Self. Gov II Week 9 Tutorial Presentation

This week topic is Self. Gov II: Resistance is Fertile, and I’ve chosen the reading written by Matthew Soar, “The First things First Manifesto and the politics of culture jamming: towards a cultural economy of graphic design and advertising” to present this week topic.


We are living in world considered to be soaked in massive advertisements and media graphic images. It has been long claimed that ‘advertising and design are readily distinguishable from other economic institutions because of their declared expertise in creating specially cultural forms of communication.’ Graphic designers, however, are act as cultural intermediaries and play an important role in ‘lending traction to the contemporary routines of capital accumulation by articulating values and tastes to the promotion, in particular, selling of ideas and events, services and products’. However, It’s all becomes way consumer capitalism and commercialism. In Matthew Soar’s article, he investigates the “The First Things First Manifesto” as ‘a call for social responsibility’ of the graphic design professionals in creating media images as well as identifying their professional as ‘potent agents of positive social change’, and “Culture Jamming” as the act of transforming existing mass media to produce political, and most likely negative commentary about itself.


In respect to the dominant of media images becomes overwhelming and people are becoming less aware of the mechanism and manipulation of advertising, ‘The First Thing First Manifesto’ is something of a mission statement signed by famous designers, art directors first conceived in 1964 and updated version re-released in 1999, which recognizes the power of graphic design and argues for a politically responsible use of certain graphic design talents not just for selling things. Culture Jamming, indeed, is a resistance movement (to the perceived hegemony of popular culture) or subversion of dominant visual media (which already exist) through parody. Matthew Soar mentions about “Ad-busting” in his article which is considered to emerge from culture jamming to look at in terms of the ethical practice of graphic designers in 21st century and rather than just having advertising as a means of selling something to people. Since advertising is recognized as a really powerful tool to convey messages and influence people making decision, and thus it is thought in the ‘First Thing First‘, graphic designers may also use that tool to affect some sort of political change.


However, some of the designers like Glaser and Helfand do feel that ‘the degree that (the manifesto) has any impact on culture at large is not so certain’ and ‘designer per se are usually in a very weak position in regard to what they do’ since they ‘don’t make the determinations’ and ‘decides what is to be sold or the strategy’ and it’s hard to define about 'the potential harm or good’ they can effect through their work practice.


So here raise an important question: Isn’t it the case that culture jamming like Adbusting is reactive rather than proactive? That means it they don’t initiate things, they don’t make a statement at the beginning but rather they wait for something to happen and react to it. They do on things already are exist. Does it matter that they don’t have the power to be proactive or to make a statement on their own?


Reference:
Soar, Matthew. “The First things First Manifesto and the politics of culture jamming: towards a cultural economy of graphic design and advertising.”Cultural Studies 16.4 (2002): 570-92

Leaver, Tama. “Self. Gov II: Resistance is Fertile.” Self.Net Lecture 9. University of Western Australia. Apr. 20, 2006

Please come in and discuss “Let's Love Hong Kong”

I think one of the differences between pornography in cyberspace and in reality is the human interaction. In the film, Nicole does not know Chan Kwok Chan, although she rely her sexual desire on Chan’s image. They have no conversation at all. On the other hand, Chan talks about her dream and family with the prostitutions. They have interaction and somehow establish a real human relationship. Also, I think there may have more people consuming Chan’s body at the same time in cyberspace. And Chan will not know who they are, as they have no interaction. At this point, I wonder if Chan is a passive object of desire. From the clip, Chan seems acting as something simulate others desire…

Critical Annotated Webliography

Topic: Critically assess the ways in which constructions of identity have been extended and/ or altered by information and communication technologies.

Identity Construction within Cyberspace
Do new technologies extend or alter the way of identity construction? Some people believe that Internet, the newest and rapidly developing information and communication technology, will offer us a utopian, democratic, and liberating world, where we can freely construct our identities and redefine ourselves. However, with evidence of increasing cybercrime and sexual harassment in cyberspace, the notion is proved to be too idealistic. Scholars even criticize the virtual reality is taken over by the dominant group. In this paper, some scholars ‘opinions on gender and racial identity constructions will examined in order to explore whether technologies extend or alter the constructions of identity.

Pulling the Old Stereotypes into Cyberspcae?
In Race In/For Cyberspace: Identity Tourism and Racial Passing on the Internet written by Lisa Nakamura, she argues the oriental discourse is being brought into the context of cyberspace. Nakamura point out, for those who describe themselves as Asian, most of them are accessing the “identity tourism”. “Passing” as an Asian male or female is mainly used by white men. The identity-prosthesis associates with sex, the exotic, passivity when “passing” Asian female. It signifies with anachronistic dreams of samurai warrior when “passing” Asian male. She claims that the risk of identity tourism to repeat the stereotype people learn from the mainstream media may reinforce the stereotype of reality. Furthermore, in the article Language, Gender and Cyberspace: Pulling the Old Stereotypes into New Territory, authors claim that “Cyberspace is not a gender neutral space”. People participating in the cyber world where still male dominated; social construction of gender is brought along as well. Many women have experience of being harassed and intimidated from the internet. It seems that we are repeating the stereotype in the cyberspace, and the dominant ideologies are going to take over the identity constructions, rather than people re-define themselves. In fact, that’s the truth for some people to have cyber passing. However, who will engage in cyber passing to destabilize the racism? And how many are there? In fact, it is believed there are only few people will take such kind of identity tour Also, one should not neglect the fact that the number of non-white and female internet users is growing which may evoke a new politics in cyberspace. In 2006, there are many figures state that the users of computer are increasing rapidly. It is no longer a white male dominated cyberspace, but many newcomers come to struggle for the power in order to establish their own identities. Although the cyberspace is more likely to be claimed as white male dominant virtual world at this moment, it is possible to reach the gender and racial balance in the future. Cyberspace is believed as a virtual platform for gender and class politics. Thus, once the wars still keep going, we should not make the conclusion.

Cyber Hierarchy
As a contrast, some scholars state that the constructions of identity are being altered, or will be altered. In Internet Subcultures and Oppositional Politics, Richard Kahn and Douglas Kellner point out political subcultures have used the internet for political activism. Internet provides a way for subcultural groups to voice out. With the development of internet, people can freely experience the subcultures, and re-define themselves. The rapid development of internet allows the linkage of labor, feminist, ecological, peace, and various anti-capitalist groups with users. The technologies enable users to share secret information which may be forbidden in some regions. They suggest Cyberspace is a new platform for political struggle. Both dominate cultures and subcultures promote their agenda and interests in the cyberspace. Also, the blogging culture offers bloggers to share their idea with others and have linked up more and more people together. This all will enable subcultures together for cyber politics. It is agreed that cyberspace offers an alternative way for minorities to voice out. And it allows the spread of information faster than any technologies we ever had. For example, many blogs are used as political functions in the worldwide. Some of them even call for demonstration for certain human rights and social equality. Moreover, cyberspace is believed to offers people a new way to establish their identities.

In Tim Jordan's article, he tries to examine the cyberpower within the cyberspace. He argues that people are determined by their clothes in the real life, while users are determined by written text and style in cyberspace. However, he believes that gender is not absent within the internet, as the written text will reveal. Due to the social construction of gender identity, boys and girls are taught differently in linguistic. Thus, the way of their speaking will be different. Nevertheless, he claims another form of hierarchy take place in cyberspace, as people are more likely to determine by written text. He raises an example that in cyber sex, if you are able to type fast, it means you have great legs, or a tight butt. In other words, written text becomes a weapon for cyberpower in virtual reality. Also, he concludes that the cyber battle is still going. It seems that if you are good at typing, you will be more able to construct your own identity in cyberspace. Although some clues may reveal one's gender, or even race in cyberspace, people have autonomy to establish their identity and fight under the new hierarchy system. Similarly, Mark Warschauer also raises some similar ideas with Jordan, but he focus on the racial identity. In his article Language, Identity and Internet, he claims language and dialect will reveal who you are in the virtual reality. The unequal access also causes people from the third world behind to establish their identity. Thus, who will speak for them? It is agreed to say that some people from poor regions are less likely to gain internet access, but the identity construction is still can be claimed as altered, at least for some regions, like China. With the economic development, Chinese are able to get in touch with this new technology and re-define themselves, rather than constructed by others. In Mark Poster's article, he also agrees that relationship between mind and body, subject and machine have changed. There will be a new political relationship within the cyberspace. Internet is the new platform for social politics, since subordinate group have a way to speak out, rather than determinate by the dominate group. Yet, it is not a utopian where everyone is placed in equal position, but at least it offers some people used to position as inferior, an opportunity to struggle for a new hierarchy system.

Conclusion
To conclude, the constructions of identity have not yet altered by information and communication technologies, but it is expected to do so in the future. While there are more subordinate groups gain accesses, the cyberpolitic is going to rewritten. A new hierarchy is going to form, since we are more likely to define by written text, but not the appearance. We gain more autonomy to define ourselves, and it certainly will alter the way of identity construction.

Reference:
Jordan,Tim. Cyberpower: The Culture and Politics in Cyberspace. Retrieved April 4, 2006, from http://www.isoc.org/inet99/proceedings/3i/3i_1.htm

Kahn, Richard and Douglas Kellner. Internet Subcultures and Oppositional Politics. Retrieved April 2, 2006, from http://richardkahn.org/writings/tep/internetsubculturesoppositionalpolitics.pdf

Mahoney,Judy E. and Nancy Nelson Knupfer. (1997). Language, Gender and Cyberspace: Pulling the Old Stereotypes into New Territory. Retrieved April 7, 2006, from http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2/content_storage_01/0000000b/80/26/fb/2c.pdf

Nakamura, Lisa. Race In/For Cyberspace: Identity Tourism and Racial Passing on the Internet. Retrieved April 3, 2006, from http://www.humanities.uci.edu/mposter/syllabi/readings/nakamura.html

Poster, Mark. (1995). CyberDemocracy: Internet and the Public Sphere. Retrieved April 3, 2006, from http://www.hnet.uci.edu/mposter/writings/democ.html


Warschauer, Mark. (2001, October). Language, identity and internet. Retrieved April 2, 2006, from http://www.arts.uwa.edu.au/Motspluriels/MP1901mw.html

Menu-Driven Identity Workshop Response (Q1,Q2)

Among the web of Hotmail, Yahoo and Second Life, all of them avoid asking any question about the applicant’s ethnicity. However, people have to fill in name, gender and birth date as well. In the gender category, applicant can either choose to be male or female, which assume the concept of binary opposition and exclude the other possibilities. Besides, it is found the Yahoo will direct the applicant to different Yahoo when one choose the preferred content. Unexpectedly, there are US in Chinese, US in Spanish, US in Russian category. It may due to the increasing mobility across country. But, only US and Canada have multiple choices. Moreover, are Chinese, Spanish and Russian the only languages used in US, apart from English? Absolutely not. It is admitted they are the dominant groups. The designed choices seem to meet the needs of people, in fact, they are excluding the minorities.

In the Second Life, people are able to create their first name, but have to choose the last name from “a wide variety of last names”, which are all western family name. The Chinese or others family names are all absent in the given list. I wonder if they intend to exclude those non-white users. Even for the westerners, the list may not cover all of the western family name.

Once you enter the page of Lavalife, you will see a picture of a man is whispering to a woman, who has a big smile. And their dress codes are considered to be match man’s masculine image and woman’s feminine image. The heterosexuality obviously exists in the page. With the searching function, plenty of users who fit your interest (e.g. gender, age) will be shown. Their profile such as gender, age, location, zodiac sign, height, body type, smoking and drinking habit will be shown. However, it is not a must to fill in your body type, ethnic background, religion, smoking and drinking habit, or leave it blank. You can choose the option “prefer not to say”. Thus, it can claim that offline identities are still present is this kind of online identity constructions. Furthermore, it is found that people are more likely to tell their ethnic background if they are white. It seems the only worth to tell ethnic is white, while others are inferior. The most interesting thing found in Lavalife is users are able to search for other same gender users. After I’ve tried this function, it is found that for those who are homosexual have no gender shown. As mentioned above, only a choice of female or male is not satisfied. Also, after few times of same gender searching, a picture of homosexual couple(see the picture above) will appear on the page. I wonder if they are trying to hide the homosexual idea within the web. To compare with the picture (heterosexual couple) user see at the main page, the homosexual one is placed in less visible position.

Scientific manipulation of genetics, Good? Or Not? (Response to the Gattaca clip)

The scientific manipulation of genetics does not really a bad thing. In term of gender, it may offer women an opportunity to escape from reproduction. When reproduction can process by using the science technology, women are no longer serve as reproductive machine.

However, if we can control/ choose the genes for offspring, definitely we’re going to choose the best one. But, what does it mean the best? It depends on the social values… In the film, the best genes are given to Vincent’s brother. As a comparison, Vincent is positioned in an inferior level. For example, his parents do not expect too much on him. And no one will employ him for certain jobs, because of his genes is not that “good”. This kind of social system classifies people. In some sense, they are reinforcing that dominate values… But, it does not necessarily the norm.

What do you guys think?

Introducing a reading: "The Embodied Computer/ User" written by Deborah Lupton

Week 6 Self.info I : Digital Genders
"The Embodied Computer/ User" written by Deborah Lupton

“The dream of cyberculture is to leave the ‘meat’ behind and to become distilled in a clean, pure, uncontaminated relationship with computer technology” (479)

The article explores the computer/ user relationship in the context of internet. According to Deborah Lupton, human body is in multiplicity of relationships with computer technologies. While some people believe there is a utopian exist in cyberspace, she identifies some challenges to the idealistic view by introducing the computer/ user relationship. In the article, there are certain fears and risks when we connect our PCs to the internet. It leads to vulnerable anxiety, for example, hacked by others, or infected by virus. Many cybercrime take place with the existence of cyber space. On the other hand, computers are being humanized for marketing purpose. They become user friendly to assist users do the task. They are part of our lives and extension of our body.

It is true that computer become part of our body in our life. Without the computer technology, we are somehow disabled. However, it does not mean that the computer offers us disembodied ability. In certain extent, both we and our computers are vulnerable in the cyber space. Computers may be infected, and it leads to our emotional response. We will be frustrated if we lose all our data in the hard disk. Moreover, what if a man, sitting next to you, browses a porn site on his PDA, in the MTR? Certainly, it will be embarrassed.

As there are no utopian, what will happen to gender in the cyberspace?

Will the subordinate groups face another kind of oppression?