Neff's Changing Place of Corporate Culture

Who knew that new media was fueled by after-hours parties? Moreover, who knew that schmoozing and tabloids fueled the industry? Interestingly enough, Neff argues that after hour parties had a fundamental role for the growth and geographic space of new media.

I'm not entirely convinced. There seems to be something missing from this analysis. People working within the same industry attending similar events in nearby location. Are the parties really a key ingredient for the geography of new media, or is it possibly more of a side effect? I like the argument that creativity breeds creativity and that is a reason why these business that were 'liberated' by network technology remained geographically close. But this creativity would not only occur at parties. It seems as though the parties may be an ingredient in a bigger social phenomena.

Perhaps Neff isn't trying to argue that the parties are a driving force, but they should still be considered in the stew of industrial productivity. That is, the parties are driving industry, but are still an important part of the entire process.