1. Dramaturgical metaphors as information theories April 7, 2004 IS 208B

2. Today’s topics 1. Games 2. Reprise: how do online social networks work? Information exchange. 3. Goffman, The role of social networks in the formation of identity. 4. Laurel, computers as theater -- a model of online information exchange

3. Reprise online social networks 1. Information exchange & processing is their role; 2. Must establish and enforce genre rules about boundaries, topic, behavior to create a sense of place; 3. Motivation from status and sense of membership, constructed from responses, importance of information content, naming. 4. Face to face contact adds stability, generality of topic, depth of commitment.

4. 1.Games Note role of online status & membership: Contests = dedicated web sites, clans with membership rules, best player competitions -- key to motivation. Worlds. Role playing and avatars falling off, people playing themselves playing games. Anticipating Laurel = the role of immersion and action. Multiple channel = the role of IM, websites, ftf meetings, etc.

5. 2.Economy of Information Online social networks are examples of Salen & Zimmerman’s “systems of information” = focusing in on communication rules that define and enforce face to face norms. Similarly, the most stable self-governing online social networks also meet face to face, where strong ties can be formed or reinforced.

6. Social networks based upon information exchange These sorts of communities are examples of Salen & Zimmerman = information theory systems = information rich environments have high noise, ambiguity  The most stable virtual communities fulfill an information need that cannot be fulfilled face to face peoples in diaspora, people with rare medical conditions, dispersed political movements like Greenpeace, etc.  These are ‘strong ties’ based upon value of information exchanged, frequency of contact, reciprocal contribution of info, trust, etc.

7. Or, the power of online group membership Online communities having specialized topics have their own group dynamics, including status within the group, commitment to the topic. But they tend to be short term, remain specialized rather than generalized, and are based upon weak ties.

8. 3. Goffman’s dramaturgical metaphor o We act out roles, with props, on stages, etc. o Information model of interaction: oSpeech = sending messages through symbols, oEmbodied information = we (unconsciously) send information through gestures, tones, etc. oSight = feedback mechanism, how are others interpreting the messages we send?

9. Public order o Speech is interpreted by others who may/may not share our cultural interpretation of the meaning of symbols. o Body subject to rules or situational proprieties including body disciplines (alertness), and personal front (‘face,’ ‘limb discipline’). o Occurs within ‘social occasions’ bound in place and time, ‘standing behavior patterns’ (like genres) within which people interpret and react to appropriate and inappropriate behavior.

10. Implication Identity is socially constructed, in message/interpretation/feedback loop, not an innate characteristic of the self (‘mutuality,’ ‘copresence’). Identity has three components: 1. Story. What is the social context? 2. Rules. What’s my role? 3. Individual. How can I act/improvise my role to be successful? All of these things can/should be defined online.

11. society as a triad Ego, other, witness. But, you can ‘act out,’ disobey expectations and proprieties. Total institutions attempt to control every aspect of the expression of self (prisons, mental institutions, hospitals), I.e., through uniforms, limited fields of action, lack of feedback to you as an individual, etc.

12. 4. Computer as theater 1. Brenda Laurel. Software is an artistic medium -- not a tool -- because it is based upon culture. 2. Think of software design as theater -- a matter of directing actors and actions in a story. 3. Metaphors are ‘cognitive hooks,’ enabling action with low cultural overhead -- but the real goal is improv.

13. theater 1. Following this logic: a)How does social software allow participants to define a “character”? b)How does it allow participants to build a stage? c)How does it allow them to enact a scene?

16. Monday, April 12 Theme: Identity and Deception Readings:DonathBoyd Turkle, Tinysex Nakamura, Race & Cyberspace