E-GRIEF: IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT IN VIRTUAL GRIEF OF NEW MEDIA

Abstract

Tradition or cultural expression of grief can be shown through one's presence, and this emotion is submitted directly to the family of the deceased. The emergence of new media, however, such as computers and the Internet provide a new direction in relation and human interaction. New media tools allow anyone to construct impressions of their condolences virtually. Through mediated computer communication analysis methods, the author reveals the characteristic of impressions shown by the audiences about a news of someone's death. The result of the study also shows that the virtual figure of the dead is still "considered" alive, though it is just a collection of archives and data from his/her virtual identity. The visitors who have emotional intimacy could still send messages and communicate with the deceased as if he were there in front of them.