Annie Rauwerda Explained

Birth Date:27 November 1999
Birth Place:Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Education:University of Michigan (BS)
Signature:File:Annie Rauwerda's signature.svg
Module:
Embed:yes
Page:depthsofwikipedia
Page Display Name:Wikipedia is weird!
Years Active:2020–present
Followers:1.3 million
Language:English
Stats Update:May 12, 2024

Annie Rauwerda (;[1] born November 27, 1999) is an American internet personality, journalist, and comedian known for Depths of Wikipedia, a group of social media accounts that highlight facts from Wikipedia. Rauwerda hosts Wikipedia-focused variety and comedy shows based on the accounts. Rauwerda was named the 2022 Media Contributor of the Year by the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that hosts Wikipedia.

In June 2023, Rauwerda got considerable social media attention for organizing a perpetual stew in a Brooklyn park.

Early life and education

Rauwerda was born on November 27, 1999,[2] and was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[3] [4] Growing up, she attended the K–12 Grand Rapids Christian Schools. Before attending college, Rauwerda took a gap year and served through AmeriCorps as a STEM tutor in Chicago. Following the conclusion of her gap year, she matriculated at the University of Michigan in 2019, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience in 2022.[5]

Wikipedia

Rauwerda became interested in Wikipedia while wikiracing in middle and high school.[6] While a sophomore at the University of Michigan during COVID-19 lockdowns, Rauwerda created Depths of Wikipedia, a group of social media accounts which highlight facts from Wikipedia that she considers "weird and wonderful".[7] [8] The first account was launched on Instagram in April 2020, and has since expanded to TikTok and Twitter.[9] [10] The accounts combined have millions of followers.[11]

In addition to the Depths of Wikipedia social media accounts, Rauwerda hosts Wikipedia-focused variety and comedy shows, going on tour in 2022 and 2023.[12] Rauwerda's first in-person comedy set was in July 2021, expanding to a series of cross-country comedy tours.[13] Her show involves a slides presentation of Wikipedia screenshots, similar to Depths of Wikipedia's online content, and comedy commentary.[11] [13] [14] [15]

In August 2022 Rauwerda was named the 2022 Media Contributor of the Year by the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that hosts Wikipedia.[16] In October 2022, she wrote for Slate about Wikipedia's article on suspicious deaths of Russian businesspeople, highlighting the encyclopedia's usefulness as a source of information in areas facing censorship.[11] [17], Rauwerda is working on a book about Wikipedia's cultural history.[18]

Perpetual stew

On June 7, 2023, Rauwerda started a vegan potato leek stew in a slow cooker in her apartment. Inspired by the concept of a perpetual stew, some amount of the stew was preserved after each meal and replenished with more broth and ingredients.[19] [20] [21] Rauwerda eventually expanded the "stew nights" to the public, hosting outdoor gatherings at Fermi Park in Bushwick, Brooklyn, where people contributed to and consumed the stew.[22] [23] [24] Participants were encouraged to bring vegan ingredients, with about 300 people contributing to the stew.[25] [26] The stew was cooked for 60 days, ending on August 6, 2023.[20]

The events attracted considerable social media attention, in what was described as an "internet sensation" and "all the rage among Gen Zs."[27] Rauwerda documented the progress of the stew on TikTok, where some posts had millions of views. The events gained additional attention for a website documenting it that Rauwerda maintained.

Personal life

Rauwerda adopted a cat from Instagram influencer Caroline Calloway in 2021.[28] [29], Rauwerda lives in an apartment in Brooklyn, New York.[30]

Selected works

Notes and References

  1. Dzotsi. Emmanuel. Goldman. Alex. Nederveen-Pieterse. Kim. June 9, 2022.
    1. 188 Into the Depths
    . Reply All. Gimlet Media. 1:24. September 5, 2022. September 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220905074658/https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/wbhx32g. live.
  2. Web site: Rauwerda . Annie . November 21, 2022 . 23 things i learned in 23 years . November 28, 2023 . LOL (lots of links) . August 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230804012005/https://lotsoflinks.substack.com/p/23-things-i-learned-in-23-years . live .
  3. News: Ishikawa . Rachel . March 6, 2023 . Stateside Podcast: The depths of Wikipedia . . July 26, 2023 . July 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230726014135/https://www.michiganradio.org/podcast/stateside/2023-03-06/stateside-podcast-the-depths-of-wikipedia . live .
  4. News: Craker . Lorilee . March 27, 2023 . Excavating Wikipedia for Fun and Profit . The Banner . July 26, 2023 . November 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128043223/https://www.thebanner.org/mixed-media/2023/03/excavating-wikipedia-for-fun-and-profit . live .
  5. News: Spencer . George . August 26, 2022 . From rabbit hole to raging success . Michigan Today . July 23, 2023 . July 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230723213003/https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2022/08/26/from-rabbit-hole-to-raging-success/ . live .
  6. Web site: Cavender . Ella . October 24, 2021 . Travel down a Wikipedia rabbit hole with the mastermind behind DepthsOfWikipedia Instagram . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211026225359/https://mashable.com/article/depths-of-wikipedia-instagram-tiktok-account . October 26, 2021 . July 23, 2023 . Mashable.
  7. News: Aceves . Paula . July 13, 2023 . Our Lady of Perpetual Stew . . July 30, 2023 . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720080827/https://www.grubstreet.com/2023/07/annie-rauwerda-perpetual-stew-bushwick.html . live .
  8. Web site: Depths of Wikipedia: Meet the Michigander who scours the web for anything weird and wonderful . Sarah . Lehr . April 11, 2022. WKAR Public Media. July 23, 2023. July 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230723214229/https://www.wkar.org/wkar-news/2022-04-11/depths-of-wikipedia-meet-the-michigander-who-scours-the-web-for-anything-weird-and-wonderful. live.
  9. News: Joshi . Shamani . January 13, 2022 . I Look For the Weirdest and Wildest Things on Wikipedia. Here's What I've Learned. . . July 23, 2023 . January 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220125063955/https://www.vice.com/en/article/dypdzv/depths-of-wikipedia-viral-instagram-tiktok-facts-trivia . live .
  10. News: Kambhampaty . Anna P. . March 31, 2022 . Want to See the Weirdest of Wikipedia? Look No Further. . . July 23, 2023 . March 31, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220331213300/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/style/wikipedia-instagram-depths-annie-rauwerda.html . live .
  11. Web site: Depths of Wikipedia's Annie Rauwerda Is Obsessed With Accessible Information. Cole. Villena. February 28, 2023. Nashville Scene. July 23, 2023. March 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230325080210/https://www.nashvillescene.com/arts_culture/depths-of-wikipedia-s-annie-rauwerda-is-obsessed-with-accessible-information/article_ce2a88e2-b6e1-11ed-bcfe-07f34efd94c6.html. live.
  12. Web site: From rabbit hole to raging success. August 26, 2022 . George . Spencer . Michigan Today. July 23, 2023. July 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230723213003/https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2022/08/26/from-rabbit-hole-to-raging-success/. live.
  13. Web site: Instagram Memers Are Performing in Sold Out Live Shows . Blake . Montgomery . February 3, 2023. Gizmodo. July 23, 2023. July 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230723214637/https://gizmodo.com/instagram-memes-wikipedia-sold-out-live-shows-1850040438. live.
  14. News: Calise . Gabrielle . Looking for weird Tampa lore? Depths of Wikipedia to uncover local oddities . November 28, 2023 . Tampa Bay Times . September 21, 2023 . en . October 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231029130854/https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/entertainment/2023/09/21/depths-of-wikipedia-annie-rauwerda-tampa-florida-oddities-history/ . live .
  15. News: Ponti . Aimsel . Things to Do: Theater, fine art fair, disco party and a show about Wikipedia . November 28, 2023 . Press Herald . November 27, 2023 . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129151537/https://www.pressherald.com/2023/11/27/things-to-do-theater-fine-art-fair-disco-party-and-a-show-about-wikipedia/ . live .
  16. Web site: Wikimedia Foundation . August 14, 2022 . Celebrating the 2022 Wikimedians of the Year! . November 28, 2023 . Diff . en-US . August 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220826070613/https://diff.wikimedia.org/2022/08/14/celebrating-the-2022-wikimedians-of-the-year/ . live .
  17. Russian Oligarchs Keep Dying in Suspicious Ways. Wikipedia Is Keeping a List.. Annie. Rauwerda. Slate . October 21, 2022. slate.com. July 23, 2023. July 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230724080802/https://slate.com/technology/2022/10/russia-oligarchs-mystery-deaths-wikipedia.html. live.
  18. News: Mayorquin . Orlando . July 20, 2023 . The Perpetual Stew Is More About Community Than Cuisine . . July 20, 2023 . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720192959/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/20/nyregion/bushwick-brooklyn-perpetual-stew.html . live .
  19. News: Harrison . Lane . July 18, 2023 . She's been cooking a stew for 40 days — and it's attracted hundreds of new friends . . live . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720202425/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/perpetual-stew-40-days-1.6910326 . July 20, 2023.
  20. News: Karpan . Andrew . August 9, 2023 . Scenes From the Final Stew in Bushwick . . live . November 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231109144803/https://bushwickdaily.com/bushwick/perpetua-stew-bushwick-wikipedia-annie-rauwerda/ . November 9, 2023.
  21. News: Russo . Christine . July 19, 2023 . Annie's Perpetual Stew ignites flavorful Brooklyn community tradition . . live . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720200923/https://www.fox5ny.com/news/annies-perpetual-stew-brooklyn-bushwick . July 20, 2023.
  22. News: Lamour . Joseph . July 13, 2023 . Woman goes viral for making a 'perpetual stew' that's been cooking for 40 days . . live . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720200922/https://www.today.com/food/trends/perpetual-stew-annie-rauwerda-rcna94706 . July 20, 2023.
  23. News: Mayorquin . Orlando . July 20, 2023 . The Perpetual Stew Is More About Community Than Cuisine . . live . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720192959/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/20/nyregion/bushwick-brooklyn-perpetual-stew.html . July 20, 2023.
  24. News: McCarthy . Liz . Aujero . Sophia . July 20, 2023 . Would you eat perpetual stew? This Brooklyn soup has been brewing for over 40 days . . live . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720200923/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/would-you-eat-perpetual-stew-this-brooklyn-soup-has-been-brewing-for-over-40-days/4514989/ . July 20, 2023.
  25. News: Aceves . Paula . July 13, 2023 . Our Lady of Perpetual Stew . . live . July 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720080827/https://www.grubstreet.com/2023/07/annie-rauwerda-perpetual-stew-bushwick.html . July 20, 2023.
  26. News: Werner . Kaleigh . July 18, 2023 . Woman goes viral for cooking 'perpetual stew' for 40 days straight . . live . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720002113/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/tiktok-viral-perpetual-stew-soup-b2377440.html . July 20, 2023.
  27. News: Descalsota . Marielle . July 19, 2023 . New York Gen Zs are going wild for a stew that's been brewing for a month. Wait until they find out about Bangkok's 50-year-old soup. . . live . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128043337/https://www.insider.com/perpetual-soup-bangkok-american-new-york-stew-food-wattana-panich-2023-7 . November 28, 2023.
  28. News: Rauwerda . Annie . October 21, 2021 . Siamese cats are heatmaps of themselves . . July 27, 2023 . July 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230727183650/https://boingboing.net/2021/10/04/siamese-cats-are-heatmaps-of-themselves.html . live .
  29. News: Foussianes . Chloe . January 26, 2023 . Annie Rauwerda Finds Treasure In The Depths Of Wikipedia . . July 27, 2023 . November 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128043339/https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/depths-of-wikipedia-annie-rauwerda-caroline-calloway-quotes . live .
  30. News: Avi-Yonah . Shera . July 13, 2023 . This Brooklyn stew is 36 days old. The lines are around the block. . . live . July 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230713195126/https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/07/13/perpetual-stew-bushwick-tasting-parties/ . July 13, 2023.