Again, sorry about not doing the primary blog during 3/11... I'll be primary blogging with Kyle.
Summary:
Joyce Davidson’s paper Autistic Culture Online: Virtual Communication and Cultural Expression on the Spectrum provided an interesting analysis of how people on the Autistic Spectrum (AS) have their own way of communicating. This form of communication through virtual interaction is even being expressed as comparable to the spread of sign language amongst the deaf (Singer 1999; 67). Davidson explains that the emerging AS culture online is attributed to differences between neurotypical patterns of expression, which may cause confusion with expressions and interruptions, and saying what you have to say in its entirety and then waiting for the other to respond (Davidson 795-796). AS do the latter, and virtual communication is the medium, or “accessible meeting place”, that allows them to communicate in a clear, straightforward manner and to alleviate the anxieties that are coupled with physical social interaction (Davidson 796). Furthermore, the computer enables people on the AS to communicate better because of non-typical delays in a response, something that wouldn’t never allowed in real life. The virtual reality, such as online chat rooms, forums, and video games, have allowed for them to share a ‘form of life’, a term of Wittgenstein’s that implies certain groups are understanding, communicating, and relating with each other. The paper is intended for anyone, but could be specifically directed to those interested in online communities, specifically the Autistic culture. Davidson claims that the Internet is a medium for distinctive autistic styles of communication and that their form of communication is often misunderstood. The autism culture online is what many on the AS identify with and now isolated members of the autism community can join an participate (Davidson 800). Questions of self-definition and self-advocacy have risen from challenges in social interactions, but Davidson claims that has now changed. Davidson’s paper disputes that AS cannot effectively communicate because now their identifiable online autistic community is effectively showing how they do so and how their collective voice and community are growing stronger.
Inquiry:
I found Joyce Davidson’s paper to be extremely interesting and to be the most surprising of the articles that we’ve read thus far. The online autistic culture that was explained has definitely opened my eyes to how enabling the computer and Internet can be to people on the Autistic Spectrum. Through her claims that people on the AS are misunderstood with how they communicate, I have to fully agree because I never knew that these types of online communities were developing and that so many could relate themselves to them and effectively communicate in them. The most interesting to me was the Autism Island in Second Life. Seeing how people already identify with groups with online video games (like the guy that came in and talked about Guild Wars), I find it even more amazing that the autistic community even do this as well. Online gaming really has shown me that it can bring people together of all kinds of backgrounds and that maybe it is the most important of all new media. I also find it very interesting that they even wanted official recognition by the UN that they are indeed a minority group (Nelson 2004: n.p.). With Davidson’s explanation, however, it makes sense because they have their own way of using language and have a form of communication that is different than the general population (Davidson 799). I find that their different ‘language game’ is often misunderstood and support Davidson’s arguments that it may not be a disability, especially with new media enabling them to effectively communicate and identify with each other. The paper did bring a few questions to mind as well:
1. Do you believe that the autistic community should be recognized as a legitimate minority group by the United Nations?
2. Do you belong to a ‘form of life’ online? If so, how do you identify, understand, and communicate with that community?
3. Do you agree or disagree that new media can enable different things such as communication, organization, relationships, etc.? Why or why not?
4. Do you know anyone with autism, and do they participate in the forms of online communities that Davidson discussed? If they don’t, do you think it would be beneficial for them to?
This is pretty off-topic but the paper reminded me of J-Mac. If you haven't seen it, you won't be disappointed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmaIsE2nLZk
Posts
In response to the question of "Do you agree or disagree that new media can enable different things such as communication, organization, relationships, etc.? Why or why not?", I agree with the argument that the guest speaker we had that talked with us about online gaming (World of Warcraft specifically) as a way that we are able to communicate and share ideas almost instantaneously. With the developments and advancements that have been made in internet communications, we now have the ability to confide and seek advice from people all across the world that have a similar concern, question or unresolved issue, or are just looking for someone to talk to. The ways and reasons that we communicate for online communities vary, but all online communities give us a channel to reach out to others, whether it is to make friends in a virtual world, or seek help about therapists in the New York City area, online communities are used to connect on a level that previously could not have been reached without the help of the internet. The quote, ndividuals might thus articulate an association or identification with 'minoritized' (Burman and Chantler 2004)—for example, Queer, Black or Deaf—cultures, referring to certain overlapping or parallel experiences, perhaps including experiential constellations around contestation of discrimination and geographies of exclusion (Sibley 1995) shows how those with overlapping experiences or traits tend to flock to each other for advice and to console to ( I read the article online, so, sorry for no page citations). I think that the online communities that have formed throughout the years have generated mostly positive outcomes because of the support they provide to those in need during difficult times where maybe no one else could help them.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the first question, I think that by definition the Autistic Spectrum (AS) could be argued as a minority by the United Nations. As defined by Britannica, a minority is “a culturally, ethnically, or racially distinct group that coexists with but is subordinate to a more dominant group”. Davidson discusses in her article how the unique processing techniques of the AS creates specific cultural experiences which can then be evidence to argue in favor of the Autistic Spectrum as a distinct culture. By the definition of a minority as a culturally distinct group, then, the AS could be said to be a minority. However, I feel that the only way that this could work is if the AS is explicitly explained as a culture. If not, other diagnosed syndromes could also try to be identified as a minority. In response to the second question, I read Fanfiction and am a member of a Fanfiction site. Although not a very distinct community in general, I tend to identify myself with more Harry Potter Fanfiction, and within this category there is a very specific language distinction. I know that other people who have not read the stories and understand the spells, places, or significance of certain people throughout “wizarding history” will not be able to communicate with this community.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to cite! My Davidson excerpt is from page 793.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your third question i do believe that new media can enable communication, organization and relationships. Communication is a vast term to include different ways of conveying messages. The Internet has become a great tool for quick ways of communicating and further acts as an aide. For example the Autism groups on myspace or other online communities become convenient ways to cope and get help all in the touch of your fingers. Online communities provide organization as well. I think of the phone book and how frustrating it is skimming through page after page attempting to find what you are looking for. The internet and new media search engines are quick and filtered ways of obtaining information. Finally I think relationships can be formed through new media. Online communities like E harmony and match.com are living proof of intimate relationships but you can also form distant relationships like those of the same guild in video games. This is all possible through the workings of new media.
ReplyDelete