Acknowledgments & References

Overview

Background

• What is a Tamagotchi?
• Tamagotchi in Japan
• Tamagotchi in America

Analysis

• Tamagotchi and Aspectual Shape
• Observations of my own Virtual Chicken
• Morality of the Tamagotchi-Human Cyborg

Criticism

• Tamagotchi as Distraction
• Tamagotchi as Simulated Experience and the Trajectory of Virtual Relationships

Overview

Background
This section provides an introduction to the facticity of the Tamagotchi event from a primarily economic perspective, through facts aggregated from various news reports over the past several months.

• What is a Tamagotchi?
  A brief working description of a question this entire project seeks to answer.
• Tamagotchi in Japan
  A summary of news stories relating to the Japanese release of Tamagotchi.
• Tamagotchi in America
  The first week American release, and economic context with respect to other economic phenomena.

Analysis
This section contains thoughts I've cobbled together from reflections on a week of virtual husbandry.

• Tamagotchi and Aspectual Shape
  Discussion of a few approaches and contexts we might use to frame our thought about the Tamagotchi in human society.
• Observations of my own Virtual Chicken
  A collection of thoughts relating to the motivations for believing in the "petness" of a virtual pet.
• Morality of the Tamagotchi-Human Cyborg
  A look at the values native to the technology.

Criticism

• Tamagotchi as Distraction
  A Critical Theory look at the social spectacle of the Tamagotchi event.
• Tamagotchi as Simulated Experience
  A consideration of the long-term cultural impact of "virtual pet ownership".
• The Trajectory of Virtual Relationships
  A broader perspective of what our current interaction with the Tamagotchi suggests about the future of our mutually redefining discourse with technology.