Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
9-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Program
Liberal Studies
Advisor
George Fragopoulos
Subject Categories
American Popular Culture | American Studies
Keywords
collective identity, online communities, virtual space, framing processes, race and class stratification, Brooklyn, New York, gentrification, social media
Abstract
In the following thesis I examine how race- and class-based power structures are conceptualized and actualized in the virtual sphere. The Internet as an “imagined community” upholds the historically embedded power structures that perpetuate deeply-rooted American hegemonic ideals as they relate to race and class.
To demonstrate the conceptualization of power structures in virtual space an analysis of discourse on the social media and news aggregate website, Reddit, that positions online conversations about race and class as an extension of the racial inequality present in social structures offline. Isolating gentrification, and topics related to gentrification such as new business openings and apartment hunting advice, this thesis observes how Redditors participate in the perpetuation of harmful, archaic power structures through discussions that establish a culture of neoliberalism and minimize the voices of people of color. Finally, I argue that the replication of race- and class-based power structures online suggests an ongoing process of gentrification in virtual space.
Recommended Citation
Sclafani, Peter J., "Enacting Race and Class Online: Gatekeeping and Meaning Making on Reddit’s r/Brooklyn" (2019). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/3360
