Comfortably Evolving

In our research, we are so focused on situating ourselves. Jones and Silver point out the many hindrances we have to finding our spot, how difficult it is to move forward without pounding our stakes into solid foundations of previous research, and the challenges further research into Internet Studies may present. However, this lack of canon and curriculum is a great opportunity. We can move in real time with the growth and development of this area of study.

I think the reason cyberculture has become an interdisciplinary interest is because of its dual identity as a phenomenon to be analyzed as well as a tool to be used (much like writing in general), meaning the engineers and the liberal arts folks finally have a table that they are both willing to take a seat at.  :) But, while Sterne and other scholars are theorizing on the use of sound in place of the visual, we still live in a heavily visual, heavily text-based society – practical use and theory are still separated by a wide gap, and the definition of cyberculture is  going to vary across the disciplines. Perhaps we haven’t been able to pin down a definition and create a curriculum around cyberculture or Internet Studies as its own discipline is because of scholars’ tendencies to view cyberculture through the lens of their own disciplines. But isn’t that how scholars of different disciplines view the study of writing as well, through their own lenses?

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Ashley Gonzalez – ENGL 7/883 @PW: Social Media Theory

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