Michael Keren holds a Canada Research Chair in Communication, Culture and Civil Society at the University of Calgary and is visiting professor at Haifa University. He is the author of many books, including Zichroni v. State of Israel (Lexington Books, 2002).

In Blogosphere, Michael Keren examines nine blogs posted by individuals from exceedingly different backgrounds, and draws some provocative conclusions about the emerging nature of virtual public space-a place where emancipation meets melancholy. Do political bloggers actually participate in politics? How are individual voices and online communities faring at a time of the increasing corporate commodification of cyberspace? And how do geographic region and personal circumstance affect the potential impact of blogs on offline lives? Keren poses and explores these and other questions in this timely, intelligent, and engaging contribution to political science, lifewriting theory, and cultural studies.

• Chapter 1 Emanicipation and MelancholyChapter 2 Cyberspace CelebrityChapter 3 Online FeministChapter 4 Iranian GirlChapter 5 Israeli WomanChapter 6 Canadian Baby BoomerChapter 7 American SoldierChapter 8 Pop Culture PrincessChapter 9 A Mother in IndiaChapter 10 African ExileChapter 11 The New Political Arena

Michael Keren holds a Canada Research Chair in Communication, Culture and Civil Society at the University of Calgary and is visiting professor at Haifa University. He is the author of many books, including Zichroni v. State of Israel (Lexington Books, 2002).

In Blogosphere, Michael Keren examines nine blogs posted by individuals from exceedingly different backgrounds, and draws some provocative conclusions about the emerging nature of virtual public space-a place where emancipation meets melancholy. Do political bloggers actually participate in politics? How are individual voices and online communities faring at a time of the increasing corporate commodification of cyberspace? And how do geographic region and personal circumstance affect the potential impact of blogs on offline lives? Keren poses and explores these and other questions in this timely, intelligent, and engaging contribution to political science, lifewriting theory, and cultural studies.

• Chapter 1 Emanicipation and MelancholyChapter 2 Cyberspace CelebrityChapter 3 Online FeministChapter 4 Iranian GirlChapter 5 Israeli WomanChapter 6 Canadian Baby BoomerChapter 7 American SoldierChapter 8 Pop Culture PrincessChapter 9 A Mother in IndiaChapter 10 African ExileChapter 11 The New Political Arena