Determining my field map was a key part of developing my understanding of the self care media niche, I have now concised the field map to what is most relevant in the direction of my DA.
I am currently researching data under my media niche through ‘participant observation’, this has mainly been done through following influencers. I have ensured to save their videos and take notes of how I found their content engaging and if their information was personally useful to me. This is key as I will personally experience being an audience member. My opinions on what was effective will be as valid as any member in the self care field (Marvasti, 2014).
In the process of Autoethnography I will identify emphiemes this will happen through my experiences of being an audience member of this niche. I will ensure to regularly reflect through using “thick descriptions” on any new insights I have found about my media niche (Geertz 1973). My personal experiences will be pivotal in understanding the cultural experiences of being a part of this niche if there are any people who feel they are insiders or outsiders of this niche. (Ellis et all. 2011)
I will undertake further background Research to understand the self care media niche. It will allow me to connect and better understand my own experiences as both a content consumer and producer. For example I may research the history of self care and how different methods have changed. As well as the history of applications this will enable me to effectively understand my niche and how to connect with them.
References;
Marvasti, Amir B. (2014) ‘Analysing Observations’, The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Data Analysis. Uwe Flick editor. Sage: Los Angeles.
Geertz, Clifford (1973) ‘Thick description- Toward an interpretive theory of culture,’ in The Interpretation of Cultures, Basic Books New York.
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Hi Caitlyn,
This sounds like a great DA idea and is very relevant in our current climate.
You described your ideas for content creation extensively in this pitch, which is great, however, you lacked an understanding of your audience and what exactly you wish to research through your participation.
Perhaps you want to measure how your content will impact your audience’s day to day life. You could utilise Instagram polls or surveys even to see if your self-care advice is resonating. You could even set up a daily ‘self-care checklist’ as a challenge for your audience to complete in a day. They could post their results on their story. This could be a fun and engaging way for you to track how impactful your content is with your intended audience. https://www.happierhuman.com/self-care-checklist/
You mentioned you aimed to research the history of self-care and how different methods have changed over time. This article highlights how social media has changed the iteration associated with the terms ‘self-care’ and ‘mindfulness.’ https://repeller.com/social-media-wellness-self-care-problems/ In addition, this research article highlights the impact of social media on self-esteem. I think this could be relevant as self-care could be as simple as turning off the phone. Self-care has become such a prominent thing due to the pressures and anxiety that social media can cause, this could be an interesting topic to explore. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2056305120912488
Your blog post showed extensive knowledge of the lecture material and the use of readings. Your draft plan showed that you have a solid understanding of your goals going forward. Well done!
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Hey Caitlyn, I love this niche idea. A very overlooked topic by many but a crucial one for every individual’s wellbeing. I think this is why it is such a good niche as it is relatable to everyone.
One of the methods which I think you could focus on is meditation and the impact it has on mental and physical health relating to self-care. The reason I say this is because it is such an easy habit to introduce into morning or night routines. This article explains some of the benefits it has on individuals: https://www.verywellmind.com/meditation-4157199 .
I think it is good how realistic you are being with your perceived online persona and the platforms which you are planning to post on. I also think your use of current situations (COVID-19/lockdown) is brilliant as this niche is probably in high demand. However, I think that you may want to consider narrowing and stating a particular demographic as targeting the entire population is much more difficult. For example, you may consider targeting 18–26-year-old male and females as this age bracket is full of students and young adults beginning full time work.
Overall, your blog/pitch conveyed extensive autoethnographic research utilising external sources and the lecture material. Also, the timeline looks realistic and suitable.
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Caitlyn!
I really like the premise of your project. Especially how you’re narrowing your field to one that you’re familiar with to be more authentic. I really liked that you found a niche in relaxing and de-stressing within such a large topic.
While watching your video I was unsure of what form your research might take place for this. In your blog you mention that you’ll research through “participant observation” but don’t mention specific influencers or micro-celebrities you’ll pay attention to or research outside of social media. Your linked video provided some insight here, but maybe some more names as to who you’d aspire to focus on or research might be helpful.
The last thing I’d recommend is adding just a little more detail to your blog. Things like: When and how often are you going to create/publish content? What do you need to do this? Who are your target audience and how will they find you? And Where can we find your social media??
All just some of my thoughts while reading. Good luck!
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