As discussed
within Fred Turner’s article, the virtual community “WELL” is
reviewed. As Turner discusses the WELL is the oldest online community. In
addition, the WELL formed a virtual community, which allowed others to connect
with each other regardless of location and time. Turner described the interaction between users as rapid and continuous at the convenience of the user. Further into the reading,
Turner described the WELL as a creation of counterculture as a network forum.
This form of counterculture linked others to another culture.
Within Jodi
Dean’s article “Apps and Drive”, Dean explores the life of apps on our phones.
In addition, Dean discusses the benefit that it gives to the consumers and
producers of these apps. Apps allow us
to be connected to one another. As consumers, we have many options of what apps
we would like to use as well. Apps allow us to withdraw from the world just
momentarily into another world that is virtual.
I believe that
Turner’s and Dean’s article have a deeper underlying connection. To further
explain, Turner’s article discuses the early beginnings of a virtual community
known as WELL. This created the means of allowing others to connect on a new
level, prior to the expansion of the Internet and apps. Dean takes more of a modern approach to how apps allow for others to be
connected on an even deeper level. With using such apps, we have become
dependent on finding value in their purposes with interactions. I believe that apps and the WELL both hold the same purpose of keeping others connected in which can allow relationships to form.
I found a blog online that is ran by a mother
who refers to herself as a “counter culture” mom. The blog post that I found very interesting
was titled “The Best Goal Setting Apps to Live By”. I found this tied in the idea of a "network forum" and the use of apps. The apps listed are not
considered very mainstream in comparison to Instagram or Twitter but they are
still available to all of those who have access to the App Store.
I posted the
blog below.
http://counterculturemom.com/the-best-goal-setting-apps-to-live-by/
-->
Do you think
there is a “standard” involved when perceiving something or someone as apart of
counter culture? Do you believe that counter cultures still exist in our world
today based on how connected society is? Do you think it makes sense to label
yourself as being apart of “counter culture” if you still participate in using
apps?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI do think there is a standard involved when perceiving objects or a particular group as a part of counter culture. In order to a “counterculture” to arise, I think it must be defined as one by those in “mainstream cultures”. The mainstream culture then makes common stereotypes and associations to that of the cultural other. Notably, these associations are developed for the particular purpose of countering mainstream culture. Further, I think counter cultures still exists in our world today based on how connected society is. This had made me think back to CS235 when Dr. Herman had discussed Punk Culture and the topic of “Heavy Metal Music”. This particular group of people and genre was developed as a response against the social conditions of the mid-1970s. One can see how punk culture and heavy metal music today has created its own market and place in the mainstream music industry. Slowly, more people began to associate themselves with this identity by dressing in a certain way and listening to heavy metal music. As this was occurring, capitalist corporations had recognized the potential growth and value in a “counterculture” and begin to incorporate the associations into the mainstream.
ReplyDeleteI found this Avril lavigne interview discussing what she wants to label her self as, claiming it is more punk to tell people you’re not punk then sit there and tell people you are. Then she goes on to to discuss an abundance of ‘punk characteristics’ that she likes to do, without a particular label and her thoughts of seeing herself becoming commercialized. I thought this was relatable to the discussion of counter culture. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIEC4GuZ9Y4
Moreover, I do think that at some point the particular counterculture exists but also slowly becomes integrated into the mainstream. In accordance to the blog you attached, it provided apps such as Nozbe, GoalsonTrack, and Wunderlist. These apps I have never heard of, but nonetheless do much of the same thing that most popular apps found in the App Store are capable of doing. By way of this, I think for the time being it is appropriate to label them as a part of the “counterculture” because they are not yet “mainstream”. I think counterculture apps will have to wait and see if they will survive in the mainstream or fail in the counterculture, just as WELL did, but undeniably failed as a social media website.