Weblogs have come to the fore as major new media for identity formation and management. Within the context of the current “global village” those new electronic spaces became vital tools in orchestrating certain particular and cultural traits that can be understood as new forces of anti-globalization resistance. Equally, such weblogs are also indispensible in contemporary modern societies notably multi-ethnic and multi-cultural ones like the United States of America. Based on American experience, this article attempts to show how American ethnic groups employ new technology to give a new shape and dimension to their quest for rights and identity assertion. Thus, blogs provided for ethnic and social minorities a digital virtual space to negotiate their identities and promote their perspectives. Bloggers, consequently, expressed and presented their “real” ethnicity-related concerns in that virtual space. In this article, I randomly analyzed qualitatively a number of race-related blogs in order to trace the interplay between the real and the virtual in new media in general and blogs in particular.
Key words: blog; ethnicity; the virtual; the real; and identity.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Ethnicity-Related Weblogs: The Interplay of the Virtual and the Real in Ethnic Identity Management in America
- Introduction: The Rise of Ethnic Identity and the Power of Weblogs
- The Role of Weblogs in Ethnic Identity Management
- Self-Disclosure and the Dramaturgical Perspective
- Blogs as Public Spaces of Self-Expression
- Simulation and the Hyperreal in Ethnic Weblogs
- Case Studies: Analyzing Ethnic-Related Weblogs
- Reformed Blacks of America
- SeeLight
- Blacks for Bush
- Gender Discrepancies in Blogging
- Conclusion: The Virtual and the Real in Ethnic Identity Management
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This article examines the role of weblogs in shaping and managing ethnic identity within the context of American multiculturalism. The author explores how ethnic groups utilize new technology to voice their concerns, promote their perspectives, and navigate their identity in a digital space.
- The impact of weblogs on ethnic identity formation and management
- The interplay between the virtual and the real in online ethnic identity expression
- The potential for social alienation and the erosion of real-world communication competence through online spaces
- The role of self-disclosure and the dramaturgical perspective in understanding online identity presentations
- The concept of simulation and hyperreality as it relates to ethnic weblogs
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The article begins by highlighting the significance of ethnic identity in a multicultural context, emphasizing the rise of ethnic groups demanding recognition and rights. The focus then shifts to weblogs as a new medium for ethnic minorities to articulate their concerns and perspectives.
The author examines the concept of self-disclosure and Erving Goffman's dramaturgical perspective, arguing that weblogs provide a platform for individuals to manage their self-presentations in a virtual environment. The article explores the potential for weblogs to blur the distinction between private and public realms, allowing for greater freedom of expression and identity formation.
The concept of simulation and hyperreality, as presented by Jean Baudrillard, is introduced, raising concerns about the potential for weblogs to create a disconnect between the real and virtual worlds. The article examines the role of mass media in shaping our understanding of reality and the impact of simulacra on our perception of the world.
The author presents case studies of three ethnic-related weblogs, highlighting their thematic and functional properties. These examples illustrate how bloggers use weblogs to discuss real-world issues, engage in political discourse, and promote their ethnic perspectives.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of the text include: weblogs, ethnicity, virtual reality, identity, self-disclosure, dramaturgy, simulation, hyperreality, multiculturalism, and ethnic identity management. The article also examines the role of gender in blogging and the influence of mass media on our perception of reality.
- Quote paper
- Hassen ZRIBA (Author), 2010, Ethnicity-related weblogs. The interplay of the virtual and the real in ethnic identity management in America, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/267026
