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Literary Kinds
![Anne Dalke's picture Anne Dalke's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-39.jpg)
![Jessica Watkins's picture Jessica Watkins's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-690.jpg)
That Makes Three of Us
Both Tim Burke's and Geeky Mom's blogs easily fell under the category 'easily distracted.' Both encompassed topics ranging from education to food to...video games? I personally have not had much experience with video games, especially those played online like WoW (and I only know a little about it because my brother used to play it), so it would interest me to see how people like Geeky Mom began their relationship with the cybergame world. I have to admit I was a little surprised to see a mom blogging in detail about her game session, but I think it made the blog all the more interesting.
![TPB1988's picture TPB1988's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-713.jpg)
Blogs Reflecting Personality
After Reading Timothy Burke’s blogs I was not surprised that I was still confused by the concept of blogging. When I first started this class I had a simple stance on blogging and now as I learn more about the genres of blogging and the complexities involved I realize that it is definitely not as simple as it appears. As I continue to read different blogs it seems to me that each one has its own personality that incites a different response from me every time. For example, when I was reading Kate Thomas’s blog there was no denying the “flavor” between each line that in a very odd way made me feel as I knew Kate, or at least had a vague notion of her persona. When reading Hannah’s blog it felt as if Hannah were a friend that was merely letting me know how her trip to Chile was going.
![nk0825's picture nk0825's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/322c7ca59b97e6cc256b8751523ed502.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
Feb. 9 Discussion: Self-Edit and Kate Thomas
For the first few minutes of class we discussed the impact of Hannah's visit as well as how we can handle future visits. The class had little input as to what could be changed for future guest speakers because it seemed as though many of us believed the first visit had been rather enlightening and interesting. Hannah's visit to the class not only allowed for our questions to be answered, but also made some of the students remember trips of their own.
![rachelr's picture rachelr's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-696.jpg)
Day Seven Class Notes: A Conversation "with" Kate Thomas
We started our class today with afterthoughts about the visit from Hannah last week. Sweetp commented that she was able to relive her trip to New Zealand when reading Hannah's blog, and xhan liked how the images made the descriptions come alive and inspired her to perhaps write a blog when she next travels.
![rmeyers's picture rmeyers's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-691.jpg)
Artists creators remixers authors bloggers academics
After watching (most of) the Remix/Manifesto movie, I found myself wondering about these ideals in relation to the literary/publishing world. I think this was probably because of the appearance of Cory Doctorow, although he only really spoke about the music side of things in this documentary. He's a 'YA' author (or not, it's just a genre a few of his books have fallen into... who knows what he'd have to say about that) whose books are now available online rather than through a publisher.
![spleenfiend's picture spleenfiend's picture](/exchange//files/images/SerendipStudioAvatar.png)
a permanent record
Today (Thursday, January 4th, 2010), our class had a visit from Hannah, the senior who recorded the "Valpo Vido" blog while in Chile. We began by discussing the "subjective" verses the "actual," but quickly moved on to asking Hannah questions. She described her blog as a letter to her family and friends---more specifically, a postcard, which I thought was an excellent description. She generally viewed blogging as a positive thing, saying that she liked going back and reading her entries because she was sometimes surprised she even wrote them, so blogging was a good way to remember events. Also, she was actually able to include a link to her blog in a cover letter for a job.
![Molly's picture Molly's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-689.jpg)
the importance of images
"Valpo Vida" was a blog that really captured my interest. The use of images was done very well--there were just enough to give the reader a better sense of what they were reading about without it becoming a tumblr-style blog that consists only of photos. Also, I thought the style of writing was great. Each entry was a great summary of obviously extensive activities.
![spleenfiend's picture spleenfiend's picture](/exchange//files/images/SerendipStudioAvatar.png)
musings: nature and name games
Reading Hannah's blog, I was most struck by the contrast between nature and technology. She was exploring many exotic places and doing lots of interesting outdoors activities, like climbing sand dunes and volcanoes. In general, she was very actively involved with the world around her. However, she was sharing her experiences online. I think this blog exemplifies anything that is good about the internet, and that it does not have to isolate you from interacting with the outside world and the people in it. Also, the use of pictures was excellent.
![sgb90's picture sgb90's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/572dc89488386acd5872915e5e434a92.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
Finitude Made Evident
Reading the personal blogs of Anne and Hannah, I was struck by how my experience as a reader differed greatly between the two (though both were, purportedly, of the same genre). Both were identifiable to me as blogs by the simple formal aspects that they contained entries in reverse chronological order, incorporated photos and links, and allowed for the possibility of interaction with the readers. However, the style, content, and tone of the two blogs evoked vastly different reactions and thoughts for me.
![mkarol's picture mkarol's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/062062e946c5a44850420ec04de3cefc.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
Blogging as Social Action: a class synopsis
Class began with a question brought up by aybala50 about whether or not a blog can be classified. Are there any guidelines or categories that could help us determine a sorting system? Is a blog more of a community of people working together, like how our class functions, or is it more of a tool for the individual? This led to the discussion of last week's readings, and how Jo(e) poses a similar question; Is a blog a free exchange of ideas?
![Jessica Watkins's picture Jessica Watkins's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-690.jpg)
"September" to "Septiembre"
I did not think I would like reading either of these blogs, to be honest, because in my mind they represented exactly what a blog shouldn't be: a mundane account of someone's day, boring after boring detail (do I really care what they ate for dinner or how far they drove outside of town?). But these blogs were different because they brought me, the reader, to another world.
![TPB1988's picture TPB1988's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-713.jpg)
“Valpo Vida” exemplifies the best parts of blogs
When I first considered the idea of creating a anthology of blogs I have to admit I completely agreed with the Boxer that the idea was dreadful. In fact, I did not even think it was possible. Blogs have their own unique style which differs greatly from that of a book and trying to coerce the two concepts together would not result smoothly. After reading “Valpo Vida” my opinion did not change. In Hannah's blogs there were so many different elements that came together to form a cohesive and enjoyable experience for the reader following the blog. Her blog contained humor, cultural history, art, personal anecdotes and much more in a way that although it was not formally organized, it still flowed and made sense.
![nk0825's picture nk0825's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/322c7ca59b97e6cc256b8751523ed502.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
Believing in the Power of Style
I believe that this week's assignment to read both Hannah and Professor Dalke's blogs made me extremely aware of how I felt not only as a reader, but as a student studying the blog as an emerging genre.
![rmeyers's picture rmeyers's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-691.jpg)
Such a wide range...
First, some questions that arose as I read "Valpo Vida" : 1) I noticed that you apologized to your readers/noted that this was your personal log. Did you feel this was a duty? An unconscious decision, or was there reasoning? 2) Your blog was very much a log, and you did not mention personal details as much as events. Was this conscious? How do you feel about bloggers who do put feelings and more 'intimate' details on their sites? 3) Your blog was a travel journal, and I assumed that you began it as a way to keep in touch/keep your family and friends up to date on your time abroad. Is this true? If so (and please correct me if I am wrong), how do you feel about our class reading it?
![Shayna S's picture Shayna S's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-614.png)
Class Chronicles: February 2nd, Day Five
Class was started with Anne quoting aybala50's post about the hard-to-categorize nature of blogs. Anne asked aybala50 to elaborate, leading to general agreement of Jo(e)'s idea of a blog as a medium to various genres, and not a genre within itself.
We are now done with generalizing about blogging, and we will begin to move into specific blogs. For Thursday, we will be reading as much as we can bear from Hannah's blog and Anne's blog. Then, we will see a transition from the personal blog to the academic blog.
Question posed at this point: What kind of reading does a blog invite?
We were asked to think about the reading experience of reading from a computer vs. reading a print source.
![jrf's picture jrf's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-633.jpg)
blogging for group learning
In her "Blogs," Sarah Boxer seems to love the 'foul mouths and tough hides' of the bloggers she reads, citing sarcastic apologies and new Internet words as reasons blogs are superior to print media. To me, these traits embody the worst of blogging-- surely a refusal to admit other points of view is exactly the failing of print media that the Internet is most prepared to rectify? The discussion we started in class on Thursday about writing academically in public seemed to me to suggest that the open conversation and expanded audience that the Internet makes possible would push authors to write for a response, and to open their ideas up to comment from readers.
![spleenfiend's picture spleenfiend's picture](/exchange//files/images/SerendipStudioAvatar.png)
the vast scope of the internet: always leaving me with far too much to say
"Blogging as a Social Action: A Genre Analysis of the Weblog" by Carolyn R. Miller and Dawn Shepherd brings up many points I immediately found myself replying to in my head. For one thing, I loved the discussion of exhibition and voyeurism. In general, people enjoy the power of the blog and the attention it gets them but are embarrassed when the wrong people read their private thoughts.