HW: Vlogging vs. Blogging

One of the recent Internet crazes, "vlogging" has become quite an interesting subject of discussion. vlogging is blogging, except instead of writing, these users post videos. The development of vlogging exploded with the creation of the website, YouTube, which allows anyone with a video camera and Internet connection to post videos online for public viewing. YouTube has quickly become a topic of both ethical and legal debate. Copywriting, inappropriate videos, and privacy are some of the main issues YouTube users are experiencing. Where do you draw the line? Yes, Internet vlogging can be a useful and entertaining form of posting, but it can also lead to problems that online users have not previously been exposed to.

The vlog I chose to analyze was created by Chris Crocker. His online videos have become incredibly popular due to his outrageous behavior and crazy topics. His most famous vlog to date is, "Leave Britney Alone!". After this video was posted, Chris Crocker become the center of media attention. His videos have been viewed online by millions, and there was even talk of him getting his own television show. As insanely stupid as these videos are, his popularity has continued to rise. I have noticed that in some of Chris Crocker's videos, he attempts to address certain issues like homosexuality and racism, but his messages are overshadowed by his wacky appearance and ridiculous antics. I don't think the public can see a grown man dressed as a woman, and actually take them seriously. He obviously feels strongly about certain issues and tries to vocalize his opinions, but he is simply doing it in an inappropriate way. In reality, he is more than likely just trying to gain his "fifteen minutes of fame". The audience this man has targeted is a younger audience. Older aged people would probably not be as concerned with some of the topics he discusses, and would most likely not tolerate his audacious behavior shown in most of his videos. In my opinion, the only reason people watch these videos are because they are entertaining. As a society, we like to watch others publicly make fools out of the themselves. Hello, reality television anyone? Chris Crocker certainly knows this fact and has taken advantage of it, making him all the more popular.

Vlogging is an easy way to present your thoughts and ideas without ever having to write anything, but it can also create a smokescreen in front of the messages you are trying to convey. For example, as a class we watched the Lemonette videos. Though this woman was trying to get a point across, it was hard to look past all the distractions in the video and focus on what she was really trying to say. I think that is one of the major problems with vlogging that you don't have to worry about with blogging. Vlogging may be more entertaining and enjoyable to watch, but I think that blogging is definitely a better way to develop and publicize ideas.