When I reached the end of this week’s readings, I felt a little dizzy contemplating the scope of “networks” as conceived by Manuel Castells and explained by Felix Stalder. I knew things were going to get funky when Stalder went off on a biological tangent, considering Fritjof Capra’s conception of “network society” as a sort of molecular structure that creates and renews itself. Capra’s “networks” both consume and void matter, which is an interesting way of attaching organic qualities to a seemingly inorganic entity. This idea of “networks” as living things that feed off of information provided by the good little “nodes” that connect the network is rather awesome, quite postmodern, and terrifying when considering the structures we currently have in place all over the physical world. Stalder makes it clear that hierarchies have had their day and are in a state of staggered crumbling. It would appear that the rigid, vertical, often bureaucratic structures of hierarchies simply cannot match the horizontally-styled web of Castell’s “network.” In the minds of these guys, the financial system is already walking around on its own. What’s next?
In chapter 3 of Marshall’s book, he considers the impact of Internet communication upon the physical environments in which we live. That is, how we work, play, revolt and sometimes all three at once. From the Seattle protest of 1999 to work spaces that include games and beds, the focus of the chapter is on increased access to technology and how the new conditions created by such access impact where we are headed economically and how we are becoming producers of media as much as we are consuming it. Marshall is sure to name check all the known wizards of media theory: McLuhan and Baudrillard (both of whom he considers outdated – boo!), Donna Harraway (whose cyborg theories are highly relevant) and the dynamic duo of Deleuze and Guattari with their “rhizomatic” theory, seemingly a close relative of Castell’s “network.”
As for the readings in A Networked Self, the considerations in the two pieces are more specific and slightly more up to date with what’s currently happening. Barabasi’s keynote speech is interesting in that he attempts to draw a distinction between the “Internet” and the “Web” by taking into account the physicality of the apparatuses that keep everything up and running as opposed to the more ephemeral phenomenon of communication within the “web.” The point I really took away from Barabasi relates to his contemplation of “strong links” and “weak links” within the network and how communities correspond to strong links while the important, cool, hip, up-to-date information between these communities is spread by way of the weak links.
Danah Boyd’s consideration of “publics” is a dissection of sorts, using divisions within divisions. Her focus is specifically leveled at Facebook. The way she breaks down the public presentation of “profiles” and “comments” within the Facebook format reveals a calculated, even though it may seem unintentional, thought process on the part of the website’s users as they consider who will be seeing their presentation of “self” and their relationships to others.
In response to your statement, “the financial system is already walking around on its own.” I offer this tidbit from Mitt Romney, “Corporations are people too, my friend.”
As Barabasi elaborated on, the strength of network tie was an interesting concept. Although one may think that weak ties are not as significant as strong ties, we do not really have many strong ties. However, we tend to be influenced by our acquaintances and someone who wrote review about the video game, which I am about to purchase. Hence, I think that series of weak ties can function as very effective information dispersion mechanism, which can possibly exert vast influence within given network.
There’s a debate raging on whether dogs prefer to play fetch with rocks or balls. While some insist that dogs really love to chase after rocks, others claim that balls are their true paradise. So, which is it? So check Supplements For Senior Dogs to make them healthy Personally, I think that both rocks and balls can be great playmates for dogs. Dogs will have a lot of fun trying to catch the ball, then bringing it back to you. Plus, if you’re throwing a ball for your dog, you can also use it as a training tool to teach them some obedience commands.
Mr. MacKenzie was unarmed at the time of his killing. He had been stopped by undercover officers
we would like to help Justice for Charles MacKenzie. who were posing as drug dealers and then attacked by police officers in response to the attack on the undercover officers. One of the arrested men, Michael Kyle, was later found not guilty at trial.
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