Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MA in English
Department
English
First Advisor
Anne Geller
Abstract
In this thesis I examine conversations that occur on TikTok’s literary corner, “BookTok.” My research involves focusing on the multimodality of BookTok, following comment sections and search options, as well as analyzing the components of the videos themselves. BookTok content creators focus on these features in order to spark literary conversation in an approachable way. These influencers heavily sway the app itself and the books being recommended. Extending my research beyond BookTok influencers, this essay seeks to understand the value of influencer backing on products towards their social legitimacy. Some users on TikTok are not fans of how the algorithm pushes novels with high influencer backing – labeling the repetition of these works as a seemingly watered down reading experience. However, through my research I’m hoping to demonstrate how BookTok’s range and representation of various reading experiences allows valuable conversations on how we understand literacy to occur in the digital age. The focus of this thesis is to study literature and literacy in relation to my experience having social media as an extension of my outerworld perception for so long.
Recommended Citation
Kaufmann, Elizabeth, "EMBRACING AN ONLINE LITERARY IDENTITY: HOW BOOKTOK MAKES LITERATURE MORE ACCESSIBLE" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 1007.
https://scholar.stjohns.edu/theses_dissertations/1007