Stern Webster

Stern’s article makes some very valid points about cultural studies of the internet. Not only do users not understand the technology they operate, but even scholars lack the ability and methods to properly diagnose these issues. I found it quite humorous that all the while Stern manages to criticize and critique other researchers in their studies, he himself doesn’t attack the issue head on. He merely circulates around the issue by bringing other arguments into the equation. On page 265 he makes a reference to Sadie Plants analysis that cyberspace has overheated the patriarchal control. He then quickly dismantles her claim then rebuttals with nothing but his own opinion. As I read further into his article I had an even harder time distinguishing between what he represented as fact or even what the hell he was talking about. As soon as I grasped what direction his article was going he would jump off main stream and vomit pure drivel. When he talks about the distinction between virtual reality and reality itself and then references to fictional works about online rape sites; I failed to see how FICTIONAL works will help anyone separate the alternate worlds. The next reading from Robbins and Webster was much more concrete and specific. The article makes some references to how capitalism has helped influence the development of technology. Because ultimately knowledge is power, and in terms of technology, from a cultural perspective; the more that is accumulated the wealthier peoples may become. At the same time while knowledge of technologies has been developing, the capitalistic control over a subordinate group also became full fledged. Undoubtedly if one were to analyze today’s economy versus what it was in the previous century. One would see that technology has helped utilize individuals vast control over the counties revenue. To me it has become apparent that the revolution as it has been dubbed has only consolidated business into large million dollar corporate conglomerates. As ICT’s further evolve , this will only induce complicated social structures and a huge advancement in capitalistic societies.