Life's little moments: RESPONSE TO ANTHROPOLOGICAL INTRO TO YOUTUBE

Ow......CHARLIE BIT ME!

In professor Michael Wesch's youtube video about the anthropological contributions that youtube has had on the global community, it is incredible to see how life's everyday moments have permeated the screens of millions of viewers worldwide.

Throughout the video we are entertained by snippets of popular youtube videos such as those posted by "lonelygirl15", or "the numa numa guy", everyday ordinary individuals whose antics propelled their respective videos into the highest echelons of youtube stardom. However, what makes these videos so compelling? Aside from entertaining aspects of these videos, youtube has become a global speaker's corner. It has become the world's soapbox, where users share their everyday lives with those around them candidly. It has become a forum of rigorous political and social debate, eliciting video responses from users, going back and forth. In emogirls example, we witness the romanticized love story of two strangers, only to find out that we had been fooled all along.

Youtube has become a wanna bes dream, giving rise to the asian backstreet boys, and popularizing the bizarre talents of Tay Zonday. Youtube is one step of the gradual merge between man and machine, and unity between the virtual and real worlds. Users such as Lonelygirl, used youtube as a social experiment, fabricating personalities and characters geared towards drawing user views.

There is nothing bizarre about the numa numa guys video, i'm sure all of us have danced around when no one was looking, but even more so is his willingness to share this moment with all those watching. Think about it, day in and out people post videos, inviting us into their everyday lives, their thoughts, hopes and dreams, and more than anything, it amazes me how much emotional attachment we place on absolute strangers.

In this sense, Youtube becomes a means of anthropological study. As we follow the lives of everyday strangers, we begin to see bits of ourselves in their everyday struggles. Whether intended to put a smile on your face, or bring tears to your eye, we share moments together on Youtube with our friends, pulling up the "star wars kid" for the millionth time for a midnight laugh. Youtube continues to re-define itself through the input and support of its dedicated user base and un-wavering legion of followers who continue to capture life's everyday moments that shape our ordinary lives.

Web 2.0 has created an unparalleled social community, and it makes me wonder what Web 3.0 has in store.