The Gnome in the Front Yard and Other Public Figurations of Self-Presentation on Personal Home Pages

TitleThe Gnome in the Front Yard and Other Public Figurations of Self-Presentation on Personal Home Pages
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2003
AuthorsKilloran, John B.
JournalBiography
Volume26
Pagination66–83
Keywordscybergenre, genre, home page, self-presentation, website
Abstract

In light of empirical research showing that personal home pages are not as personal as their reputation suggests, this paper proposes that sustained selfpresentation on the Web by ordinary people has been hindered, in part, by the feeble legacy of suitable genres. Drawing on a sample of over one hundred personal home pages, this paper illustrates how, in the absence of generic precedents, public self-presentation is instead achieved through innovation with past genres.