We Like… Cultural Traits In Cyberculture
Author(s)
G. Fletcher & A. Greenhill
Abstract
This paper critically identifies a series of traits that are representative of
contemporary cyberculture(s). From this identification the paper considers the
way in which these traits – as they are specifically articulated in the spaces of the
World Wide Web – enables the articulation of social solidarity through the
continuous synthesis of conflict and conformity. A key claim is that cyberculture
is not immune from the practices of conflict and aggression found elsewhere in
‘everyday life’. Effacing, or attempting to efface, these practices from a virtual
provenance is argued to be a fraught agenda that ignores the ways that
aggression promotes solidarity. This paper draws upon the empirical evidence of
popular Web search terms to reveal the popularity and persistence of interest in a
relatively small set of activities and ‘things’. A series of cultural traits are then
consequently identified as being general preferences for freeness, participation,
customisation, perversion and anonymity. These traits find expression within an
information-rich environment that supports acts of conflict while also enabling
expressions of conformity. The paper concludes with the observation that
conflict and conformity are bound in a dialectic relationship that supports
continuous (cyber)cultural dynamism and change.
Keywords: cultural traits, solidarity, conformity, conflict, cyberculture, webbased
search, information rich environment, everyday life.
1 Introduction: cyberculture and everyday life
1.1 Introduction
This paper draws upon a series of ‘classic’ social science concepts and
understandings to critically position the notion and meanings of cyberculture.
The use of ‘traditional’ concepts reflects the central position of this paper that
Keywords
cultural traits, solidarity, conformity, conflict, cyberculture, webbased
search, information rich environment, everyday life.
Related Book
Other papers in this volume
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