Texting Towards Utopia - Kids, Writing, and Resistance

This book examines the contemporary era where parents complain that children today don't do their homework because they are distracted by the Internet, texting, and video games. Texting Toward Utopia presents the writings of todays children and develops the argument that this is actually a time of mass literary, in which young people write furiously, albeit often below the adult radar. Agger argues that where texting replaces textbooks, the writing may be emoticon-laden, slangy, or terse, but it is still profound, as children (and their parents) engage in resistance and write for a better world. This book is a guide to understanding the meeting point between a new generation of children and new communication technologies.

List of contents

Preface and Acknowledgments; Part I New Sites of Writing, Writers, Writings; Chapter 1 The Book Unbound; Chapter 2 Secret Writing; Chapter 3 Reading Kids’ Writing Politically; Chapter 4 The Pulpless Generation(s); Chapter 5 E-Sociologies of Virtual Selves; Part II Time Rebels; Chapter 6 iTime; Chapter 7 Slacking toward Slowmodernity; Chapter 8 Time Robbers, Time Rebels; Chapter 9 Time Wars and Night Moves; Chapter 10 “I Hate School”; Part III Writing toward Identity and Democracy; Chapter 11 Text Messages in a Bottle; Chapter 12 Bodies of Knowledge; Chapter 13 Democracy in the First Person;

About the author

Ben Agger is Professor of Sociology at the University of Texas, Arlington, where he directs the Center for Theory. His most recent book is Oversharing: Presentations of Self in the Internet Age.

Summary

A guide to understanding the meeting point between a new generation of children and new communication technologies.

Product details

• Authors: Ben Agger, Agger Ben
• Publisher: Paradigm Publishing
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.07.2014
• EAN: 9781612053080
• ISBN: 978-1-61205-308-0
• No. of pages: 232
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; Media Studies, Sociology, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Media Studies, EDUCATION / Educational Policy & Reform / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Children's Studies, Philosophy & theory of education, Educational strategies & policy, Age groups: children, Philosophy and theory of education, Media studies: internet, digital media and society, Ethical & social aspects of IT, COMPUTERS / Social Aspects, Educational strategies and policy