notes from class 2006.02.23

prototypes:

model that has been experimentally verified through time/experience
how quickly can people recognise characteristics that define an exemplar prototype
*perceptual* aspect (vs. manipulating)

roles:
theatre as metaphor, based on language
everything has to be grounded on the physical world, all metaphorical
"fits the role" "plays the part" --> theatrical performance, presentation

what does metaphor mean?
- multiplicity of roles, choice, multi-facet
- social interaction with other 'actors' and the 'audience'
- adjust to audience's response to the actor's role
- can audience believe the role? too theatrical? not realistic?

internal vs. external self

person is complex, only small elements / glimpses can be seen at one time
performed public face <----> internal private state
multifaceted complex

role : intentional use of signaling
deliberate roles vs. unintended roles
- contextually dependent, subtle gradation between deliberate and indeliberate roles
professional : have to play role at work (waiter, customer service, business partner)
forced : have to play role as caretaker for a lost child

sometimes roles can be more accepted / popular in society
feels easier to do, mainstream
alternative crowds have to more consciously adjust to fit in society

judith butler: how much is gender a performance vs. nature?
* how much of our behaviour is defined by our environment and cultural forces?
* how much is defined by our own nature?

readings:

prestige + intimacy balance and optimization
economic view of relationships
stereotyped view of men and women
people being observed (close-knit college group)
- group-specific conversation + interviews
- 'want to find a husband' task
you interpret things differently depending on the hypothesized models of the men
he's this type, that type, define + judge behaviour accordingly
what types of characteristics (and the set of them) that define the prototype
- and how can i expect this guy to treat me as a girlfriend?

effects of deception:
- not answering the phone -- effect of 'being inaccessible'
- phones have complex deception -- faking phone calls, faking making/receiving
- easy to find stories of pretending to be on the phone
robert dunbar: cellphones as LEKKING behaviour
- telephone as an easy source of fake signaling
self-assessment of prestige vs. public-assessment (psychology)
people are aware of when they send emails, displays what time you're available
act like high-status -- not as deceptive as flat out lying
manipulating exactly what aspects of you are perceived by others
deception is a gamble -- double or nothing depending if you're caught (and news spread)
- if discovered your role / perception / status drops
can be high status in one group, low status in another group; how to share knowledge
high risk of deception in a highly competitive group
face-saving: want to avoid humiliation and embarassment
cooperation (friends, community) + competition (for self prestige and prestigious men) among the women
cooperation vs competition --> complexity of community
ex. flickr : community of themes
cooperative: want to collaborate on a single project
competitive: who can do the most or most interesting
flickr came out of a game design -- design of built-in community
online systems: who has the most connections? more quantitative than qualitative
how can you make things more sustainable -- more ongoing competitive community

observations:

au bon pain
two women seated
perceptions based on gender (what girls notice, what guys notice)
perceptions based on background (indian, german)
mainstream role -- current college student in boston
-- how much is clothing / look a conscious or subconscious decision
nalgene bottle, north face jacket
long-term interactions are harder to fake, keep consistent

text-based signals vs. visual representations
sense of affectiveness?

second life:
how do you see representatio
competence counts -- the more experience you have in a space
clear who is an insider vs. outsider
what are communities and the boundaries?
boundary issues are acute
how do you legitimise your participation
how to deal with boundaries
community-based economy
how does money translate into these different spaces?

milwaukee craigslist personals:
wants a woman with baggage
14 questions - contact me if you say yes to any of them
guy is confident + sense of humor
is he joking, or desperate, or malicious?
no description of himself except for the outward questions
try to deduce a backstory from an ambiguous outlay
how can you interpret the world from limited information? make deductions.

for next week:
model of fashion
quality that is being signaled stays the same
the FORM of the signal changes over time
quality : affiliation + status
offskirts + inaccessible information ---> knowledge is shared over time

exists:
- need a lot of social mobility
social positions are changing
people's ability to move around is high
- world where knowledge + information are very peak commodities
knowledge is spreadable, not consumable (not like money or food)
fashion -- show your access to information

middle ages, roles werent defined by hierarchy knowledge
"fashion" began late 14th century
because of the increased social mobility, trade routes
sumptuary laws: who can wear particular clothing so people are forced to 'look their part'
(only royalty can wear purple, etc)
centuries go on: rate of sharing knowledge gets faster and faster
competition with upper classes who have resources to update their clothing
how to update
notions of fashions in nonmaterial culture - rate of change is rapid
popular music as fashion
blogs as fashion (researched domains: politics, entertainment)
fashion motivated by society AND by marketing

simple model:
high status does X
lower status learns about it and does X
high status needs to reinterpret and do Y

though hierarchy is not simplified
there's complex overlappings and interactions

subcultures: gothic, alternative
authenticity and commitment to a representative state

fashion can imply status or authentic commitment

academia: fashion driven world
fashions in research types, trends in approach
how to pursue knowledge?
show where you are in terms of knowledge
reviewing papers and grant proposals (committees), in comtemporaries
-- "this problem is no longer fashionable"

information is important
rate of change of fashion and knowledge is rapidly increasing
day-to-day energy to keep up with flow of information
- portray oneself as knowledgable, up on what's buzzing