Paper Idea

I think my dissertation research will be focused on our uses of public databases and their technology and influence upon and place within our (U.S.) culture.  So, for this class, I’d like to take a step toward that research by writing about a couple of things:  

a/ the way that databases add to or a rea part of an information culture

b/ the way they create separation of emotion/affect and the technical with their operation. 

b/ the ways these media have become ubiquitous yet invisible in our culture (and the values and systems that are supported by these characteristics )

c/ the ways that databases reify a relationship between our private information and technology.

d/ their overall placement and fit within larger structures (economic, work, personal, leisure).

I don’t know (yet) which authors from the course I’ll be using.  I could use Adorno & Horkheimer to validate the database medium, when seen as a popular culture medium, are valid places of study.  I could apply Benjamin’s ideas about reproduction changing *everything* to private information that databases collect.  Or, I could write about specific databases or data elements or operations/functionality by using any of the authors we’ve read so far.  (This might be my best option.)   

I’m going to spend this week doing some reading of outside authors, including two from UW-M:  Sandra Braman and Michael Zimmer.  Then, I’ll make some specific decisions about proceeding.