Gordon, If you're interested in work exploring metaphors of older technologies (and can stand a little self-promotion), I wrote an essay years ago that might be of interest: “The Cultural Power of an Anti-Television Metaphor: Questioning the ‘Plug-in Drug’ and a TV- Free America,” Television and New Media, 1: 2, May 2000, 215-238. (Downloadable at my website below). That essay was greatly inspired by Janice Radway's excellent piece, "Reading is not Eating: Mass- Produced Literature and the Theoretical, Methodological, and Political Consequences of a Metaphor," Book Research Quarterly, #2, 1986, 7-29. Both might be useful as models to update for your study of online metaphors. Good luck, -Jason On Jun 8, 2008, at 6:15 PM, air-l-request@listserv.aoir.org wrote:
Hi All,
I am working on a project dealing with the use of metaphor in communication about technology, as well as communication within software. I am trying to compile a list of metaphors used on the web and in computer software. For example, the "shopping cart" in online shopping, PowerPoint using "slides", "dialog" boxes in operating systems, "bulletin boards", etc.
Have any of you come across or perhaps even thought of other metaphors employed in software, online or off, or in communication about technology? I would like to make a giant list of examples.
Also, any recommended readings would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any help!
-Gordon Carlson -University of Illinois at Chicago -PhD Student of New Media Communication and RA in Electronic Visualization Lab
-- Jason Mittell, Associate Professor of American Studies and Film & Media Culture Chair of Film & Media Culture Department Middlebury College 208 Axinn Center at Starr Library Middlebury, Vermont 05753 (802) 443-3435 / fax: (802) 443-5123 Homepage: http://seguecommunity.middlebury.edu/sites/jmittell Blog: http://justtv.wordpress.com