Digital Communities Week 3: Digital Community and Blogging.
It is 2002 in New York, the aftermath of 9/11 still haunting the streets. One Julie Powell working in a low-level government job decides to embark on a year long expedition to cook every recipe in Julia Child’s ‘Mastering the art of French Cooking.’ Julie begins the ‘deranged’ assignment and records her progress on her blog. This blog would attract thousands of readers and a big book deal which would be later turned into a blockbuster movie.
Julie’s escapade began with a humble blog. A blog is a place where people come to hear someone’s thoughts about what they are interested in. Social media and websites like this allow for people who read them to feel seen, heard and understood. I love it when I find a group of people who love the crazy little niche things I like.
A great place that does this well is a platform called ‘Tumblr.’ So, if you are like me, until today I didn’t really know what Tumblr was… so what is it and what does it do?
Tumblr is a cross between Twitter and Blogging. Its an instant form of expressing ideas and it allows you to find posts and people who like what you like. (McCracken, 1970) It can feel a bit like the wild west of blogging with lots of people being allowed to post sexual content, violence and engage in cyber bullying. Like anywhere in our world, you can use Tumblr and enjoy it in a safe way too. There are plenty of good and fun spaces on there.
Julie Powell’s blog was a more traditional way to engage with blog content through posts on a formal website. Where Tumblr founder David Karp said, Tumblr is about people finding the art and media which they enjoy. Tumblr empowers marginalised individuals, allowing them to build their own world. (McCracken, 1970) Tumblr is a bit cooler than Facebook which is now a place for middle-aged and older people. Tumblr is a place where young people can express themselves to others that understand and share the same passions. (Keller, 2019)
Tumblr is a modern and newer way to engage with content and media which we love in the social media world. I would describe Tumblr as ‘social mediatised blogging.’
However, I revel in the humbleness of what Julie Powell achieved through her blog.
Building a community of people that she reported to everyday about her successes and failures as she completed her challenge of getting through the cookbook. To me that supersedes the complex algorithms of Tumblr. It is media in its simplest and effective form.
Storytelling that builds a community.
Refrences:
CNN Business. (2013, May 22). Tumblr founder: It’s not a social network. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWpi9oFarz0
Heil, E. (2022). How Julie Powell and her “julie/julia” blog changed food writing … How Julie Powell and her ‘Julie/Julia’ blog changed food writing. https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2022/11/02/julie-powell-julia-child-food-writing/
Keller, J. (2019). “oh, she’s a Tumblr feminist”: Exploring the platform … “Oh, She’s a Tumblr Feminist”: Exploring the Platform Vernacular of Girls’ Social Media Feminisms. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2056305119867442
McCracken, A. (1970, January 1). Ebook of a Tumblr book: Platform and cultures. fulcrum. https://www.fulcrum.org/epubs/8s45qb61c?locale=en#/6/20%5BMcCracken-0010%5D!/4/2%5Bch03%5D/12/4/14/2/1:0
Media for Families, C. S. (2015, August 13). What is Tumblr ?. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z5CgSt_tc8
10 responses to “The Evolution From ‘Humble Blogs’ to ‘Tumblr’- Digital Communities in 2024”
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I love how you approached this post Lewis. Great opening. The post is extremely educational for an outsider who doesn’t understand much about the world of Tumblr. You have included a mix of texts to support your writing, and these are all insightful. Well done!
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I absolutely resonate with the simplicity and power of Julie Powell’s journey through her blog. It’s incredible how her humble endeavour to cook every recipe in Julia Child’s book turned into a captivating story that resonated with thousands. While platforms like Tumblr offer instant expression and connection, there’s something special about the straightforward storytelling and sense of community that Julie created. It’s a reminder that amidst the complexity of social media, genuine human connection and storytelling still hold great value.
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I think that there is a great and beautiful power in Julies humble blog. It reminds us of the reason why people chose to blog in the first place.
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Isn’t nice finding a group of people that write about the same things you’re interested in. For someone who isn’t that educated about the world of tumblr, your post gave a detailed, yet easy to understand description on what tumblr is. I also want to mention that I am impressed with the flow of your work and how professional your site looks. I’m looking forward to reading more of your blogs.
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Thanks Jay! Can’t say that I have heard of Tumblr until a few weeks ago aha.
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Your inclusion of Julie Powell’s story provides a breath of fresh air. It reminds us of the profound impact of personal storytelling. Building a community through shared experiences and genuine connection is what truly defines the essence of blogging. Your perspective adds depth to the conversation, highlighting the enduring importance of human connection in the digital age. Great work!
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THANK YOU KEVIN! I loved Julie Powell’s story. She was remarkable.
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Hey Lewis,
Love your LewLyfe site. Your discussion on Digital Community and Blogging was both insightful and thought-provoking. Your choice to use Julie Powell’s, post-9/11, cooking journey as an example was particularly effective. I loved the movie BTW! I was inspired to take out one of my grandmother’s ‘Maltese Recipes’ and attempt the same but alas, I got through five recipes!! It’s fascinating how blogging can foster a sense of community and resilience, especially in challenging times. The way you articulated the role of cooking in creating this digital community was enlightening.
Additionally, your exploration of Tumblr provided a fresh perspective on the platform. Your breakdown helped me better understand its significance as a hub for creativity and connection in the digital landscape.
By the way, just wanted to give you a heads up – I noticed a spelling error on your Contact Us page. “Quire” should be “queries”. Thought you might want to fix that!
Admittedly, delving into the world of blogging felt somewhat daunting at first for me, but glad this subject has given me the push I need.
You’ve been super awesome to work with as well.
Thanks
Vetty
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Julie & Julia? What a powerful movie! Your inclusion of the film, and the real life story as an anecdote really provided this whole blog post with a sense of heart, as well as your focus on Tumblr. Well done!
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Incredible blog and blog post! You have included some amazing references that really helped to shape my understanding and I loved your explanation and discovery of Tumblr. It was really great to see Tumblr from a fresh perspective rather than from mine who has used it over the years.
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Lewlyfe 
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