Online Diaries: Transformation of Medium and Meaning - What is a diary?

In order to see if the transformation of diaries from print to an online medium has affected its meanings, I need to first define what a diary is and examine the history and evolution of diaries. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a diary is a “daily record of events or transactions, a journal; specifically, a daily record of matters affecting the writer personally, or which come under his personal observation” (www.oed.com). Although journals are sometimes separated from diaries because they are specifically defined as records of one’s travels, the words “diary” and “journal” can be used synonymously, and, for the purpose of this paper, I will use them interchangeably. While the birth of diaries—credited to East Asian Cultures (Wikipedia)—is fascinating, I want to focus on the use of dairies during the last few centuries. The history of diaries in the United States from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries is of special interest to me in this project, because, as historian Lisa Weems points out, although during that period the “form remained stable” as a “vehicle for self-expression and discovery” (Weems et al, 122), the content shifted over the eras. Through analyzing how the content and meaning changed over time, I can see how the transition in form from print to online either toppled or enriched its use as a “vehicle for self-expression.”

Current Mood: contemplative