Date TBA
A Realm of Hyperpublicity
Guiding Issues:
Now we go back to where we began the course. Compare and contrast the first half of Sunstein's Republic.com with Chapter 7 of Howard Rheingold's Smart Mobs. How is the utopia/dystopia theme foreshadowed in these accounts? Could both authors be correct simultaneously? Remember: They are speaking abstractly. But after the material we have covered, you are analyzing concretely.
Hyperpublicity, Virtue or Vice:
In much of what we've read, the idea of the 'public realm' has been treated as a good in itself. When people join to pursue a common cause, there is supposedly the potential for creating something that transcends the narrow interests of the individual. But certainly, this can't always be true.
In this section, we will examine both positive and negative examples of hyperpublicity, or hyperpublic-ness (if there were such a word), to speculate about the Internet's capacity for bringing people together. In particular, I have selected cases of radical movements that thrive on the resources provided by the Internet.
As you reflect upon the positive and the negative aspects of such movements, think about America's experience, What role have protest movements played in American history? Why do these protest movements seem to recur? Note: The US was founded on a tradition of radical protest. Why do most Americans today have such a marked aversion to political protest?
The most prominent political protests of your generation have been represented by the very diverse groups--left-wing radicals, skinheads, anarchists, trade unions, minorities, libertarians, computer nerds, environmentalists--that have come together to campaign against global organizations such as the WTO, IMF, and World Bank. These protests, which began in Seattle 1999, came out of nowhere. They will likely recur.
Surf through the first two sites below: 1) What role does the Internet play in sustaining these protests? 2) Why would many Americans feel uncomfortable about these sites?
The Ruckus Society (especially "Gallery" and "Training," their links)
Net Action , especially Virtual Activist Training Reader
Then, surf some of the largely offensive sites below. Caution: Some of them contain disturbing images, especially The Nuremberg Files, so be careful. Read as much as you like.
Question: Should Web Sites or Internet Service Providers be allowed to promote violence about any or all of the following. . . .?
. . . sports: Mob Handed; Hooligans.cz; Terrace Links; Midwest Skins.
. . . controversial policies : The Nuremberg Files; Police Powers;
. . . political opinions: Blood and Honour
. . . religion: Resistance, Who Runs USA?
. . . or, for that matter, whatever forms of hatred appeal to somebody: Hate Directory?
Even if we don't like these sites, is there anything we can do about them? Can we use them to monitor the groups who run them? Can we get rid of these sites?