Date of Award
June 2019
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Communication and Rhetorical Studies
Advisor(s)
Sylvia Sierra
Subject Categories
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
This thesis uses theories of positioning and politeness to analyze a collection of anonymous discussion board posts gathered from 4chan's ROBOT-9001 message board. I provide an overview of 4chan's history and review recent literature focused on the website. I then examine how users direct gender-based insults at other users within a set of excerpts taken from the larger collection of posts, finding that users who express opposition to misogyny or sexism are identified by others as feminine through the usage of derogatory and misogynistic insults. Next, I examine a second set of excerpts, demonstrating how a user establishes and maintains her identity across multiple anonymous posts in order to respond to insults directed at her by other users. Finally, I conclude with considerations for further research for research interested in 4chan and anonymous text-based computer mediated communication.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Camele, Michael, "Positioning and Face Work on 4chan’s /r9k/" (2019). Theses - ALL. 337.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/337
