As an old member of face book I can remember engaging in a conversation about a posts from an inspirational writer. This post as always was just as inviting as any other post from this individual. This inspirational writer has many followers that engage in opinionated conversations. Most of these conversations or posts written by women. We all begin to voice our opinion about a post that puts in the moment and seem never ending to me. Our arguments our strong and opinionated which lead to a heated argument between people that don't even know each other. For example the post stated that "God didn't call women to act like a man but to be gracious and feminine. Allow a man to be a man your strength is in your femininity" The narration was in the moment and immediate. In this case this posts created an invitation for women to openly express themselves about a women's femininity and strength. Is it wrong or right? I find myself as well as others being vulnerable to engaging in these aggressive conversations. Not because they are bad but because they bring different people with different lives together for whatever purpose. Epistolary form is all these things in one.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Epistolary Form
Reading the novel Clarissa reminded me of Facebook. Facebook is definitely a form of epistolary writings, letters, or messages that engages others in open conversation if allowed. These conversations can be positive or negative in manner. Facebook is also a meeting ground for those who are searching for an old friend or loved one. Many of us can relate to the novel Clarissa as we explore different epistolary forms to engage in open conversation. Sometimes face book is used for the wrong reasons: a battle ground or the start of a rumor.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree that Facebook is epistolary form in the fact that most everything that is written is in the here and now. Many users write what they are feeling as they are feeling it. Most of the time offering descriptions as to why they are feeling that way. I know from personal experience that if someone uploads a status that someone else doesn't agree with, the war begins. A back and fourth correspondence between multiple people, like the letters of Clarissa.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on that. I think Facebook is a good example of Clarissa. A lot of times we don't realize that people are entitled to their own opinions and feelings so we get upset when people posts things that aren't to our liking.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the two of you. I've seen many pictures referencing Facebook fights and showing the person eating popcorn, meaning they sit back and enjoy the show of a good Facebook fight. While these may be entertaining, I agree that people should be entitled to their own opinions. However, I have noticed that some people update their statuses numerous times throughout the day. I know Facebook constantly is asking us how we are doing, but people don't have to tell them every single second of the day. But, in Clarissa, it's like she is updating her status every single second. Based on her letters, we always know how she is or what she is doing.
ReplyDeleteI think we'd all agree that FB works like an epistolary form. One matter that Kierra's post seems to raise is whether we want all of our thoughts and communications to play out in public. As you say, Kierra, these current epistolary platforms like FB and Twitter allow us to explore ideas and express ourselves, but they also open us up to discursive spaces that we can't totally control (hence, the FB fight) and to perhaps unwanted scrutiny. At least in an old-fashioned face-to-face political argument you know who's in the room and can read all of those dynamics. Is it more dangerous when it is wide open on the web? Personally, I feel really hesitant about the things that I post, wondering who will see them years later or who will take them out of context. But am I being paranoid? Are we all learning to live our private lives out in the (digital) open?
ReplyDelete