Date of Award
August 2016
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Media Studies
First Advisor
Elana H. Levine
Committee Members
David S. Allen, Michael Z. Newman, Richard K. Popp
Keywords
Media Studies, Social Media, Work Practice, Ya Authors, Ya Literature, Young Adult Literature
Abstract
This thesis looks at YA literature, a feminized genre that continues to gain momentum in publishing and popular culture. Specifically, I look at YA authors and their readers’ interactions on social media and the manner in which these conversations are gendered. I argue that YA authors are expected to utilize feminized traits on social media with their readers and fellow authors, but they use same traits to create social change in the genre and industry. This project analyzes three different types of readers: Readers, Reader-Creators, and Bloggers and their interactions with YA authors on social media. My interviews with five YA authors show the impact of social media interactions on their work, which speaks to the changes in cultural production in the age of social media.
Recommended Citation
Kohlmann, Margaret R., "Young Adult Authors, Readers, and Feminized Social Media" (2016). Theses and Dissertations. 1285.
https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/1285