A white right hand

Jones, P. (2011) A white right hand. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 17 (3). pp. 237-244. ISSN 1354-8565

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The hand icon apparent on desktop and laptop computer screens is shown to manifest an unexpected cultural history. What may have been taken for granted in the implementation of graphical user interfaces and their associated iconography, is subjected to a semiotic analysis that reveals a basis in blackface minstrelsy. Theories of human interactivity with computers help to explain how this heritage has remained relatively hidden.

Item Type	Article
Identification Number	10.1177/1354856511405603
Additional information	“The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Convergence, Vol 17 issue 3, 2011, © SAGE Publications Ltd, 2011: on SAGE Journals Online: http://online.sagepub.com/”
Keywords	interactivity, hand icon, blackface minstrelsy, extranoematic
Date Deposited	15 May 2025 12:16
Last Modified	25 Mar 2026 01:03