An Academic View of You Tube

Lately I have caught myself relying very heavily on videos for information. If I go to a new website and want to figure out what it is all about I don't go to the About section but look for a video that previews the website. The same happens when I look up how to do something. I used to go to howsuffworks.com for written tutorials but now I just search You Tube for a video tutorial. It is amazing how You Tube is influencing our behavior. Michael Wesch is a Professor at Kansas State University. He presented "An Anthropological Introduction to You Tube" at the Library of Congress. The video looks at the phenomenon of You Tube and its videos while becoming a phenomenon itself. The video explains that we are becoming more isolated while at the same time forming communities. A value system has developed within You Tube with views acting as a currency. Hint at any "fakeness" in your video and risk losing all currency. Next time you are at the office or a party and someone starts passing around a laptop to show a You Tube video think how this one site has become a social glue.

There is a talent in developing a good You Tube Video. The best videos have a narrative. Search 30 Second Movies on You Tube and you will find 2 hour movies shrunk down to 30 seconds with an intact narrative. This narrative voice is changing in the digital age but why not use it to teach in English classes. Have a Refilm Contest where students recreate their favorite movie in no longer than five minutes.