Blog as Box Essay

I forgot to mention tonight that I think blogs could qualify as box essays. Sirc said, “producing a record of short fabulous textual realities, a kind of a kind of street-derived genre of drive-by criticism, blips of unfinished text” (124). My blog certainly qualifies as blips of unfinished text. Another quote: "text as open-ended, unscrewed-down box"(120). Do you ever finish a blog? I think a person just keeps adding to it. Duchamp called the boxes: " text is a collection of interesting powerful statements; artist’s notebook; readers can shuffle the “cards” or pieces of text to create their own vision" (116). Many bloggers would definitely consider their blogs to be their notebooks where they collect their ideas and thoughts without organizing them into any fashion.

Benjamin speaks of the “childlike” element (121) when making a box. Blogs have a playful feel about them. A blogger can post pictures, videos, and quotes, and write intriguing titles. Bloggers can add gadgets like polls, games, or quirky news of the day to enhance their blog.

The best part of the blog, like Facebook, is that it keeps a record of thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Blogs are a place to throw a bunch of ideas together. When the writer looks back, they can sort through and select the idea, metaphor, juxaposition, or thought that fits into the current composition they are writing.

A blog is a web box where ideas can patiently wait until it is their turn to be presented.