Well, Tania of What Would a Nerd Wear asked to hear more about my project. So here we go.
Last semester I looked at Identity and Outfit of the Day Blogs. I interviewed seven OOTD bloggers to hear the story told through the voices of participants, and I followed approximately twenty blogs to watch how the community worked. My research question was: how is identity as an OOTD blogger shaped and influenced by the community of OOTD bloggers? I am a sociologist, so I am drawn to questions about the interplay between self and society.
This semester I am returning to the project and looking at it from a new angle. First, I have changed the terminology to personal style blogger, as that appears to be a cultural trend that has surfaced. Now I have two questions: what influences the personal style blogger's choice to, or not to monetize, and is personal style blogging a feminist enterprise?
A second big difference between last semester and this semester is that my current project is a research proposal for my thesis. My thesis will be due in April, 2011, so I have one year to read tons more books and articles, do more data collection, and do data analysis. This summer I will do a second round of interviews, and I would like to get as many as 40 interviews completed (if you're a personal style blogger and you're reading this, I would definitely like to talk with you). I will also be creating a database about PSBs, like posts per month, ads or no ads, links or no links, blogroll, number of pictures, cross posting, all that good stuff. From what I can tell, there is no centralized data collection of this kind, except probably Blogger and WordPress have use numbers. I suspect that blog companies would be unwilling to share that data, and also, since personal style blogs are not always distinct from personal blogs, mommy blogs, beauty blogs, etc., the info probably doesn't exist for just the type that I'm investigating.
So, what do you think? I have lately seen tons of reflective posts on these exact topics. Those are really cool and helpful, and I want to strike while the iron is hot, before people get tired of talking about why they do what they do. On the other hand, there is no money to do this research; I'm just working on my M.A., so it pretty much happens when I have time for it to happen. Same issues that most grad students face.
OK, so there you have it. Let's talk!
Emily K.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
This is a really exciting project--I hope to do something similar at the doctoral level in rhetoric and composition. If you want to talk more feel free to email me: katie.gunter@ndsu.edu
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Let me know when the time comes for interviews and I'll be more than willing to help out. Good luck with all this work! You are going to rock your thesis :)
ReplyDeleteOh man. This is fabulous. Coming from a science background, and with my husband working on his dissertation, your research is incredibly interesting to me. Let me know if need any info/have any questions for OOTD bloggers!
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I think you're right to change the terminology. It's also more inclusive than "outfit of the day" which might imply daily postings.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely intrigued by this; I've touched briefly on it before either on other blogs or on my own why I have a personal style blog (which frequently crosses into a personal blog), but I'd be more than happy to help you with your thesis, if you're willing to have me! Let me know if you need anything. :)
ReplyDeleteToast with Charmalade
This is amazing - and I'm very interested in your eventual conclusion about whether or not this is a feminist enterprise (and what definition of feminist you'll be using). Sometimes I run myself in circles worrying that being an OOTD blogger is anti-feminist as we can have a tendency to pigeon hole ourselves or the public perception of who we are. Then other times I feel as if its this great cottage industry that is largely woman-dominated and shaped about conversations with and regarding other women and our definitions of femininity. Basically I give myself headaches by overthinking it instead of just enjoying blogging. I cannot wait to see your final research once published.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an awesome project!! And thank you for your comment on my blog - making new friends is so hard!!
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for all the lovely comments you have left on my blog and especially over the one where I emptied my soul (so to speak and talked about the person I was in love with)
Also, I want to say how amazing and interesting your research sounds! Its awesome that you are able to weave what you enjoy to do with your research. I on the other hand am still trying to figure out if Im going to stay with my original proposal or if I'm going to change it. Seeing as how I call myself a feminist and have studied the subject quite extensively and will continue to do so for pretty much all my life (since i want to be a feminist studies professor some day) Im quite intrigued as Alli XT is about the notion of personal style blogs being a "feminist enterprise: A lot of the ideas that she stated in her post I wrestle with everyday. Im trying to weave my feminist thinking with my blog but its hard to walk that fine line.
Again GREAT RESEARCH TOPIC! If theres anything I can do just let me know Ill be happy to help gnegrete1251@gmail.com
What a great project! I am very interested in this subject myself and would love to help out in any way I can. I am at...
ReplyDeletebothyellowanimals.blogspot.com
(bonjour.erin@gmail.com)
yay, thanks for posting about this! what i love about academics is the way that we can analyze and theorize about just about anything. i am always fascinated by how people shape arguments on so many subjects (in english, people are obsessed with applying dense theory to reality television).
ReplyDeleteanyway, this sounds so interesting and also a necessary and fascinating source for a research project--given the number of style blogs and the interplay between them, i'd imagine there is a lot to analyze and think about. i'd be happy to talk with you any time about your project, and i love hearing about it.
keep posting about this--it's so interesting!
This sounds like a fasinating project. If you need more people to interview let me know. xo Mish
ReplyDeletewww.themishdish.blogspot.com
Fascinating! I'd love to chat with you, both as a personal style blogger and as a fellow researcher into the interactions of fashion, individuals, and technology.
ReplyDeletePlease keep posting about your research - I'm really interested to see where you go with this!
Emily, WOW, this sounds fascinating! Please let me know if you'd like my input ... not sure if my blog counts as a pure personal style blog.
ReplyDeleteEmily, I would love-love-love to read your thesis as it develops. It sounds fascinating! I'm working on the early stages of a dissertation in technical communication, but I've also been interested in the construction of identity in blogs. I'll echo the requests to keep posting about your research :)
ReplyDeleteCatching up on posts now...:)
ReplyDeleteI have a degree in sociology too, so I am fascinated that this is the area you are studying for that. Keep us posted about your research, please, and I would be happy to be an interview subject if you need more of them.
Good luck!
This is absolutely fascinating, AND incredible. It must be exciting (and maybe a bit daunting?) to venture into territory you know no one has gone before! I'm with the previous commenters--I'd love to hear more about your project as it develops!
ReplyDeleteYou're a love, thank you for posting that suggestion. I've purchased a ring this morning which I'll be sure and share as soon as it arrives.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you are still looking to interview people I am more than happy to volunteer. I think what you are doing is very important and interesting.
Waaaooo! This sounds like such an interesting project! I love the topic and angle you chose, it certainly is a very popular topic right now. I don't know if I qualify or whatever, but I am willing to help in any way I can! I'm sure you are going to do a great job!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds super interesting! I'm also a sociologist / cultural theorist and experimenting with personal style blogging, so I would be more than happy to get involved in your project! Can't wait to hear more! All the best, Dora xx
ReplyDeleteYes, this sounds really interesting. I'm sure you're the only one out there doing something like this and I can't wait to hear about how it develops. Feel free to contact me if you ever need to!
ReplyDeleteps- Hi Emily (I think that was Cath's comment above- so confusing ;))- I can't wait to hear more as this part of your thesis develops!
ReplyDeletepps- I'll have to check out The Hunger Games. I haven't read science fiction in years and need to get back to it!
Oh my gosh, this is fantastic. I would love to hear more of your thoughts and conclusions on this. I wish you the best of luck!
ReplyDeleteOh, I would love to help out and see the final product. I think this is an amazing chance to understand the thought process behind these creative women (and men). I'd love to know more and contribute. Send me an email if you need anything :)
ReplyDeleteI'm completely fascinated by your project! Let me know if there's anything I can do to help out, even though I don't consider FA to fit into personal style blog category very neatly.
ReplyDeleteI think the question about blogging and feminism is particularly fraught. While I think personal style blogging can be (and is for me) a feminist activity, I don't think it necessarily is. I saw a very disturbing reductive argument on a comment on Clare's blog the other day that anything that a woman does is inherently a feminist action.
Though this doesn't have anything to do with this actual post (in my defense, you know I already posted about it earlier!), I wanted to give you an internet hug for watching the first season of PD... because of me??? :D
ReplyDeleteI love how you compared me to Olive, haha. I think she's a doll, especially since Kristin Chenoweth is loverly, too. I also love breaking out into song! As for Emerson Cod, that's funny, it never struck me that they don't call him that by title. But I think it's because they're all on familiar terms with him that they don't feel the need to call him "Detective Cod." Or maybe he likes being casual, who knows?
Anywayyy. Yay. :)
Oh my gosh, thanks SO MUCH for catching that mistake in my last post. I am so embarrassed I could DIE but you luckily saved me from further disaster. The sweater IS Missoni! (Good call!) I'm going to blame the Moschino mix-up (they both start with M's...?) on exams and papers and lack of sleep. Once again: so. so. embarrassing. Also once again: good. good. call. I'm impressed you recognized it! I don't know that I'll ever be that accurate with clothing labels, despite my self-professed label whore-dom!
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, I am a label whore in the thrifting sense, but no other senses. Like, if I see a Nanette Lepore shirt at Goodwill, I'll buy it, just cuz it's cheap and was once expensive. Even if in actuality it's mediocre, its brand status makes me unable to resist! But I guess if you want new clothes and don't want to spend a lot of money, you're right--being a label whore is not really feasible.
As for the Target brand names, I am so conflicted about them! I can't figure out if it's just Target stuff with a spiffy-er name or actually higher caliber. But I guess that's a whole different story!
I'm an MFA graduate from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and I have an essay about my blog at the Millions.com that touches on many of the points you mention. It's linked at the sidebar of my blog if you're interested. Found you through Blue Collar Catwalk, BTW. Awesome! :)
ReplyDeletexx
Unfortunately, I have zero style, and I definitely don't fit into the personal style blogger category. But I read several that do, and I think this research should be fascinating! Best of luck to you!
ReplyDeleteI think that it's great you are doing your work studying bloggers! Its a very interesting group of people, I can't wait to hear more about your findings!
ReplyDeleteHeellooo!!! Sorry I didn't read your comment about the Forever 21 jackets until now! jejeje.
ReplyDeleteI'm also 5'7" and I also find that problem with forever 21 jackets!! A lot of them are just too short on the sleeves, so I try to buy 3/4 length sleeve jackets there... nobody knows the difference if its 3/4 instead of long sleeved! jajajaa. It's really a pity too because forever 21 has such cute jackets sometimes :(
I am late to this party but I am both an academic (social scientist) and a style blogger (but I can get quite tangential). If you need more interviews, I'd be happy to participate.
ReplyDeletethis is so awesome! I totally believe that my blog promotes feminism, so I am curious how your findings compare to my experience :) if you're still looking for interview subjects, let me know! I'd be so happy to be a part of your research!
ReplyDelete(and thanks for all of the wonderful comments, by the way. whenever I see your name pop up I instantly get jazzed cause I know you're going to say something heartfelt, thought-provoking, and/or thoughtful)
I came via the Chics and have to say that I've never heard of this kind of research so far, I think you'll definitely be finding a receptive audience and can make a major impact with your conclusions!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear what it is!
I'm not a big-time blogger, but I'd be glad to help!
I've seen your comments on blogs that I read (some of the ladies up there ^^ are ones I follow). I've been doing a personal style blog for over 2 years and would love to be part of your research. Your topic sounds fascinating! I've really found blogging about my personal style to have had a huge impact on me, from the physical (my posture) to the mental (my confidence).
ReplyDeleteHi Emily, I don't think you need any more subjects but... just in case
ReplyDeleteI am at http://myeverydaywear.blogspot.com/
I think it's a really interesting and actual topic for a thesis.
In my case, I feel that in my year of blogging things have changed. I think a lot more about purchases and the impact it has. I AIM to thrift more.
I did a 6 month shopping ban and also participated in wardrobe capsules.
I have learned a lot. I also receive FREE advise !
For me it's a total asset.
Hi there - I've seen you around a lot on my favorite blogs and thought I would hop over to see yours! What a cool project! If you still need anybody to interview, I'd be happy to help you out - I love research! I'm a nerd at heart :) My blog is Small Time Style. If you already have enough interviewees, no worries! I look forward to seeing what you find in your research! AND congratulations on your pregnancy :) That is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI know you talked with my fellow blogger Millie already but, always, anything we can do to help.
ReplyDelete-Katie