1. Theories of CMC-spaces

Sociological Meaningsof CMC Spaces

Significancezzz

Dec.14, 2005

Three Typical Theories of CMC-Spacez
1.

YOSHIDA, JunKyoto University

Today, problems over CMC-spaces are at thecenter of theories of the information society.
CMC-space is especially typically regarded asconsequences of the radicalization of modernity.

2.
3.

Theories of Discontinuity
Theories of Continuity
Theories of Reflexivity
2(1) Theories of Discontinuity(1’) Postmodernist CMC Theory

z Typical in early CMC studies (in 1980’s)z A variation of discontinuity theoriesz Negative evaluation to CMC-space,z Turns over the negative evaluation of CMC tocompared with FTF (face-to-face)-spacezthe positive.
z Anonymity of CMC-Space enables ‘equality
in participation’,‘de-centralization of power’(Mark Poster)and ‘direct democracy’.

Because of visual anonymity and lack of social
cues (gestures, expressions, tone of voices…),
CMC inevitably becomes communication withoutsocial, emotional and personal dimensions.

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(2) Theories of Continuity(2’) Modernism CMC Theory

z Typical in CMC studies after 1990’s

z A variation of continuity theoriesz Positive evaluation of CMC-space, as socialz Philosophical background of modernism,

space continued to real (FTF) spacez

represented by J.Habermasz Construction of new public spheres in CMCspaces are expected.

Participants in CMC-space overcome
the ‘lack of social cues’ by using it creatively, thus
‘virtual communities’ with personal relations areconstructed.

5Sociological implications oftheories of reflexivity(3) Theories of Reflexivity
z Conceive the characteristic of CMC-spacez Reflexivity does not mean discontinuity withitself by the concept of ‘reflexivity’z6‘real’ (FTF-)space.
z Rather, both spaces are continuous, for ‘real’(FTF-)space is in fact reflexively constructed,too.
z Both spaces penetrate each other, andconstruct their situational contexts reflexively.

Reflexivity means that CMC cannot depends on
existing ‘situational contexts’, and must constructthem by communication for itself.

Communication
Situational Contexts
Contexts
Communication Situational782

Three dominant sources ofthe dynamism of modernity

2. Informatization as Modernization:
Anthony Giddens’ Theory of Modernity

1. The separation of time and spacez Giddens’ theory of modernity seems

2. The development of dis-embedding

to suggest that there are inherent
relations between informatization andmodernization.
z In other words, modernizationnecessarily includes informatization

mechanisms
z “Lifting out” of social relations from local contexts

of interaction and their restructuring acrossindefinite spans of time-space.
3. Reflexivity:(though Giddens himself does not explain
explicitly).

the reflexive appropriation of knowledge(Giddens 1990: 53)
92’. Re-embedding:complement of dis-embeddingz

3. ReflexivityzAll human beings routinely “keep in touch” withthe grounds of what they do as an integral elementof doing it. (“reflexive monitoring of action”)zWith the advent of modernity, refleくぇxivity is
introduced into the very basis of system
reproduction.

The re-appropriation or recasting of disembedded
social relations so as to pin them down …
to local conditions of time and spacez(Giddens 1990: 64)z

10Facework [face-to-face] commitments are generally
important as a mode of generating continuing
trustworthiness [in abstract systems]zz

E.g. Meeting of businessmen,
academic conference of scholars…
(Giddens 1990: 87)

This is not specifically connected with modernity, but…

The reflexivity of modern social life consists in the fact thatsocial practices are constantly examined and reformed in
the light of incoming information about those verypractices, thus constitutively altering their character.
(Giddens 1990: 36-38)

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Relations between Theories of
CMC-Space and Modernity

Informatization as Modernizationz Informatization (including vector to post-modernity)

is seen as consequence of radical
modernization in such meaning, or‘three dominant sources’ of modernity.
z CMC Spaces is emerging as typical socialspaces, which intensively represents
informatization, and so, radicalization ofmodernity.

13Theories ofDiscontinuity

Separation of time andspace, Dis-embedding

Theories ofContinuity

Re-embedding

Theories ofReflexivity

Reflexivity
14Referencesz Anthony Giddens, The Consequences ofModernity, Polity Press, 1990z Mark Poster, The Mode of Information:
Poststructuralism and Social Context, Polity
Press, 1990z Other Japanese Articles.

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