The Internet spawned a new development online, things going
“viral”. As we learned on the TED talk in class by Kevin Allocca, videos become
famous through tastemakers, communities of participation and the
unexpectedness. These type of videos attract our attention, as there generally
short, easy to watch, share and understand that’s unique and interesting. In
the 18th and 19th century, news and information was
shared to the mass media via newspapers, letters and other print. In todays digitized
world, information can spread like wildfire. Fuelling these are the two
articulations discussed in class.
The initial articulation demonstrates how media productions is
simultaneously a mode of communication, modes of affect and accumulation. In
relation to “Common Sense”, the meaning behind the pamphlet has considerable
meaning and interest that, just like something going viral, spread to more
people. Because the message was received in a unique fashion through multiple
copies of it, it further initiated interested. What sparked this pamphlet was
the message behind it, which was felt through the American people. In contrast
to a modern example is Rebecca Blacks Friday. Popularized and made viral thanks
to YouTube, it was soon afterwards spread across the internet thanks to tweets,
Facebook and media outlets with a title of “the worst song”. It certainty
sparked an entire nation, however didn’t have much meaning behind it as the pamphlet.
The second articulation demonstrates how the media artifact
and messages are conceived and sent through culture, community or society.
“Common Sense” was produced through print and sent through vocal communication
and by person to express the views of independence from Paine. This resulted in
the change in perception of Americans views of independence. This process from
production to consumption resulted in a reaction or affect within society. In
regards to Rebecca blacks Friday video, the video was promoted as the worst
song ever through many media outlets mentioned earlier. With a title like that,
many people would naturally want to listen for themselves why something would
be the “Worst song ever”. Word got out and the video became viral. To date,
there are 85 million views on the video. Another concept applied to this
virality is the TED talk on viral videos mentioned earlier that can be applied
to Friday. The video is introduced to a tastemaker whose followers see it, community
participation (comments, further sharing with friends), and be unexpected (it’s
a really bad song) which Friday was certainty something that was worth viewing
to the popular to the mass. These 2 things that went viral certainty have had
similar paths to becoming viral to a nation and its people. The difference in
the end is of course is that many of the videos spread across media platforms today
generally don’t have much significance or importance compared to something that
generated meaning to a people back in the 18th century.
What really caught my attention is your post was the comment you made about how part of the appeal of Rebecca Black’s video was the fact that it was “short, easy to watch, share and understand”. This made me think about Harold Innis statement regarding how tools of communication shape what we think with, and how we think. The post modern culture is known for being fast past and individuals lack of attention span. Thus, I thought that if Paines Common Sense were to be developed today as a pamphlet would it get as much attention? After all, most individuals do not want to sit there and read a lengthy article, and do not have the energy to get purchase a physical pamphlet when there is so much information available on the web. Thus, it made me wonder how the content presented in Common Sense would be developed based on technological tools in today’s age.
ReplyDeleteI found your post very interesting, I think discussing Rebecca Black's video "Friday" was a very good example, I was in high school when the song became popular and it was probably the first thing that I remember going viral. Despite the song being quite terrible it was the first video that made me realize the power social media could yield and it really shocked me how quickly a video could be spread around the world. I agree with Michelle, and also mentioned this myself in my post, about how it is important to point out that the qualities of the video that it very easy to watch and understand even though the song was not good Its ability to relate and speak to the common denominator allowed it to be enjoyed by all levels of class and privileges and lead to its success. "Common Sense" followed a similar tactic. Although it did not settle for the level Black choose at the time it was written many elites wrote in a very intellectual and philosophical manner that only those who were equally educated could understand. Writing around this time was a way to show superiority and the more complicated the writing the more educated you appeared. Paine did not take this approach and when he wrote his pamphlet he used simple language that could be understood by the majority.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the point of the type of language used with Paine has similar properties with Friday. Both subjects spoke to the world with a simple approach. Although the video was obviously made with lyrics that anyone could understand, I think the mere fact that being titled "The worst song in the world" was a general yet eye catching insight and title for anyone whether middle class to star talk show host who would be interested, and not just isolated to a particular class, just like the phamplet Paine wrote about that appealed to anyone of interest.
Delete