Dirtyrat
Member
Username: Dirtyrat
Post Number: 1
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 4:00 pm:
My name is Joshua Atkinson and I am an assistant professor in the School of Communication Studies at Bowling Green State University. I am working with Dr. Clayton Rosati (also of BGSU) on a research project concerning the DetroitYES! web community. In particular, we are interested in the way in which the users of the DetroitYES! discussion forum construct an “alternative cityscape” through their online and offline interactions. Oftentimes, the “cityscapes” that people collectively recognize are constructed through imagery and representation found in popular mass media. Some cityscapes have been constructed as glamorous and exciting, as in the cases of New York and San Francisco. In the economic climate that has existed for the past thirty (or more) years, however, many cities and communities have been adversely depicted in terms of job loss, decreasing population, and high crime: St. Louis, Cleveland, and Detroit. Such depictions have become the negative imagery that is often used by economic and cultural elites to construct “cityscapes” that become collectively recognized as deteriorating and unsafe.
Interestingly, we have found that the Fabulous Ruins of Detroit and the attached discussion forum seem to provide Detroit residents with the opportunity to share information, and imagery, in a way that allows for the emergence of an alternative cityscape. We feel that your web community can provide valuable insight about how average citizens can use the Internet and other forms of interactive media to bypass economic and cultural elites, and effectively shape their cities and communities on their own.
Specifically, we seek to conduct one to three hour focus groups with members of DetroitYES! If anyone is interested in taking part in a focus group in the Detroit area, your participation will be greatly appreciated. Your participation will be voluntary as you may withdraw at any time without prejudice and you may refuse to answer any questions. In addition, your name will not be included in the final report, thus retaining your confidentiality. Feel free to contact us with contact information and times that you would be available to take part at the following email addresses.
Thank you very much,
Joshua Atkinson, PhD:
jatkins@bgsu.eduClayton Rosati, PhD:
crosati@bgsu.edu
) and the place kinda sorta helped save my life. I managed to get a few pictures of the building taken right before they demolished it completely and will post them after work tonight.
