An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube
This lecture runs about an hour in length but is well worth a watch. Covers topics like how video differs from text content, meaning of identity on YouTube and in the world at large, how the physical space and nature of the webcam influences the video blogger, and tons of other stuff.
I’ve been telling friends over the past few months that YouTube is the most transcendant and engaging website I’ve ever used. You can find pretty much any video or audio content that has been recorded there (illegally, yes), but you can also find the most random, niche, and personal content, adjacent to the professional content.
I’ll often enter the site by searching for a Stevie Wonder or Bruce Springsteen song, spend an hour browsing related videos, and end up in a Mom’s living room watching her teach the piano for Thunder Road.
This video points out much of what makes YouTube so personal, emotional, and engaging. Watch the first timers start out embarrassed, talking ot themselves in front of the camera, and then slowly find comfort. So much more personal to see someone’s face, hear them speak, and absorb their non-verbal queues than to just read something they have written.
This is really worht a watch: http://bit.ly/yWFXx
