[Air-L] Metaphors in Technology

[Jason Mittell]

Gordon,

If you're interested in work exploring metaphors of older  
technologies (and can stand a little self-promotion), I wrote an  
essay years ago that might be of interest: “The Cultural Power of an  
Anti-Television Metaphor: Questioning the ‘Plug-in Drug’ and a TV- 
Free America,” Television and New Media, 1: 2, May 2000, 215-238.  
(Downloadable at my website below). That essay was greatly inspired  
by Janice Radway's excellent piece, "Reading is not Eating: Mass- 
Produced Literature and the Theoretical, Methodological, and  
Political Consequences of a Metaphor," Book Research Quarterly, #2,  
1986, 7-29. Both might be useful as models to update for your study  
of online metaphors.

Good luck,
-Jason

On Jun 8, 2008, at 6:15 PM, air-l-request at listserv.aoir.org wrote:

>> Hi All,
>>
>> I am working on a project dealing with the use of metaphor in
>> communication about technology, as well as communication within
>> software.  I am trying to compile a list of metaphors used on the web
>> and in computer software.  For example, the "shopping cart" in online
>> shopping, PowerPoint using "slides", "dialog" boxes in operating
>> systems, "bulletin boards", etc.
>>
>> Have any of you come across or perhaps even thought of other  
>> metaphors
>> employed in software, online or off, or in communication about
>> technology?  I would like to make a giant list of examples.
>>
>> Also, any recommended readings would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any help!
>>
>>
>>
>> -Gordon Carlson
>> -University of Illinois at Chicago
>> -PhD Student of New Media Communication and RA in Electronic
>> Visualization Lab
>>


-- 
Jason Mittell, Associate Professor of American Studies and Film &  
Media Culture
Chair of Film & Media Culture Department
Middlebury College
208 Axinn Center at Starr Library
Middlebury, Vermont 05753
(802) 443-3435 / fax: (802) 443-5123
Homepage: http://seguecommunity.middlebury.edu/sites/jmittell
Blog: http://justtv.wordpress.com