Search

Friday, July 2, 2010

Friend Friday: Blogger Narcissism


Katy Rose of ModlyChic has sent around another round of questions for the Friend Friday project. This week: Blogger Narcissism!
  1. Do you think personal fashion blogging is inherently narcissistic?

  2. The reason I write about fashion as I am sure many other people do is that they think they have a P.O.V. and want to share that with others. I think as long as people keep it about that and not themselves you can avoid being labeled narcissistic. It can be tricky though as fashion as a whole is a lot of navel gazing.

  3. I think we can all agree, that certainly some blogs are personal odes to the blogger. In your opinion what makes a blog narcissistic.


  4. In terms of fashion blogs, I think it begins and ends with the blogger's approach to outfit posts. If they are the only focus of the blog and lack any dialogue on the fashion choices behind them then that is most definitely narcissism-ahoy. There is nothing wrong with outfit posts in and of themselves, but when it is just obviously fishing for complements it annoys me. Blogs that do this also have very little posts on fashion itself outside of the clothes on the blogger's back, which is also another red flag for the blog being narcissistic. It is great to have a POV on fashion, but by only using it to explore your wardrobe choices is limiting.

  5. Would you classify your blog as narcissistic? Why?

  6. In all honestly, it is a bit. I have trouble about writing about things that I do not find interesting or match my fashion POV. Like, I refuse to include certain brands that I do not like or have value. I feel like I would be letting my readers down, but it does make for lower page views. I try to find the obscure and stylish, which makes my POV a bit narrow sometimes.

  7. How can we combat the idea that because we share personal style thoughts/pictures we are automatically full of ourselves?


  8. I love to ask people who bring this up: Do you ever talk about fashion with your friends? Have you ever commented on an awesome piece in someone's wardrobe? Someone's haircut? Do you ever admire your outfit in a mirror? Then guess what? You are doing the same exact thing I am doing!

    Fashion in itself is our way of communicating who we are as people. Once you have studied fashion as a true field (meaning: historical, sociological, and craft) you would understand that. Those portraits of people hanging in the museums that people ogle day in and day out were made for the same reasons as outfit posts.

    I do believe that posting about fashion does make you full of yourself in a way. You have a POV and you are secure in it. Enough to share it with the world and open it to criticism. Why should that necessarily be a bad thing?

  9. How do you explain what you do to others in a way that doesn't come across as narcissistic?

  10. It is not narcissistic if you are right.

    Then you just come across as overconfident to some, but secure to others. If you cannot do that then maybe you want to re-consider the position of your blog. I mean I am a complete wuss in social situations in many ways at times, but I defend my blog with a ferocity I have not seen in myself in awhile. I just feel that deep down that my POV is interesting and is useful to people, and if others cannot see that they are not worth my time.
Readers what do you think? Is the blog a bit narcissistic? Let me know in the comments.

5 comments:

  1. great response to what you'd say to someone who calls fashion bloggers narcissistic! i really don't see it as so different from having a facebook or twitter--either way, you're letting people know your opinion, and what's so bad about that?

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is very thoughtful. I must admit that I sometimes feel sheepish about blogging but I do believe that fashion is a valid means of interacting with the world and performing identity, regardless of whether it is posted on the internet or not. I (sheepishly) didn't have the energy or the time today to take up these questions and I think they deserve a measured response. Thanks for this. I don't think your blog is narcissistic, if we are assuming, as I think many do, that narcissism is a derogatory term. I love your informed take on fashion and the industry. Defend that voice!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm glad to see you agree Renee. Social media is the worst when it comes to narcisssism. I once heard of someone posting their c-section photos on FB! The baby was half in and half out. Insanity.

    Dorky Medivalist thank you so much for the complement. I'm glad to know that someone thinks my thoughts are worthwhile! I promise in return for your kind words not to let my head get too big.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the comment about asking them if they ever talk fashion with their friends or compliment a new hair cut!! It's so true that we are in a way doing the same thing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glad I seemed to come up with a good answer to your weekly questions! :)

    ReplyDelete