Michael Wesch provides a Utopian view of the web stating that it is a way of linking and connecting people globally through sharing, trading and collaborating. He describes it as an ‘integrated mediascape’ of social media and networking sites, with us in the middle of the sphere. In particular he talks about YouTube and how it is a new type of platform where people are able to view and share videos. He talks about how his video gained over a thousand views, three days after uploading it, and once investigating how it gained so many views, found that it was due to ‘user-generated filtering’ and ‘user-generated distribution’.
2. Write down your understanding of the following terms used by Wesch:
Networked individualism – is a phenomenon created by Berry Wellman. It means how we are increasingly networked, and in turn people are becoming increasingly individual/independent and longing for communities and stronger relationships, which is called a culture conversion.
The invisible audience phenomenon – when people record themselves, they are essentially talking to a webcam, not directly to an individual(s). We cannot see who are audiences are, therefore you do not know who you are talking to. However everybody is watching what you’re saying, once you’ve posted it, but while filming it, it may feel like nobody’s watching it.
Context Collapse – is the idea that we wherever we go we never known where a camera is going to be and if and when the footage is to be uploaded to YouTube.
Connection without constraint – people crave connection but also feel constraint. YouTube enables people to connect with people without having to see/get a reaction from their audience.
4. On the whole do you agree or disagree with Wesch’s ideas? Why?
I agree with Wesch to an extent, as the web has enabled people to connect globally and to create communities and a public sphere, as in the past this would not have been possible. YouTube has provided entertain for people and enabled them to express themselves in videos without having to get the reaction of their audiences. However enabling people to have perform these acts may not always be a positive thing as it can create conflict and misunderstanding such as the story of Lonelygirl15 who was a fake created by people to ‘tell a very real and fictional story’.
5. How might Wesch’s ideas be applied to the music industry (or atleast the production of music)?
Wesch describes YouTube as creating global connections between people, by creating and sharing videos. Nowadays there are many videos on YouTube of people sharing their musical talents with the world, enabling people to comment on their videos, gaining feedback and reactions from their audiences. Some of these people are recognised by music producers and artists, for example Justin Bieber became recognised by famous artists such as Usher and Justin Timberlake, by posting videos of himself singing on YouTube. It has become a platform for ordinary people to share their talents with people globally and also become recognised and signed by music companies.
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