2. Online Spaces What is space? How do we connect to space? What do we mean by ‘Online space’ ? How do we connect to it Physically Mentally http://www.ctheory.net/ William Gibson, Neuromancer (1984) The Matrix - Materiality?

3. Types of Space Physical Materialism – the idea that all space, including mental space, is material. Dualism – the idea that material space exists, but that other spaces exist in our mind – spiritual. Rene Descartes (March 31, 1596–February 11, 1650) Cartesian coordinates

4. Materialism, Culture and Politics Das Kapital – Karl Marx (1867) Value of workers output exceeds payment Relativist value system based on knowledge All value described in terms of money “Commodity Fetishism” Celebrity Culture? Postmodernism – Frederic Jameson (1984) Excerpt available here http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philos ophy/works/us/jameson.htm Jean Baudrillard – Simulacra (Simulations) http://www.cla.purdue.edu/academic/engl/theor y/postmodernism/modules/

5. The Wachowski Brothers The Matrix (1999) Synthesises many elements of conceptual space and materiality What is the Matrix? http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=amZAdQHmyqI Does this clip relate to our everyday life? If so, how? If not, Why not? What defines your consciousness? What is Real?

6. Webs, Nets and Worlds To what extent do these web phenomena represent the real world? http://www.whitehouse.gov/ Google “John Titor”? Who is he? Is he real? Explore www.secondlife.com

7. Webs, Nets and Worlds Can we make a distinction between these three types of online experience? What is a Web site? How do we assess the value of the information it contains? How does this differ from a Network or Forum? How do we decide what makes the information on a networking site or forum valuable? What are online worlds for? How do they differ? What sort of interaction do they offer? How do these experiences inform or ‘shape’ our identity? Do they operate more successfully than other types of experience?

8. Webs, Nets, Worlds Webs Front-facing, websites. Information based. Link based Nets Web 2, collaborative “mashups’. On-line Communities. Worlds Virtual Spaces where users ‘interact’.