Who do we Vlog for?
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/3/2/14327484/3370474.jpg?0)
No matter what the purpose for vlogging is, there is always a core reason the user produces it, to express his or herself. Video blogs, which are supported by video sharing sites, such as youtube, are a means by which people can express themselves. They can create video diaries, meant for no one else to see; they can be the opposite, a cry for attention or they can exist to create or inform. According to Maggie Griffith and Zizi Papacharissi, from the University of Illinois, there are three dominant themes when examining video blogs: the diary, media for identity expression and a means to indulge in narcissism. They say that vlogs "represent a meeting point" where the vloggers presents his or herself to the audience (Griffith). This idea of self-presentation serves as a means to communicate the self in a way that is "controlled." Essentially an idealized version of the self is projected onto an anticipated audience. Vlogs are a gateway to present the self, although it is important for viewers to remember that vlogs are heavily controlled by the creator. What one sees in a vlog might not be the real person, in fact it probably isn't. Individuals present themselves differently in different situations, particularly when performing for an audience which, at the end of the days, is what a vlog is.
In fact even video blogs that aren't directly about the creator are still about expressing the self. Griffith and Papacharissi use the example of a Michigan man, who showcases his surrounding home, appreciating its beauty. Accompanying the video is upbeat Hawaiian music. This alone tells the audience a great deal about the user, who enjoys his Michigan setting and equates enjoyment to the use of Hawaiian music. Vloggers, even when not creating a video about themselves, still act as a lens through which the user view other topics. Usually there's a particular slant or commentary in the video, the editing and music is chosen for a specific reason and the fact that the creator chose a specific topic tells a lot about the creator. In fact, at times, vlogs that aren't about their creators can actually reveal even more about them.
What Emotions Come Into Play?
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/3/2/14327484/7838893.png?1)
Blogging has, in recent years, become more and more of a common occurence on the internet. But are there emotional implications to creating a blog? What does having the need to express oneself publicly say about the individual? Author Rosanna Guadagno frequently uses the five-factor modeled, nicknamed “the big five,” which lists the personality dimensions through which all people vary. These are neuroticism, extroversion openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Throughout case studies, it seems to be the case that people who are both most open to new experiences and people who are more neurotic are more likely to become bloggers (Gudagno). Studies also show that women who are more neurotic tend to become bloggers more often than neurotic men, who seem to have an insignificant correlation in regards to blogging. According to Guadagno, the correlation between personality and who blogs, which seems to be surprisingly consistent, tells us a lot about who creates the blog, what readers/viewers can expect and give people a new way to look at them.