Have you seen the YouTube video “An anthropological introduction to YouTube“? YouTube has been hailed as the way to reconnect with humanity in a profound way.
Do you have a spare 55 minutes? Seriously, this video is worth your time. You won’t just ‘get’ YouTube after watching this video – you will want to ‘live’ YouTube.
This video explains life, the universe and everything. Well, at least why ordinary Earthlings create videos for billions of potential viewers including their ‘future self‘.
A User-Generated World
Complex and simple, this highly entertaining and uplifting video explains – with the aid of more video snippets and a talented and passionate group of anthropologists – the media-scape that YouTube has created and the phenomenon of:
- user-generated content
- user-generated filtering
- user-generated organisation
- user-generated distribution
- user-generated commentary
Labels, tags and words for things
Other concepts that you are probably aware of but hadn’t thought of putting a name to include:
- participatory culture - the remixing of video to make new videos and the creation of ‘memes’)
- participant observation - understanding a phenomenon by experiencing it and participating in it)
- community building through webcams and screens
- invisible audience - not knowing who is watching or when
- context collapse - different perceptions of the video, not knowing what will happen to the content
- talking to what seems ‘yourself’
- forming a new mask, a new identity
- private recording, public viewing - where everyone is watching (after recording), yet nobody is there (during recording)
- ‘looking glass self‘ – understanding ourselves through others’ understanding of ourselves
- freedom, voyeurism and experiencing humanity without fear or social anxiety
- anonymity, physical distance and hatred as public performance
- YouTube drama and the authenticity crisis - fakes, frauds, liars and honesty
- seriously playful participatory media culture
- the current age of prohibition - where ordinary people live life against the law
- creating videos to change the world or just help you live in it
Watch the Video: An anthropological introduction to YouTube
Share your thoughts
What did you think of the video? Did anyone else need to dry their eyes in the final minute?
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Amazing video! Thanks for posting it!
Thank you. We’re starting our vblogs now so this came at the perfect time. Loosen up, be yourself, show the love -connect. Thanks. Best post so far.
How would one correlate 2 billion youtube views with fans of populat tv series, channels or broadcasts? The numbers alone may sound impressive but the fragmentation and attention-share of these outlets is highly distracted. While a potential media boon for advertisers on these websites, they do not tell the entire story, though surely do reflect the transition of personal recreational habits in our time.
Wow! Cool! Never seen this video. Thanks :)))
great video. Thank you very much for posting it.
Very Helpful video, thanks for sharing.
Well I watched the first 12 minutes of the video. The main idea is that the Internet is the biggest thing in the world, and it connects everybody, and everybody are equal somehow. It is just awesome. Some kind of freedom or something. It is great. I love the Internet. Best thing ever.
Today’s technology allows us to communicate effectively and if the internet is the environment for that then why not be pro for it, right? I see diversity and unity at the same time and its beautiful
Amazing video with a fresh twist that I haven’t seen before. Truly refreshing compared to the same old YouTube videos and social media references typically found on the net.
The story of youtube always inspires us. How a simple idea combined with power of Internet can make a revolution in our society. Youtube has Democratize the world in real sense while giving the power to people to express without fear.
Really Enjoyed the video thanks for sharing.