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The Anthropology of Online Communities

Wilson, Samuel M., Peterson, Leighton C.·2002·Annual Review of Anthropology
DOI 10.1146/annurev.anthro.31.040402.085436
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Abstract

▪ Abstract Information and communication technologies based on the Internet have enabled the emergence of new sorts of communities and communicative practices—phenomena worthy of the attention of anthropological researchers. Despite early assessments of the revolutionary nature of the Internet and the enormous transformations it would bring about, the changes have been less dramatic and more embedded in existing practices and power relations of everyday life. This review explores researchers' questions, approaches, and insights within anthropology and some relevant related fields, and it seeks to identify promising new directions for study. The general conclusion is that the technologies comprising the Internet, and all the text and media that exist within it, are in themselves cultural products. Anthropology is thus well suited to the further investigation of these new, and not so new, phenomena.

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Metadata

Authors
Wilson, S. M., & Peterson, L. C.
Venue
Annual Review of Anthropology
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Published
2002-10
Volume
31
Issue
1
Pages
449-467
ISSN
  • 0084-6570 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-4290
DOI
10.1146/annurev.anthro.31.040402.085436
OpenAlex
W2157127722
Cited by
560
References
4
FWCI
8.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed

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Wilson, S. M., & Peterson, L. C. (2002). The Anthropology of Online Communities. Annual Review of Anthropology. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.anthro.31.040402.085436

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