According to Dictionary.com, the official definition of a blog is as follows:
blog [blawg, blog]; n. a website containing a writer’s or group of writers’ own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other websites.
The term “blog” was first coined somewhere between 1995-2000 as a shortened version for the original word weblog. As with many other platforms involving the mysterious and robust interweb, blogs have become integrated into our social-media driven modern-day culture. They serve as a platform for a person, or group of people, to discuss topics in a less formal setting [versus formal academic papers]. The writer of a blog post usually uses the first person in order to tell stories or share experiences of their own. This helps the reader understand the writer’s relationship to the text, and also give some personality to the voice behind the blog. Thus, bloggers tend to be willing to share personal information about themselves with their audience and tend to have some level of expertise in their topic of focus. Another fundamental component of blogs is the ability for readers to comment and respond to the text, and in some cases, start a conversation.
Blogs can cover pretty much any and every topic (but actually, I can’t think of one topic that couldn’t technically be covered in a blog post). In my experience with blogs, the topics include food, recipes, restaurants, travel, clothes, and/or beauty. So, when posed with the question so what, who cares? Well, the answer to that question is the people who have access to computers and who have an interest in the blog topic. For me, I frequent blogs that cover those topics because I want to learn more from someone who knows what they’re talking about.
To determine the type of blog post I want to do myself, I explored the links posted on the Saveur 2016 Awards page. Although I do love a good recipe, I want to write a blog post that contains more than that. I’ve just returned from a trip to Morocco and Portugal, and am currently developing a fixation with foods from other cultures and countries. This brought me to the section on the Saveur page titled “Food & Culture Essay Award”. The following bloggers not only won recognition for their work, but they also discuss important topics in regards to culture and food.
- Afroculinaria – Michael W. Twitty
- https://afroculinaria.com/2016/03/23/dear-sean-we-need-to-talk/
- Lottie + Doof – Tim Mazurek
- http://www.lottieanddoof.com/2015/03/youre-boring/
I’m also considering some blogs that feature food photography:
- Hortus Cuisine
- http://hortuscuisine.com/
- Up Close & Tasty
- http://upcloseandtasty.com/
- Hello My Dumpling
Would food photography make for a good blog post? Thoughts are welcome!