This study investigates the concept of community in our modern world so that we may more fully recognize what community is, how the term is being appropriated by the digital world, how the use of the term in the digital is altering our understanding of the term in the digital and the tangible world, and how structure influences the concept of community. To achieve this, a definition of the term community is constructed using works from sociology, anthropology, urban planning, and philosophy. Six criteria necessary for community to exist and five benefits of community are identified. The importance of distinguishing between a community and a group becomes apparent through this investigation. With the definition of community established the connection between community and the digital world is examined through three digital spaces: the digital social space of Facebook, the digital marketplace of Amazon.com, and the digital public space of the It Gets Better Project. While some criteria are met and some benefits are provided in each of these digital spaces, many key elements of community are neglected or absent. The persistent use of the idea of community and our continued interaction with digital spaces claiming community but not providing it are, as this examination demonstrates, impacting both our wellbeing and current understanding of the term community. A shift in the understanding of the concept of community is not only relevant to digital interaction but also influences community in the tangible world. The definition of community in this work is drawn from the tangible world and applied to the digital which may prove problematic in the future, but the current design and structure of digital spaces should contend with many of the same ideas, from scale to organization, found in the tangible world. This study illustrates that when any of these attributes is vague, missing, or ignored, frustration can often be the result, which in turn reduces the capacity of community to be formed, found, or maintained. As digital engagement continues to be prolific, this study has far reaching implications for a variety of fields. The educational and cultural implications are discussed. Digital design impacts our engagement with the digital world as well as the concept and formation of community and it is hoped this study will add to the literature regarding the construction of digital space. / A Dissertation submitted to the Program of Interdisciplinary Humanities in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2015. / March 30, 2015. / Architecture, Community, Criteria and Benefits of Community, Digital Marketplace, Digital Public Space, Digital Social Space / Includes bibliographical references. / Kathleen Yancey, Professor Directing Dissertation; William Cloonan, University Representative; David Johnson, Committee Member; Leigh Edwards, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_253469 |
| Contributors | Menninger, Christa N. (authoraut), Yancey, Kathleen Blake (professor directing dissertation), Cloonan, William J. (university representative), Johnson, David F. (David Frame), 1956- (committee member), Edwards, Leigh H., 1970- (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Arts and Sciences (degree granting college), Program in Interdisciplinary Humanities (degree granting department) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource (209 pages), computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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