Blooks are the new books,
a hybrid literary form at the cutting edge
of both literature and technology.
(Bob Young, founder of the print-on-demand publisher Lulu, 2006)
Back in 2006, a phenomenon made its way from the depths of the World Wide Web into the newspapers: the so-called „blook“, a portmanteau word composed of the words „book“ and „(we)blog“, meaning a book written on the basis of a blog. The media were excited about these new kinds of books and looked to Japan, where blooks were already bestsellers. „Blook“ even made it into the shortlist of words that were considered to be included in the new edition of the Oxford English Dictionary in 2006 (Philipps 2006). If you search for „blook“ on Google in 2010, you are in most cases directed to archives and it will not take you long to find out that blooks have virtually disappeared from the Web. Despite the fact that weblogs keep thriving, blooks seem to be forgotten.
Considering this, it is not surprising to find out that no research has been done on blooks, while weblogs have been a subject of research since 2005. Research on weblogs often concentrates on how they changed journalism and communication in general, but never mentions the medium of blooks. Jenna L. Brinning and Jill Walker Rettberg gave good overviews of web-publishing and blogging, with Brinning stressing Habermas' “Strukturwandel der Öffentlichkeit” with regard to the opportunities of the Web and Rettberg taking into consideration the rise of “citizen journalism”.
This paper will try to find out what happened to blooks not only by examining this medium, but also by taking a look at its origins. The first chapter will deal with the definition of blooks as well as with the history of the so-called “blogosphere” from which the blook emerged. The second chapter will present some successful examples of blooks, show the diversity of subjects they deal with and analyze the reasons for their popularity. Chapter three will focus on marketing strategies and the overall reception of blooks by taking a look at the media coverage and an award especially invented for this genre. The last two chapters will then compare blooks to traditional narratives and eventually draw a conclusion concerning the development of blooks and their potential for success.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 1,2. The Emergence of Blooks
- 2.1 Definition of the Term "Blook"
- 2.2 Definition of the Term "Weblog"
- 2.3 The History of Weblogs
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to investigate the rise and fall of "blooks," a hybrid literary form combining books and blogs, which enjoyed a brief period of popularity around 2006. It seeks to understand the reasons for their initial success and subsequent disappearance, contextualizing them within the broader development of the blogosphere.
- The definition and characteristics of blooks.
- The history and evolution of the blogosphere as the birthplace of blooks.
- The marketing and reception of blooks in the media.
- A comparative analysis of blooks and traditional narratives.
- An assessment of the blook's potential for future success.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by defining blooks as a hybrid literary form emerging from the blogosphere. It highlights the initial media excitement surrounding blooks, particularly in Japan, contrasting their sudden popularity with their subsequent obscurity. The chapter establishes the research gap, noting the lack of academic attention to blooks despite extensive research on weblogs, and outlines the paper's structure, promising to explore the origins, successful examples, marketing, and comparative analysis of blooks within the context of traditional narratives.
1,2. The Emergence of Blooks: This chapter delves into the origins of blooks within the blogosphere. It begins by emphasizing the need to understand the blogosphere to comprehend the phenomenon of blooks. The chapter then provides definitions of "blook" and "weblog," exploring different perspectives and highlighting the key characteristics of both, including the technical aspects (chronological arrangement, permalinks, comment functions) and content-related aspects (frequency, brevity, personality, subjective viewpoint). The chapter further traces the history of weblogs, identifying their precursors like online diaries, personal websites, and commented link lists, and analyzing the evolution from simpler online journals to more complex, essayistic blog forms. The chapter meticulously illustrates the non-linear development of weblogs, showcasing how various forms co-existed and contributed to the broader blogosphere.
Keywords
Blook, weblog, blogosphere, online diary, digital literature, hybrid literary form, media reception, marketing strategies, narrative, citizen journalism.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Blooks
What is this document about?
This document is a comprehensive language preview providing an overview of "blooks," a hybrid literary form combining books and blogs, which were popular around 2006. It examines their rise, fall, and overall significance within the broader context of the blogosphere.
What topics are covered in this preview?
The preview includes the title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. Specific topics covered include the definition and characteristics of blooks, the history and evolution of the blogosphere, the marketing and media reception of blooks, a comparative analysis of blooks and traditional narratives, and an assessment of the blook's potential for future success.
What are the main objectives of this research?
The main objective is to investigate the rise and fall of blooks, understanding the reasons for their initial success and eventual decline. It aims to contextualize blooks within the development of the blogosphere and analyze their unique characteristics as a hybrid literary form.
What are the key themes explored?
Key themes include the definition of "blooks" and "weblogs," the historical development of weblogs and their evolution into more complex forms, the marketing and media reception surrounding blooks, a comparison between blooks and traditional narratives, and an evaluation of the potential for future success for this literary form.
What is a "blook"?
A "blook" is a hybrid literary form combining elements of books and blogs. The preview provides a detailed definition, contrasting it with the definition of a "weblog."
What is the relationship between blooks and the blogosphere?
The blogosphere is presented as the birthplace of blooks. Understanding the evolution of the blogosphere, including its various forms and technical aspects (chronological arrangement, permalinks, comment functions), is crucial to understanding the phenomenon of blooks.
What is covered in Chapter 1 and Chapter 1.2?
Chapter 1 provides an introduction, defining blooks and highlighting the research gap concerning academic attention to this topic. Chapter 1.2 delves into the origins of blooks within the blogosphere, defining "blook" and "weblog," tracing the history of weblogs, and illustrating their non-linear development.
What are some of the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include: Blook, weblog, blogosphere, online diary, digital literature, hybrid literary form, media reception, marketing strategies, narrative, citizen journalism.
What is the overall conclusion or takeaway from this preview?
The preview provides a framework for a comprehensive study of blooks, highlighting their unique position within the history of digital literature and offering a roadmap for further research into this previously under-examined literary form.
- Quote paper
- Stephanie Lange (Author), 2010, Blooks - The New Books?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/171422