Welcome! 

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I am Emily Tarvin, and I graduate with a PhD in Texts and Technology with a focus in digital humanities from the University of Central Florida in 2021. I also received the Presidential Doctoral Fellow from the UCF for Fall 2016 to Spring 2020. My dissertation analyzes how representations of YouTube follow traditional American narratives of democracy, such as ideals of using technology to uphold democratic values.

 

My research examines the competing narratives of social media platforms by blending methods from American Studies, Cultural Studies, and the Digital Humanities to better understand how traditional, cultural narratives influence modern perceptions of social media. I focus on rhetorical  descriptions of YouTube as a democratic platform for all users to have their voices heard, and on how this narrative relies upon and perpetuates American views of technology and democracy. The driving concerns of my research are better understanding how social media utilizes traditional narratives of community, democracy, technological development, and American ideals of success.

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On this site, you will find my resume, links to my publications, sample syllabi, and contact information.