RR: "Cybertyping and the Work of Race in the Age of Digital Reproduction" (Nakamura)

[Nakamura, Lisa. "Cybertyping and the Work of Race in the Age of Digital Reproduction", New Media, Old Media: A History and Theory Reader. Ed. Wendy Hui Kyong Chun and Thomas Keenan. New York: Routledge, 2006, 317-333.]


Word Count: 519

  In Nakamura's chapter, "Cybertyping and the Work of Race in the Age of Digital Reproduction", she goes into depth on the way race is portrayed- or lack there of- in the online world that we are now constantly surrounded by. The chapter was written in 2006, which could be considered rather outdated looking back at the exponential rate of production and development of the Internet and the way it has allowed humans to identify and portray themselves. 

  She starts out the chapter by touching on the idea of the use of words in technology, and how language- or as she says, neologisms- has become apparent through the evolution of media communications (317). Cybertyping, I must admit, I never fully grasped while reading the chapter. With this said, it has changed the way that coming generations communicate- especially regarding their identity on or offline. Going more into her argument, she emphasizes the way that race is represented in online identities, and how people convey or do not convey their race online- in what she refers to as a “assumedly white community”. Throughout her chapter, she touches on the New New Thing & Headhunting, African American Divide, and also Post-Racial Digertai before terminating her argument on the fact that the digital divide is both a result of and a contributor to the practice of racial cybertyping. Cybertying, I assume for Nakamura is in relationship to stereotyping, but online.

    

     In terms of the entire argument about race, I tended to get a bit lost. It was honestly something I had never considered really while searching the web- observing one’s race, or who they portray themselves to be. While she states that it is stereotypically a “white” space online- I’m not sure if I agree. Taking into account that the Internet and use of the Internet has changed significantly in the past 5 years, I understand that this element of concern may still exist. I am a frequent user of online communications, and have honestly never been signaled off by the idea of representation or lack there of in the online world. I feel that now more than ever, yes, online profiles can be fake or untrue, but also, they can be real with people really marketing themselves through online profiles for facilitating contacts in the real world.

     The first thing that came to my head when she mentioned the stereotyping of nationalities, was the quote from the film “Up In The Air” that came out in 2009, with the renouned George Clooney (328). He states while in line at the airport:

RYAN BINGHAM: [on getting through airport security] Never get behind old people. Their bodies are littered with hidden metal and they never seem to appreciate how little time they have left. Bingo, Asians. They pack light, travel efficiently, and they have a thing for slip on shoes. Gotta love 'em.

NATALIE KEENER: That's racist.

RYAN BINGHAM: I'm like my mother, I stereotype. It's faster. 

     

  With this said, certain nationalities are stereotyped into being more or less efficient in certain disciplines, like Nakamura takes the example with Asians and Indians with the knowledge of technology and technological advancements; and as George Clooney uses the example of an Airport Security Line.

     I’m not sure if I agree with the claim that the Internet is considered more or less a “white” space, I feel that the fact that a photo is not always shown only emphasizes the lack of flesh color that exists in the online world.

Side Note:

One place we tend to always put photos, and show off everything about our lives so matter what race we are: Facebook. But I suppose Facebook was just getting started when Nakamura wrote her chapter, and obviously the outreach to facebook users now is tremendous, and photos included: of all races of geek or non-geek.

Is this Cybertyping jazz just an issue of self identity and self promotion online?

Photo from http://www.mediassociaux.fr/