Express Yourself

Genre is a way of expressing yourself through cultural products. (Van Luyn, 2013)

The same can be said with the vents that members of the Mount Isa Vent Page (MIVP) put up daily. Each vent is a form of self-expression and you as the reader become familiar with the personal views of the writer as a person.

Facebook for some is like a diary, they write their feelings as a status and post it for all to see.

The speaker/writer has the power to let readers in, or keep them out, based on what information can be presumed to be shared. (McNeill, 2011)

On many occasions I see people post a status on the MIVP venting about something and going into detail about what has angered them to make the vent, letting the reader in on their feelings and personal experiences. Much like Montaigne's essay writing, "the power of Montaigne's essay derives largely from their personal tone" (DiYanni, 2005) I feel that the writer is letting the readers in on their personal experiences and showing their true authentic self.  But most times unfortunately it is done in a negative way. I have attached a link to an online article with the North West Star about the negativity it has brought to the community: http://www.northweststar.com.au/story/101511/facebook-vents-out-of-control/

Many members on the vent page are actively involved, not just observers like myself and they are making their opinions heard.  I am beginning to think could a vent be a new form of genre?


References:

DiYanni, R. (2005). Introduction: Reading and writing essays, in Twenty-five great essays (pp3-15). New York, NY: Penguin Academics. Retrieved from: http://www.learnjcu.jcu.edu.au

McNeill,L. (2011). Diary 2.0?: A genre moves from page to screen, in Rowe,C. & Wyss, E.L. (Eds.) Language and new media: Linguistic, cultural and technological evolutions (pp.318-323). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton. Retrieved from: http://www.learnjcu.jcu.edu.au

Van Luyn, A. (2013). BA1002: Our Space: Networks, Narratives and the Making of Place, Week 6 notes. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from: http://www.learnjcu.jcu.edu.au


Image Reference:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X6y9FNFv9ew/UJcf RRMHZI/AAAAAAAABSc/DbIreXj4Rt0/s320/ExpressYourself3.jpg