Foucalt
In his cultural theories, Foucalt discusses the use of label names that are used everyday by the human race in order to categorize people. Even things as abstract as emotions have their own specific nomenclature in order for us to better understand what is going on within ourselves and others. I have experienced many times complex feelings that would be difficult to describe, but in order to avoid confusion, if asked I would simply say I was sad.
The same goes for individuals. One person may be a doctor (or any other occupation) so they would be referred to as the doctor by people who do not know much about them. Sexuality, gender, social roles, etc. can also define a person, yet most are to complex to be summed up into one word. We encounter this problem on the internet. Someone who is homosexual may reach out to other homosexuals over cyberspace, which is great, but if they only talk about being homosexual, only one dimension of their character is displayed. Most sites and chat rooms are not specific enough to attract people on different levels, usually it is only one common link that brings them together.
This is why virtual communities are different and more limited than real life communities. Schools, churches, and many other gathering locations bring unique people together who may have more than one thing in common or nothing at all, so the relationships that develop are much stronger. Often websites are labeled to attract people who are labeled the same way, reinforcing the convenience and need of human categories.
2 Comments:
At 7:46 AM,
Lisa said…
I agree with your response to Foucault. Labels and stereotypes have plagued the world since forever. Also in those areas that you mentioned like church and schools, only certain "ways of life" are excepted. You have noticed how the church does not approve of gays and lesbians. So in a way the church also is a form of survielance for the type of person someone should or shouldnt be. Schools also dont approve. They are in up roar when it comes to gay teachers as if being gay will affect their teaching skills. On the internet its like you can be whoever you want but only with those who share those same values and lifestyles. Its sad but everyone needs that place they can go to to be themselves.
At 7:54 AM,
William said…
i like that you bring up "one dimension" of a character in cyberspace . . . some see it as "rehearsing," as prepping the parts of one's self the way an athlete might work on forehands one day and backhands another . . . but does real life make us any more "whole" than cyberspace? are we always "whole" peopel at work, for example? I'd think no, because we put on a "face to meet the faces that we meet" -- we don't disclose to office colleagues all of our lives -- we show what we think they can handle and make decisions based on how much other know or how much we let them know . . . same for students . . . in this way, cyberspace might just make more explicit our already mundane life practices?
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