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chrysanthemum May. 1st, 2009 09:05 am)
chrysanthemum May. 1st, 2009 09:05 am)I considered getting a Dreamwidth account.
I thought- why should I?
Because: I am in the process of becoming an artist/writer creature. Illness has stopped me from really seizing these raw abilities and making something of them. But as I heal up, I have the focus and energy to learn, polish and consolidate these talents. Talent is nothing if you (a)don't use it and (b)don't nurture and feed it with training. Dreamwidth bills itself as a site where creative people can display their work and connect with other creatives. I'm not yet better enough to have a body of work made and ready to show. But: I could chronicle the process of learning and creating it here.
The idea appealed to me.
But then I thought- you are fully aware this is hype, yes?
Yes. I don't understand everything about this service yet, but so far it appears to be a LJ clone. Cool features are promised, a more fluid interface is promised, I'm reserving final judgment. But I understand the marketing lure the developers have used. By presenting their service as a portfolio/exposure site, they associate it with the desire of all creative people to win notice and validation for their work. By offering codes to various big name online creatives, they create a mystique for the service- this is where the famous and talented are. Wouldn't you want to be famous and talented too? Don't you want to be on Dreamwidth too?
This tactic worked brilliantly on fandom. Dreamwidth started to glow with the halo of status symbol.
Can't lie, I felt that lure tugging on me too. Wouldn't I want to jump on this too? True- what wins exposure for my work should be my work itself. But I also know that a little marketing synergy helps that process along.
But- this mystique is entirely constructed by marketing. It's a brand image. In the same way an ipod won't make you have the fun, cool, carefree groovy life that the commercials present, Dreamwidth won't make you famous and talented. Obviously. It's an LJ clone. It's marketing.
But then again, what can I say? I like me some shiny. I have an ipod. I enjoy it for what it is.
And lookee here, I have a DW account. The conclusion I came to was this. I love woo, and one of my favorite articles of woo is the idea of The Universe and Your Dreams. If you accept and pursue your dreams, The Universe acts in it's mysterious ways and sends you little opportunities to help. I've actually seen direct personal evidence that this is not entirely bullshit. So I said to the universe:
"If it's going to do some good for me to have a DW account, send me one."
So I've got one. We'll see.
I thought- why should I?
Because: I am in the process of becoming an artist/writer creature. Illness has stopped me from really seizing these raw abilities and making something of them. But as I heal up, I have the focus and energy to learn, polish and consolidate these talents. Talent is nothing if you (a)don't use it and (b)don't nurture and feed it with training. Dreamwidth bills itself as a site where creative people can display their work and connect with other creatives. I'm not yet better enough to have a body of work made and ready to show. But: I could chronicle the process of learning and creating it here.
The idea appealed to me.
But then I thought- you are fully aware this is hype, yes?
Yes. I don't understand everything about this service yet, but so far it appears to be a LJ clone. Cool features are promised, a more fluid interface is promised, I'm reserving final judgment. But I understand the marketing lure the developers have used. By presenting their service as a portfolio/exposure site, they associate it with the desire of all creative people to win notice and validation for their work. By offering codes to various big name online creatives, they create a mystique for the service- this is where the famous and talented are. Wouldn't you want to be famous and talented too? Don't you want to be on Dreamwidth too?
This tactic worked brilliantly on fandom. Dreamwidth started to glow with the halo of status symbol.
Can't lie, I felt that lure tugging on me too. Wouldn't I want to jump on this too? True- what wins exposure for my work should be my work itself. But I also know that a little marketing synergy helps that process along.
But- this mystique is entirely constructed by marketing. It's a brand image. In the same way an ipod won't make you have the fun, cool, carefree groovy life that the commercials present, Dreamwidth won't make you famous and talented. Obviously. It's an LJ clone. It's marketing.
But then again, what can I say? I like me some shiny. I have an ipod. I enjoy it for what it is.
And lookee here, I have a DW account. The conclusion I came to was this. I love woo, and one of my favorite articles of woo is the idea of The Universe and Your Dreams. If you accept and pursue your dreams, The Universe acts in it's mysterious ways and sends you little opportunities to help. I've actually seen direct personal evidence that this is not entirely bullshit. So I said to the universe:
"If it's going to do some good for me to have a DW account, send me one."
So I've got one. We'll see.
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BTW, when I get off my butt and learn CSS, I can help you customize your journal (even as a free account.) I think all the paid ones do is give you access to more pre-made styles. But you can make your own. :D
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Wheee! XD