I'm going to tackle the first pink elephant in the blogroom right off the bat: It feels weird to be blogging for a class. There I said it! Let the lashings begin! In all seriousness though, I think it's an important phenomenon to talk about--the foreignness of using these social mediums in an academic setting. In fact, I'll admit that prior to sitting down and thinking about a topic for this blog I was resistant to combine the two realms. I hope that I'm not the only kid in the classroom feeling this way (and I'm quite certain I'm not), but it's the honest truth.
To begin with, I've considered myself quite technologically savvy prior to these beginning assignments. I surf the web at lightning speeds, get annoyed if there's ever a buffer period, and I can piece together a pretty mean PowerPoint presentation. But I've resisted the digital social realms like Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Blogger, Tumbler, etc. (the list is seemingly endless). I only recently began using Facebook for more than an address book, and I've cringed more than a few times at updates that are obviously TMI made by friends and family. Something about being an "English major" has given me the impression that writing should be treated with respect and not mutilated on Twitter by telling everyone that I just had a fight with my bf! Whatever happened to privacy?
Well this seems to be the dilemma of the recognition of digital humanities. There's a lack of respect for these social networking sites because many in the academic world perceive writing and publication as a privilege. Individuals that haven't passed judgement from editors and "peers" shouldn't have the right to reach their audiences right? This seems to be the problem addressed in "The MLA, @briancroxall, and the non-rise of the Digital Humanities". There is a lack of recognition for writers like Brian Croxall that skip the judgement, not just for their writing, but for the popularity their writing receives. There's that same kind of resistance I felt to accept that the two realms could combine.
Finally, I want to confess something that I've kept a secret for some time now, fearing that I may face judgement from my literary peers. I'm an avid reader of self-published electronic e-books on Kindle. For example, Amanda Hocking is a self-published writer that brought her Twilight-esque books to life online. And with the exception of typographical errors, dare I say they are better stories than those of the Twilight series (actually I have no problem saying it since I think the Twilight stories are dull and have weak characterization-- sorry Twilight fans). Now, she's a self-made millionaress. Digital Narrative? I say so.
Here's a link to a USA Today article about Hocking and other writers like her:http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2011-02-09-ebooks09_ST_N.htm
Here's a link to a USA Today article about Hocking and other writers like her:http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2011-02-09-ebooks09_ST_N.htm
Oh it's a little disconcerting the first time you build a blog for class, but then you realize it's the same as using a discussion board, just more personalized :-) Don't fear judgment from our classmates, we all have "little secrets" that seem to us less "scholarly." That being said, there's absolutely no shame in self publishing online, people have been self publishing in print for, well, ever. Why not online? I adore my ereader and am glad I have such a variety of options!
ReplyDeleteI like your observation that social media doesn't seem to have a lot of academic credibility. Other posts have mentioned this as well and I think it will be a very important point to make in our upcoming class. I think you have an excellent post, and believe me I am as nervous about judgment as anyone in this class. I look forward to our class discussions, and I hope and believe that when we all finally meet face to face any apprehensions we might have will disappear.
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