Together and alone: Telling second stories on the humans of New York Facebook page

Abstract

This article investigates the phenomenon of telling second stories on the Humans of New York Facebook page. An integrated textual analysis was applied to selected second stories in the commentary of one post. Tenta-tive conclusions include: (1) second stories connect with, transcend, and recontextualize the first story; (2) compelling second stories become new first stories and even usurp the initial first story. Based on the relationship between second and first stories, this article further reveals how social media affordances facilitate as well as impede meaning-making, intimacy, and solidarity in the storytelling process. Additionally, this article also serves as a starting point to understanding Humans of New York’s endur-ing worldwide influence as an iconic storytelling project.

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

2020

Volume

16

Issue

2

School

School of Arts and Humanities

Copyright

subscription content

Publisher

Wayne State University Press

Comments

Guo, L. (2020). Together and alone: Telling second stories on the humans of New York Facebook page. Storytelling, Self, Society, 16(2), 244-262. https://doi.org/10.13110/storselfsoci.16.2.0244

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.13110/storselfsoci.16.2.0244