The Dilemma of Closeness and Distance: A Discursive Analysis of Wall Posting in MySpace

Article

Goodings, L. 2011. The Dilemma of Closeness and Distance: A Discursive Analysis of Wall Posting in MySpace. Forum: Qualitative Social Research / Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung. 12 (3), p. Art. 16.
AuthorsGoodings, L.
Abstract

MySpace is an online social network site (SNS) where users regularly communicate via a
particular part of the profile page known as "the wall". This article uses a discursive approach to
study the construction of identity in communication on the wall. The analysis shows that wall
communication constitutes a set of relational positions that need to be discursively organised in
order to manage the presence of a mediated community of other MySpace users. Drawing on the
work of Celia LURY, the paper explores this issue in terms of a set of practices for managing the
dilemma of closeness and distance that stems from the new forms of individualism that is inherent
to a "prosthetic" culture. The article is concerned with the way MySpace users negotiate the issue
of distance and closeness as part of the process of identity construction in MySpace. A broader
discussion in terms of discourse, community and technology is included.

JournalForum: Qualitative Social Research / Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung
Journal citation12 (3), p. Art. 16
ISSN1438-5627
Year2011
PublisherInstitut für Qualitative Forschung
Publisher's version
License
CC BY
Web address (URL)http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs1103160
Publication dates
PrintSep 2011
Publication process dates
Deposited07 Dec 2015
Copyright information© 2011 The author
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