Browsing by Author "Koski, Sanni"

This thesis discusses the Russian social media and its meaning in the society and how blogs can be used in identity formation, by studying the development of the Russian blogosphere and its special characteristics. The usage of Internet grew rapidly in the early 2000s, when the user-generated content became possible along with Web 2.0. This thesis’ data consists of blogs as a form of online communication, as they are popular in Russia and the traditional media often cites material published in them. Blogs have different functions for the authors and they are used, for instance, for searching and creating one’s identity, communication with old and new friends, and spreading information. Following Manuel Castell’s definition, identity is here seen as a social construction that can be formed, for example, through language. Blogger can choose what to write and what not to write about herself, thus forming the blogger’s virtual identity. The virtual identity sometimes differs from the everyday life identity. This study concentrates in the public image that the blogger has created either unconsciously or consciously. Although women constitute a minority in Russian political administration, they are remarkable opinion leaders in the blogosphere. The female bloggers observed in this study are three journalists and public figures who appear influential in the blogosphere: Tina Kandelaki, Ksenija Sobčak and Božena Rynska. The data collection follows the snowball sampling method, where future subjects of study are recruited among acquaintances of existing study subjects. Blogs provide rich data as they also create a network of “friends”, that is, followers of the blog. Furthermore, blogs often contain links to other blogs. The women in this study cite each other’s blogs and other public appearances and are listed as followers as each other’s blogs. The methods used in the data analysis here are known from the discourse analysis framework. Style of writing, vocabulary, self-representation and relationships to other people and politics are analysed in all three blogs. The bloggers in this study represent different political opinions and use politics in their works in different ways. As bloggers Kandelaki and Sobčak are more professional and write in a matter-of-fact style. Part of Rynska’s identity, however, is to shock her readers. Kandelaki and Sobčak have a strong aim to influence civil matters. It has thus become possible for non-professionals (non-politicians) to comment politics in Russia, and also oppositional forces can publish material online. The Russian blogosphere and other social media constitute an important part of Russian media and offer an interesting and a large research material.