Blogosphere

In Blogosphere, Michael Keren examines nine blogs posted by individuals from exceedingly different backgrounds, and draws some provocative conclusions about the emerging nature of virtual public space-a place where emancipation meets melancholy. Do political bloggers actually participate in politics? How are individual voices and online communities faring at a time of the increasing corporate commodification of cyberspace? And how do geographic region and personal circumstance affect the potential impact of blogs on offline lives? Keren poses and explores these and other questions in this timely, intelligent, and engaging contribution to political science, lifewriting theory, and cultural studies. -- Craig Howes, Director, Center for Biographical Research
In this fascinating book, Keren illuminates a new online dimension of civil society. But, unexpectedly, life here is not a collection of vibrant, active citizens, pursuing their individual interests and acting cooperatively. Instead, Keren finds a politics of melancholy on the Internet, which demonstrates 'a fetishism of ideas rather than a presentation of interests, solipsistic discourse rather than an orderly exchange, and a lack of clear frameworks of social obligation and political responsibility.' Portraying a colorful variety of bloggers, Keren brilliantly dissects the emerging political life of the twenty-first century. -- Joel S. Migdal, University of Washington