Cyberpower Book

#curriculum #digitext If you need a reference for power phenomena on the Internet, this book sort of works, though it badly needs updating for the social media age. Most readable parts are the explanation of theories of power in the beginning and the grey-boxed "myths of cyberspace" (myths in the sense of iconic stories retold). Good on permanent information overload and the cooptation of the geekerie by the "offline elites" - which has accelerated as the collapse of other sectors seems to make it a luxury to build the cyberspace we want.
The invented terminology is not always successful. A few quotes:
"Offline elites seeking to utilize the informational space of flows will have little interest in sustaining the identity experimentation available in MUDs, while individuals atempting to enhance their powers may see little advantage in cyberspace becoming the home of niche marketing." p. 171
"Individual domination occurs when the technology that creates cyberspace is a given to be used. Elite domination occurs when the technology that creates cyberspace is manipulated and reconstructed. Individuals exist in cyberspace by using the tools that depend on a technological infrastructure controlled by an elite, but that technological infrastructure exists to provide the tools that individuals use for empowerment." p. 211