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rurality and CMC
by Mary L. Gray 19 Mar '02

19 Mar '02

hello folks, as long as i've been posting up a storm (for me anyhow), i thought i might ask if anyone's been thinking about or knows work on rethinking U.S. non-urban or rural spaces in relation to CMC? how has the notion of rurality been affected by access and lack of access to the Net? are people in rural sociology or other disciplines thinking about rurality differently because of these technologies? i'm guessing there's some pile of literature out there i just haven't run across yet (but, it's right under my nose, yes?) any thoughts/cites would be much appreciated. best, marygray ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mary L. Gray <mlgray(a)ucsd.edu> Department of Communication University of California, San Diego mail: PO Box 4004, Louisville, KY 40204 http://weber.ucsd.edu/~mgray ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Conference and research course in ethics and methodology
by Janne Bromseth 19 Mar '02

19 Mar '02

Dear collegues - just an update on the conference and research course on ethical and methodological perspectives on doing Internet-research that we are arranging in Trondheim, Norway, 1. - 6. of June (the conference/workshop is on the 1st and 2nd, and the research course from the 3rd to the 6th). The events are in particular aimed at Nordic researchers and students, butof course we warmly welcome everyone (and the conference language is English). I'd highly appreaciate it if you would help me spread it around to people who'd be interested in participating! (May I also add that there will be opportunities to mingle with the European royal elite - or oppose against it, whatever suits best - as our princess will be marrying in Trondheim the same week-end..) Thanks :) All the best, Janne Bromseth, NTNU/Norway ************* Making Common Ground: methodological and ethical challenges in Internet research A Nordic conferance and work-shop in Trondheim, Norway, June 1st and 2nd 2002 The conference will gather primarily nordic researchers and students from the humanistic and social scientific disciplines working with internet-generated material, in order to enlighten and discuss the many methodological and ethical challenges raised by researching the Internet. The conference is also the first part of a graduate course 3. - 6. of June, on Internet and ethics: (see http://www.hf.ntnu.no/fil/anvendt_etikk/eng/internet_ethics.htm for course program) The plenary lectures will adress theoretical and practical aspects the ethical challenges posed by research in net-mediated contexts. Among the questions to be discussed: - When is it necessary to obtain consent for researching net-mediated group interaction, and how can it be done? - How can net-mediated spheres be defined: are they public or private, and what methodological and ethical consequences do a certain definition imply? - The ethics of internet research in a cross-cultural perspective - Conflicts between methodology and ethics in internet research The conference will provide a unique opprtunity for researchers engaged in internet research to present and discuss their work. There will be work-shops organised around a number of themes, based on the submitted abstracts of presentations, for example: - Online etnography and participant observation - Conducting interviews and doing surveys online - Documentary analysis: Studying web-archives and web-pages For program, registration and practical information, see our web-page: http://www.huminf.uib.no/%7Edagelg/CommonGround/ Deadline for submission on presentation proposal is April 15th. Janne C.H.Bromseth Department of Communication, UiC 1007 W Harrison St, Chicago,IL 60607 312-4135497 (w) 773-9290977 (h) URL: http://www.hf.ntnu.no/itk/kv_bromseth/bromseth-index.htm

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re: the commons; the public domain, etc.
by RG Lentz 19 Mar '02

19 Mar '02

This might be of some interest to those AOIRers interested in cultivating linkages with scholars/advocates/practitioners/foundations looking at issues of "the commons" and the Internet: http://www.law.duke.edu/pd/papers.html http://www.publicknowledge.org/projects/preserving.html http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/2001/Apr01/Bollier.htm http://www.centerforthepublicdomain.org/ B. Lentz (UT-Austin)

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On-line personals/net-dating/mail-order brides
by Charlie Breindahl 19 Mar '02

19 Mar '02

In Denmark, at least, it seems that more and more people are searching for partners on the Internet. The total number of ads on-line in Danish is approaching the number of singles in the country (approximately 900.000). Those numbers are fraught with inconsistencies, of course. Still, measured in page views, contact sites are among the busiest Danish sites overall. I suspect that the situation in the rest of Europe and North America is similar to this. I am going to write a paper about the situation in the Nordic region in the next few weeks. If anybody on AIR-L has information to share about this subject from _anywhere_ in the world, please let me know off-list and I will summarize for AIR-L in a few weeks from now. Best and thanks! Charlie -- Charlie Breindahl Ph.D. Student, Copenhagen + Malmö Web: http://staff.hum.ku.dk/hitch/ http://www.creativeenvironments.mah.se/ Phone: +45 35 32 81 19 or +46 40 665 71 51 Mobile: +45 51 92 15 98 E-mail: hitch(a)hum.ku.dk "For the modern Don Quixote, the windmills have been preprogrammed to turn into knights" - Janet H. Murray

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Oxford Summer School: Legal Responses to New Communications Technologies
by Christian Sandvig 19 Mar '02

19 Mar '02

Dear Colleagues, Thought this might be of interest. Christian -----Original Message----- From: Louise Scott [mailto:louise.scott@csls.ox.ac.uk] Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 10:31 AM To: Louise Scott Subject: PCMLP Summer School LEGAL RESPONSES TO NEW COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES 5 August to 16 August, 2002 - Summer School Programme Co-sponsored by Cardozo School of Law and Programme in Comparative Media Law & Policy, Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Oxford University Held yearly, this program is designed to introduce participants--law and policy students, lawyers, and media development professionals from around the world--to the multitude of issues presented by the new telecommunications technologies. Internet, satellite, advanced multi-channel cable television all present extraordinary questions of law, policy, and cultural change. The increasing globalization of the media and telecommunications industry has created enormous pressures on existing legal systems and will be a central feature of the course. Rapid changes in technology also present intriguing issues for scholarly and judicial debate, making this area particularly well suited to introduce students to ways of thinking about and analyzing case law, statutes, and law review articles in the area of new communications. The courses deal with comparative regulatory responses, regulation of hate speech, industry and government efforts to manage the Internet, child protection and censorship, HDTV development, international standards, privatization and deregulation of public broadcasting entities, and developments under the European Unions Television Without Frontiers Directive. In the past, participants have included students from Hungary, Hong Kong, Romania, Tajikistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Mexico, and Serbia as well as law students from the United States. In 2002, faculty will include Monroe Price of Cardozo School of Law; Bernd Holznagel of the Institute for Information, Telecommunications, and Media Law at Münster University, Germany; and Peter Krug, Professor of Law at Oklahoma University School of Law. Visiting professors from UK law firms, the Dutch Institute for Information Law (IViR), the Free University of Brussels, Ghent University, Belgium, the Moscow Media Law and Policy Center, and the PCMLP will also join the class throughout the two weeks. <>-<>-<> The procedure for regulating the media market that I studied at the Programme in Comparative Media Studies in Oxford, made me take a more technical approach to analyzing the regulatory framework of this industry. The information I collected in Oxford will constitute solid teaching material for my 1st year Media Regulation students at Banat University in Timisoara, Romania. --Eliza Pop, 2001, Summer School <>-<>-<> HOUSING The summer program will be conducted in Wadham College, which is situated in 6 acres of beautiful grounds in the centre of Oxford, within a few yards of the Bodleian Library, the University science departments and the Sheldonian Theatre. It has a range of original but carefully updated buildings and modern, recently constructed, facilities. There are beautiful gardens, one of the handsomest Halls in Oxford, and comfortable living accommodation. FEES & SCHEDULE Costs are $800 for tuition and $850 for room and breakfast. This is a non-credit seminar. Travel costs and arrangements are the student's responsibility. Classes will meet for four hours five times per week from August 5 to August 16. (Students can move into rooms on August 4.) Special guest lectures and trips will be scheduled. REGISTRATION Enrollment in the program is limited. Please submit a one-paragraph statement of interest and resume. Include your background and interest in media law studies, your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail. Applications will be accepted on a continuing basis until the program is full. However, as space is limited, it is advisable to apply before June 15, 2002. ----------- For more information please contact: Louise Scott Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy Centre for Socio-Legal Studies Oxford University Oxford OX2 6UD T. +44 (1865) 284252; F. +44 (1865) 284253 louise.scott(a)csls.ox.ac.uk For information about the Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy see http://pcmlp.socleg.ox.ac.uk

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Re: research gaps
by Bram Dov Abramson 18 Mar '02

18 Mar '02

mandrejevic(a)campus.fairfield.edu: >I'd be very interested in hearing more about the political >economy of the Internet -- a topic that seems to beg for the depth of >scrutiny/analysis possible in academic research. Intellectual property >is certainly an important part of this research -- and one that has >received plenty of attention from researchers both in AoIR and out. >However, the way in which the broadband network will be structured and >developed (and the role played by regulation and by the recent spate of >merger activity) that remains a central concern, and I'd be grateful >for suggestions regarding scholarship in this area. Well, most of the Internet work I was involved with while at TeleGeography went exactly in that direction. My experience was that this kind of work just isn't on the radar screen of most researchers. Which I guess is to some extent a self-perpetuating thing to the extent that if you're studying MUDs and MOOs and Usenet, then you're going to be most interested in papers that talk about those things. We'd hoped that some folks would be interested in using _Hubs + Spokes_ as a $50 course text -- that was a book TeleGeography put out as a basic primer on Internet infrastructure -- but most of the puzzled looks I got made me think that I'd have been better off sticking to engineering departments. (A Web page for Hubs + Spokes is no longer online, but you can get an idea of the kind of work through http://www.telegeography.com/pubs/index.html. I'm no longer at TeleGeography, but would be happy to pass on inquiries.) Traditionally communications scholars have imho stuck to content- and broadcast-oriented research. Critical telecom research has started to wade into this kind of Internet stuff a little bit more, as you'll know, and I'm thinking of Dan Schiller's book a little while back. Meanwhile there are places like the Economics of Infrastructure PhD programme that Bill Melody and others are involved with at the Technical University of Delft (Netherlands). But there is still a real disconnect between actually understanding network structure and wanting to write broad sweeping conclusions about its arc imho; this is an area where I really feel that lots of small incisive research would be great to read, condemnation-of-the-world-at-large far less so. In the meantime most of this work happens outside communications departments, and not as often tied to communications studies traditions. Some of my favourite critical writing in this area includes pieces that pop up now and then from Geert Lovink, who's on this list, and there is loads of accessible journalistic writing as well. (Two brief plugs you'll have to forgive me. Greg Elmer has an edited book coming out sooner or later, Critical Perspectives on the Internet, one of whose chapters is titled "Internet globalization and the political economy of infastructure." And Marc Raboy has an edited volume due from U Luton Press with a chapter on "The politics of broadband: virtual networking and the right to communicate" on similar issues.) >My apologies for the length of this post... Me too. cheers Bram --

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Fwd: Visiting Artist/Instructor Positions
by Steve Jones 18 Mar '02

18 Mar '02

> > ALBERTA COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN >> >> VISITING ARTIST/INSTRUCTOR - MEDIA ART & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES >(MADT) >> >> Founded in 1926, the Alberta College of Art & Design (ACAD) is one of >> only four independent, degree-granting institutions in Canada >> dedicated exclusively to professional visual art and design >> education. MADT is ACAD's newest degree programme occupying newly >> built studios. Its lab for research into art in immersive audio and >> visual environments is scheduled to open in April 2002. >> >> Situated in Calgary, Alberta, ACAD currently invites and application >> for the following positions commencing in September 2002: >> >> Visiting Artist/Instructor - MADT (8 month contract for the >> 2002/2003 academic year) >> >> Applicants should be active, practicing artists with advanced >> understandings in one or more of the fields of net.art, networked >> environments, advanced interactivity, electronic interfaces, >> robotics, interactive performance and installation or audio. The >> successful applicant will have a Masters Degree in a relevant >> discipline or equivalent experience and an extensive exhibition >> record, excellent technical skills and a wide knowledge of all >> aspects of the discipline. >> >> The successful applicant will be responsible for teaching a contract >> load of 18 hours (three courses) per week per semester. Applicants >> will be expected to deliver instruction at all levels of the >> undergraduate degree (B.F.A.), including a combination of technical >> and studio courses. This is a time certain position, September 2002 - >> April 2003, advertised annually, and will not normally be extended >> beyond the eight month period. >> >> Application: >> Applicants should submit the following in support of their application: >> >> A letter of application; >> The names of three references; >> A current curriculum vitae; >> Examples-studio or published work; >> A statement outlining teaching philosophy and practice >> >> Applications for either position should be sent to the attention of: >> Richard Miller Manager, Human Resources >> Alberta College of Art & Design >> 1407 14th Avenue NW >> Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4R3 >> Fax (403) 289-6682 >> E-mail: hr(a)acadnet.ca >> >> Applications will be accepted until May 3, 2002 >> >> The appointment will commence September 1st 2002. For more >> information on the College and the Media Arts & Digital Technologies >> Programme please visit our website at www.acad.ab.ca >> >> -- >> >> -- >> --

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Sexism?
by Lachlan Brown 18 Mar '02

18 Mar '02

I thought the attack was against homophobia, not sexism. I assumed 'susan' was a male. I did so because it is rare, in my experience, for an academic to write on a first name basis and without the 'coordinates' of position and institution. Lachlan Brown >>When someone accuses another person of homophobia, let alone the rest, the someone has to let the person reply. I am not homophobic, on the contrary I suffered for a solidarity with a number of gay people in seeing John Greyson's book Queer Looks through to print. I have never been called homophobic and its a little hurtful. Though I recognise that in my method in teasing out reaction I brought it upon myself. Lachlan > Lachlan, i'm not a huge fan of filtering mail and pretending not to hear > someone, so let me say directly: i can't see much value in exchanging with > you. so, i'd ask you not to bother "raising questions [with me] to excite > response"...i'm plum not interested in the conversation. > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Mary L. Gray <mlgray(a)ucsd.edu> > Department of Communication > University of California, San Diego > mail: PO Box 4004, Louisville, KY 40204 > http://weber.ucsd.edu/~mgray > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > > From: "Lachlan Brown" <lachlan(a)london.com> > > Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 21:12:17 -0500 > > To: mlgray(a)ucsd.edu > > Cc: air-l(a)aoir.org > > Subject: What? > > > > Re: MLGrey ucsd > > > > > > I am raising questions to excite response. > > You edited: > > > >> ...I mean, identity and > >> bodies kind of matter don't you think?]. > > > > from my mail. > > > > Lachlan > > -- > > -- _______________________________________________ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup Win the Ultimate Hawaiian Experience from Travelocity. http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;4018363;6991039;n?http://svc.travelocity.com/…

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Now, that's enough of that.
by Lachlan Brown 18 Mar '02

18 Mar '02

>Lachlan Brown is a troll. Hmmm... I prefer 'Othered Proletarian' myself, but I suppose its all a question of which is the meta-dscourse here: the discourse of 'self-regulation' applied to the running of Internet and of the Information Technology sector in education and in world of commercial Intenret services, or whether the cultural and social implications of these practices, taking into account their impacts predominate. Susan! Are you the Susan who intervened earlier? I would, for the folkoric implications of the term, be interested in reading your paper, please forward a copy to me. Have you drawn a nasty little picture of me in your head? Best, Lachlan -- _______________________________________________ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup Win the Ultimate Hawaiian Experience from Travelocity. http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;4018363;6991039;n?http://svc.travelocity.com/…

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busy as bees
by Lachlan Brown 18 Mar '02

18 Mar '02

Well, my word, things are buzzing arn't they? I see my 'provocation' which I was quick to point out to Mary was an inappropriate term in this necessary work - I prefer 'tease out', 'excite', even 'demand' where necessary, reaction and response to some very necessary questions - has had some effect. You've all been busy talking among yourselves and forming groups. Great ideas. Carry on. I'll take a look at what you've come up with and get back to you. Susan? I think one of the lads has been playing a little trick? You know who you are. I see one member asked whether there were other lists like AoIR. No, Jason there are not. Jeremy, you seem to have taken on the role of 'bouncer' in this setting, could you lock the door to make sure that no-one escapes? But please at the same time prepare to admit new members. There may be a few coming along shortly. I've been in touch with some friends about developing an 8 credit course along transition education and community education lines for those among you unfamiliar with the history, development and contemporary direction of the subjects of cultural studies. I'll let you all know how this goes. Best Lachlan Brown Cultural Studies Goldsmiths College -- _______________________________________________ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup Win the Ultimate Hawaiian Experience from Travelocity. http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;4018363;6991039;n?http://svc.travelocity.com/…

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