CROSSROADS IN CULTURAL STUDIES
Fourth International Conference
June 29 - July 2, 2002, Tampere, Finland
Youth, Media and Communication Technologies Sessions
Organisers: Virpi Oksman and Pirjo Rautiainen
Youth, Media and Communication Technologies I
Ribak, Rivka (University of Haifa, Israel) "I AM THE
AUTHORITY":KNOWLEDGE AND IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION AMONG YOUNG COMPUTER EXPERTS
This paper examines the reconfiguration of such entrenched binaries as
child-adult, dependence-independence and entertainment-education in light of the
massive domestication of the computer. Conventionally, age is intimately
associated with independence, and knowledge is related to both. Young computer
experts and parents who depend on their children's computer mastery appear to
subvert this hierarchy and question the dichotomies on which it is founded.
Drawing on extended observations and interviews with Israeli families and family
members, this paper will explore (1) the specific computer practices that
constitute a sense of (adolescent) independence and (parental) dependence; (2)
the positioning of these practices in relation to the use of other communication
technologies (notably the sense of independence derived from the ownership/use
of the mobile phone); and (3) the cultural reconstruction (through moral panic
and pride) of undisciplined learning and intuitive expertise as legitimate
sources of physical and psychological
independence.
Uotinen, Johanna (University of Joensuu, Finland) "I DIDN'T GROW INTO
FULL-DAY TUNER OF MY MOPED" - ON THE COMPUTER EXPERIENCES OF YOUNG MEN
In
the focus of my presentation is the experience-based relationship between young
men and IT as it appears in the "computer-biographies" written by IT
students at North Karelian Polytechnic (NCP). I spread the invitation to
participate in the writing of computer-biographies in North Karelia from the end
of the year 1998 to the end of the year 1999. With the computer-biographies I
mean freely written texts based on given themes, considering the meanings and
effects that IT have on the different areas of life. On the whole I got 129
texts about people's experiences and opinions about IT. Out of those seventy
were written by young male IT students at NCP. Through these texts I ask what
does information technology mean to the young men? What kind of connection there
is between (young) men and machines?
Bober, Magdalena (Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom) BOYS
AND GIRLS ON THE NET
The paper examines the gender differences in the Internet
use of young people, focussing on - what types of sites and Internet services
girls use compared to boys, - attitudes towards the Internet, - what website
creators think of gender issues surrounding the Web and - what consequences the
points listed above have on young people's development of identity and gender
roles. The data is derived from a survey and interviews with 11-19-year-olds,
interviews with creators of websites for young people, an analysis of these
sites as well as an analysis of personal homepages made by young people. The
findings will be compared to previous research on the differences between girls
and boys using the media. It will be argued that girls use the Internet in a
more communicative way than boys, furthermore that the education system is more
favourable towards boys using ICTs and that websites targeted at girls reinforce
existing gender stereotypes.
Youth, Media and Communication Technologies II
Runnel, Pille and Vengerfeldt, Pille (Tartu University, Estonia) SIGNIFICANCE
OF INTERNET AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE OF ESTONIA
It is said that the number of
webpages, a person regularily visits is around ten. Those ten webpages (in
broader context applications) define what Internet means and how it is
understood by the user. Our paper will look at the associations that young
people have with Internet. What Internet means for them and how do they
associate it with their everyday activities. Our aim is to show how different
age groups have different associations regarding Internet, how their level of
understanding and speaking of Internet variates. We have been using mind maps
and interviews to compare elementary-, primary- and grammarschool pupils, but
also at University students in both bachelor and master level. For comparison we
will use mind maps from university lectors.
Sotamaa, Olli (University of Tampere, Finland) VIRTUAL DANCEFLOORS?: NOTES ON
SPACIAL PRACTICES OF DIGITAL CLUBBING
The history of club cultures undeniably
shows that clubbers and ravers have always been enthusiastic on experimenting
with new gadgets and technologies. Therefore it is no wonder that clubbing
communities have quickly adopted the new forms of digital communication. Cheap
digital technology has made it possible to expand the clubbing experiences to
the net: hundreds of club related websites combine bulleting boards, fanzines,
listings, flyers, DJ play lists, live webcasts etc. Contrary to many other youth
subcultures clubbing has traditionally been strongly tied to certain places and
locations - the clubs. Therefore the virtual space of internet challenges the
whole nature of this subculture. Through interviews and analysis of online
discussions I have tried to outline the central effects digital communication
technologies have on the categories of space (spectacle, ritual, social space)
both in terms of the whole clubbing subculture and of actual club events.
Batsirai, Mike Chivhanga (City University of London, United Kingdom) MOBILE
PHONE 'CONVENIENCE' - FOCUS ON TEENAGERS IN THE UK
The paper will show key
trends in mobile phone usage among teenagers in the age group 12 to 19 in the
UK. The analysis is based on an international study, funded by Nokia Mobile
Phones Ltd that involved other project
partners in Japan and Finland. The UK study has shown that a distinct mobile
phone culture is emerging among teenagers. It's serving both as an essential
tool for social networking and a new lifestyle symbol. The teenagers are driving
change through personalisation of the mobile phone device and services and peer
influence among other major pushes. A model of the interplay between these
forces - teenagers as a segment of the mobile phone user population, mobile
phone manufacturers, mobile phone service providers and regulatory authorities
is suggested to increase the strategic development and positive impact of
wireless mobile devices not just among teenagers, but other age groups.
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