This is the first book to take an extensive look at the many different types of users and cultures that comprise the popular social media platform Tumblr. Though it does not receive nearly as much attention as other social media such as Twitter or Facebook, Tumblr and its users have been hugely influential in creating and shifting popular culture, especially progressive youth culture, with the New York Times referring to 2014 as the dawning of the "age of Tumblr activism." Perfect for those unfamiliar with the platform as well as those who grew up on it, this volume contains essays and artwork that span many different topics: fandom; platform structure and design; race, gender and sexuality, including queer and trans identities; aesthetics; disability and mental health; and social media privacy and ethics. It contains work from over 60 contributors and includes more than 80 illustrations and three full-color galleries, honoring Tumblr's identity as a heavily image-based social network. An entire generation of young people that is now beginning to influence mass culture and politics came of age on Tumblr, and this volume is an indispensable guide to the many ways this platform works.

About the Author
Allison McCracken is an Associate Professor of American Studies at DePaul University.

Alexander Cho is Assistant Professor in the Department of Asian American Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Louisa Stein is an Associate Professor and Chair of Film and Media Culture at Middlebury College.

Indira Neill Hoch is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Concordia College.


Book Information
ISBN 9780472054565
Author Allison McCracken
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint The University of Michigan Press
Publisher The University of Michigan Press
Weight(grams) 515g