Virtuality

Abstract

1 This article is part of a special theme on Resources. For a list of other articles in this theme, see http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/ 10.1146/annurev-an-44-themes AbstractThis review examines studies of the affordances of digital technologies that produce virtuality. What we can call a "technological turn" in the literature considers technology a first-order analytical object rather than blackboxing it or subsuming it under social process. J.J. Gibson's original concept of affordance is explained, as well as its evolution to a concept consonant with anthropology's concerns. The review probes studies of political activism, work, and play. It comments on how virtuality affects anthropology as a discipline. 15

Rethinking civic computing in China

“…The resistance could influence the outcomes of power relations (Foucault, 1982). The critical role of technologies in "supporting new voices" (Nardi, 2015) can potentially empower participants in current power structures. Care of the self is fundamental to civic participation.…”

“…They help citizens acquire and process information, voice and debate opinions and beliefs, and take actions Gordon et al, 2013;Nardi, 2015). Social movements such as Occupy Wall Street (DeLuca, Lawson, & Sun, 2012), the Arab Spring (Stepanova, 2011), and the samesex marriage movement (State & Adamic, 2015) have adopted social media to facilitate communication, coordination, and organization.…”

Museum Object Lessons for the Digital Age

“…5. See Boellstorff (2016) and Nardi (2015) for a rehearsal of many of these debates around virtuality. 6.…”

Resisting the Censorship Infrastructure in China

“…As censorship is continuously strengthened, Chinese are also making use of proxy servers and email to access restricted information [2,22,25]. And citizens have also discussed sensitive topics using substitute terms for blocked keywords [16,24].…”