Performative Aspects of #Bookstagram

We have discussed how social media has given people the ability to present an image of themselves and their lives that may not necessarily be true. Of course, some people take this more to an extreme, but it's possible that everyone includes an element of "performing" in the content that they post.

Performance in social media can be seen in extreme and perhaps acceptable situations depending on how the person is using certain platforms. Take #bookstagram for example. The whole idea of branding an Instagram account as a #bookstagram, is to promote reading and books. As long as the photos are clear and books are involved in the post in some way, then the post works towards that theme.

from @nikkiinwanderland

from @celinereads

However, performative aspects can be seen in content from people who have gained a massive following. The standards are super high for those people in order to maintain interest and interaction with their followers. This might mean having an impressive, often times, HUGE bookshelves, and of course, the books are color coordinated. Or maybe the flat lays or props start to become detailed and complex, always trying to find that next step above the current trends.

For people just starting out with a #bookstagram themed account or accounts with modest follower counts can begin to feel pressured by the content already being presented. There is a pressure to buy a lot of props or book-themed products, when the focus was originally only supposed about a literal book.

Personally, I have posted photos of books before that I hadn't yet had the chance to even read. Sometimes I feel like I'm being dishonest in a way because it feels like I'm presenting an image (or performing) as a avid book reader, which I am, though I definitely have other focuses (like school). Though it is tempting to perform and construct complex layouts and have great props and products, sometimes it is necessary to also just show real life and to be honest.

I think performance in social media is very obvious with themes like #bookstagram or themes that are food related. There is a standard for visual aesthetic and people develop a desire to create and promote a certain image. I definitely enjoy some of the performative aspects. I like making my photos look pretty, and sometimes I'll put a lot of time into a layout. However, I also integrate simple, down-to-earth photos that make the book the focus rather than me, my lifestyle, or objects I own.

from me! @britneylynnewrites

In some cases I think that performance in social media is okay. Problems begin to arise though, when it begins to make other people feel like they don't measure up, or their content is not as important. Everyone's individual experiences are important and valid, and the performative aspects should not make someone else feel like their experience doesn't matter or is less-than another's. It's fun to brag once in a while, but it shouldn't be a continual theme on social media platforms.

Sports and Social Media

My alliances with sports teams often change depending on how certain seasons go. However, I often follow the Steelers football team because my mom is a huge fan. I think the Steelers do a great job with promoting the players and the team as a whole on their social media platforms. 

Like we have discussed in class, sports teams are using social media to promote building team spirit by humanizing the athletes. It is very common to see individual posts from individual athlete accounts reposted on the official team platforms. Posts from current players like Antonio Brown and retired athletes like Hines Ward are often shared. 

A great example of how the players are humanized is seen in the screen shot above. The middle photo on the top row shows one of the players cuddling a puppy. As of the time I'm writing this post, that video clip has almost 20,000 likes and nearly 64,000 views. People absolutely swoon when they see a powerful, athletic football player with a puppy. They also use the puppy angle on their Twitter page like the photo below:

"Am I getting paid for this?" - Molly, the dog

The Steelers also use their social media platforms to encourage fans to feel like they are really a part of the team. In the screenshot below of the Steelers Instagram, there are two pictures that show fans cheering the team on. 

I think the team does a great job of utilizing the reach of social media for the exact reasons we discussed in class. They show athletes being normal humans and the platforms really helps fans to tap into the team spirit. 

Supportive Online Communities

As an introvert, I find it much easier to communicate through writing. When I was younger I would write letters to pen-pals, and then once I had access to the internet, I wrote emails instead. I can remember when I first got my own email address, and I would exchange those questionnaires/quizzes that were popular with all my friends. I shared way more in those emails than I ever did in any face-to-face conversations. I have had similar experiences with newer platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

My first experience with an online community was in my freshman year of high school. I became a member of an online forum for the creative writing class I was taking. The members of the forum were from all over the United States, and England as well. What made the forum so successful was that the members all had a current interest: writing a novel. While the main point of the forum was to discuss weekly lessons, there were also sections for talking about movies, books, and other fun topics. This was a very safe atmosphere because most of the members were the same age (no one older than 19), and there was a moderator who made sure content remained appropriate. The forum allowed me to find people with similar interests and interact with methods that were within my comfort zone.

In our class readings the concepts of online disinhibition have had negative connotations (which in some cases are understandable), though I think there are some positives that go along with those concepts. I have found aspects of impression management and anonymity useful in my own use of social media, not for promoting a fake persona, but in feeling more comfortable with being myself. In "real" life instances I would often struggle with feeling like what I had to say was not important or that people were not listening to me. Online interactions however, made it easier for me to articulate my thoughts better, and the responses I would get from others were of a much higher quality. Online communication and social media platforms have been extremely helpful for broadening my own confidence, and has actually improved the quality of my face-to-face/"real" life interactions with others.

Currently, I am a member of a "support" group called "Go Teen Writers Community," on Facebook. I'm not a teen anymore, so I may have to find another alternative soon. However, it is very similar to the forum I was a part of in high school. Members can post questions about characters or plot ideas that they are working on. On the weekends members are allowed to promote their websites or blogs, or post links to works that they've published.

I think one of the main reasons I've had such good experiences with online communication and social media is because I have tapped into a niche. The forums I've been a part of have all been focused towards creative writing and publishing, and the accounts that I use more regularly on Twitter and Instagram are my bookstagram focused accounts. This has allowed me to somewhat filter the connections I make and the conversations I have. For others who may be using social media platforms for other purposes may deal with more of the negative aspects, though that has not been my personal experience. 

COMM 373 Midterm Review

It's finally Spring Break. I don't think I can even explain how wonderful it feels. It's like a huge rock has been lifted off of my shoulders. My brain is slowly turning to mush, and I'll probably wind up just laying down on my living room floor for a few hours.

via GIPHY

I've been asked to share my thoughts on how COMM 373 has gone so far this semester. So here are a few thoughts I have thrown together with my mushy brain.

• What's been the most interesting concept?

I found the concept of online disinhibition pretty interesting. I like to think the best of people and use online disinhibition to experience more freedom when interacting with others online. I know that the information we covered focused more on the negativity, but I think the concept is actually pretty cool.

• What's been the most boring concept? Is there anything you could care less about? Be honest.

Personally, I think I've been disappointed that for the most part we've discussed the negative aspects of certain topics. For example, the dangers of online disinhibition, the horror stories of online dating, and then of course cyberbullying is completely negative. So while the topics have not been necessarily boring, I would have liked to spend a little less time on the negatives, and instead look at the success stories, the benefits, the good parts. 

• How do you think you'll be able to apply what you've been learning so far to the real world? 

To be honest, I'm not really sure how I'm going to apply the class content to the real world. I am personally interested in appealing to a specific audience and getting more followers, but the textbook we're using only had two tips for getting more followers. Though I've been able to apply class content a little bit to the group project, I'm mostly just using previous knowledge and skills to accomplish it, most of which I've learned from Pinterest. I guess the most useful information so far was how to deal with cyberbullying. I haven't dealt with cyberbullying myself (I'm just a big fan of the internet, and I've had really great experiences), but I think it's important to be able to recognize and help others who may not be having similar positive experiences. 

SIDE NOTE: In case anyone might be interested, here are two boards that I have created on Pinterest where I've saved quite a few tips and articles about expanding and utilizing social media efficiently.

Click Here to Go to Pinterest Board

Click Here to Go to Pinterest Board

Okay, so there's that. I don't know if that was useful whatsoever, but it's time to party now. I decided to mix it up a little bit this week and utilize GIFS in my post. It's Spring Break, and I think this calls for some fun. 

via GIPHY