traditionally seen as a harbinger of cultural homogenization; however, contemporary studies show that digital technologies are powerful tools of cultural preservation, revival, and empowerment. This chapter proposes a sophisticated conceptual framework for understanding the phenomenon of cultural revitalization through technology-driven approaches. It draws on cultural theory, media studies, digital anthropology, and heritage economics to explore how digital technologies such as digital archiving, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and digital platforms are promoting cultural preservation, identity revival, intergenerational transmission, and economic sustainability. It also explores the ethical dimensions of digital technologies such as data governance, algorithmic bias, commercialization, and digital inequality. The chapter uses international as well as Indian examples to show that technological interventions must be people-centric, participatory, and culture-centric to promote cultural continuity. The proposed multi-dimensional framework suggests that technology acts as a mediator between cultural heritage and a sustainable future.