This volume puts together the works of a group of distinguished scholars and active researchers in the field of media and communication studies to reflect upon the past, present, and future of new media research. The chapters examine the implications of new media technologies on everyday life, existing social institutions, and the society at large at various levels of analysis. Macro-level analyses of changing techno-social formation - such as discussions of the rise of surveillance society and the "fifth estate" - are combined with studies on concrete and specific new media phenomena, such as the rise of Pro-Am collaboration and "fan labor" online. In the process, prominent concepts in the field of new media studies, such as social capital, displacement, and convergence, are critically examined, while new theoretical perspectives are proposed and explicated. Reflecting the inter-disciplinary nature of the field of new media studies and communication research in general, the chapters interrogate into the problematic through a range of theoretical and methodological approaches. The book should offer students and researchers who are interested in the social impact of new media both critical reviews of the existing literature and inspirations for developing new research questions.

This volume puts together the works of a group of distinguished scholars and active researchers in the field of media and communication studies to reflect upon the past, present, and future of new media research. The chapters examine the implications of new media technologies on everyday life, existing social institutions, and the society at large at various levels of analysis. Macro-level analyses of changing techno-social formation - such as discussions of the rise of surveillance society and the "fifth estate" - are combined with studies on concrete and specific new media phenomena, such as the rise of Pro-Am collaboration and "fan labor" online. In the process, prominent concepts in the field of new media studies, such as social capital, displacement, and convergence, are critically examined, while new theoretical perspectives are proposed and explicated. Reflecting the inter-disciplinary nature of the field of new media studies and communication research in general, the chapters interrogate into the problematic through a range of theoretical and methodological approaches. The book should offer students and researchers who are interested in the social impact of new media both critical reviews of the existing literature and inspirations for developing new research questions.

After Cody Quan loses faith and hope following the events of Act I, he returns back to a life of redundancy, where he is forced to find contentment in defeat. Life, however, has other plans. He is introduced to Marty Ho, a slick-talking everyday man who quickly becomes his best friend. Together they start their own company, which Cody uses it to right every wrong from the recent past. Unfortunately, new challenges unexpectedly arrive and Marty may not be the wholesome caring friend that he initially appeared to be. With a style that invokes wit, charm, honest and sarcasm, new author Louis Leung details the plight of the modern-day Asian-American male who journeys beyond the bamboo ceiling.

Cody Quan achieved the model minority dream. In his early twenties, he had his own house, a decently paying job and a clean record. But through the insistence of a new intern named Mindy, he took a bold first step into breaking out of his comfort zone. With a style that invokes wit, charm, honesty and sarcasm, new author Louis Leung details the plight of a modern-day Asian-American male who struggles through faith, love, social stigmas and being his own person. The first act of Cody Quan breaks the illusions of what Cody thought to be the perfect life and details the complex relationships of race, religion and the American Dream.