Electronic communication now keeps us connected, wired, and cabled to the entire world. Why, then, do we often feel displaced and increasingly isolated in the global village? Interpersonal Divide: The Search for Community in a Technological Age seeks to answer the question: have media and technology created a social gap, eroding our sense of community? Author Michael Bugeja tackles this question by taking a broad and interdisciplinary approach, incorporating a number of different viewpoints, including global, ethical, philosophical, corporate, pop cultural, and sociological perspectives. Bugeja analyses the ‘interpersonal divide', the void that develops between people when we spend too much time in virtual rather than in real communities, and makes a case for face-to-face communication in a technological world. He traces media history to show how other generations have coped with similar problems during periods of great technological change, recommending ways to ‘repatriate to the village.' • Focuses on a pertinent issue—the erosion of community in the face of media and technology—that connects to a variety of topics, yet that many college texts cannot thoroughly explore. • Journal exercises, discussion and paper ideas, and suggested readings at the end of each chapter help students develop awareness about the impact of media and technology on their own lives, as well as the society around them. • Bugeja draws on information from a spectrum of viewpoints, including ethical, pop cultural, historical, corporate, familial, and communal perspectives. • While using contemporary examples to validate arguments, Bugeja primarily focuses on the philosophical motivations and history behind the issues raised, rather than going into heavy detail of specific events. • Can be used in a number of different media/communications courses, including Media and Society, Media Ethics, History of Media, and New Communications Technology. Supplements and Resources: Companion Web Site: www.interpersonal-divide.org • Features information about the book • New material for lecture or discussion • 100 page Instructor's Manual Contents: Introduction: The Need to Belong Chapter One: Displacement in the Global Village 1. High-Tech and Original Habitats 2. The Interpersonal Divide 3. Big Box Displacement 4. Loss of Perspective 5. A Lifelong Quest Chapter Two: The Human Condition 1. Peace and Empowerment 2. Survival in Virtual Environments 3. The Marketing of Self-Help 4. The Ethics of Our Condition 5. Convenience Over Conscience Chapter Three: Habits of a High-Tech Age 1. The Hype of Self-Help 2. Seven Habits of Highly Mediated People 3. The Accelerated Biological Clock 4. Wondering What Is Real Chapter Four: Impact of Media and Technology 1. The Real and Virtual Real 2. The Dawning of Mass Media 3. The Advent of Marketing 4. Vision and Values Chapter Five: Blurring of Identity and Place 1. The Disembodied Self 2. Mapping the Consumer Genome 3. Moral and Social Upheaval 4. Endangered Habitats Chapter Six: The Medium is the Moral 1. McLuhan, Revisited 2. The New Generation Gap 3. The Unnatural Order of Things Chapter Seven: Icons and Caricatures 1. Icons and Idols 2. Icons and Advertising 3. Mentors and Caricatures Chapter Eight: Living Three Dimensionally 1. Virtues and Environments 2. The Moral Importance of Place 3. Dimensions of Community Chapter Nine: Repatriation to the Village 1. Ethical Inventories 2. Foci of Our Discontent 3. Mis-Mediated Messages 4. A Place in the Village Notes Index

Introduction: The Need to Belong 1. Displacement in the Global Village High-Tech and Original Habitats The Interpersonal Divide Big Box Displacement Loss of Perspective A Lifelong Quest 2. The Human Condition Peace and Empowerment Survival in Virtual Environments The Marketing of Self-Help The Ethics of Our Condition Convenience Over Conscience 3. Habits of a High-Tech Age The Hype of Self-Help Seven Habits of Highly Mediated People The Accelerated Biological Clock Wondering What Is Real 4. Impact of Media and Technology The Real and Virtually Real The Dawning of Mass Media The Advent of Marketing Vision and Values 5. Blurring of Identity and Place The Disembodied Self Mapping the Consumer Genome Moral and Social Upheaval Endangered Habitats 6. The Medium is the Moral McLuhan, Revisited The New Generation Gap The Unnatural Order of Things 7. Icons and Caricatures Icons and Idols Icons and Advertising Mentors and Caricatures 8. Living Three Dimensionally Virtues and Environments The Moral Importance of Place Dimensions of Community 9. Repatriation to the Village Ethical Inventories Foci of Our Discontent Mis-Mediated Messages A Place in the Village Notes Index

Michael Bugeja, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, Iowa State University of Science and Technology