Facebook: the virtual book of ... networked narratives?

                                      [Image: Butler, P. 2010.]

Networks are a key concept, which was linked to Facebook in last week’s blog. This week, the sub-concepts of narrative such as networked narratives, intertextuality, and self-narrative will be directly linked to the social networking website, Facebook. The term ‘networked narratives’ is basically self-explanatory; it is essentially narratives which are networked. More information on this topic can be read here.

“Telling narratives is a social, networked activity,” (Van Luyan, A, 2015). In previous blog entries, it has been made clear that the concept of ‘networks’ is linked to Facebook; but what about networked narratives? FaceBook is collaborative which empowers the concept of networked narratives. According to McNeill, L, (2012), “Facebook turns the collective desire for autobiographical representations into an information harvest.” This quote exemplifies how Facebook is collaborative as it corroborates with others in order to collect more information. This is where intertextuality comes into play. Intertextuality is ultimately the relationship between different texts. On Facebook, people can upload their narratives and engage with other people’s narratives. Self-narratives can help Facebook users to construct their online identities. On Facebook, the self-narratives that people to choose to upload and share, have the power to be viewed how the user wants it to be seen. The language that the users choose to use in their self-narratives also affect how their narrative is seen which, thus, affects their virtual identity. Once these narratives are uploaded onto Facebook, they can never truly be retracted. Once something is out on the internet, anyone can see it. There is no limited control on where the narratives end up, (Van Luyan, A, 2015).

Overall, it can clearly be seen how the key concept of networked narratives is linked to the social networking website, Facebook. 

Reference List

McNeill, L. (2012). There is no “I” in Network. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au on       03/09/15.

Van Luyan, A. (2015). BA1002: Our Space: Networks, Narratives, and the Power of Space:       Lecture 6. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au on 03/09/15.

[Image] Butler, P. (2010). Networks in Ecology. Retrieved from       https://standingoutinmyfield.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/networks-in-ecology/