I am a masters degree candidate at George Mason University. My academic interests fall mainly into rhetoric and comp-theory. I have bachelors degrees in both Biology and English. To learn more about me, visit me on Facebook or go to http://christopherdelatorre.com. My thesis topic isn’t the easiest thing to put your finger on. If it helps, you can think of it as writing technology meets philosophy meets sociology; basically, it deals with digital communications and how they affect human social evolution.
So, why a thesis weblog?
It’s simple, actually. I’ve scoured the net and found that a good number of students and scholars have done the same thing. But more importantly, I feel that not only will it help organize my thoughts and research, but it may also give those connected to this topic a way to plug into my sources and make comments or ask questions. That said, I encourage anyone (academic or non) to join in.
Features
To explore all posts on a particular subject or author, select a category from the dropdown under “subjects” on the right navigation pane
I organize a running glossary of terms for the reader’s convenience as well as my own. To chronologically view the weblog glossary entries (alphabetically isn’t possible, given this blog’s format), click “weblog glossary” under the “subjects” category dropdown on the right navigation pane. Within each glossary entry are quotes from scholars pertaining to the particular term, and my reactions to those quotes. There may be other terms linked to the article that are found elsewhere in the glossary (and blog), indicated in bold face. The bold faced terms that aren’t linked will be eventually, as my research continues; the glossary will grow over time. My aim here is to explain subject-specific material to readers who may not have experience with it.
Keep in mind, this blog (perhaps unlike others) is not designed to be read in linear or chronological fashion. (To read the introduction – no story is the same without one –, select “origin of this blog” from the “categories” dropdown on the right navigation pane.) The style in which I write the blog is a reflection of my working research. Besides, submitting to linearity in this case would defeat the purpose of my study. If you get lost from post to post, I propose the following: Simply click the category you’d like to follow or know more about. For instance, if a few entries on Roy Ascott are made but then it seems as if he drops out of site for a while, you don’t need to navigate your way through the blog to catch the next entry. By clicking his category, all posts relating to him will appear in chronological order.
Another feature is what I’ve chosen to call the “aside narrative.” This convention is characterized by long italicized blocks of text placed in between brackets. Example:
[Why is culture all about confession? Are we freeing our baggage or just freezing it for safe keeping? (5/2006)]
This text signifies a thought — perhaps one previously recorded in my moleskine or a paper or blog post — that directly relates to the discussion at hand. Or it might be a new thought. Rather than manipulate the insertion of the text to fit a traditional narrative, it’s my intention to disrupt the linearity of the text.
I’ve changed directions from the time I began my research. I’ll link my new thesis proposal here, once I have a clean draft.
ABOVE: This image is a philosophical intersection of sorts. Surveillance, the breakdown of postmodernism, the proliferation of abstract reasoning through technology based identity construction, banter, banter, banter. That’s me viewing the projection of myself on an external screen through the screen of my digital camera. How many refractions is that, anyway?
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