top of page

1

Christina Masucci

ENG [redacted]

Dr. [redacted]

20 March 2019

Project 13: Blogs & Vlogs

            For this examination of blog and vlog culture, I will be discussing the vlogging channel of Julien Solomita, content creator and boyfriend of longtime YouTuber JennaMarbles. The pair’s videos are practically intertwined more often than not, so by association, Jenna’s videos will be referred to as well. I have been a regular viewer of the couple’s videos since I was in high school, so I will be able to recall and touch on any linguistic change or innovation over the years. 

            In their simplest forms, vlogs are daily (or weekly, or whatever time frame the vlogger prefers) selective summaries of a person’s or persons’ day in a video format. Early vloggers generally start small, utilizing a phone or camera to film themselves either sporadically over the course of the day or for a period of time in which they describe the events of the day (generally called Story Time). Julien started similarly before branching out to more complex videography techniques, more forms of content aside from daily vlogs such as gaming livestreams and a shared podcast with Jenna, and more content-creating platforms such as Twitch. 

            The description on his About page on YouTube reads: “I make videos documenting my life. I intensely enjoy creating an experience through my videos that draws from my own, while also playing with that dynamic and making it interesting for both of us. Often included are my girlfriend Jenna, and the furry kids; Peach, Kermit and (Mr.) Marbles.” As such, innovation is a large part of Julien’s, as well as many vloggers’, content creation. Such innovation spans to the couple’s linguistic conventions as well, particularly when it comes to humor. Much of the humor they possess today consists of deadpanned statements and attitudes, exaggerated hypotheticals, very articulate phrasings for irony, repetitiveness (see compilations of many of the pair’s catchphrases over the years), vocal changes (specifically for their dogs), as well as memes and slang (both modern and older for a nostalgic flair). All these elements have developed and changed over time, aligning with the generally nihilistic/absurdist attitude of the “millennial generation.” Additionally, a sense of community with this mindset has led to the creation of inside jokes and words that fans of the couple would exclusively and immediately understand the context of (“dink fam,” “Cermet/Weach(y)/Marpel,” “#ad,” “it’s fine,” “not for you,” “get legs,” etc.). These could often relate to memes at the time, becoming altered due to the context of the video or of the couple’s lives off-camera.

            Despite their penchant for humor, intelligibility and intelligence are not lost in their vocabulary or on them as people. The couple, when necessary, can and do display incredible passion, realness, and professionalism. If anything, I would say that they show a genuine attempt of a balance between work and play, seriousness and lightheartedness. They are functioning adults with jobs and a house, and they show this, but they portray it in a way that is incredibly familiar and informal with their speech and the way that they interact with the camera, like it’s a friend coming along with them on their day to day activities, often addressed with a “Hey, guys.”

            Due to Julien’s generally non-structured style—a change from past structured Q&A videos—the vlogs can seem very laid back and seemingly “unfiltered” both in presentation and in language (often cursing). A vlog could consist of going to the store, fixing a lightswitch, getting a tattoo, behind the scenes in creating one of Jenna’s videos, trying to get their dogs to put on shirts for their walk, making vegan fried calamari, a houseplant tour, etc.—mundane things, but that’s the thing about this form of entertainment. Consumers of vlogs nowadays (usually) don’t seek out the sensational to be “impressed” or “shocked,” but seek connection, “normalcy,” and realness.

            The purpose of a vlog or blog varies with the content creator, but it is my view that these “everyday accounts” be just that: accounts of the everyday life of a person, regardless of how mundane it is, in a language that the everyday person understands. That is the identity that I believe Jenna and Julien now seek to portray: someone who is just like the viewer, someone who sounds just like the viewer, who has similar goals, dreams, stresses, or fears. Granted, being YouTube celebrities, the two have the privilege and opportunity to attend conventions and events and do amazing things, but that doesn’t take away their down-to-earth nature on camera. I have occasionally watched other vloggers’ videos, but ones that showcase a sense of performance and strive for sensationalism fall short for me. It’s in this way that I believe Julien Solomita and JennaMarbles are successful in the content that they put forth on the internet for the everyday person to enjoy.

 

Links

Julien Solomita: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheFightingSolo 

JennaMarbles: https://www.youtube.com/user/JennaMarbles

bottom of page