Blog Four: History: Textbook to Facebook

Blog Four: History: Textbook to Facebook

By Hollie Gill

To access information about certain events or certain periods throughout history, one used to have to access a textbook or browse through library catalogues. Over time, the genres of the written word have adapted and changed. The genre of historical literacy is now more readily available on Facebook pages such as Stories That Shocked The World (mentioned in previous blogs), The History Page and I Fucking Love History. In my experience, the genre of historical literacies usually uses academic writing/language, but through the evolution from textbook to Facebook history is now available in colloquial language which allows it to be more relatable to everyone. Evolution of genre can also be seen in the context of diaries and blogs.

The diary as we understand it is a confidential text we write to ourselves on a very private level. Through blogs, people are doing the same thing but it is now accessible to the public eye. McNeill (2011) states that the internet diaries or blogs “…give access to lives in progress to a potential audience of thousands” (p. 313), and that the blog is not a new genre but an evolution of the diary. The personal nature of a diary or blog can be compared to the essays written by Michel de Montaigne in how the power of his work stems essentially from the personal tone present within the text (DiYanni, 2005).

The evolution of genres opens the possibility that all genres can be subject to change over time. I would consider the evolution of the genre of historical literacies mentioned above, from textbook to Facebook to be a positive move which allows not only students, but the entire community to engage in an educational network on a social level. As Dr Van Luyn (2013) states, we cannot communicate outside of a genre and that they are the centre of understanding our world.

Reference List:

Diyanni, R. (2005). Introduction: reading and writing essays. In Twenty-five great essays (pp. 1-30). Retrieved from http://masterfile.jcu.edu.au.elibrary.jcu.edu.au

Mcneill, L. (2011). Diary 2.0? A genre moves from page to screen. In Rowe, C. & Wyss, E. L. (Eds.), Language and new media: linguistic, cultural and technological evolutions (pp. 313-325). Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au

Van Luyn, A. (2013). BA1002: Our space: network, narrative and the making of place, week 6 notes. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au

Image Credits:

Creative social : Evolution-man-computer. (2011). Retrieved from http://creativesocialblog.com/?attachment_id=4438