Video Project
This video explores how people use YouTube in order to become famous. It is true however, as Dr. Strangelove said, that this is not the main use of YouTube. Even so there are people who have achieved local fame within the YouTube network. They are well known by other users and have hundreds of thousands hits on every video they post. They also have comments from the same viewers every time meaning that there are people who follow their videos and watch the newest one when it is posted.
We also look at celebrity culture and what drives people to want to become famous. We first state the obvious that money brings fame, fortune, respect and admiration, but we then look at the psychology behind the desire.
It is true that everyone wants to be famous and it is normal. Celebrities are idolized in our society and we obsess about them and want to know every detail of their lives. Everyone wants attention and to be appreciated by the people around them.
Here is a list of sources that we used for our video. From the books we found the reasons that people want to be famous and also how the media makes fame seem more accessible to them. From the website we found the story of Brandon Hardesty who started his career by imitating Hollywood movies on YouTube. He played all of the characters and even filmed from different angles. A Hollywood producer saw his videos and recommended him for some movies. Brandon Hardesty has had small role, but is now receiving big budget scripts.
For the soundtrack at the beginning and for the credits we used “When I Grow Up” by the Pussycat Dolls because it matched the theme of our video. It talks about how when they grow up all they want is attention and to be famous, which is the main focus of our video.
Here is a list of our work cited:
Giles, David. Illusions of Immortality : A Psychology of Fame and Celebrity. New York:
Palgrave Macmillan Limited, 2000.
“Imitation on YouTube proves to be his fastest form of audition – USATODAY.com.” News,
Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World – USATODAY.com. 01 Feb. 2009 <http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-03-31-hardesty-youtube_N.htm>.
Rojek, Chris. Celebrity. New York: Reaktion Books, Limited, 2004.
Turner, Graeme. Understanding Celebrity. Minneapolis: SAGE Publications, Incorporated, 2004.
I really was nervous about making this video, but in the end I really enjoyed it!
