SkyDrazek,SarahFeldman,AlisonPliszka,EricRichards

BenRistow
WRRH205,Spring2015
May7,2015

CollaborativeWritingProject

WhatbetterwaytomapoutourexperiencesinDigitalRhetoric,thanthroughtherhetoric
weknowbestSocialMedia.SilvaRhetoricaedefinesrhetoricas"thestudyofeffectivespeaking
andwriting.Andtheartofpersuasion."TheNewMediaInstitutedefinesNewMediaasthe
interplaybetweentechnology,imagesandsound.Thissemester,wehaveexploredrhetoricand
NewMediafromitsoriginsinancientgreece,toourpredictionsofhowitwillevolveinthe
future.Aswediscussedourapproachforthisfinalproject,wekeptcirclingbacktoaformof
mediathatascollegestudents,wearemostfamiliarwith.Themediumofasocialmediapage,
the(e)dentityofourclasssotospeak,allowedustopresenttopicswehavediscussedinclass
throughdigitalrhetoricandNewMedia.
Cyberspaceallowsonetopickanidentity,tomasquerade,mimic,andtranscendbodily
identities,andinteractwiththeworldassomebodyelse,(Nayar,14)forourpresentationthisis
exactlywhatourgroupdid.WecreatedalayoutbasedonaFacebookpagetoseejusthoweasy
itistobuildanewidentityonline.Nayartalksabouthowacyberspaceidentitycanbe
augmentedbymakingadditionsfromavarietyofchoices,(Nayar,14)wecreatedan(e)dentity
builtonthevarioustextswelookedatforclassthispastsemester.WegavethenameS@s3y
toour(e)dentity,thenameisaplayonthefirstlettersofeachmemberinourgroupsname.S

forSarah,@forAli,sforSky,and3forEric,theyisusedtotieinabitofhumor.We
choosetousesymbolsandnumbersinthenametoexpandontheplaywithdigitaltext.
S@s3ysgenderandpoliticalviewscometheCyborgworld.TheCyborgworldis
posthumanism,whichNayardefinesasapointofview,ideology,andbeliefthatthelimitations
ofthehumanbodyage,disease,appearance,disabilitycanbeovercomeanditscapabilities
looks,intelligence,strength,diseaseresistancecanbeaugmentedthroughtechnological
intervention(Nayar,186).WeselectedthetermPostgenderfromDonnaHaraway'sCyborg
Manifesto,postgendermeaningthatoneisnotclassifiedintoagroup,andthenjudgedbasedon
thatgroup.Acyborginapostgenderworldhasnotruckwithbisexuality,preoedipalsymbiosis,
unalienatedlabour,orotherseductionstoorganicwholenessthroughafinalappropriationofall
thepowersofthepartsintoahigherunity(Haraway,292).Byidentifyingourselvesaspost
gender,our(e)dentityispastseeingthephysicalastheactual.Thepoliticalviewsonourprofile
alsosuggestaposthumanfeatureofour(e)dentity.ChrisGraysCyborgBillofRightsfeatures
tenfreedomspromisedinaCyborgworldincludingpostgender,postsexuality,postdeath,post
life,andelectronicequalityandfreedom.
IntheAboutMesectionofourprofilepage,theuserhasincludedaquotationfrom
MarshalMcLuhan.Thequoteisreferencingtheevolutionofmassmedia,andtheshiftithas
createdinpubliclifeandprivatelife.AsMcLuhandescribes,thereisanaspectofthenewmass
culturewearemovingintoaworldoftotalinvolvementinwhicheverybodyissoinvolvedwith
everybodyelse.Feelingsandopinionsarelessandlessprivate,becausetheyareconstantly
sharedwithotherpeople.Additionally,itisincreasinglyhardtoremainisolatedfromcurrent
eventsorpopculturetrends.Ouraccessnowreachesfartherandfartherintermsofpersonal

connectionsandhowquicklyweaccessinformation.Ouruserisinfavorofthewayoursociety
ismoving.BysharingthisquoteintheirAboutMesection,theyaresayingthattheyagreewith
thisbeliefsystem,andtheyembraceitasapartoftheir(e)dentity.Thisusersharesmanyaspects
oftheirlifethroughtheirsocialmediaprofile,anddoesnotwishtokeepthingsprivate.
InkeepingwiththestylisticqualitiesofaFacebookprofile,wehaveincludedasidebar
forour(e)dentityspagethatincludesthreesections:ahometown,acurrentresidence,and
previouseducation.BesidesthefactthatthisdesignisinkeepingwiththeFacebooktemplate,
weelectedtoincludethesesectionsasmeansofexpressionandreflectionwithregardtowhat
wevelearnedindigitalrhetoricalanalysisthroughoutthesemester.Ifthereisonethemethat
playslargelythroughoutthiscourse,itisthatofevolution.Intheworldofcyberspace,itis
possibletowitnesstheoccurrenceofevolutionamongstmanydifferentfacets.Whetheritbethe
evolutionofanimageintoameme,theevolutionofacyberculture,orsimplytheevolutionof
thewaysbywhichwehaveaccesstoNewMedia,theprocessbywhichthingsgrowandevolve
isallaroundusinthedigitalage.Weasagroupwantedtohaveasectionwithinour(e)dentitys
profilethatmadespecialnoteofthis,whichiswhyweelectedtoexpressthisconceptby
representingtheirpreviousandcurrentresidenciesasreflectiveofgrowthinthedigitalrhetorical
age.
Our(e)dentitywasbornoutoftheverybasics:primaryorality.Thetimelinebywhich
oralitymovessummarizestheevolutionofcommunication,fromthedaysofspokenwordtothe
rightuptopresentday.Inthecontextofprimaryorality,IciteWalterJ.OngandEricA.
Havelocksthreepartdivisionofthehistoryofconsciousness,astheystate:

Primaryorality,responsiblefortheconstructionofconsciousnessbeforethe
Greekalphabetwasinvented,enabledpeopletostoreculturalknowledgeand
educateyoungpeoplethroughspokenperformance(Welch,23).
Thisconcept,thefledglingdistributionofinformationandknowledge,formsthehumble
beginningsofour(e)dentity.Astimeevolves,wewitnesstheincorporationofliteracyinto
primaryorality,fashioningacomprehensiveGreekalphabetandenablingformorefreedomof
thought.Thistransitionalphaseformsthebasisfortheevolutionintosecondaryorality,whichis
characterizeddistinctlybyitselectronicnature.ReferredtobyHavelockasaculturalrecall,
secondaryoralityrepresentsanincrediblynotableshiftinthemodesofcommunication,
relinquishingtheoldenwaysoflimitedcommunication,butatthesametimestillemployingand
placingnewsignificanceonthetraitsofspeakingandhearingthatoriginatedoutofprimary
orality.Justlikeour(e)dentitytravelingtonewplacesthroughoutitslife,wehavecometo
witnesstheconceptoforalityevolvethroughouttimeintowhatitistoday,lookingatallofits
differentstoppingpointsalongtheway.Muchlikethewayoneexperiencespersonalgrowth
throughtheplacestheyvelivedandvisited,thedifferentstagesintheevolutionoforalityare
mutuallyexclusive,andeachprecedingstageallowsforthefollowingtoevolve.Secondary
oralityasweknowittodaywouldnotbewhatitiswithoutthisevolutionaryprocesseachstage
oforalityiscumulative.
Additionally,wehaveincludedinour(e)dentitysprofileasectiondescribingtheir
education,whichwehavelabeledasTheSocratesSchoolofThought.Webelievethatthisis
representativeofour(e)dentitysplaceinthefreethinking,onlineworldinthesensethatitgives
themfreedomtofullyexpressitselfwithoutlimitations.ThisisinkeepingwithIsocrates

oppositiontorhetoricandhisbeliefinamorephilosophicalapproachtoexpression,whichthat
rhetoricinhibitsapersonsabilitytothinkandwritefreely.Our(e)dentityexistsinthevast,
limitlessonlineworld,andbecauseofthispledgedtheirallegiancetoaschoolofthoughtthat
fullyallowsthemtheutmostfreedomofexpression.
OurFriendssectioninourpresentationprofilefeaturessomeoftheauthorsofthe
assignedtextsincludingMarshallMcLuhan,PramodNayer,LeahShafer,andSusanBlackmore.
AlsoincludedaretwoHWSprofessors.Itisimportanttorecognizethattheimage(s)ofBen
Ristowarebothimagesareofthe(e)dentityofBenRistow,buttheyrepresenttwodifferent
identitiesinthephysicalworld.LeahShafersimagewastakenfromherpersonaltwitter
account,andisanotherprimeexampleofaugmentation.WhenyousearchLeahShaferHWS
theimagesthatappearareprofessionalheadshots,notherpersonalrelaxedimageofenjoyinga
smoothie.InShaferscase,bothimagesareofthesamephysicalidentitybutdifferent
(e)dentities(personalandprofessional).
Withthestyleformatofasocialmediapage,ithasallowedustohaveacoverphotoand
profilepicture,givingmoreinsighttothecharacterthatwearetryingtoportrayonline.The
coverphotothatisrepresentedonourpageisspeakingtowardsthememeideaswediscussed
throughoutthesemester.Thephotoisclassifiedasaboozecatmemeduetothecatsthatare
placedonthephotocoveringupwhatarepresumablyalcoholicbeverages.Thismemewas
createdinordertogeneratehumorbydrawingattentiontohowmuchalcoholisinthephoto
withoutactuallyshowingit.Memeshavebecomealargepartofthesocialmediacontentsoby
placingthisonourcoverphotowewerefurtherrepresentinghowourpageisuptodatewith
whatishappeningonline.Furthermore,thephotothatweusedforourprofilepicturecontinues

torepresenthowwewanttoportraythispageonline.Theprofilepicturethatisusedistheface
ofananonymousmask.Thisimagewasselectedbecauseitspeakstothecyberculturethatwe
discussedinclass,butitalsosymbolizeshowpeoplearentalwaysshowingtheirtrueidentities
onlineandthingstheypostorassociatethemselveswithcanmasktheirtrueidentity.Byhaving
thisasourprofilepicture,itfurtherrepresentshowtheInternetisatooltoexpressoneselfinthe
waysthattheyplease.
Moreover,ourprofilepagealsocontainsintereststhatarepertainingtothecharacter's
profilepage,someofwhichincludebroniesandsecondlife.Bothofthesegroupsareconsidered
tobesubculturestothecyberculture.Thecyberculturecanbeclassifiedasthecommunication
betweenpeopleonline,andinsomecasesevenonlinedating.Thebroniesandsecondlifeare
consideredtobesubculturestothelargercyberculturebecausetheyarespecificvenuesthrough
whichpeoplecancommunicateonline.Eachallowspeopletoparticipateinonlineinteraction
throughdifferentmeansandfordifferentreasons.Forexample,theBroniesareagroupofadults
whoarefansofMyLittlePony.Throughtheironlinesubculturetheyareabletocommunicate
anddiscussthepointsofinterest.Secondlifecanbeattimesconsideredanonlinedatingsite,
wherepeoplecreatetheirowncharacteronlineandcaninteractwithotherpeople.Thesite
engagesinonlineinteraction,discussion,andactionbetweencharacters.Bothofthesevenues
werechosentobeourinterestsonthiscreationofaprofilepagebecausewediscussedthemin
classandfeltasthoughtheywereagoodrepresentationofsubcultures.Inasimilarvein,the
Bookssectionofourprofileoffersinsightintowhatourpersonhasbeenreading.
Coincidentally,theyhavebeenreadingthesametextsthatourclasshasread.Books,likemusic

ormovies,furthercoloraperson's(e)dentity.Otheruserscanlooktotheseintereststoseeifthey
havecommoninterests,orusethemassuggestionsfortheirnextread.
MovingfromWeb1.0toWeb2.0,thebiggestdifferenceisthatinteractionfromthe
consumer.Whatoncewasprimarilytheproductionfromtheproducerandthesimplereception
fromtheaudiencehasnowshiftedtotheconsumerbeingtheproduceraswellastheconsumer.
Inrelationtooursocialmediapageaspect,Web2.0hasallowedustoproduceposts,videos,and
imagesandsharethemtoourfollowersaswellastoconsumeandacknowledgeotherpostsfrom
otherpeopleorproducers.Web2.0hasallowedforagreatexpansionoftheInternetingeneral,
givingmorepowertothepeopleonline.Alltheexamplesofonlinesubculturesthatareusedare
arepresentationoftheexpansionofWeb2.0andabilityfortheconsumertobetheproducer.
Overtimethecreationofmemeshasbecomeanimportantaspecttoouronlineandsocial
mediacontent.Memeshavebecomearepresentationofthesurroundingsocietyandculture,as
theydepictevents,stories,andactionsthatpertaintothespecifictimeperiod.Theyfunctionfor
auseofhumor,eitherthroughphotosorvideos.Withinourprojecttheuseofourmemeisaspin
offonthegrumpycatthathasbeencommonlyspreadthroughoutsocialmediatoday.
Comparingittotheboozecat,amemethattakesordinarydrinkingpicturesandcoversupthe
alcoholrelatedbeverageswithcatswecreatedamemethatplaysoffofthecatboozecatideaby
showingthegrumpycatrefusingtotakedownthedrinkingpictures.Ourimageisconsideredto
beamemebecauseitisareproducedimageofonethatiscommonlyseenandpreviouslyused.
Thelifeexpectancyofmemesdependsonthecontinualspreadoftheirimagesandphotos,while
constantlybeingalteredtodisplaythehumorofthesurroundingcultureandtimeperiod.

Asmentionedpreviously,whilemanypeopleembracecyberspacetocreateorperpetuate
theiridentity,othersuseitasaspacetobevoidofone.Thenegativesideofanonymitycomesin
theformofTrolls.AsauthorMattathiasSchwartzdescribes,trollsarepeoplewho
intentionallydisruptsonlinecommunities...seeingwhowouldrisetothebait.Trollingtakesa
greatrange,fromantagonizingcommentsonline,togoingasfaraschangingtheEpilepsy
Foundation'swebsitetolinksofflashinglightsandbrightcolors(Schwartz).Hacktivismisthe
termcoinedtodescribeActivistsandHackers,whoidentifyasthesortofvigilanteofthe
internet.Theyusesimilartacticsastrolls,butforwhattheybelieveisagreatergood.For
example,theyhaveoutedthenamesandinformationofcurrentKKKmembers.ForbothTrolls
andHactivistsalike,theyusetheinternetasabarriertotherealworld.Theyuseattimesdrastic
andpervasivemeasures,togetpeople'sattention,whethergoodorbad.
Onoursocialmediaprofile,S@s3ywasavictimofanonymoustrolling.Likeoftenseen
onsocialmedia,thisuserpostedaresponsetoacurrentevent,inthiscasethesubjectofEdward
SnowdenandtheNSA.Ananonymoustrollerrespondedtohispost,withadissentingopinion,
andanunrelateddiss.Thetrollcommentedontheuser'sprofilepicture,inhopesofelicitinga
reaction,evenifithadnothingtodowiththeoriginalpost.Additionally,weintentionallyhad
S@s3yrespondtoEdwardSnowdenandtheNSAleaks,becauseofitsconnectiontotheclass.
ThisuserbelievesthatwhatEdwardSnowdendidinreleasingclassifieddocumentswas
applaudable,becauseitexposedtheAmericanpublictotheactionsofitsgovernment.Others
believehisactionsthreatenednationalsecurity.Astheuseoftechnologyandtheinternet
expands,theethicsofwhoispolicingit,andtowhatextend,continuestobeaconcern.Justas
technologyischangingrapidly,sowillouropinionsofit.

DigitalRhetorichastakenusonquiteajourneythissemester.Wehavecoveredrhetoric
startinginAncientGreece,tothepresenttime,tomakingpredictionsofthefuture.Thedigital
ageandevolutionoftechnologyhaslargelychangedthewayweuserhetoric,andhowwe
connectwiththosearoundus.BycreatingaSocialMediaprofile,wewereabletocapturethe
majorthemesofthesemesterinawaythatiscurrentandculturallyrelevant.Wecanlooktothis
projectasasortoftimecapsule,becausejustasthecyberculturalspaceisevolving,soisthe
(e)dentityofS@s3yandtheirpeers.

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