Maren Hartmann

mitarbeiter_hartmannNationality: German

Current position:
‘Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin’ (= ~ Lecturer)

Institution: University of Bremen, Germany

Registration: October 1997
Completion: early 2004


Director of Studies: Paddy Scannell
Second supervisor: Richard Barbrook

Aim of the study

A critical analysis of the new media discourses that emerged at the time of the popularisation of the Internet (exemplified through an analysis of user metaphors)


Maren is a lecturer in media and communications at the University of Bremen, Germany. Her last research project, which was based at the Free University of Brussels (VUB), dealt with young adults and new media. She has worked at several UK universities in the past (Sussex, Westminster, Brighton), both in teaching and research positions. Maren Hartmann has published widely in the field. Her current research includes cultures of the Internet, youth and new media, cultural studies in media research, qualitative research methodologies and media use research. She has worked on both 5th and 6th Framework projects funded by the European Commission.

Career to date

  • Aug. 2003 - Jan. 2004: Associated Research Fellow, SMIT (Studies on Media, Information and Telecommunication), VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Brussels (B)
  • March 2001 - July 2003: Research Fellow, EMTEL2 (European Media, Technology and Everyday Life Network 2), SMIT, VUB
  • Feb. 2000 - Feb. 2001: Lecturer (Media & Communication), School of Information Management, University of Brighton (GB)
  • Feb. 1999 - Jan. 2000: Visiting Lecturer, School for Communication, Design and Media; University of Westminster, London (GB)
  • Feb. 1998 - Jan. 2000: Teaching Assistant, School for Communication, Design and Media; University of Westminster, London (UK)
  • March 1995 - Feb. 1998: Research Officer, EMTEL (European Media, Technology and Everyday Life Network), GRC CulCom (Graduate Research Centre for Culture and Communication); University of Sussex, Brighton (GB)

Selected Publications

(PhD-related): 

Book:
Hartmann, Maren (2004): Technologies and utopias: the cyberflâneur and the experience of being online. München: Reinhard Fischer Verlag.

Journal articles:
Hartmann, Maren (2006): ‘Der Kulturkritiker als Flaneur: Walter Benjamin, die Passage und die neuen (Medien-) Technologien.’ In: Medien- und Kommunikationswissenschaft (M&K). No. 2/2006.

Hartmann, Maren (2001): ‘The netizen: an impossible concept?’ In: Inter/Sections: the journal of global communications and culture. Vol. 1, Nr. 1, S.9-24.


Book chapters:
Hartmann, Maren (in press): ‘Undercurrents: Cyberfeminism, a Mailing List and an Invisible Network Society’. In: Hepp, Andreas et al. (Hg.): Connectivity, Networks and Flows. Key Concepts for Contemporary Media and Cultural Studies. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

Hartmann, Maren (2006): ‘Undercurrents: Pstkolonialer Cyberfeminismus, eine Mailingliste und die Netzwerkgesellschaft’. In: Hepp, Andreas et al. (eds.): Konnektivitäten, Netzwerke und Flüsse. Opladen & Wiesbaden: VS Verlag.

Hartmann, Maren (2005): ‘Der Mythos und seine Metaphern: Mediengesellschaftliche Leitbilder’. In: Rössler, Patrick & Krotz, Friedrich (eds.): Mythen der Mediengesellschaft – The Media Society and its Myths. Konstanz: UVK, pp.33-62

Hartmann, Maren (2003): Situationist Roaming Online. Digital Arts and Culture (DAC) Conference Proceedings. Melbourne.

Hartmann, Maren (2000): ‘The Cyberflâneuse: Metaphors and reality in virtual space’. In: Cutting Edge (Hg.): Digital Desires: Language, Identity and New Technologies. London: I.B.Tauris, pp. 90-102.

Hartmann, Maren (1999): ‘Cyberflâneur und Cyberflâneuse – Zur Entwicklung der Netz-Nutzer-Metaphorik’. In: Hebecker, Eike et al (eds.): Neue Medienumwelten zwischen Regulierungsprozessen und alltäglicher Aneignung. Frankfurt/New York: Campus Verlag, pp. 236-245.

Hartmann, Maren (1999): ‘The unknown artificial metaphor or: the difficult process of creation or destruction’. In: Sollfrank, Cornelia / Old Boys Network (eds.): Next Cyberfeminist International. Hamburg: obn, pp. 80-85.

Hartmann, Maren (1999): ‘Surfer, Netizen, Cyberflaneur, Webgrrl: Online User Metaphors In Use’. In: Armitage, John & Roberts, Joanne (Hg.): Exploring Cyber Society: Social, Political, Economic, and Cultural Issues. Vol. 1. Conference Proceedings (5-7 July). Newcastle: University of Northumbria.

Contact details

Dr. Maren Hartmann
University of Bremen
FB 09 – SFG 4090
Enrique-Schmidt-Str. 7
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218 2580
Email: Maren.Hartmann @ uni-bremen.de