[Air-l] key terms/concepts for understanding the web
jstromer at albany.edu
Thu Jan 30 07:34:11 PST 2003
I would add 'interactivity.'
One of the remarkable elements of the Web is the enabling of feedback
within the medium itself (ala 1960s cybernetics theory), in the form of
search engines, hyperlinks, etc. as well as feedback between people
using the Web (chat programs or message boards).
Interactivity opens up a whole new arena for possible forms of social
interaction to occur (like community) IF a) people set up websites to
take advantage of those features and b) users of the websites use the
features offered to them.
From: air-l-admin at aoir.org [mailto:air-l-admin at aoir.org] On Behalf Of
swiss at uiowa
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2003 2:26 AM
To: air-l at aoir.org
Subject: [Air-l] key terms/concepts for understanding the web
Am considering a new edition of a book I edited a few years ago for NYU
The book looked at key terms/concepts/tropes in re: the web.
In chapters written specifically for this text, the authors explored the
key terms and concepts -- gender, community, and so on -- that help
shape our understanding of the World Wide Web and its wide-ranging
influence on contemporary culture.
Each chapter highlighted for students both continuities and conflicts in
the meanings of the Web by focusing on the language surrounding key
terms. In doing so, the book asked: what are we talking about when we
talk about the Web?
Below: the TOC. What I'm wondering about is this: what key terms do you
all see as missing from this list? Clearly there are many. But
developing such a list would be helpful to me, and I'd appreciate your
feedback on what terms should be added, along with essays of about 20
pages on the terms?
thanks for yr help. Contact me at <thomas-swiss at uiowa.edu>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction: Unspun: The Web, Language, and Society
5. Political Economy
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