Blogging Communities and Genre Classification

There are many genres of blogs, just as there are genres of books, movies, journals or magazines. The concept of genre is not only concerned with categorising various texts, but also ‘names the ways in which texts can relate to each other’ (Thwaites, Davis & Mules, 2002, p.99). Meaning, texts or sources with similarities in structure or theme can be grouped in order to easily identify them, and moreover to develop a set of norms that the sources observe as being part of that particular genre. 

With regards to online communities, blogs can also be classified in terms of content. Blogs are often set up for a specific purpose, whether it be to provide commentary and reflection in the form of an online diary, inspire through fashion and art, teach through cooking, food or travel or educate through professional or business blogs, each of these categories can be classified.

Fashion blogs have surged in recent years as blogging has become big business in the fashion world, and now generates revenue through brand endorsement, in both editorial and advertorial style shoots and articles. One such blog is Harper and Harley, founded by Sydney-sider Sara Donaldson, who endorses fashion, jewellery and accessory labels through her creative styling and photography. Similarly, New York based journalist Leandra Medine is the brains behind her blog Man Repeller, which delivers a more magazine-inspired format of the fashion blog genre. According to The Telegraph, since starting her blog, Medine has collaborated on films with top American designer Michael Kors, as well as creative ambassador at large of Barney’s New York Simon Doonan, and has just secured a book deal.

The Man Repeller blog

Another increasingly popular genre of blogs concerns food and home cooking. The interactive nature of food blogs enables readers to follow recipes, watch demonstrations and communicate with other readers for feedback and discussion. Additionally, this interactivity offers much more to the home cooking ‘experience’ than a cookbook may provide and is especially beneficial to first time cooks seeking tips and tricks. My New Roots, Bake or Break, Aapplemint and 80 Breakfasts are all greatly successful examples of this genre of blog.

This discussion is just a taste of the vast number of blogging communities in existence, and new genres of blogs being created constantly!

Reference:

Thwaites, T, Davis, L & Mules, W, 2002, Introducing Cultural and Media Studies A Semiotic Approach, Palgrave Macmillan, Great Britain.