In my first week, I began exploring scholarly articles published on the topic of YouTube “vlogs.” Starting broad, I simply searched online sociological databases using keywords such as “YouTube,” “vlogs,” etc. Given the relatively young age of this type of media, I did not know what exactly to expect. Several results turned up that I found interesting, and I read two articles published on the topic. First, I read an article by Morris and Anderson on how vlogs are rewriting traditional forms of popular masculinity. It suggests that vloggers amass large followings due to their embracement of inclusive masculinity. Second, an article by Berryman and Kavka on vlogs and their effectiveness regarding handling anxiety, depression, and other types of mental health disorders. Here, the authors address vloggers that are not unwaveringly positive on their platform, and instead profile their distress and emotional vulnerability.
This data, in my opinion, is a tremendous starting point for my research. For a project centered around the usefulness of vlogs and the place they may hold moving forward, topics like these show there is validity in them as a form of media. The articles serve as important exemplars of the direction Millennials can take vlogs and demonstrates how effective they can be at combating social issues. I was happy to see these articles turn up, as I feel they give my argument a strong direction.
These were not the results I expected, though. Instead, I figured I would see articles more geared towards the production and consumption of vlogs. That is, targeting the initial questions I posed in my project overview: why are people interested in them? Why are content creators motivated to create these vlogs? The articles by Morris and Anderson as well as Berryman and Kavka instead gave a different perspective on the topic centered around the latter half of my research question: where can vlogs take us and what place will they have for our generation moving forward? I’m now considering how these vlogs are changing dominant forms of masculinity and the acceptance of mental illness, which I find exciting and interesting.
My process for collecting research was relatively straightforward. I searched Scopus for articles using the keyword search listed above. However, I found it challenging to find a high volume of articles on the specific topic of “vlogs.” This poses a challenge for me moving forward – since it is such a recent trend, I must figure out ways to expand my research tactics to reveal an adequate selection of articles from which to choose. In order to fix this, I plan to meet with Beth Hoppe and take advantage of other resources. Additionally, I plan to broaden my searches.
Moving forward, I will continue finding articles similar to these two. That is, other articles that discuss the usefulness of vlogs. Perhaps I will find articles that comment on their place in our society economically and how they are able to provide financial stability to Millennials, or something similar. However, I also hope to find articles geared towards my initial questions involving the production and consumption of vlogs, as stated above. I hope to amass two sides to my research: one that addresses the production and consumption aspect, and another that centers around the effectiveness of vlogs for Millennials and our society, such as the two I found this week.
Sam,
You are off to an excellent start here. You are right to assume that “vlogs” lack the deep research you might find in other contexts, but perhaps that is also what makes it exciting research to engage. What you found thus far is incredibly fascinating and focuses on the consumption side. I’m rather surprised how, in an age where folks have become less trustful of news and other media sources, that vlogs offer the kind of authenticity which enable people to redirect their trust in those who become more vulnerable (whether through the presentation of inclusive masculinity, or whether through the admission of secrets in their lives.
Although there may not be enough research done on “vlogging,” I wonder what is out there on their precursor, “blogs.” Expanding your research on how scholars studied blogs might allow you to see where “vlogging” furthers or constrains certain forms of communication or certain kinds of communities. Off the top of my head, you might be interested in looking at Dustin Kidd’s CV (Temple University). He has written a book on social media and sociology that might cover the topic (I have a copy through ILL that you might peruse). You might also want to get in touch with Beth Hoppe at the library to help you mobilize a research.
It seems that you are more interested in the production side of vlog making. This may require you interviewing vloggers to think about their objectives in creating these experiences for themselves. Of course, there is much to study regarding the consumption-side as well, and beyond doing a content analysis of how people react to vlogs, you could also do a survey that examines whether people follow vlogs, the kinds of vlogs they follow, and what benefits arise by following vloggers.
Keep me posted on what you find.