My blog as its own genre

This term’s blogging experience was an interesting glimpse into the possibilities, as well as the depth and prevalence, of the blogosphere. This genre, as its own, was, to a significant degree, hindering in its required style of writing. Since it was primarily targeted at first years, or those going into first year, it required a colloquial, and easy format and structure to follow. The implications being a hampering of language selection, as well as a thematic exploration. To aim at a broader audience allows room for experimenting with thoughts and ideas, instead of reflecting over recent events and feelings. Since my character required a controversial approach in selecting story ideas, I felt that there were limits in the choice process, as many provocative topics seem irrelevant to first years, or the theme of “surviving first year”. Having said this, the theme of “surviving first year” provides ample room to explore a diverse array of relative topics, especially the inviting dangers that reveal themselves to all first years one time or another.

The theme for my group’s blog was “The Circus”, as we attempted to illustrate the many facets of first year by each writer assuming a circus character, and thereby exploring the various reaches of first year. I chose to be the “fire breather”, as I aimed to touch on all the heated happenings in first year, thinking that I could relate my experiences with such happenings. But I feel that the assignments made it hard at times to fully explore one’s character, although I do believe that my character was such that I could always raise my “voice” a few decibels, be it only through my choice of tone.

Since most lectures in the beginning of, and tutorials throughout, term were on the actual technicalities of the blog, like adding widgets and gadgets, and registering one’s blog onto the various blog search-engines, I was stifled by the inability to grapple with the new means of technology. Because of the distractive feat of trying to get my blog posts uploaded, hyper-linked, and presentable, I feel that my production was less that substantial, and I hardly posted any articles out of free will. I therefore don’t feel that I fully took advantage of the opportunity to have expressed myself, and my blog character to the fullest degree.

Since I didn’t get overly involved, I didn’t feel as if I was an actual journalist, with a following of readers. However, I feel that blogging is definitely a form of journalism, be it professional, or be it civil. Since, if facts are substantiated and hyper-linked to relevant and trustworthy sites, the authenticity stands. This is highly resourceful, and allows areas of debate to specialise and focus on the intricacies of the certain topics. By that regard, blogging can be a potent means of discussing, sharing, and analysing information. For instance, I did manage to touch on a few topics worthy of, and relevant to, first years, especially oppidans and their seemingly disadvantaged position within this town.

Sticking to the strict regime of any genre, one ought to push the malleable boundaries as much as one is able to. That is why the blogging genre as a whole was by no measures problematic for me. It allows a certain degree of freedom between its borders, and by the correct use of hyperlinks, a story may be a variable of a hybridisation of other genres, moulding it to your own favourable shape. This freedom does release the tension to conform, and it is this reason that I think that the blogging genre, and this terms work, required a degree of creativity, and provided the space to experiment, mix, and blend the various styles or genres that we have adapted to, or wanted to explore.