Viral video
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A viral video is a video clip that gains widespread popularity through the process of Internet sharing, typically through email or Instant messaging, blogs and other media sharing websites. Viral videos are often humorous in nature and include televised comedy sketches such as Saturday Night Live's Lazy Sunday and Dick in a Box; amateur video clips like Star Wars Kid, the Numa Numa videos, The Dancing Cadet, The Evolution of Dance, the "Benny Lava" video; and web-only productions such as I Got a Crush... on Obama. Some "eyewitness" events have also been caught on video and have "gone viral," including the Battle at Kruger.
With the proliferation of camera phones, many videos are being shot by amateurs on these devices.[original research?] The availability of cheap video editing and publishing tools allows video shot on mobile phones to be edited and distributed virally both on the web by email or website, and between phones by Bluetooth or MMS. These consumer-shot videos are typically non-commercial videos intended for viewing by friends or family.[original research?]
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[edit] Social impact
[edit] Internet celebrities
Video websites such as YouTube often create Internet celebrities, popular individuals who have attracted significant publicity in their home countries from their videos.[1] These memes have come from many different backgrounds.
Geriatric1927, one of the most subscribed YouTube members, is an 80-year-old pensioner from England who gained widespread recognition within a week of making his debut on the site.[2] For these users, Internet fame has had various unexpected effects. YouTube user and former receptionist Brooke Brodack has been signed by NBC's Carson Daly for an 18-month development contract.[3] Another example is the uncovered fictional blog of lonelygirl15, now discovered to be the work of New Zealand actress Jessica Rose and some film directors.[citation needed]
[edit] Band and music promotion
YouTube has also become a means of promoting bands and their music.
In the same light, a video broadcasting the Free Hugs Campaign with accompanying music by the Sick Puppies led to instant fame for both the band and the campaign,[citation needed] with more campaigns taking place in different parts of the world. The main character of the video, Juan Mann, has also achieved recognition, being interviewed on Australian news programs and appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
[edit] Whistleblowing
Viral video has become a way for people to air their grievances in instances of alleged abuses of authority. For example, in 2006, a courtroom video of Utah Third District Court judge Leslie A. Lewis spread rapidly through Utah and was picked up by the news media.[4] The video showed her finding a courtroom spectator in contempt of court and arresting him because he left the courtroom while the judge expressed her displeasure at his brother's hunting activities. The judge recused herself from the case due to her professed bias against deer hunters. Lewis lost her retention vote in the 2007 election.[citation needed]
[edit] Early examples
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One of the first viral videos is Bad day, which began circulating in 1997.[citation needed]
Given the lack of early mass-outlets for viral video, some of the earliest videos to catch on in a similar way (namely, spread by e-mail) have been dwarfed by bigger hits on sites like YouTube and FunnyorDie. Some of these, however, still find lives on YouTube, etc, such as the video for Daler Mehndi's song "Tunak Tunak Tun".
The phrase "All your base are belong to us" was spread as a flash animation. To this day this animation is popular and various versions of it can be found on YouTube converted to video.
[edit] Notable viral video sites
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Feifer, Jason (June 11, 2006). "Video makers find a vast and eager audience". Worcester Telegram. http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060611/NEWS/606110552/1011/FEATURES.
- ^ geriatric1927's YouTube profile
- ^ Collins, Scott, "Now she has their attention." Los Angeles Times, July 19, 2006. (Accessed July 19, 2006)
- ^ Geoffrey Fattah, Hunters Target Judge, DeseretNews.com
