Gabriella Coleman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabriella Coleman
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Coleman in New Zealand, 2012
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| Born | 1973 (age 51–52) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Occupation | Author, anthropologist, professor |
| Employer | Harvard University |
| Known for | Anthropological studies of the cultures of hacking and online activism |
Enid Gabriella Coleman (born 1973), known as Gabriella Coleman, is an anthropologist and author. She studies how people interact with technology, especially focusing on hackers and online activism. Her work looks at different hacker groups, like those who create free and open-source software, the group Anonymous, and security hackers. She is currently a professor at Harvard University.
Contents
Becoming a Scholar
Her Education Journey
Gabriella Coleman finished high school in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She then went to Columbia University, where she earned a degree in religious studies in 1996. After that, she studied at the University of Chicago. There, she earned a master's degree in socio-cultural anthropology in 1999. In 2005, she completed her PhD. Her big research paper was about the idea of freedom in free and open-source software.
Early Teaching Roles
Before joining Harvard, Professor Coleman held several important positions. She was a research fellow at Rutgers University and the University of Alberta. In 2007, she became an assistant professor at New York University. She also spent time working at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. In 2012, she moved to Montreal, Canada, to teach at McGill University. That same year, she gave a speech at Webstock 2012 in New Zealand.
Understanding Hackers
What is Hacking Culture?
Gabriella Coleman is well-known for her studies on hackers. She has written a lot about the rules and politics of computer hacking. She explains that hackers are not all the same. She uses the idea of "hacker genres" to show that hackers come from different backgrounds. These backgrounds give them different ideas about right and wrong.
Even though hackers are diverse, she also looks at what brings them together. She says they share a commitment to the "craft and craftiness of hacking." This means they work hard to create high-quality work. They also enjoy being clever and witty in their actions.
Sharing Her Research
Professor Coleman wants her research to be easy for everyone to understand. In 2019, she started Hack_Curio. This is an online museum with short videos about computer hacking. Each video has explanations written by experts. The goal is to challenge common ideas about hackers. It also shows how important hacking is in the world today. She has also appeared in many documentaries about hackers. In 2021, she co-produced a 10-part podcast series for BBC Radio 4 called The Hackers.
Her Book: Coding Freedom
Her first book, Coding Freedom: The Ethics and Aesthetics of Hacking, explores the ideas of freedom in the world of free and open-source software. The book looks at how hackers protect their independence. They do this through engineering, special licenses, and ethical rules. She also examines the humor and political systems created by hackers. These systems help them develop software together.
Studying Anonymous
The Trickster Idea
Gabriella Coleman's work on Anonymous has made her a frequent commentator in the media. She often describes Anonymous as a "trickster archetype." A trickster is a character who often pushes boundaries and uses cleverness. They might not always be "good" but can be important for change. Coleman believes there are many links between tricksters and hackers. She says tricksters use their wits for fun or for political reasons. They can also get caught by their own cleverness, which helps them learn.
Anonymous in the Media
Coleman's idea of Anonymous as a trickster has become popular in the media. She has also pointed out issues with how the media covers Anonymous. She believes it's important to ask why hackers act the way they do. We should also look at what they want to achieve and the results of their actions.
Her first major article on Anonymous was Our Weirdness Is Free. In this article, she describes Anonymous as "everything and nothing at once." She admits that she doesn't fully understand the group. She told the BBC that not knowing who is "behind the mask" gives Anonymous its power.
Hacker Hoaxer Whistleblower Spy
Professor Coleman's long-term research on Anonymous resulted in her book, Hacker Hoaxer Whistleblower Spy: The Many Faces of Anonymous. This book tells the story of the Anonymous movement. It explains how it started, grew, and what impact it has had. In the book, she continues to describe Anonymous as tricksters. She says that tricksters can teach us lessons, even if they don't mean to. Their actions can show us new ideas or highlight problems that need attention.
She uses the example of the white nationalist troll weev as a "terrifying" side of tricksterism. In contrast, she sees Anonymous as a more positive force for political hope. Other anthropologists have also discussed her book in the Journal Hau. In 2023, she gave a lecture comparing Anonymous with the anonymous far right and QAnon. She highlighted the important differences between these groups, even though they started on similar online platforms.
Hackers Becoming Professionals
From Rebels to Experts
In 2019, Data & Society, a research group, asked Gabriella Coleman to write about the rise of professional security hackers. Her study, "Wearing Many Hats: The Rise of the Professional Security Hacker," looks at the years 1990 to 2000. During this time, hackers worked to become recognized as professionals. Coleman and her co-author Matt Goerzen explain how these hackers changed. They went from being seen as dangerous rebels to becoming advocates for computer security.
The study shows how hackers pioneered "full-disclosure" security research. This means they openly shared information about computer weaknesses, called vulnerabilities. This helped make the security community more open and responsible. The hackers also worked to improve their public image. They did this through publicity stunts and working with the media.
The "Imaginary Hats"
A key part of their image change was the idea of "imaginary hats." These were black, white, and gray hats. They symbolized different attitudes toward laws and ethics. This helped hackers show they were willing to work within legal rules. It also made people trust them more. A shorter version of this study was published in 2022. It was titled "From Subversives to CEOs: How Radical Hackers Built Today’s Cybersecurity Industry."
See also
In Spanish: Gabriella Coleman para niños
