Last week I had posed the question of the potential role of blogs in the future of politics. For my midterm project, I would like to explore this question of the growing role that political blogs are playing in United States elections, especially of the approaching election in 2008.
I would delve into the meaning of a campaign blog and apply the readings about blogs as I explore the motives for the creation of one. The New York Times has said that we are coming into a century of “wide-open, citizen-led politics,” and I would also apply the readings about wikis into my analysis. A part of my primary sources would be the various blogs of those running for public office. I would pose predictions on what this may mean for the future of governmental politics and the unofficial, yet significant way in which blogs would affect elections of the future.
Just a couple of questions: Are there particular campaign blogs you want to pay attention to? And are there other readings that might be applicable here? (I'm thinking about the ways that various authors including Landow have suggested hypertext's ability to empower the reader; you might contrast that with the ways that blogs actually allow readers to write back. In fact, your use of the authors we've read doesn't necessarily have to be supportive -- you might disagree with them!) I'll look forward to seeing what direction you take this in...