exsequar | Let's poke at the internet and see what happens!

Hi flist! I have a favor to ask of you.

My roommate and bestest, Michelle, is an awesome anthropologist. She has an assignment for a class called "Language, Power, and Society" and after we tossed things back and forth, she decided to do her project on the power structures in online comments, particularly blogs. She's going to draw from blogs of famous people, "famous" people, people with a tenuous grasp on fame at best (i.e., niche genre authors), and some people who are "famous on the internet". So I want to ask your help in two ways. First, do you have any thoughts to contribute on this phenomenon? From what I gather, she'd like to look at things such as patterns of replies (as in - more fame means no replies to comments, or only replies in subsequent posts, while less famous people often interact more directly, and similar authority dynamics within purely internet communities) and volume. She's really interested in any perspectives you guys might have, as seasoned veterans of the blogosphere!

I'd also love if you'd recommend some blogs that you think might be useful. We're thinking of things ranging from Pete Wentz to Lynn Flewelling to Markos (DailyKos). Any recommendations you might have would be great!

Thanks guys! ♥