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[Fwd: CFP: Community (6/15/05; e-journal issue)]
by jespert 19 May '05

19 May '05

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: CFP: Community (6/15/05; e-journal issue) Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 19:42:43 +0100 From: Joanna Zylinska <j.zylinska(a)virgin.net> To: cfp(a)english.upenn.edu Electronic journal Culture Machine invites submissions for its special 2006 COMMUNITY issue. Culture Machine is an international, open access, peer-reviewed electronic journal whose aim is to promote original, exploratory work in the areas of cultural studies and critical theory. It seeks to generate possibilities for new areas of interdisciplinary inquiry. In recent years, the notion of the community has emerged as an important as well as contested field of cultural and theoretical exploration. In his influential study Imagined Communities (1983), social anthropologist Benedict Anderson discusses the concept of the community as it is related to the idea of the nation. As an imagined cultural and political artifact, the nation provides a collectivity with a sense of continuity and cohesiveness, while concealing the foundational violence that underlies such collective myth. While Andersons articulation of the community is still largely circumscribed by the political concept of the nation state, philosophical inquiries into the notion of the community by Jean-Luc Nancy (The Inoperative Community, 1983), Maurice Blanchot (The Unavowable Community, 1983) and Giorgio Agamben (The Coming Community, 1993), seek to open it up toward a broader politico-ethical context. Nancys call for the deconstruction of the immanent community has been particularly influential: community as the dominant Western political formation, founded upon a totalizing, exclusionary myth of national unity, must be tirelessly unworked in order to accommodate more inclusive and fluid forms of dwelling together in the world, of being-in-common. In this issue, we propose to engage in multiple explorations of the community as a socio-historical, politico-ethical and cultural construct. * With the demise of the traditional community as related to the nation-state, what alternative formations or new collectivities, bound together by a very different nexus of belonging, have emerged in its stead? * How viable is the metaphor of the global community (the global village)? * Can the community be predicated on the ethical, perhaps cosmopolitan vision of sharing and unimpeded border-crossing, or is it, on the contrary, yet another homogenizing, totalizing fantasy that only benefits the empire of the capital? * How does it relate to such increasingly unstable concepts as citizenship or multiculturalism? * What is the function of the community in the rapidly shifting geopolitical context, of which the European community is a particularly fecund contemporary example, as is a plethora of its postcolonial, post-Western articulations (in the Middle East and Africa, for instance)? * Is there community after communism? * To what extent does Hardt and Negri's multitude (Empire, 2004; Multitude, 2004) represent a new form of community (one made up of a multiplicity of singularities)? * Among the newly emergent formations, the notion of the virtual community is of particular interest. We would like to investigate the virtual communities that have mushroomed in numerous guises: as both cultural avant-garde and cultural decadence; as the mainstay of political conservatism (white supremacy networks) and the forum for politically progressive forces (international peace coalitions). * Finally, are we perhaps moving towards the unworking of the community to a degree when it ceases to be a workable concept altogether? In reflecting on the notion of community, this special issue of Culture Machine also aspires to become a meeting place for the community of minds; indeed, a site of community in its most basic sense of communication and circulation of meaning. Please send an abstract of 500-750 words to Dr. Dorota Glowacka, at . 1. The deadline for submitting abstracts is June 15, 2005. All contributors will be notified soon after the deadline whether their abstract has been selected. 2. The deadline for completed papers is October 20, 2005. All papers will be peer-reviewed. -- Dr Joanna Zylinska Department of Media and Communications Goldsmiths College, University of London New Cross, London SE14 6NW, UK -- Jesper Tække - MA. Ph.D.-Student - IT University of Copenhagen - Dept. of Digital Aesthetics & Communication - Rued Langgaards Vej 7 - DK-2300 Copenhagen S - Phone +45 7218 5000 - Direct +45 7218 5037 - Fax +45 7218 5001 - http://home16.inet.tele.dk/jesper_t/ - e-mail: jespert(a)itu.dk

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export licenses for unAmericans
by Barry Wellman 19 May '05

19 May '05

My guess is that any move to require unAmericans to get export licenses to use sensitive equipment within the US will die -- more because it would devaste many industries than because it affects students. Barry _____________________________________________________________________ Barry Wellman Professor of Sociology NetLab Director wellman at chass.utoronto.ca http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman Centre for Urban & Community Studies University of Toronto 455 Spadina Avenue Toronto Canada M5S 2G8 fax:+1-416-978-7162 To network is to live; to live is to network _____________________________________________________________________

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search engine spamming literature?
by Greg Elmer 19 May '05

19 May '05

Dear Internet Researchers, Does anyone know of good academic studies of search engine spamming? Particulary those that discuss tag stuffing and "link farming", for the purposes of moving up Google's page rank. I'm also interested in the info-politics that insue (Tony Blair is one step ahead of Al Franken for example in google's ranking fo the keyword "Liar", plenty of other examples out there too.) Off list please to gelmer(a)ryerson.ca. GE Greg Elmer, PhD Bell Globemedia Research Chair Rogers Communications Centre/School of Radio-TV Arts Ryerson University 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5B 2K3 416-979-5282 _______________________________________________ Co-Editor, Space and Culture: An International Journal of Social Spaces http://www.carleton.ca/space/ ----- Original Message ----- From: Jakob Linaa Jensen <jakob(a)linaa.net> Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 5:06 pm Subject: Re: [Air-l] Web death ? > Hi Denise and Ren > > I believe the paper was presented by Lisbeth Klastrup from the IT > University in Copenhagen. It sounds as her topic as she was written > a lot > on Everquest and presented a paper called "Damn, I died today" on > Everquest communities and behaviours. > > Her website is at www.klastrup.dk where you can find her adress. > > Hope it helps > > Jakob > > Jakob Linaa Jensen > Ph.d., M.A. in Political Science > Department of Media Studies > University of Aarhus, Denmark > E-mail: jakob(a)linaa.net > web: www.linaa.net www.netdemocracy.dk > > _______________________________________________ > The Air-l-aoir.org(a)listserv.aoir.org mailing list > is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org > Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: > http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org > > Join the Association of Internet Researchers: > http://www.aoir.org/ >

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Student of Concern
by Miraj Khaled 19 May '05

19 May '05

Comments and/or action period ends on May 27. miraj ///// Student of Concern Will we be more secure -- or just less competitive -- if the government forces hundreds of thousands of international science students to get export licenses simply to look through a microscope? By CRISTI HEGRANES http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/2005-05-18/news/feature.html?src=default_rss [snip] ... New federal rules proposed by the Department of Commerce in March could impede Gupta's access to educational equipment and force him to apply for government licenses to use specific technology in the classroom, each of which could take months to acquire. In fact, hundreds of thousands of international students and scientists working and studying in the U.S. could lose access to equipment and technology that they have had routine use of until now. Because Gupta is studying chemical engineering, he will eventually encounter what the government calls "dual-use technology" -- technology that has both civilian and military applications. Under the new Commerce Department proposal, the use of everything from basic computer systems, semiconductors, and training manuals to microscopes and telescopes will require some international students to apply for government licenses before they can legally have access to or study the technology. [snip] *** Despite the potential for negative long-term consequences from the new deemed export licensing rules, their implementation will never be voted on in the Senate or issued by executive order. Rather, the State Department, which has full authority to implement any export restriction it sees fit, published the proposed rules for a 60-day discussion period that will end on May 27. During that time the department will take into consideration comments and opinions from anyone interested enough to send one. That is, if anyone is aware of the issue. ...As the 60-day discussion period goes on mostly unnoticed, many worry that at this point, nothing can be done about the proposed regulation of foreign students as deemed exports. For students and educators alike, the rules seem stifling and unfair *** http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/2005-05-18/news/feature.html?src=default_rss Miraj Khaled ============ techiemik(a)yahoo.com mindexplorer.blogspot.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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wiki.aoir.org
by Jeremy Hunsinger 19 May '05

19 May '05

http://wiki.aoir.org feel free to participate. jeremy hunsinger jhuns(a)vt.edu www.cddc.vt.edu jeremy.tmttlt.com www.tmttlt.com () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments

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wiki.aoir.org
by buridan＠aoir.org 19 May '05

19 May '05

http://wiki.aoir.org feel free to go play. jeremy hunsinger jhuns(a)vt.edu www.cddc.vt.edu jeremy.tmttlt.com www.tmttlt.com () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments

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Visiting Position Announcement at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
by James Watt 18 May '05

18 May '05

The usual apologies for cross-posting and the also usual request that you pass this on to any colleagues or graduate students you think might be interested. It is an excellent post-doc or sabbatical opportunity, as the teaching load will permit about 60% of the person's time to be devoted to research, and there are some excellent facilities and colleagues doing Internet research in the Rensselaer Social and Behavioral Research Laboratory. VISITING POSITION IN HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION The Department of Language, Literature, and Communication at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has an open one-year visiting faculty position to teach courses related to human-computer interaction, as part of a newly approved on-campus and distance-education master's program. Rank open. Courses of relevance would complement existing courses in the design of interfaces, web design, and performance support. The candidate could offer new courses not currently in the curriculum or one or more of the existing courses. Though the candidate would teach predominately HCI courses, he or she could also teach non-HCI courses. More information about the department is available at http://www.llc.rpi.edu. The candidate should have a doctoral degree in human-computer interaction, information design or a related field, with course work and design experience in HCI. Experience in the application of HCI theory and research to industry a plus. The teaching load is two courses per semester. The department offers B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in communication in addition to the M.S. in HCI. Faculty are mutidisciplinary, with training in communication, computer science, technical communication, rhetoric, cultural studies, and other fields. Faculty and students have access to the Social and Behavioral Laboratory (http://www.sbrl.rpi.edu) and other Institute research facilities. Rensselaer is a U.S. News and World Report top-50 university with approximately 5000 undergraduate and 2500 graduate students. It is located in the emerging "Tech Valley" region of the Hudson River Valley with New York City, Boston, and Montreal only a few hours away by automobile or train. The region is known for its quality of life, with skiing, camping, hiking, kayaking and other outdoor recreation opportunities in the Adirondack and Berkshire Mountains only an hour or so away. Appointment begins August 22, 2005. Send a letter of application and C.V. as attachments to: wattj(a)rpi.edu (preferred) or paper versions to James Watt Chair, Department of Language, Literature, and Communication Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 110 8th Street Troy, NY 12180 ======================================================== James H. Watt Professor and Chair, Department of Language, Literature, and Communication (http://www.llc.rpi.edu) Director, Social and Behavioral Research Laboratory (http://www.sbrl.rpi.edu) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 110 8th Street, Sage Lab 4708 Troy, NY 12180-3590 email: wattj(a)rpi.edu voice: (518) 276-2784 fax: (518) 276-4092

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RE: [Air-l] Web death ?
by Caroline Haythornthwaite 18 May '05

18 May '05

Here's another reference about the end of a community. /C Bruckman, A. & Jensen, C. (2002). The mystery of the death of Mediamoo: Seven years of evolution of an online community In K.A. Renninger & W. Shumar, Building Virtual Communities: Learning and Change in Cyberspace (pp. 21-33). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ---- Original message ---- >Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 11:15:50 +0100 >From: "Rachel Harris" <rachel(a)inspire-research.co.uk> >Subject: RE: [Air-l] Web death ? >To: <air-l(a)listserv.aoir.org> > >Hi Denise > >There's a chapter in Design for Community >(http://designforcommunity.com/) that may be of interest: "Killing your >community". It's been out for a while, but could be useful. > >All the best >Rachel > >Dr Rachel A Harris >Inspire Research Ltd > >Tel 44 141 959 1542 >Email rachel(a)inspire-research.co.uk >Web http://www.inspire-research.co.uk >Blog http://i-research.blogspot.com > >-----Original Message----- >From: air-l-aoir.org-bounces(a)listserv.aoir.org >[mailto:air-l-aoir.org-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Denise N. >Rall >Sent: 17 May 2005 04:15 >To: air-l(a)listserv.aoir.org >Subject: [Air-l] Web death ? > > >Dear Air-ers - > >I was trying to recall a paper given at Toronto that >viewed the life & death of an online community. I >believe it was called Everquest???? but now I'm not >sure. > >Anyone who presented at Toronto on the life & death of >an online community would you be so kind as to give >the name of your paper here or send it to me off list. > >I am using it to illustrate the impermanence of online communities - any >other references to 'off-line' or dead communities would be greatly >appreciated. > >Thanks, Denise > > > > > >Denise N. Rall, PhD candidate, School of Environ. Science, Southern >Cross University, Lismore NSW 2480 >Sustainable Forestry Mentoring Coordinator & Internet Researcher Room >T2.12, +61 (0)2 6620 3577 Tuesdays or Mobile 0438 233 344 >http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/rsm/staff/pages/drall/index.html >_______________________________________________ >The Air-l-aoir.org(a)listserv.aoir.org mailing list >is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org >Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: >http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org > >Join the Association of Internet Researchers: >http://www.aoir.org/ > > >_______________________________________________ >The Air-l-aoir.org(a)listserv.aoir.org mailing list >is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org >Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org > >Join the Association of Internet Researchers: >http://www.aoir.org/ ---------------------------------------- Caroline Haythornthwaite Associate Professor Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 501 East Daniel St., Champaign IL 61820

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Marie-Laure Ryan - Lecture (Maastricht)
by Niels Hendriks 17 May '05

17 May '05

Marie-Laure Ryan - Lecture Maastricht - May 27 2005 Marie-Laure Ryan (Geneva, 1946) is an independent scholar based in Colorado. She holds MAs in German and Linguistics ( University of Utah, 1972), a PhD in French (University of Utah, 1974) and a post-graduate in Computer Science (University of California). New Literary History classified her as a "critic without school". Her research and writing projects are indeed quite diverse. Her books and articles cover the areas of narrative theory, linguistics, cyberculture and electronic textuality. Unique opportunity? Marie-Laure Ryan is an internationally renowned scholar. Her lecture in Maastricht is a unique opportunity for students, scholars and experts, and everyone interested in the field of narrativity and digital textuality. The lecture (both the morning and the afternoon session) is free of fees. The morning session is accessible to a broad public, while the afternoon meeting will probably require a more specialised public. Programme 10u00 Welcome and Coffee 10u30 Keynote Lecture and Discussion How do the properties of the media influence the narrative itself and the narrative experience? Will new media create new narratives? 12u30 Lunch (sandwiches and coffee) 14u00 Symbol Rock Demonstration and Debate 16u00 Drinks Keynote Lecture In her lecture Marie-Laure Ryan will focuss on the question whether the narrative and the narrative experience are influenced by the properties of the media. In the article "Multivariant Narratives" (2004) she sketches the history of writing originating in the oral tradition. The advent of writing (manuscripts) and the printing press had major consequences for textuality and narrativity. The question today is whether there is "anything left for digital media to develop in the territory of the narrative". Ryan turns to the efficient use of space and time in contemporary computer games to open up new possibilities for digital texts. Digital texts "must reconquer the narrative temporality that fuels the reader´s desire". The lecture will take place in the building of the Project & Servicecenter C-md, Brusselsestraat 89, 6211 PD Maastricht on May 27. There are no attendance fees to be paid. Please register to take part in the lecture by sending an email to bgeerts(a)mediawatchvlaanderen.be. Please include your name, school or institution, and whether you are a student, teacher, scholar, ... Organisation The Marie-Laure Ryan lecture is an organisation of MediaWatch (http://mediawatchvlaanderen.be/) . Mediawatch is the Flemish branch of the Project & Servicecenter C-md (www.c-md.be) an international collaboration project situated in Maastricht. Mediawatch is closely related to Communication and MultimediaDesign a higher education programme offered by the Katholieke Hogeschool Limburg (Belgium).

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Re: [Air-l] Web death ?
by Ren Reynolds 17 May '05

17 May '05

I’d be interested in what that paper was too. I’d be very surprised if it was EverQuest as back in 03 EverQuest was still seeing subscription growth. Even now it has about half a million subscribers though of course many have moved over to EverQuest II. MMOs might be a good counter to the thesis that on-line communities are impermanent at least in the very short term, especially as the bigger guilds are now going cross world. For example, the guild I am a recent member of has a presence in Lineage, Lineage II, EverQuest II and World of WarCraft. We are also seeing other interesting group moves. There are, for example, a number of game groups in Second Life that are trying to keep the spirit of dead communities alive with a highly mutable world. Then there is Meridian 59 which was bought by some of the player / developers. That is in some cases MMO communities are transcending the MMOs in which they began or any given MMO. ren terranova.blogs.com www.renreynolds.com ---- Original message ---- >Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 20:14:47 -0700 (PDT) >From: "Denise N. Rall" <denrall(a)yahoo.com> >Subject: [Air-l] Web death ? >To: air-l(a)listserv.aoir.org > >Dear Air-ers - > >I was trying to recall a paper given at Toronto that >viewed the life & death of an online community. I >believe it was called Everquest???? but now I'm not >sure. > >Anyone who presented at Toronto on the life & death of >an online community would you be so kind as to give >the name of your paper here or send it to me off list. > >I am using it to illustrate the impermanence of online >communities - any other references to 'off-line' or >dead communities would be greatly appreciated. > >Thanks, Denise > > > > > >Denise N. Rall, PhD candidate, School of Environ. Science, >Southern Cross University, Lismore NSW 2480 >Sustainable Forestry Mentoring Coordinator & Internet Researcher >Room T2.12, +61 (0)2 6620 3577 Tuesdays or Mobile 0438 233 344 >http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/rsm/staff/pages/drall/index.htm l >_______________________________________________ >The Air-l-aoir.org(a)listserv.aoir.org mailing list >is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org >Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org > >Join the Association of Internet Researchers: >http://www.aoir.org/

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