Voyeuristic Media

It’s been a while since my last post.  I haven’t been writing much since the crazy amount of workload from uni and my part-time job is kicking my ass. Anyway, here I’m back.

From now on, I figure instead of writing a long piece every time, I’ll concentrate on the gist of my idea. By doing that, I may be able to update this blog more frequently. And you definitely won’t get impatient having to read the whole thing.

Johanna Blakley is the deputy director of the Norman Lear Centre, a place where entertainment is all that matters. They research on how entertainment and pop culture can impact and shape people’s life–socially, economically and politically–in the media-saturated 21st century.

Blakley was invited to give her, if my memory serves correctly, second talk in the Ted Talks.

In the talk, Blakley proposed a bold argument–social media has ended the era of gender imbalance. Her argument is that due to the decentralised nature of social media, audiences or media consumers are no longer bound to the stereotypical demographic that traditional media has imposed on us in history.

In the old media, they tend to label people into a certain demographic and assume that the whole segment of demographic will share a very similar interest. Say, if I’m a college girl, I’ll be wearing brand-name clothes, high-heels and I’ll be watching chick flicks and Gossip Girl every weekend or so. Hence, in the eye of the media, there wouldn’t be a young college girl reading Noam Chomsky because the majority of the demographic won’t.

But with social media, people can now take the initiative to control their media consumption. So, the same young college girl can now be reading Noam Chomsky in wikipedia in one window, on the other hand, reading some fashion blog written by an italian designer in another window. Also, based on your browsing history, you’ll be directed to advertisements in accordance. That’s why Blakley mentioned your taste is respected in the sea of social media.

I think the point Blakley tried to put forward is women can more freely decide their own consumptions than the past. Under the old media’s demographic assumption of being female, it was ideological and restrictive. The expectation upon women to fall into the good old media’s women demographic is repressive. Once and for all, it’s the cause of the gender imbalance.  Therefore, women that likes high-heels and Noam Chomsky can hardly exist because the old media doesn’t target audiences that way. But with social media, women are allowed to escape the ideological demographic and choose what they want.

Other than that, Blakley also pointed out that since women are dominating the use of social media over men, whereas in the old media, the production crews are usually soldiers of male. As social media becomes more popular and prevails, the proportion of the two gender may finally meet each other half way. Hence, social media shatters gender imbalance.

However, all along this argument, the most joyous and groundbreaking idea is notion that our taste is respected. When I sign into my youtube account, I enjoy my hippie indie music by, say, Gypsy and the Cat. Then, I click another related video. It plays. It finishes. Then when I click the next one, the advertisement box on the right has suddenly changed to hippie clothing, exactly the style my favourite singers wearing in the music video.

While the celebration has continued for some, others may already discover, that’s right, the voyeuristic nature of the so-called taste respecting way of advertising. And this brings us back to why social network like facebook has been causing so much troubles with privacy issues–that’s because they know everything about you. They know what you look like, what language you speak, who your friends are, your favourite bands, blah blah blah…If you have ever googled porn on the Internet, Google may even know what kind of position you like while having sex.

So in order to have our taste respected, we may have to scarify our precious privacy.

Think about it!

YouTube Sensation!

Charlie Bit My Fingers, Annoying Orange, Beached Whale, Dramatic squirrel, Talking cat…Tell me you have seen them all on YouTube, or at least pretend you have so that I don’t have to call you daddy or uncle.

Ever since Facebook made phenomenal, all the Internet socialists may spend 95% of their time liking one another’s status, tagging your friends on who’s-what photos(I was tagged handsome, oh wait, it didn’t happen), and becoming fans to incredibly lame group(I am fan of sleeping, as if someone is not).

Then what do we do for the remaining 5%?  5%, if not 4.99%, I dare say people are hooked to your tube–YouTube.

However, have you ever wondered why people bother to upload videos for you to laugh at them? You see teens playing jack-ass-style nutballs, people bobbing their god-forsakenly fluffy belly up and down, and people in a lab coat who pays heaps of money on an iPhone4 just to have it blended.

For god sake, some of them do it because they are, well, LAME. But others do it with vision!

So hear me out, this is how YouTube can turn you into a millionaire.

1.) YouTube will pay people to make Videos. (Wow, bombshell!) Becoming  a YouTube Partner if you’re confident enough to make thousands of millions click-rates. The principle is this: you log into the sign-up page and they’ll judge you whether videos you posted previously qualify enough click-rates to make the deal. Good for you if they say welcome. If not, they’ll tell you the sad news. But don’t cry yet–you can still apply–they make no guarantee though and you have to wait for another 2 months before a new application if you fail.

This is the message you’ll get:

*Quote YouTube* “Thank you for your interest. Based on an automated review of your account, it is unlikely that you will qualify for the YouTube Partner Programme. Applications are reviewed for a variety of criteria, including, but not limited to the size of your audience, country of residence, quality of content and consistency with our Community Guidelines and Terms of Use.

You may still apply but please note that there could be a significant delay in responding to your application. If your application is not approved, you will not be able to apply to the programme again for 2 months. Thanks for your understanding.”

Now, cry! But if you succeeded, they would give you a customisable page and e-mail. Then, the best, or the worst, part, they would install ads in your channel. Best, you earn money according to the advertising revenue. Worst, I have to wait for freaking 30 more secs until I see your videos.

This is the official YouTube Partner information video:

2.) The other way to make a fortune and buy a jet plane is by making viral videos. Excuse me for terrorising the term, but viral doesn’t literally me computer virus. They’re videos that made so contagious and quickly spreading. Annoying Orange and Beached Whale can be the Icon of Viral Videos. They make catchy and cute faces(arguably for annoying orange) to target click-rates and sell side-products of those faces. Tees, laptop case, phone holsters are drugs to the fans. This is the retailer website for Annoying Orange: http://annoyingorange.spreadshirt.com/ and Beached Whale’s: http://shop.cafepress.com.au/beached-whale-bro-new-zealand.

Check out this video to see how it works: (37:00 onwards)

3.)Last but not least, shoot a video of yourself performing onstage like global heartthrob Justin Bieber. The notion is no more special than a fairy tale–you think you can sing and you get your mum record you in a singing competition or what not(or self-record you singing in front of a 2 mega pix. shittie webcam, preferably with cracking moves ). Then, you sit back home and relax until, one in million chance, celebs like Usher, Ellen DeGeneres, and Simon Cowell watch your clips. Bang! You’re a star!

Here are some YouTube big names:

Greyson Chance–signed by Ellen DeGeneres

Justin Bieber–no doubt, Usher. This clip is funny though.

Cody Simpson–Aussie Representative. He plays cricket…kind of give it away.

If you’re really one big fat daddy, here’s a music video of Weezer’s song Pork and Beans. It’s a parody of all the mega YouTube hits. Catch it up, bid daddy!

So have you made up your mind which way you’ll go for? Drop me a comment about what you think, or even let me know if you have a more creative way to make you first million.

Feel free to follow me (chris4181989) on twitter for more in-news updates(or click the twitter status on the left top corner).

Woohoo! 5 most impressive world cup ads…so far…on Youtube!

Source: Ashelia, http://www.flickr.com

As everyone does, I am all caught up in the hype of world cup. Well, the two teams that represent me, HK and China, are unfortunately out of the league. (Even North Korea has a team!) I could only barrack for the other 2 teams relating to me the most. Go Socceroo and England!

While all soccer players only kicking balls, or one another’s legs, at night in Australia’s local time, it leaves me plenty of time to, well, wait for the match. Thanks World Cup! But I can’t let it happen. I can’t possibly lay on my bed, eye staring blankly at the ceiling, and waste 31 coming afternoons doing the same thing! To kill some boredom, it’s Youtube time.

These are by far the coolest 5 ads I’ve seen:

5)

The Nike one is one big fat cliché. But without it, the chart is yet to complete. It features Rooney turning into a beggar, which could be true considering that the English is nuts about FOOTBALL. For God sake, it also has Kobe Bryant and Homer Simpsons. Personally, I’m not a fan of big names and the fact that household names count for more than 93.4235% publicity of this ad(which I assume) is the ultimate let-down. But the Rooney’s bit of the ad, or possibly prophecy,  kicks ass! Nike, on the 5th.

4)

Pepsi’s shot of using their celebrities. But we finally get to see the sprawling, golden field of Africa, a Timon(meerkat) and the people, running, dancing…But why Akon? It doesn’t matter though–I wouldn’t spot him if the title didn’t mention. Fine.

3)

OMG…I love the South Africans. More music and more dancing…MJ style…

2)

We always say world cup…world cup…world cup… But come on, how many places will have their entire nation–we’re talking about every single one including infants and the seniors, plus every living being in the nation such as cows, sheeps, cockroaches and what not–gone bananas for the world cup? None, except England(Shussh I know it’s not a nation). World cup is all about the English. This ad is the ultimate attack against the English arrogance, surprisingly dished out by a can’t-be-more typical optimistic Aussie bloke.

Quote* “If you start thinking positively, you may start winning some cricket tests against us.” + the applause=take it England! lol

1)

I want to play some football too! I just can’t help but buy the whole we-are-all-world-citizens idea. How warm and affective! It may be me who love to romanticise the world cup–it shouldn’t merely be an international platform which advertisements and productions flying crazily around the stadium–it should be a cultural practice that brings the world as one. True, in a competition, there is sweet and there is always sour. But world cup shouldn’t just be a 22-people game, it’s about cultural exchange. It’s about how the entire nation shows its pride, behave and embrace other cultures. SBS rocks!

What are your hot-picks? Scroll down and drop your comment!

Goooogle!

How much do you know about Google? Well…it’s a search engine that you can find whatever you want. Just type in a keyword or two, it’ll be able to generate information from websites to news, and even to locations. Brilliant!

Some of you must have experienced that overwhelming moment–don’t hide, I know you have–which you tried to drop the pin on top of the roof of your house on Google map, magnify it and start dancing awfully because you spotted miraculously your ear or thumb sticking out the window. Well…I have! Even my arse started shaking first time when I saw my house on there!

But does that occur to you that the romantic relationship between you and Google isn’t that romantic at all, but creepy instead? As much as you think you understand Googy(oh, so sweet!), you probably don’t know sh*t about him/her! And in fact, Google know about you way more than you know about him/her–Google knows you probably more than you know yourself.

Don’t trust me? Google has recently got into so much trouble globally.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jun/06/google-privacy-data-collection-street-view

One simple question, then I can prove everything. How many of you out there have a Google account? Hell yeah…suck it! They stored every e-mail you’ve sent and received.  Have you ever paid attention to the customising nature of the Google search engine? You don’t even realise, do you? It means that Google, if they bothered, could even find out what kinds of Porn sites you go for! Google is no different to some unknown stalkers adding you on Facebook and flicking through the 50 photo albums and 2000 photos you have.

Don’t smirk, sweetheart! It doesn’t matter if you aren’t a Google user. Once you start engage in this world of Internet, there is no escape. Jump to the Google.com and look up your own name now. You’ll be surprised if your Facebook and Twitter do not pop up at the first page. If not, keep flicking through. What?! Found in of the Second? Shivering from head to toes now?

Some genius may argue they could get away with it by switching up their Facebook and Twitter security. Well, good luck! May I remind you that you still have your MySpace, Foursquare, Digg, Reddict, Formspring…oh nearly forgot, and your blog! And remember not to use Google search engine, you smartass. Hopefully, you don’t, by any chance, have an Google tool bar installed in your Internet browser or use Chrome as your default browser. One more tip, don’t turn to Yahoo. They are by no means better–perhaps worse–Yahoo helped China prosecute a Chinese journalist, Shi Tao, by giving out Shi Tao’s personal info in his email. Woohoo Yahoo!

Before the apocalypse, let’s celebrate the death of privacy with this dead tune(video) one last time:

Source: Hungry Beast, ABC

There you go.

My conclusion is…well…we’re all locked up dead meat.

Goodbye privacy!

What is your opinion on this?  Leave a comment and join the discussion.

June 4

I feel sorry to go off topic once again, but this entry is necessary–June 4–the political crackdown that happened 21 years back in Tiananman Square.

It struck me a bit when I was talking to some Chinese students yesterday. I assume regardless of whichever nationality you are, you are cultivated with your nation’s history– that’s how you construct your national identity. In that sense, no one should know about your country and culture more than you do. What a no brainer!

But fair enough, this is not the case for the Chinese. The students I mingled with said they have never heard that much about China than they’ve come to Australia. Indeed, it wasn’t that first time that occured to me. Remember the other day a Brit lecturer showed the Tank Man footage to us, the freaking famous footage with millions click-rates, most of the Chinese students went they had never seen that before. Yep, I wasn’t lying. It did happen.

The thing is every nation has made mistakes–the homicide against Jews by the Germans, stolen generation of aborigines in Australia and Canada, and the brits shipping convicts to their colonies. You never hear the Germans, Brits, Aussies and Canadians deny what they’ve done. Because…well…suck it. They did do it. People studied history for a reason–they find out who started it and attempt to retify it.

Besides, people who suffered are no longer condemning China for, God knows, what they had done, nor are they ploting any democratic movements over it. People are just commemorating what they lost. They just want a fair apology. Is that too much to ask?

You may argue, right, Japanese never admit their world war II evil deed to their generations to come either. So why the Chinese? Let’s just make one point–how do you judge people while you’re not playing by the rule? What difference does it make? Sad, but no!

A China-born Chinese Australian has already been deported out of China because of alleged suspicious misconduct. [Retuers] And a lady who went for the mourning at Tiannmen Square this morning was surrounded by layers of police. Journalists’ access was highly restricted.

I’m intrigued. If nothing had happened, what was people fighting for the past 21 years? And why is China so trembled that it has to deny an armless man’s entry and block access to an ordinary lady mourning at the Square?

You may operate in whatever political structure you want, but the June 4 incident is far beyond the line–it’s an emotional consolation and justification that the people are longing for.

Drop your arragonce fella! It’s time to say sorry!