306019 (v.1) Internet Studies 317 - New Virtual Collectives

Area:

Department of Media and Information

Credits:

25.0

Contact Hours:

2.0

Seminar:

1 x 2 Hours Weekly

Prerequisite(s):

301052 (v.3) Internet Studies 103 - Socio-Technological Introduction or any previous version

Syllabus:

The Internet is often presented as a new frontier - as a territory to be conquered, explored, and settled. This unit examines the changing terrain of social networks and explores the possibilities and practices of virtual collectives. Topics include - virtual nations, diasporic futures, virtual, ethnicities, 'soft cities', and electronic agoras.

Unit Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit, students will have- Applied understanding of new electronic social networks in a global context to their professional and personal use of the Internet. Critically evaluated the impact of the Internet on new formations of social forms and collective practices. An understanding of the implications of new virtual collectives on group information.

Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information.

Unit References:

Ebo, B, (1998), Cyberghetto or Cybertopia? Race, Class, and Gender on the Internet, Praeger, Westport, Connecticut. Holmes, D, (1997), Virtual Politics : Identity and Community in Cyberspace, Sage, London. Jones, S, (1998), Cybersociety 2.0: revistiingcomputer mediated communication and community, Sage Publications, California. Kolko, B, Nakamura, L, and Rodman, G, (2000), Race in Cyberspace, Routledge, New York. Rafaeli, S, Sudweeks, F and McLaughlin, M, (1998), Network and Netplay : Virtual Groupson the Internet, MA: MIT Press, Cambridge. Slevin, J, (2000), The Internet and Society, Polity Press, Cambridge. Smith, M, and Kollocks, P, (1999) Communities in Cyberspace, Rouledge, London.

Unit Texts:

No prescribed texts.

Unit Assessment Breakdown:

Continuous Assessment - 100% This is by Grade/Mark Assessment.

Year	Location	Period	Internal	Area External	Central External
2004	Bentley Campus	Semester 1	Y
2004	Bentley Campus	Semester 2			Y