A Reflection of Traditional A Reflection of Traditional Mediums of Self-Narrative Mediums of Self-Narrative

Versus Modern Day Versus Modern Day BloggingBlogging

Chris Basnett, HC 204Chris Basnett, HC 204

First Impressions of blogging…First Impressions of blogging… I approached blogging I approached blogging

apprehensively from the start. I apprehensively from the start. I had never maintained a blog had never maintained a blog before, nor did I ever have the before, nor did I ever have the urge to. In fact, I didn’t even fully urge to. In fact, I didn’t even fully understand what a blog was, how understand what a blog was, how it worked, or who used them. My it worked, or who used them. My impression of blogging from the impression of blogging from the beginning was that beginning was that they were they were created for the sole purpose of created for the sole purpose of the rant; so that pre-teen girls the rant; so that pre-teen girls who wanted to carry on about who wanted to carry on about boys, drama, and how much boys, drama, and how much they hated their lives could they hated their lives could express their feelings where express their feelings where everyone could see it. everyone could see it.

BOY WAS I WRONG…BOY WAS I WRONG…

Is blogging a legitimate form of self-Is blogging a legitimate form of self-narrative?narrative?

Bloggers are increasingly becoming the Bloggers are increasingly becoming the electronic authors and publishers of the future, electronic authors and publishers of the future, but the question still remains whether blogging but the question still remains whether blogging has the legitimacy, power, and integrity that has the legitimacy, power, and integrity that other forms of self-narrative have?!?!other forms of self-narrative have?!?!

OR

LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!!!LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!!!

VersusVersus

Versus

Versus

Authors Bloggers

Emo Kids

Aaron Edinborough AKA Chris Basnett

Ben FranklinRalph

Emerson

S. Klein

Pepys the Pimp

Some Random Dad

James “The Fraud” Frey

LOOKS LIKE A FAIR FIGHT! LOOKS LIKE A FAIR FIGHT! LET’S GET IT ON!LET’S GET IT ON!

Journaling VS BlogsJournaling VS Blogs Traditional journals remove Traditional journals remove

the social portion of journaling. the social portion of journaling. Although the journals of Although the journals of Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Pepys were not popular within Pepys were not popular within their own lifetime they have their own lifetime they have become classic literature over become classic literature over the years due to their timeless the years due to their timeless topics and their sincere topics and their sincere writing. Although they may writing. Although they may have intended their journals to have intended their journals to be read someday they were be read someday they were unable to have their writing unable to have their writing changed by the commentary of changed by the commentary of others. Will there ever be a others. Will there ever be a blog that has enough staying blog that has enough staying power to be passed down power to be passed down through the generations? through the generations?

Blogging’s most common Blogging’s most common purpose may be when it is purpose may be when it is used to record day to day used to record day to day occurrences out of the occurrences out of the everyday life. The proliferation everyday life. The proliferation of this type of blog has of this type of blog has become apparent since become apparent since websites like websites like Livejournal.comLivejournal.com have become so popular. Not have become so popular. Not only is this method of only is this method of journaling free, easy, and journaling free, easy, and customizable, bloggers can customizable, bloggers can also choose to make their also choose to make their entries private or public. entries private or public. Blogger such as Stephanie Blogger such as Stephanie Klein make a career out of Klein make a career out of their personal blogs through their personal blogs through advertisements. advertisements.

The Public PersonaThe Public Persona Using traditional methods to Using traditional methods to

create the same public voice is create the same public voice is much more difficult. For the much more difficult. For the average Joe it may be nearly average Joe it may be nearly impossible. One would have to impossible. One would have to rely on television or radio rely on television or radio advertisement, publications, or advertisement, publications, or word-of-mouth. All of these word-of-mouth. All of these public outlets, other than public outlets, other than word-of-mouth, require a good word-of-mouth, require a good amount of money. Traditional amount of money. Traditional mediums do, however, almost mediums do, however, almost guarantee that you will have a guarantee that you will have a viewing audience. Most viewing audience. Most personal web pages and blogs personal web pages and blogs are a mere speck on the radar are a mere speck on the radar and web surfers are likely to and web surfers are likely to pass on by without noticing pass on by without noticing unless you give them what unless you give them what they are looking for. they are looking for.

The use of the internet has The use of the internet has only aided in the growth of this only aided in the growth of this public voice. When creating or public voice. When creating or boosting a public persona it is boosting a public persona it is crucial to use the internet to crucial to use the internet to one’s advantage. In our age of one’s advantage. In our age of technology, where it seems technology, where it seems everyone has high speed everyone has high speed internet, one would be foolish internet, one would be foolish not to do so. You will find that not to do so. You will find that anyone with significant social anyone with significant social or political ties will have their or political ties will have their own website or blog; own website or blog; politicians and movie stars politicians and movie stars alike. The use of internet alike. The use of internet space in creating a public space in creating a public persona is lightning fast and is persona is lightning fast and is typically cheap or free. typically cheap or free.

The Persuasive PersonaThe Persuasive Persona Authors who use tradition Authors who use tradition

methods of literature and methods of literature and other media are more other media are more likely to be believed since likely to be believed since access to these resources access to these resources are limited and harder to are limited and harder to come by. come by.

Developing a persuasive Developing a persuasive persona requires persona requires credibility to be effective. credibility to be effective. I have found that most I have found that most bloggers lack this bloggers lack this credibility when trying to credibility when trying to convince an audience to convince an audience to think or act a certain way. think or act a certain way. This comes with the This comes with the exception of bloggers who exception of bloggers who blog about their own blog about their own profession or interest. profession or interest. They will likely be more They will likely be more respected by their fellow respected by their fellow peers. peers.

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Both traditional mediums of self-narrative and Both traditional mediums of self-narrative and blogging have the potential to reach their blogging have the potential to reach their intended audiences in one way or another. With intended audiences in one way or another. With the birth of new technology and the ever the birth of new technology and the ever growing internet trend blogging has become an growing internet trend blogging has become an accepted form of self-narrative. Although accepted form of self-narrative. Although traditional methods of self-narrative are tried traditional methods of self-narrative are tried and true blogging has proven that it is a force to and true blogging has proven that it is a force to be reckoned within the world of literature.be reckoned within the world of literature.

I, Myself, am torn between both worlds!!!I, Myself, am torn between both worlds!!!

THE ENDTHE END

WOOT WOOT!1!WOOT WOOT!1!