Topics for Analysis

Plan for the Discussion

  • Digital World
  • Database Culture
  • Cultural Studies
  • Gender Reproduction
  • Digital Humanities

Digital World

Although we can argue that information has not been static–delivered in final form, separate from the network of sources interacting with it–for a rather long time, we recognize that digital platforms offer audiences dynamic access to more information than ever possible in human civilization. What comes to mind when you hear the following:

  • Information Age
  • Information Superhighway
  • Big Data (privacy concerns…)
  • Database

About 25 years ago, database usually meant a repository of data accessible through a network.

Database Culture

We are a database culture. The texts we access have increasingly become digital outputs than print documents: These outputs are assembled into a text that’s made up of packets of data displayed to the audience.

Mediating information is the major goal of our society, and we’ve created technologies that allow instant access (and instant gratification) to an enormous amount of information, including entertainment. How might the following stock prices reveal the importance of access to information in the US and global economy?*

*Please note that stock prices are not the only factor in determining a company’s value. They do, however, suggest the relative importance of a company in the minds of investors. Another factor to consider is outstanding shares. Amazon has nearly 500 Million outstanding shares. The amount of Ford’s outstanding shares is close to 4 Billion–with a ‘B”. The older the company, the more likely they will have more shares, and the price will be lower. {This page makes no claim of providing investing advice.}

Cultural Studies

Although we can’t possibly cover the definition (or definitions of) cultural studies, we should have a useful definition for discussion. Please note, however, that it would take an entire semester (or longer) to delve into the intricacies and boundaries of cultural studies. Here’s my working definition:

Cultural studies is an approach to understanding the world by examining the ways in which individuals, as members of overlapping social groups, reproduce ideology (usually prevailing, dominant ideology) in their values, behaviors, and practices. By analyzing the artifacts of a culture, we can determine the values that shape culture.

Therefore, the texts, technologies, and tactics of a culture reveal shared values; however, these values aren’t universally held. When analyzing culture, we often find patterns. Ideology mediates our behaviors, entertainment, information sources, etc. Most importantly, this mediation is invisible and creates the illusion that our choices are natural, not socially constructed. (Time for psychoanalysis** refresher?)

Gender Reproduction

I debated whether or not to title this “Gender Reproduction” or “Gender Performance.” In order to conform to the language I’ve been using–cultural reproduction–I decided to go with the former heading.

Lev Manovich’s (2001) exploration of new media begins by asking, “What is unique about how new media objects create the illusion of reality, address the viewer, and represent space and time?” (p. 8)

The above quotation uses the phrase “the illusion of reality.” I believe Manovich’s perspective is that the technologies that render texts in the digital world mediate reality. I’ll add, in order to be well received by an audience, these media must reproduce versions of reality privileged by the audience. The digital world is FULL of examples of gender(ed) reproductions.

Images of Gender vs. (normal) Behavior

It seems we live in binary worlds, the feminine and masculine, the gay and straight, the liberal and conservative, the red and the blue. While there are more complex arrangements in the “real world,” our menus for gender and sexuality are usually dualistic. Those spheres (and their duality) are socially constructed–they are made up of what is considered normal, and any deviation is considered abnormal. Some say media influence our understanding of what it means to be a man or woman, but others point out that it merely reflects what is already considered normal, or, more importantly, ideal.

It’s hard to defend we’re not influenced by media, but it’s equally difficult (if not impossible) to claim that media influence every viewer the same way. However, theories allow us to explain how prevalent reproductions might influence members of a culture. If media reproduce prevailing cultural ideologies, we can locate these ideologies across texts and practices. No one text or practice will hold all meanings possible (and may hold prevailing contradictory meanings), but they can helps us identify “ideological hegemony.” This concept, derived from Antonio Gramsci, “[is] the process by which certain ways of understanding the world become so self-evident or naturalized as to render alternatives nonsensical or unthinkable” (Barker & Jane, p. 603).

In a sexist culture, one that establishes masculine and feminine gendered roles, indoctrination happens early and is reinforced by a variety of institutions: family, media, education, etc. Different gendered consumer products might seem “natural” choices for boys or girls, yet we know those choices are mediated by prevailing ideologies. Barker & Jane mention that “the toy aisles of large department stores” embody gendered reproductions (p. 382). Let’s consider the messages in the following children’s television shows, which also have material consumer products available to reproduce gendered behaviors and, more importantly, tastes.

He-Man and She-Ra

Compare the two introductions to He-Man and She-Ra. Are they the same–meaning no difference in the portrayal of the masculine character vs. the feminine character?

Are the representations congruent with your understanding of masculine and feminine roles? Don’t forget your psychoanalytic hat either: What’s going on with the ways the two hold their swords? If “phallocentrism is the concept that power stems from whomever wields the phallus” or “an obsession with the phallus or phallic objects” (Toscano, 2020, p. ), how might we interpret the characters’ wielding of swords in the introductions?

Roland Barthes reading “Novels and Children”

Barthes identifies gender reproduction in Elle magazine’s decision to photograph female novelists alongside their children. He argues this is what patriarchy (unconsciously…although many would easily argue this is overt sexism) expects: Women can work, but they have to fulfill their “natural” role as mothers.

Nancy Pelosi, first Madame Speaker of the House

Take a look at these images of Nancy Pelosi and the fact that she had been surrounded by children when she took over the position of Speaker of the house (1/4/2007):

What might Barthes say about the choice of children surrounding her?
From where does female power come?

Notice the background when John Boehner takes over as Speaker of the House. He also cried. Then, Paul Ryan takes the gavel, 2015.

***Yes, there is a picture of Boehner holding a baby when he takes over as Speaker, but it’s no longer up.

Digital Humanities

Critique this “presentation” through a digital humanities lens. In other words, what are the pros and cons of this particular methodology?

  • What does this presentation privilege? Consider its format.
  • What digital methods enhanced your understanding of the topic?
  • What might make your understanding of the topic clearer?
  • How does this fit into your understanding of digital humanities as a discipline and/or methodology?
  • What should follow (or be added to) this presentation? In other words, does it have a future?

***Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is a vast, complicated subject with contradictions, passé ideas, new ideas, more contradictions, a few reclamations, and hardly any definitive definitions. In no way should you consider this discussion as the end of the road or final say in the study of psychoanalysis. In fact, it’s one of several possible beginnings. For our purposes, like focus on the study of the unconscious and how it relates to cultural studies.

In English Studies, psychoanalytic methods of interpretation attempt to reveal the unconscious fears, desires, attitudes, and motivations of authors. For our new media/digital discussion, consider an author a writer, director, artist, architect, and creator. Their creations–which can be co-authored–reveal their unconscious, which has been shaped by their experiences. And it’s the experiences shaped by their culture(s) that we’re interested in analyzing.

Again, this is a method of interpretation that isn’t above critique.

Works Cited
Barthes, Roland. “Novels and Children.” Mythologies. New York: Hill and Wang, 1972. pp. 50-52.
Manovich, Lev. (2001). The Language of New Media. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Toscano, Aaron. Video Games and American Culture: How Ideology Influences Virtual Worlds. Lexington Books, 2020