Camila's Blog

Communities are powerful because they allow us to share passions, exchange knowledge, and feel connected to others. I have found myself drawn to 3 different communities that reflect my interests and values. Those are the baking community, the book community, and the Pilates community.

The Baking Community

Who participates? Why? The demographics of the baking community are very broad, ranging from teenagers barely getting started to older adults who have baked for decades. People from different cultural and racial backgrounds also take part in this community. Everyone has a different reason for joining their community. They participate to share traditions, improve baking skills, relieve stress, or to build a professional reputation for themselves.

What does this community value? How does this community communicate with one another? The values of the baking community include creativity, cultural pride, encouragement, and presentation. The content created in the baking community includes recipes, tutorial videos, step-by-step blogs, baking challenges, and cultural stories about food. They can communicate through online communities/groups which anyone can join. The website linked is to one baking group online, this is the description provided in the site: “Welcome to Baking Forums where you can ask questions or find answers on anything related to baking.”

Goals? How do newcomers learn the appropriate language, terms? The goal of this community through their content is to teach, inspire others to join, share with many their traditions, etc. Social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram play a big role in helping newcomers pick up the language/terms since creators often demonstrate techniques while using specialized terms, making them easier to learn.

The Book Community

Who participates? Why? The demographics of the book community are diverse, including people of different ages, cultures, and backgrounds. Including casual readers, students, teachers, academics, book reviewers, authors, and social media influencers on platforms like TikTok, Instagram. They participate for a variety of reasons, some want to share recommendations and connect socially through book clubs or online, others seek to deepen their understanding of literature through analysis and discussion, and many simply join to express their love of reading and storytelling.

What does this community value? How does this community communicate with one another? The values of the book community include curiosity, critical thinking, empathy, creativity, and inclusivity. Members often value diverse opinions and place importance on sharing knowledge and recommendations, encouraging others to read, and engaging in many types of discussions about themes, characters, and ideas. They communicate through book clubs (online or in person), social media platforms like ‘BookTok’ or goodreads. Goodreads is a platform where readers can track the books they’ve read or want to read, share reviews and ratings, and connect with others through recommendations and reading groups.

Goals? How do newcomers learn the appropriate language, terms? Members of this community share the common goal of reading, analyzing, and celebrating literature. Members give feedback through reviews, recommendations, and debates. In the book community, newcomers learn the appropriate language, terms, and genres by engaging with reviews, discussions, and social media content.

The Pilates Community

Who participates? Why? The demographics of this community are broad, often including adults of various ages from young adults to older individuals. The community is also culturally diverse. The purpose of this community is to teach correct technique, motivate others to stay consistent, share health benefits, and build a supportive fitness culture.

What does this community value? How does this community communicate with one another? The values of the community include discipline, wellness, mindfulness, encouragement, and lifelong learning. They also value inclusivity by welcoming people of all fitness levels into the practice. Members communicate through in person classes, online communities, instructional videos, and social media platforms. Like on Reddit, a social media platform in which people from all over the world can join in on various discussions, you can join a pilates community. The content created on many of these social media platforms includes instructional videos, workout challenges, wellness blogs, and professional training. 

Goals? How do newcomers learn the appropriate language, terms? The community has the shared goal of improving health, strength, flexibility, and mind body connection. Feedback is exchanged when instructors correct form, by sharing progress, or members give encouragement in online groups. In the pilates community, newcomers learn the appropriate language and terms primarily through guided instruction in classes, where teachers explain various concepts.