The concept of viral images, videos and text is no newsflash
to anyone familiar with a user of social media in society today. Media content
has the ability to go viral due to the quick ability of messages spreading
within technological devices – specifically via the Internet. The Internet has
given us the ability to move messages at light speed across the world with only
the click of a button. The importance of media going viral is connected with
the idea that society stays interconnected with one another and can share the
same social experience with one another. It is a part of sharing cultures and
inspiring within society. Social media
creates a convenience for everyday users to post either a picture, video or
some form of media that other users may find appealing and that one specific
medium could be picked up by someone famous who shares it with their audience.
For example, the double rainbow example looked at in class displayed how an
ordinary man who was excited about seeing a double rainbow became Internet
famous with his “double rainbow video”, which Jimmy Kimmel picked up and
tweeted out to all of his followers. Media platforms give a chance for people
to share their emotions and experiences with the rest of the world. The Ted
talk given by Kevin Allocca analyses the three main components that are
required for videos to go viral; taste makers, communities of participation and
unexpectedness. People all over the world have access to the same social media
platforms and as a result have the ability to partake with participating in the
same culture and create meaning together.
During the 18th century
society did not have the convenience nor the technology that was capable to
enable media to become viral as quickly as we do today. As a result there was
also a limitation to the physical space and distance messages could travel and
the time it would take for these mediums to be passed on. The concept of
circulation, distributing and consumption of media was not taken as seriously
or seen as important as it is within society today. During the 18th
century the only way for media such as Thomas Paine’s pamphlet to reach a
larger audience was for multiple copies to be produced. One key difference
between virality in the 18th century and in todays society is the
meaning. Today we use viral media such as memes as entertainment and humor
whereas during the 18th century virality had more of an importance
to society and was taken more seriously. Thomas Paine pamphlet was the
immediate independence of America and believed that separating from Briatin was
key (Standage, 144). The pamphlet only became viral due to word of mouth and
letters happened to mention “Common Sense”. This lead to to the pamphlet
becoming popular and grabbing the
attention of many. Common Sense created tension in the newspaper and as a
result Paine’s ideas revolving around the circulation of letters lead to
colonies to common sense and resulting in information going viral. The 18th
century relied heavily on the printing press in order to make their media viral
whereas today in the 21st century we rely on technology and the
Internet.
Newsbloppers are one of my favorite
types of viral videos to watch. The “I like turtles” viral video is on my top
three all time admirable newsbloopers. This news segment was filmed in 2007 and
became an internet sensation. Internet users took this 17 second video and
appropriated it in all ways, shapes, and forms. For example, there is a “I Like Turtles Techno Remix” (I attached the
link at the bottom) where a creative user has remade the video and incorporated
a beat and remix to the kids response in the interview. This meme has even been lured into the
consumerist market and there is merchandise that people can buy varying from T-Shirts
to even an apron. Refering back to Kevin Alloca’s three properties of video
virality “I Like Turtles” clearly has a presence of community of participation
through the internet and people enjoy are taking the original video and
recreating it into something new. Under the Youtube comments one of the users
mentions how the show Sunny in Philadelphia referenced this video. Unexpectedness of the video is definitely present
because his response to the reporters question “what do you think of your face
paint” is – “I like turtles”. This bizarre answer made Jonathon a very famous
child and can be seen in multiple compilation of news bloopers. Technology has
given us the ability to produce, distribute and share information with users
all over the world. Once a video, photo, or any type of medium is released on
the Internet there is an opportunity for any user to take that specific medium
and appropriate it in various ways, such as a meme.
Original - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0XXmVts1y0
Techno
Remix - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0XXmVts1y0
I really enjoyed your comparison of the "I like Turtles" clip to Paine's pamphlet as you were able to highlight the key differences between 21st century virality and 18th century virality, which is reach, speed and the ability of appropriation. Because of advances in technologies today, "I like Turtles" was shared at a global level in no time, whereas as you mentioned, "Common Sense" circulated through word of mouth, print copies, and newspapers. "Common Sense" changed attitudes, however the written work itself was not changed or appropriated into memes and other social media forms due to restrictions in technology, whereas "I like Turtles" generated new communities for producing, appropriating and sharing memes and videos that would imitate and mock the original video. Today, virality goes to the extent that it involves recreating and appropriating an original piece using new technologies in the blink of an eye, whereas in the 18th century, virality involved printing as many copies as possible and passing along information to as many individuals that it could reach, which was restricted by time and distance.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how print that circulated back then mirrors how information is circulated in todays digital era. Its essentially the same except rather then physically sending a message via a physical medium, it can be done electronically and be sent at light speeds. It would be interesting to ponder about that if the people of that time had digital technology during the times of colonization and whether it would spark the independence from Britain more quickly with electronic mediums. If Paine had the technology, its clear from the reaction of the people in reality, that his phamplet would have been "viral" just as todays less important videos that go viral. Which leads me to disagree that memes, videos and what not that go viral aren't important at all, in fact they are important. They go viral because we feel they are important and interesting. We take the time to look at the viral video, interpret it, and share it with others, at which those actions would define our intentions as something important to watch, think about and share with friends/family.
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