cyberanthropology | antropologi.info

Ethnographic research on Friendster’s online communities

Published on October 26, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, cyberanthropology, fieldwork / methods, internet, journal articles / papers, Us and Them

In her most recent post, Danah Boyd gives us a round-up of her publications on Friendster, a popular social networking service where she has conducted ethnographic research. Among others, she studied how people publicly perform their social relations online. Most of her papers are available as pdf-documents >> read Danah Boyd’s round-up

Thesis: Participant observation on a Rastafari discussion forum on the internet

Published on August 9, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, cyberanthropology, internet, journal articles / papers, Us and Them

Norwegian anthropologist Christian Stokke has published his thesis “Unlearning White Superiority. Consciousness-raising on an online Rastafari Reasoning Forum” in full length. From his introduction:

The ensuing interracial dialogues on racism are the main focus of my thesis. Most whites define racism as prejudice and discrimination, and suggest good intentions and “colorblindness” as a solution, while Blacks define it in terms of group dominance, structural inequality and cultural hegemony. Black Rastas point out that whites tend to show dominating behavior in the discussions, and see this as a reflection of a “white superiority complex.” Black Rastas consistently confront whites and hold them responsible for their conduct, although it is usually unintended and unconscious. Through this confrontation, many whites become aware of their taken-for-granted ‘white privilege’ and start “unlearning white superiority.”

>> download the thesis (pdf, 788kb)

Norwegian anthropologist Christian Stokke has published his thesis "Unlearning White Superiority. Consciousness-raising on an online Rastafari Reasoning Forum" in full length. From his introduction:

The ensuing interracial dialogues on racism are the main focus of my thesis. Most whites define racism…

New articles on AnthroGlobe: Western Cybermythology / People of the open sea

Published on May 23, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, culture traditions, cyberanthropology, fieldwork / methods, internet, journal articles / papers, Pacific Oceania

Signs of activity at AnthroGlobe – one of the eldest anthropology web journals. Two new texts and they seem to work with the site layout, it seems:

Carmen Petrosian-Husa: Powerful & Powerless: The Rei Metau on the Outer Islands of Yap

Since 1982 I visited the islands of the rei metau several times. My main focus of research were the “rites de passage”, weaving, structures of authority and medicine. In due course of my research I visited all their islands and atolls and analyzed the differences in the social structures of each single atoll. The way I will describe the rei metau in this paper represents the lives and self-esteem of the people as it can be experienced today. >> continue

Darrell A. Joyce: Modern Folklore: Cybermythology in Western Culture

Throughout the years, humans have used the oral tradition of folklore and legend to share stories, entertain, and to teach moral social lessons. The purpose of this paper is to briefly look at the evolution of urban legends from their “beginnings” in the turn of the 20 th century to present day, with specific attention to contemporary urban legends, and the application of internet/e-mail communications as a medium to further spread this modern form of folklore. Also, this paper attempts to answer the question of whether or not folklore continues to exist and be propagated in today’s society. >> continue

Signs of activity at AnthroGlobe - one of the eldest anthropology web journals. Two new texts and they seem to work with the site layout, it seems:

Carmen Petrosian-Husa: Powerful & Powerless: The Rei Metau on the Outer Islands of Yap

Since…

Ethnographic Flickr

Published on April 16, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, cyberanthropology, fieldwork / methods, internet, technology

Anthropologist Kerim Friedman, Keywords

Last year, when I was offered the opportunity to teach a course on anthropology and photography at Haverford College, I immediately knew I wanted to do something with Flickr. I have to admit that it was exhausting correcting papers with dozens of hyperlinks to photos on flickr. But it was also fun. I especially enjoyed seeing the various ways students used Flickr’s tags to come up with interesting paper topics. >> continue

Anthropologist Kerim Friedman, Keywords

Ethnographic Skype

Published on April 15, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, cyberanthropology, fieldwork / methods, technology

Alexander Knorr, Xirdalium

Oftentimes there is a confusion about what anthropological ‘fieldwork’ actually is. One aim of my project is to transpose anthropology’s rich and powerful methodology to the terra nova online: thick participation plus its weaknesses compensated by other methods like the ethnographic interview.

As Damien Stolarz has put it, Shapiro provides us with a “Simple hack using Skype as an audio interviewing and archive tool. Instead of needing phone interview recording hardware (which you might not have) you can use computer tools (which you have in abundance).” This contains tremendous possibilities for every trustworthy cyberanthropologist. >> continue (Link updated)

Dina Mehta: How social software and social tools are truly worldchanging

Skype and VOIP – all posts by Dina Mehta

antropologi.info’s links on Cyberanthropology

LINKS UPDATED 9.1.2021

Alexander Knorr, Xirdalium

Oftentimes there is a confusion about what anthropological 'fieldwork' actually is. One aim of my project is to transpose anthropology's rich and powerful methodology to the terra nova online: thick participation plus its weaknesses compensated by other methods…