The Internet allows for mass communication that is able to cross cities, countries, and continents. This blog (written by a computer illiterate) allows for my textual fingerprint to be imprinted and viewed by a wide array of individuals. As discussed in the essay "Substantive and Feminist Girlie Action" by Jacqueline Rhodes, the Internet allows for a large amount of ambiguity. This ambiguity is seen in both the unknown authorship and wide variety of information collected.
This ambiguity is exemplified in the recent news of a video blogger on youtube with a secret identity and cover up. If you are interested, see these links:
Mystery of 'lonelygirl15' captivates 'Net
or
lonelygirl15 revealed
This ambiguous authorship is not fixed thus allowing for an individuals identity to be more fluid. Thus, anyone, not considering socioeconomic status, can have published work on blogs and the Internet more generally. Academics and non-academics can congregate, creating a more collective and less exclusionary space. The idea of public access, as well as comment and link listing, allows for an easy means of information trafficking across borders.
Therefore, being that this is a pop culture class, what better way to participate than actively partaking in one of pop cultures machines? This blog allows for a flow of communication between myself and my peers which is often neglected in today's classrooms. On a larger scale, feminism as a whole can benefit from this information and communication resource. It allows us to gain insight into a variety of individual's situations and thoughts from more then just an academic standpoint.
- Sare
Mr. Pickles
I think it's time we redefine success
Links
About Me
- Sare
- Man, isn't Women's Studies fun? Blogging and technology, oh my! About me: I don't know what to say except in the words of Annie Lennox and Arethra Franklin: "Sisters are doin' it for themselves."
5 comments:
I really like the way your entry flows, and rest assured I am also quite technologically challenged. I however disagree with the argument that the internet becomes less exclusionary as a result of ambiguous authorship. Just as Rhodes argues that the WWW articulation will benefit the classroom networks, I think it goes 'vice versa'. Negative effects from the classroom or women’s' networks can infiltrate WWW space. Near the end of her essay Rhodes notes that some women are looking for empathy on the WWW in the forms of ambiguity and women-only WWW options.
However because, "academics and non-academics can congregate", implying that anyone has access to the internet, so too can the women who do not contribute to such a network ring of Feminist environment. See Internet Bullying: (http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr500/02-03-wt1/www/L_Serviss/theory.htm)
An individual can create a fluid identity on the WWW as a result they can become an oppressive character in which they choose to create. Women then can still be oppressed through specific women-only spaces (ie) a mainstream privileged WASPY Brides-to-be web ring: does it really include most women creating a less exclusionary space because homosexual unions are still illegal in a lot of North America.
Just as Rhodes argued a fluid identity is needed to gain agency on the WWW. However gaining agency can go one way or the other. An individual can choose to contribute to a web ring or take away by posting discriminatory and non-inclusive items. Such actions I think are influenced by the highly policed ‘inherent’ social constructs which moves from everyday right into the WWW.
Sarah, be sure to download a picture and add it to your post by Tuesday at 2 so that I can give you full credit. Also, if you haven't done so yet, do add your colleagues' blog addresses to your links. Mo hasn't sent the directions yet, but if you click on 'links' on your page, you'll see where to add the addresses. HT
I agree with the idea that the internet allows for ambiguity and this allowance crates a space for people to be someone else. This can allow for advantage and disadvantage in different contexts. In the case of lonelygirl15 it was to the advantage of the advertising agency and allowed them to promote an image for their material gain. I think it will also allow for ideas to cross boundaries from those of the classroom to people who randomly stumble across our class posts.
Post a Comment