Physicality in Virtual Space

I am currently working on a small project around the ways in which we understand virtual spaces through our external physicality using E. Doyle McCarthy’s  “Toward a Sociology of the Physical World: George Herbert Mead on Physical Objects” (found in Studies in Social Interaction, 5: 105-12) as a starting point. Indeed, it is not new theoretical territory (I did touch on this in my thesis as well), but I am looking for literature that explores this idea beyond design literature. I am finding quite a bit of art literature (which is good as it is related to the purpose of the paper), but I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions off the top of their heads, as search engine queries are driving me a little crazy at the moment. Much like my experience in my (short) Fine Arts studentship, what I have in my head does not always translate nicely on paper… and so all the key words and phrase combinations that I pull up give me some interesting yet useless material.

Published by Kelly Boudreau

Associate Professor of Interactive Media Theory & Design at Harrisburg University. I research Digital Games, Play, Sociality, Avatars, Toxicity, and Social Norms & Boundary Keeping. Thoughts and ramblings on this site are my own as I grapple with all the things professional and personal and everything in between.

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