Macrologia: Theoretical Implications of On-Line Defenses, Conferences, and Publishing

In "Macrologia: Theoretical Implications of On-Line Defenses, Conferences, and Publishing," Dene Grigar and Jeff Galin speculate about the affect of electronic forums upon research and publishing. From dissertation defenses to academic conferences, electronic forums may shape scholar-ship, challenging us to rethink underlying tenets we adhere to in the academy.

On-line dissertation defenses expand the notion of "examiner," from a few committee members sitting in a classroom to a wider audience participating in the event from across the globe. Thus, electronic defenses allow for current research to reach a larger number of scholars than traditional defenses and introduce candidates into their academic fields on national and international levels. In fact, the expansiveness of the medium makes it feasible for candidates to work productively with committee members from other institutions far from degree-awarding universities. Held in MOOs, the dissertation defense can be videotaped and archived. Records of the candidate's work and ideas, as well as comments and questions posed by the audience, can be contained in electronic repositories for others to study and utilize.

Likewise, the electronic format of scholarly conferences facilitates attendance and participation at meetings. By connecting on-line, we can post research and respond to work easily from home or office. The interactiveness of these forums changes the role of the audience, encouraging more involvement in discussions, while the infinite quality of cyberspace allows for limitless amount of participants and research. Thus, competition among conferences or even for an audience at mega conferences may become fierce - with only those scholars understanding how to write for the medium being read and commented upon. And because scholarship can be posted prior to the event in a MOO or on the World Wide Web, presenters are essentially engaging in self-publishing.

Publishing on-line documents not only the research we undertake but the process we have undergone to reach our results and write up our work. The formal language that has dominated scholarship may lose ground to less orthodox styles. And because MOOs are both potential tablets and museums for this new electronic cultural artifact, individual voices of a collaborative piece of writing are documented for posterity.