The Digital media phenomenon of Youtube beauty gurus : the case of Bubzbeaty

This thesis is submitted as a compilation of five publications. With the aim of contributing to the theorizing of digital media culture and practices, I explore the current phenomenon of online popularity as exemplified by influential personalities like YouTube beauty gurus. The study focuses on a p...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: García-Rapp, Florencia
Tipo de recurso: tesis doctoral
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:CBUC, CESCA
Repositorio:TDR. Tesis Doctorales en Red
OAI Identifier:oai:www.tdx.cat:10803/463002
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10803/463002
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Online popularity
Vlogs
Beauty tutorials
YouTube beauty gurus
Online communities
Legitimacy
Authenticity
Popularidad online
Tutoriales de belleza
Gurús de belleza en YouTube
Comunidades online
Legitimidad
Autenticidad
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Descripción
Sumario:This thesis is submitted as a compilation of five publications. With the aim of contributing to the theorizing of digital media culture and practices, I explore the current phenomenon of online popularity as exemplified by influential personalities like YouTube beauty gurus. The study focuses on a popular beauty content producer, Bubz, and her channel Bubzbeauty. Looking at content, meaning, and interactions through qualitative, ethnographically-oriented research, the thesis sheds light into the politics of success of YouTube’s beauty community. I examine content characteristics and affordances for the creation and maintenance of viewers’ attention. I conceptualize community-specific norms that guide practices, particularly those related to self-presentation and identity-management and their implications for everyday celebrity practice. In addition, the value of her celebrity position as well as the uses of her content for the purposes of inspiration, creativity and identity work are thematized.