Perpetual Contact
Mobile Communication, Private Talk, Public Performance

This 2002 book studies the impact of the mobile phone on contemporary society.

James E. Katz (Edited by), Mark Aakhus (Edited by)

9780521002660, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 21 March 2002

416 pages, 50 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.3 cm, 0.656 kg

'This is a surprising subject for an edited collection even in the so-called digital age, but it is one that is covered well … this collection will promote further debate in fields concerning the social construction of technologies, communications and media.' Work, Employment & Society

The spread of mobile communication, most obtrusively as cell phones but increasingly in other wireless devices, is affecting people's lives and relationships to a previously unthought-of extent. Mobile phones, which are fast becoming ubiquitous, affect either directly or indirectly every aspect of our personal and professional lives. They have transformed social practices and changed the way we do business, yet surprisingly little serious academic work has been done on them. This 2002 book, with contributions from the foremost researchers in the field, studies the impact of the mobile phone on contemporary society from a social scientific perspective. Providing a comprehensive overview of mobile phones and social interaction, it comprises an introduction covering the key issues, a series of unique national studies and a final section examining specific issues.

1. Introduction J. E. Katz and M. Aakhus
Part I. Mobile Communication - National and Comparative Perspectives: 2. Finland: a mobile phone culture J. P. Puro
3. Israel: chutzpah and chatter in the Holy Land A. Cohen and A. Schejter
4. Italy: stereotypes, true and false L. Fortunati
5. Korea: personal meanings S. D. Kim
6. United States: popular, pragmatic and problematic K. Robbins and M. Turner
7. France: preserving the image J. Heurtin and C. Licoppe
8. The Netherlands and the US compared E. Mante-Meijer
9. Bulgaria: mobile phones as post-Communist cultural icons V. D. Varbanov
Part II. Private Talk - Interpersonal Relations and Micro-Behaviour: 10. Hyper-coordination via mobile phone in Norway R. Ling and B. Yttri
11. Mobile culture of children and teenagers in Finland E. Kasesniemi and P. Rautiainen
12. Pretense of intimacy in France C. DeGourney
13. Mobile phone consumption and concepts of personhood D. Nafus and K. Tracy
Part III. Public Performance - Social Groups and Structures: 14. The chattage of absent presence K. Gergen
15. From mass society to perpetual contact J. Rule
16. Mobiles and the Norwegian teen: identity, gender and class B. Skog
17. The telephone comes to the Filipino village G. Strom
18. Beginnings in the telephone E. Schegloff
Part IV. Conclusion: making meaning of mobiles J. E. Katz and M. Aakhus.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC], Sociology: sport & leisure [JHBS], Sociology: work & labour [JHBL], Social theory [JHBA]