Home Page

Home Page is a 1998 documentary film directed by Doug Block that delves into the world of the Internet and weblogs, long before they boomed into what we now know as blogging. The documentary follows the lives of several pioneering figures of the early internet, including Joey Anuff, Justin Hall, and Jaime Levy, who at the time, were all heavily involved in the early articulation of personal essays and interactivity through the internet. It provides an illuminating look into the digital identities of these characters who played crucial roles in the shaping of online culture.

The main character highlighted throughout the film is Justin Hall, known as one of the first people to ever keep a blog, who launched his personal site “Links from the Underground” in 1994 when he was a freshman at Swarthmore College. Director Doug Block encapsulates the essence of Hall’s work on his website where he shared candid thoughts and experiences, essentially pioneering the blogging trend long before the term “blogging” itself was coined. It’s through Hall that the audience understands the appeal of the self-generated internet content and the allure of the online world.

The film also explore Joey Anuff, founder of the Internet magazine Suck.com, which satirically commented on media and pop culture. His starkly different approach towards online content forms a fascinating comparison to Hall’s earnest self-expressions. Anuff's innovation was to combat the dull content he found online with an outlet that prioritized humor, cynicism, and wit. Suck.com’s role is analyzed in terms of its contribution to the language and the culture of the Internet, and how it paved the way for the casual, snarky Internet voice we have grown familiar with today.

Another prominent figure is Jaime Levy, a digital publisher and strategist based in Los Angeles, well known in the Internet community for her pioneering work in interactive cinema and digital marketing strategies. She was responsible for a series of popular electronic magazines in the 90s that were distributed on floppy disks, and were some of the earliest forms of e-books. Her perspective in 'Home Page' offers an insight into the commercial aspect of digital publishing and online content creation.

Combining direct narration and personal confessions, 'Home Page' paints an intimate portrait of lives lived simultaneously on and off the web, highlighting how the digital platform acts as an extraordinary tool for self-definition.

More than just a film on internet culture, 'Home Page', breaks down the evolution of personal narrative on the internet. It offers a bird’s eye view of the Internet's early history and traces the roots of today's social media behaviors, from self-elevating through the web to seeking social connections and intimacy online. This documentary takes the audience back to a time when the online world was still being formed and introduces us to its often overlooked pioneers who helped lay the groundwork for what the internet is today.

Throughout the film, the transition from the old world to the new digital world is echoed in the personal lives of the characters. The film also presents an imagery of Silicon Valley during the Internet’s infancy and before the dot-com bubble burst, a time when the opportunities seemed endless and the enthusiasm was infectious.

“Home Page” is a fascinating journey to the past, providing a glimpse into the birth and transformation of the Internet. It serves as a cultural touchstone that reminds us of the very early days of an aspect of life we now take for granted. For anyone fascinated by the growth of digital culture, this is a must-watch. Essential viewing for anyone looking to understand the roots of blogging and internet culture, 'Home Page' is a fascinating time capsule from the dawn of the Internet age.