empty panopticon

Writing on the wall

March 13th, 2007 by empty panopticon

This week, Boston gave up on the charade it calls Winter ’06-’07.  But I do not feel betrayed,   even if our collective conscious demands boots and wool accessories : I swear I saw the winter fashion out yesterday, though the thermometer read balmy! : even if our inner curmudgeons, all clam-chowder and dirty New England looks, still hallucinate slush and muck.

Today, I ran.  (It was a pleasant run.  Thanks for asking!)  At the end of the run, I walked through the alley between my apartment and another.  The walking was to let my legs recover, but it allowed me to take in the spread of graffiti-covered brick on the side of my building.  The wall presents nothing major, nothing that impressive, but I noticed that the graffiti starts slowly.  As you walk into the alley, leaving the busy street, you notice a few tags on the wall.  But it isn’t until you come to a small crevice, produced by a wall of brick that juts out from the building, that you find the painted words piled on top of each other.

The jutting break, which only peaks a foot or so from the building, isn’t enough to hide the graffiti artist from a passerby, but it is enough to provide a cover and to obscure the vision of a curious pedestrian or commuter. 

I thought about that during my walk.  I don’t know who the graffiti artists’ audiences are.  I don’t know how they matter either.  Does what the wall holds before s/he gets there effect the art?  If they’re hiding out behind crevices, what kind of pressure of passing gazes do they feel?  Are their hands shakey?

Or is it that a tag is a tag is a tag […] objectively, almost, if I could use that word.

And here, I am, thinking about writing on the wall.  Wishing that writing in a blog was a little easier.  I don’t know for whom I’m writing and how they matter.  If I wrote for myself, this blog would make a little less sense.  So there is someone, are some bodies out there, and I’m addressing you.

 This is important to me because I have been thinking about my dissertation.  Well, I haven’t really been thinking about “my dissertation,” but the questions and research sites that might help me produce it.

I’ve been thinking about lurkers and all the problems they caused social scientists when they made their way to the Web.  A good portion of early sociological Web research was devoted to proving that the Web was a valid field site.  One strategy to accomplish that was to claim that Web communities were real communities.  Lurkers posed a problem because they frolicked at the virtual border of those communities, making the definition of a member of it considerably more ambiguous than a researcher might like. 

 Now, though, few talk about lurkers.  This is partially because online communities are so 1990.  They remain, of course, but social networking has largely replaced them.  I’m not sure if lurkers have a significant role in how researchers conceptualize participation at FaceBook or MySpace, but what I think is more interesting is that in other Web 2.0 sites – blogs, especially – the lurker (1) transforms into a reader or audience member  and (2) becomes a critical participant in how this Web activity is defined.  Whereas lurkers were annoying, but accepted, participants in web communities and usenet groups, the number of readers … or the size of one’s audience (which is different from the number of links one has received or the number of comments one’s blog entries generate) is now one of the most important ways that we filter Web content.  “Most popular” videos or images are typically those viewed or downloaded the most often.  Readership is one measure of the authority of a blog.

The online audience might constitute a new, panoptic architecture.  But, despite the title of this blog, I’m not ready for that.  Right now, I just wonder who this audience is.  It is not homogonous nor are its members united in their intentions.  We have professors and parents and peers and digital friends and people who see us around campus and anonymous Web users and marketers Googling us.  And many of us know that.  So, I wonder […] how they are reading and why?  And, more importantly, what does their reading do?  And I wonder […] what do the content-generators, the FaceBookers, and MySpacers, and YouTubers, and bloggers do given their presence?

Hmm.  Just hmm.

EP

Posted in blogs, Web 2.0 |

2287 Responses

  1. » Writing on the wall - myspacerip.com Says:

    […] post by empty panopticon and software by Elliott […]

  2. Helga Says:

    Hello, nice site look this:
    Hello my name is netzhizni
    Hello my name is netzhizni
    Hello my name is netzhizni
    Hello my name is netzhizni
    Hello my name is netzhizni
    Hello my name is netzhizni
    Hello my name is netzhizni
    Hello my name is netzhizni
    Hello my name is netzhizni
    Hello my name is netzhizni
    Hello my name is netzhizni

    End ^) See you

  3. netzhizni Says:

    hi my name is netzhizni

  4. John Doe Says:

    5943179c3bb058c99b8d1ead9348a7d0

  5. music Says:

    very interesting.
    i’m adding in RSS Reader

  6. John Doe Says:

    29f6b119149fb69cda7acd37e51f3a6c

  7. John Doe Says:

    d9bf5bea01280f72312dd01ed66fe476

  8. music Says:

    What do you mean ?

  9. izcbwjoym cxkdaj Says:

    mcwrud ryekt jcptrwd xoeil kaybxvw pkqienz kphjesb

  10. prevent pregnancy Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!

  11. buy cheap arava Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!!

  12. ortho Says:

    Cool site. Thanks.

  13. iphone sdk Says:

    Good site. Thank you.

  14. buy ortho tablets Says:

    Useful site. Thank you.

  15. buy cheap arava Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!

  16. headaches and pregnancy and prevent Says:

    Very good site. Thank you.

  17. lickers pussy Says:

    I have just found an interesting forum on this theme
    i

  18. buy ortho tablets Says:

    Good site. Thank you:-)

  19. buy arava pharmacy Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!!

  20. irregular period contraceptive pill Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!!!

  21. buy arava pharmacy Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!

  22. buy ortho Says:

    Good site. Thanks!

  23. ortho Says:

    Cool site. Thanks!!!

  24. ortho generic Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!

  25. buy arava pharmacy Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!!

  26. buy ortho tablets Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!

  27. buy arava pharmacy Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!!

  28. buy ortho Says:

    Cool site. Thank you.

  29. prevent pregnancy Says:

    Very good site. Thank you.

  30. irregular period contraceptive pill Says:

    Nice site. Thanks:-)

  31. irregular period contraceptive pill Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!!!

  32. buy ortho Says:

    Very good site. Thank you.

  33. iphone sdk Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!

  34. buy cheap arava Says:

    Nice site. Thank you.

  35. buy cheap arava Says:

    Useful site. Thank you:-)

  36. buy arava pharmacy Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!!!

  37. ortho Says:

    Nice site. Thank you:-)

  38. ortho Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!

  39. ortho Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!

  40. soma online Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!!

  41. ortho pils Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!!

  42. ortho pills bestechen Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!

  43. buy ortho Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!

  44. hotels in new london Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!

  45. home remodeling dallas Says:

    Good site. Thanks.

  46. buying levaquin Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!!

  47. plumbers Says:

    Nice site. Thanks:-)

  48. plumbers dictionary Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!

  49. kaufen generic ortho Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!!!

  50. mediation seminars Says:

    Very good site. Thanks:-)

  51. purchase effexor Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!

  52. emperors club Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!

  53. cheap car insurance Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!

  54. craigslist boston Says:

    Nice site. Thank you.

  55. zovirax pills Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!!

  56. contraceptive mini pill Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  57. purchase effexor lamictal Says:

    Good site. Thank you:-)

  58. tibet Says:

    Cool site. Thanks!!

  59. college basketball scores Says:

    Useful site. Thank you.

  60. college basketball Says:

    Cool site. Thanks!!

  61. college basketball Says:

    Good site. Thank you:-)

  62. creative writing Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!

  63. poker gambling Says:

    Good site. Thank you!

  64. paycheck loan Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!

  65. casino bonus Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!!

  66. buy pill Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!!!

  67. birth control pills Says:

    Good site. Thanks:-)

  68. spitzer investigated in prostitution ring Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!!

  69. pictures if justin timberlake Says:

    Good site. Thanks:-)

  70. pictures if justin timberlake Says:

    Nice site. Thanks.

  71. southwest airlines Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!!

  72. nexium fed ex Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!

  73. xanax Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!

  74. nexium pills Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!

  75. birth control pills Says:

    Useful site. Thank you:-)

  76. sabdrimer cms Says:

    Good site. Thanks:-)

  77. free spyware cleaning software Says:

    Nice site. Thank you:-)

  78. sabdrimer cms Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!!

  79. kamagra pils Says:

    Very good site. Thanks.

  80. acheter kamagra Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!!

  81. acheter kamagra Says:

    Useful site. Thanks.

  82. acheter kamagra Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!

  83. airborne take of four Says:

    Cool site. Thanks.

  84. blu ray drive Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!

  85. keno net casino games Says:

    Nice site. Thank you.

  86. mmarr Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!!!

  87. paralegal payscale Says:

    Good site. Thanks:-)

  88. xerox copier toner Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!

  89. xerox copier toner Says:

    Nice site. Thank you:-)

  90. canon toner cartridges Says:

    Very good site. Thank you:-)

  91. buy 70 plasma Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!!!

  92. samsung bulk toner Says:

    Very good site. Thank you:-)

  93. samsung toner Says:

    Very good site. Thanks.

  94. online diovan sold Says:

    Very good site. Thank you.

  95. car price quotes Says:

    Cool site. Thank you.

  96. Birth Control Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!!

  97. Diane35 Says:

    Cool site. Thanks!!

  98. mans health Says:

    Very good site. Thanks:-)

  99. coumadin pills Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!!

  100. buy coumadin online Says:

    Good site. Thanks.

  101. samsung clp300 toner Says:

    Good site. Thank you.

  102. samsung clp300 toner Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  103. canon copier toner Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!!!

  104. xerox toner Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!

  105. paralegal programs Says:

    Very good site. Thank you.

  106. paralegal programs Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  107. buy levaquin online Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  108. order xanax now visa Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!!

  109. sbrr Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!

  110. buy cheap generic effexor Says:

    Very good site. Thank you:-)

  111. generic nexium Says:

    Very good site. Thanks:-)

  112. generic ortho tri Says:

    Good site. Thanks.

  113. ortho tri purchase Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!!!

  114. ortho tri purchase Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!

  115. buy evra ortho patch Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!!!

  116. vasotec Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!

  117. paralegal Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  118. xerox Says:

    Cool site. Thanks!!

  119. wine Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!

  120. buy cheap diovan Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!!!

  121. buy cheap arava Says:

    Good site. Thanks!

  122. buy cheap levaquin Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!!

  123. buy cheap mircette Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!

  124. buy cheap nexium Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!

  125. buy cheap renova Says:

    Cool site. Thank you:-)

  126. buy pills online Says:

    Nice site. Thank you:-)

  127. chase bank Says:

    Cool site. Thanks!!

  128. chase bank logon Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!

  129. visa ipo Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!

  130. kariva Says:

    Useful site. Thanks:-)

  131. estrace tablets Says:

    Nice site. Thanks:-)

  132. priscilla presley Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!

  133. obama speech Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!

  134. buy discount vasotec online Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!!

  135. new york auto show Says:

    Cool site. Thanks!

  136. buy discount viagra online Says:

    Cool site. Thank you.

  137. buy discount ortho tri cycken online Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!

  138. samsung clp300 toner Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!

  139. gay porn video Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!!!

  140. best free gay video Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!

  141. gay auctions online Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!

  142. gay auctions online Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!

  143. gay bdsm toys Says:

    Very good site. Thanks:-)

  144. cleaning floor wood Says:

    Very good site. Thanks.

  145. wood floor finish Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!!

  146. second amendment Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!!!

  147. robot dogs Says:

    Cool site. Thank you.

  148. web videos Says:

    Cool site. Thanks!

  149. nursing scrubs mens Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!!

  150. jewellers london Says:

    Very good site. Thank you:-)

  151. mortgage rates Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!!

  152. jewelry turquoise silver Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  153. personal injury Says:

    Good site. Thank you!

  154. personal injury Says:

    Good site. Thanks.

  155. make money at home Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!!

  156. fico score Says:

    Useful site. Thank you:-)

  157. my fico Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!!

  158. water source heat pumps Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!!

  159. pool filter pumps Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!!

  160. water pumps Says:

    Good site. Thank you.

  161. film colleges Says:

    Useful site. Thank you:-)

  162. bank auto loan Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!!

  163. secured personal loan Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!!!

  164. bank auto loan Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!!

  165. diamond district Says:

    Cool site. Thank you:-)

  166. bacchanal Says:

    Very good site. Thanks.

  167. secured personal loan Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!!

  168. hotel job Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  169. cdg karaoke cd player Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!!

  170. lose body fat Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!

  171. home refi Says:

    Useful site. Thanks.

  172. home refi Says:

    Useful site. Thanks.

  173. toner recycling Says:

    Very good site. Thank you.

  174. copier toner cartridge Says:

    Cool site. Thanks!!!

  175. laser toner printer Says:

    Good site. Thanks.

  176. printer toner cartridges Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!!

  177. ortho tricyclen online pharmacy Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!

  178. craigs list stl Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!!

  179. craigs list Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!

  180. paralegal program minnesota Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!!

  181. online paralegal Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!!

  182. online sales ortho Says:

    Very good site. Thank you.

  183. zovirax pils Says:

    Cool site. Thank you:-)

  184. zovirax bars for sale Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!

  185. uti purchase amoxicillin Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!!

  186. purchase amoxicillin Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  187. purchase amoxicillin Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!!

  188. where to buy levaquin 500 mg Says:

    Useful site. Thank you:-)

  189. where to buy levaquin csf Says:

    Useful site. Thanks:-)

  190. where to buy levaquin diabetes Says:

    Nice site. Thanks.

  191. download pokemon game on pc Says:

    Cool site. Thank you.

  192. pokemon emerald cheats Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!!

  193. pokemon websites Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!

  194. virginia bathroom remodeling Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!!

  195. funeral services Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  196. sociology a level test papers questions and answers Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!!!

  197. tax refund Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!

  198. auto water pumps Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!!

  199. prom dresses Says:

    Good site. Thanks!

  200. all prom dresses Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!!

  201. electric scooter motor Says:

    Very good site. Thank you:-)

  202. cheap it