The city provides a powerful metaphor for thinking about the online world - both are populated by millions of people, most of whom are unknown to each other, anonymous both through choice and necessity. The city is full of things that draw people to it; it is a hub of information exchange and activity. Yet it is also a place of fear, the city of crime, dark alleys, and dubious morality.
This week's readings include several very short pieces from the collection The City Reader, edited by LeGory and Gates:
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1. Please read all the (required) papers.
2. Think about how the city can provide a useful metaphor for the design of online "spaces" - how do we navigate through the environment, what are the relationships amongst the inhabitants, what makes the city a compelling (or repellent) place?
3. Write an essay describing how the city can provide a metaphor for the virtual world. In particular, address the social features of the city and of the online world. Please refer to specific examples from the readings, but also feel free to draw upon other art works, literature, your own experience.
Please submit the URL of your critique online by Sunday evening. Copies of the readings are available outside of E15-449.