Image 1: The widely-recognized symbol
for Tumblr. Tumblr, Inc. (2013). http://s.apptoko.com/a/uploads/thumbnails/082016/tumblr_icon.png
“Space and
place are basic components of the lived world; we take them for granted. When
we think about them, however, they may assume unexpected meanings and raise
questions we have not thought to ask” (Tuan, p.3). Such as ‘what gives a place
its identity or its atmosphere?’ To learn more, I decided to re-enter the world
of Tumblr. This social network involves creating your own personalized blog and
following others with the intention to ‘reblog’ their photos or posts onto your
own account. It is a platform in which users express themselves through photo
and quotes. As I logged
into my old account I felt that it was quite immediately empowering and I began
to understand what Tuan meant when he expressed the development of a ‘Space’ to
a ‘Place’ (1977). Week three’s lecture on Space and Place explained that much like power, these
are not things, but are based on perspective and life experiences. Tumblr, in
particular, is a prime example of how a Space transforms into a Place. It is an
opportunity in which the user can take a blank screen and create a webpage
specific to ones’ passions, style, likes or dislikes. As I investigated the
network I began to see the Space as one which has its own specific language and
symbols. Through these means, along with experiential phenomena, this Place began
to transform into a Space, which gives the social network its own specific
aura, so to speak.
The concept
of genre comes into play when speaking about Space, Place and Tumblr because
the various blogs are grouped into sub classes based on similarities. But why
is genre important? Mikahil Bakhtin (1986) stated that all language is framed
in generic types. Genre is a precondition for communication, for the creation
and interpretation of texts. In addition, it is said that genres also have the
ability to enable and restrict meaning in a given network (Frow, J. 2013). Considering
this, it is obvious that Tumblr contains multiple sub classes or genres that
are based on similarities and conventions. These genres often come with assumed
‘rules’, meaning It directs users to produce and understand certain blogs which
in turn has helped turn this Space into a Place. I feel that
Tumblr is a super-connector in which people don’t focus on having only their
friends follow them, but rather enjoy strangers company as well. Users feel
free to make their blog personalized and to reflect their true passions and
style. I believe that having mainly strangers following you, and vice versa,
allows people to not feel judged or embarrassed by their true style because
everyone else who is part of this network is doing the same thing. Through lectures,
academic readings and becoming a participant observer, I have concluded that
Tumblr is a hub that can be extremely empowering and positive by connecting
people from all walks of life.
Reference List
Tuan,
Yi-Fu. (1977). Space and Place: The
Perspective of Experience. London: Edward Arnold (Publishers).
Allen, J.
(2003). Lost Geographies of Power. Malden,
MA: Blackwell.
Mcneill, L.
(2009). Diary 2.0?: A genre moves from page to screen. In Rowe. C, Wyss. Eva.
(Eds.), Language and New Media:
Linguistic, Cultural, and Technological Evolutions. (pp.313-318).
Cresskill, Hampton Press Inc.
Scott, L.
(2016). Key Moments in Tuan’s “Space & Place: The Perspective of
Experience”. Retrieved from: https://ds.lclark.edu/laurenscott/2016/06/26/key-moments-in-tuans-space-place-the-perspective-of-experience-1977/
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