3pm Journal of Digital research & publishing - artichoke web design
3pm Journal of Digital research & publishing - artichoke web design
3pm Journal of Digital research & publishing - artichoke web design
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<strong>3pm</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Digital</strong> <strong>research</strong> & <strong>publishing</strong><br />
unique voice and platform.î 13 Schumanís unique voice, brand and aesthetic in his blog<br />
which attracted readers in the blogosphere where ëtraffic is currencyí 14 was what allowed<br />
publishers to discover a niche market they could cater to with the <strong>publishing</strong> <strong>of</strong> Schumanís<br />
blog book. A publisher would not have previously known about this market without<br />
Schuman tapping into it with the creation <strong>of</strong> his blog, and the success <strong>of</strong> the blog led to the<br />
creation <strong>of</strong> a book with selective content <strong>of</strong> his visual and written fashion commentary.<br />
Although a book documenting specific posts on a blog may not be necessary or contain<br />
any new content, the tangibility <strong>of</strong> the book and the more selective capabilities in the<br />
print medium for the individual who originated the idea <strong>of</strong> a particular blog means that<br />
the content may stand as a more integral whole. Schuman describes his specific reasons<br />
for making a book out <strong>of</strong> his blog at the beginning <strong>of</strong> The Sartorialist book. Schuman<br />
views his blog as a ìsocial document celebrating self-expressionî 15 and refers to peopleís<br />
comments on the Sartorialist <strong>web</strong>site as making the blog a ìliving fabric.î 16 However,<br />
Schuman confides in the readers <strong>of</strong> his book in the preface ìI hope that, as you look at<br />
the images in this book, rather than giving a look a ëthumbs upí or a ëthumbs down,í<br />
you will focus on the elements that will inspire you.î 17 In this comment it is apparent that<br />
as the author <strong>of</strong> the blog, Schuman is asking his readers to consider the content for its<br />
effect on the individual viewer rather than interacting and commenting in the online blog<br />
community centred on the content <strong>of</strong> his blog. Perhaps by Schuman returning to the more<br />
traditional print medium he is encouraging viewers to approach the images with an aim<br />
for a simple response <strong>of</strong> inspiration, isolated from the thoughts <strong>of</strong> other users <strong>of</strong> the blog.<br />
In this way the more personal and private transaction from author to reader in a book is<br />
emphasized by the release <strong>of</strong> Schumanís book different to a blog where sometimes the<br />
authorís intentions in a blog post can be diluted by discussions and comments generated<br />
by other viewers. This particular transformation from blog to book shows the role books<br />
still play as cultural artifacts in our society. They still have a purpose as a simpler form<br />
<strong>of</strong> content delivery and means <strong>of</strong> one-way communication which complements the two-<br />
way communication <strong>of</strong> newer forms <strong>of</strong> content delivery that have come into use since the<br />
digital revolution and widespread use <strong>of</strong> blogs.<br />
13 Nelson, M. (2006) p. 10<br />
14 Nelson, M. (2006) p. 4<br />
15 Schuman, S. (2009) The Sartorialist London: Penguin p. 5<br />
16 Schuman, S. (2009) p. 5<br />
17 Schuman, S. (2009) p. 5<br />
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