Friday, April 11, 2008
YouTube Power!
I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I have only been aware of YouTube for about one year, but have been entertained, awed and sometimes disgusted by some of the movies since. It's a pretty incredible resource and may potentially impact others in its widespread use and how rapidly "famous" YouTube links can be distributed. In the "Pay it Forward" fashion, the number of people viewing a single film could grow exponentially and reach a great number of people with a particular message. However, as we briefly discussed in class, most movies are viewed by few people and therefore wouldn't make a big difference. One would have to do something extreme or incredible to be noticed on the site - (ie. be Miss America and embarrass yourself on national television or be a voluptuous Russian woman who likes words). Both of these examples reached millions, but are questionable in the respect they achieve. On the other hand, the YouTube movie we watched involving the different people advocating for more people to make movies explaining how they'd make the world better in 2008 provides a perfect example of this media form uniting people from around the world to achieve something. This idea relates to Jenkins' discussion about being a Media Creator. Whereas FaceBook and MySpace communities are arguably more selfish endeavors (though I am a member of the Cruelty Against Animals and the FACEAIDS FaceBook groups), YouTube can potentially be a more global or at least "outside of oneself" project... though then again this brings about the question of access to these high-tech resources and also the knowledge to produce such work. Any responses to my disconnected thoughts? :)
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5 comments:
Well, I agree with you for the most part, that it is easier to gain YouTube fame by doing something outrageous, but that is not always the case. Many of us have seen two clips in particular that are relatively day to day, but have reached YouTube acclaim to ridiculous proportions. Charlie the british baby who bites his brother, and the little boy concerned about a blood like substance coming from his little brothers mouth. These are just home videos which have catapulted the posters to fame. Even posters mimicking the originals have gained fame. Therefore, there is more too it than just being extravagant, what that is we have to pursue. By the way, if you have not seen the two clips I refer to, here they are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9yAkBSrMk0
I think that YouTube has it's uses, like posting videos for a few of your friends to see, or posting (albeit copyrighted) material from your favorite tv show/pageant/commercial etc. I think my favorite use of YouTube is that it allows people to show videos that MEAN something, like the one we watched in class about the state of students. I think that the videos that have meaning, like a real serious meaning, show how great YouTube can be, and others show that YouTube can be an evil. It is interesting that people choose to "write (show?) themselves into being" in such ludicrous ways, only to make themselves famous (like the girl who filmed from her room..i forget what her name is now, but she was all over the news for being a fraud, and not 15, as she claimed).
I too haven't been using youtube all that long. I've known about it but haven't really had reasons to go on it. One day I had a lot of down time at work my co-worker and I used it to look at the presidential campaigns speeches. That’s how we found out about Obama Girl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKsoXHYICqU). She's become very famous off her video about being in love with Obama. They even had her on one of the morning news shows. Many people get famous on Youtube for doing ridiculous things. I do agree with scsorto though that YouTube does have its uses for the videos that matter and I think YouTube is great for that. What scares me about YouTube are those people who use it to try and get famous by hurting other people. Like when kids jump another kid from something dumb record it and put it up so that they can be famous or cool. There is no age requirement for being able to post on YouTube. Do you think there should be an age requirement? If there is an age requirement will that silence the voices of the youth?
"Do you think there should be an age requirement? If there is an age requirement will that silence the voices of the youth??
I personally think that there should be an age requirement. There are so much things online that are inappropriate for children to see. However, the question is can an age limit be enforced. Also, by enforcing an age limit are we hindering the technological skills of the younger generations? Most kids know how to use the internet and search on google and I think that current generations take that for granted. My grandmother and grandfather are both intelligent people yet have trouble learning how to use a computer. If there is a limit as too how how one has to be to use a computer do you think it will limit their technological ability in the future?
I'm not sure, exactly, how to react to YouTube. I enjoy the products of general human stupidity in video format, but it also makes me wonder about the existence of the public, social entities we are creating.
YouTube, while not saying in outright, bold letters, certainly sends the message "BE LOUD. BE HEARD." While I don't really agree with this sentiment, part of me feels its a bit like the Disney-syndrome. Disney movies can certainly be analyzed and interpreted as anti-feminist, racist, and overly violent, but I don't expect that's the first thing on most peoples' minds while they watch. As far as YouTube is concerned, people like to see other people do weird, funny, and stupid things--is YouTube really anything more?
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