Alex Wittich
Cultural Anthropology
Thursday 11:30 class
Koobecaf assignment
TA: Katie Hines

The Koobecaf Experience

In recent years, a new culture in America has erupted from nowhere. The Koobecaf is an online culture consisting of teenagers, young adults, and even the parents of said teens and young adults. This culture is Growing extremely quickly in size and in fame.
When comparing the Koobecaf to the barrel model of culture several very interesting things are present. The barrel model of culture consists of three parts: superstructure, Social Structure, and Infrastructure. Each of these is represented in a unique way in the Koobecaf culture. The Koobecaf Superstructure is expressed through things called profiles and groups. Each member of the Koobecaf culture has his or her own profile in which they state who they are and what they believe in. The profile allows them to post their religious beliefs, political platform, relationship status, and whether they are straight, gay, lesbian, or bi. Virtually anything the Koobecaf choose may be posted to a profile. All of these things are taken for granted in the Koobecaf culture. In many cultures posting such information could be just cause for your arrested or even your death. The Koobecaf do not grasp how powerful the freedom of profiles is.
The Koobecaf social structure incorporates several parts of the profile. I have already explained how members can state political platforms on a profile. The Koobecaf are currently in the process of electing a new leader for the country they live in. McCain and Obama, two people in the Koobecaf culture running for leadership, have “fan pages”. These can be used to promote themselves and keep the Koobecaf updated on things happening in the election process. This is important to many young adults in the Koobecaf culture because most of the free time they have is spent on in and around their profiles. So instead of leaving the environment they know, they are enabled to research election candidates inside of the Koobecaf environment.
Another part of the social structure in the Koobecaf way of life is the ability to post relationship information. A common phrase among the Koobecaf is, “it is not official until its on your profile” which means, until it can be seen in your profile, it isn’t true. Why is it so important for others to know that you are in a relationship or that your relationship is over? Strange isn’t it? Most people would not want others gossiping about why or how it happened, however, the Koobecaf find it strangely important.
Finally the Koobecaf infrastructure consists of the Koobecaf marketplace. The main economic field of the Koobecaf culture is the marketplace. Members may buy and sell, tickets, cars, games, and nearly anything else through the market place. It is a fast way for the Koobecaf to make money or acquire things they need such as books, or help with odd jobs. Many members in the Koobecaf culture utilize the market place to advertise merchandise simply because you may do so with no fees for your advertisement. The Koobecaf enjoy things that are free, or cheep. One infrastructure aspect of the Koobecaf profile is called food Friendzy. Every day Food Friendzy allows the Koobecaf three chances to win free food.
The Koobecaf is a vast culture in which members rely on the ability to do what they please and say what they please about themselves and others for everyone to see. This is important to the Koobecaf because of the demographics of where they reside. The Koobecaf are able to converse with other members of the culture who may be thousands of miles from them. So one could say that the Koobecaf are a very socially oriented group of people who stay connected through the medium of online life.