Case study on 2 British You Tubers

Dan Howell (Danisnotonfire)

According to Wikipedia "Howell initially started making YouTube videos because he was a long-time viewer and was encouraged by some friends to upload videos to his own channel. Howell went to The University of Manchester in 2010 to study law, but then dropped out after a year to pursue video blogging as a profession.

In 2010 and 2011, Howell took part in the live, annual 24 hour internet broadcast "Stickaid" which is a fundraiser that encourages viewers to donate to the charity UNICEF. In 2012, Howell won the YouTube competition "SuperNote" run by Rhett and Link.^[3] Howell also currently features in the weekly video series Becoming YouTube created by Benjamin Cook which looks at the different aspects to becoming an internet celebrity.^[4] Howell also writes a blog for The Huffington Post in which he writes about the creative process behind making his YouTube videos.^[5]

By November 2012 his YouTube channel, Danisnotonfire, had almost 600,000 subscribers. His videos had been viewed 45 million times. ^[1]"

^{He is now co-hosting the request show on BBC Radio One}

^{I think that Dan Howell represents British Youth positively because he} 

^{Carrie Hope Fletcher (}itswaypastmybedtime)

According to Wikitubia "Carrie Hope Fletcher(Username: ItsWayPastMyBedTime) is an English YouTuber who posts weekly video blogs on the site.

She posted her first video around March 14, 2011 and her channel is a mix of singing and vlogging (video-blogging).

She is friends with a number of fellow YouTube bloggers including Alex Day and Charlie McDonnell. Her brother is Tom Fletcher, the lead vocalist and guitarist of English pop rock band McFly.

She started a 'things I'll never say project' where you can submit something you’ve always wanted to say to someone that's positive and she will turn it into a End Title Card for most of her videos."

Exam Plan

Exam question

'The media do not construct identity; they merely reflect it' discuss

Include at least two other texts - film and tv, news

Past, present and future definitions

For

Against

Inbetweeners everyday issues/ problems - talking to girls, getting ok grades, drinking, family  etc However unlike the constructed image the overall representation is good and realistic as everyone has these problems Still quite mean for no reason – shout at Will in the corridor "brief case wanker" But not as violent Donavan – “she’s sweet and fragile” and is kind to parents – respects authority – sensitive side – not like in Harry Brown. He’s similar to Moses Popular and unpopular – stereotypical popular hierarchy Class hierarchy Will = upper middle class – came from a private school Neil = “your house smells of being poor” small middle class Jay = in the middle – goes on caravan holidays – w/c and has w/c attitudes – this is seen as vulgar Simon = in the middle The Family:Teen stories - documentary will reflect everyday life  Cultural hegemony - reinforcing working hard Utopia - peace is restored - somewhere over the rainbow playing while mum and Charlotte are dancing - close-up shot is used Ideology of protection - Acland - asks to be monitored by her dad everyday through looking at Charlotte's diary everyday - needs this to succeed Deviant youth theory - needs normal people to counter balance the Deviant Youth = Charlotte is stressed but wants to do well Quadrophenia Did reflect their identity as the riot in Brighton 1964 between the mods and rockers did happen and it created a moral panic by the media (can be seen as constructing but as they were reporting what happened then it's reflecting British youth)  Reflected their values and their fashion choices Mods - park/ anorak jackets, with suits and long swishy hair Rockers - leather jackets, long un-kept hair and harleys

Constantly mediate - riots - a sinister yob was created - moral panic + creating an empty category In the Sun, the use of the word 'savagery' - makes them sound primitive and like animals and the use of the word 'orgy' as well suggests that they enjoy the chaos and being savages In most newspaper images there are images of fires and hooded youths - constructing this identity and moral panic of hoodies who create anarchy and destruction - empty category reflect adults concerns, anxieties, and needs As a result of this media representations of young people do not necessarily reflect the reality of youth identity because they have been constructed Medias view = adults = dominant ideology/ cultural hegemony  People can create their own identity YouTube, WOW etc Catfish Vlogs construct as you only have one camera angle and they tend to be one take + no editing - Vlogbrothers -  John Green and Hank Green Acland 1995 Media representations of delinquent youths actually reinforce hegemony They do this by constructing an idea of 'normal adult and youth behaviour  and contrasting it with deviant youth behaviour which is shown to be unacceptable Media representations of young people out of control allows the state to have more control of them (e. media reports about delinquent youths led to ASBOs) 'Ideology of protection' - the idea that young people need constant surveillance and monitoring. This happens because youth is the time when young people learn about social roles and values, and allows the state to make sure they conform to hegemonic values Harry Brown Attacking/ vandalising the car and then the people who try to stop it Steal women handbag in tunnel killing Lenard  Quadrophenia - house party - m/c parents weren't there and the mods pushed their way through and were fairly viscous - protagonist rode his motorbike through their garden - when the parents came back everyone run - responsibility came back - they need to be watched. Critical Identity Theory Katherine Hamley Media Use in identity construction (2003) ·     The construction of a personal identity can be somewhat difficult/ problematic ·     Young people are surrounded by influential imagery ·     It is no longer possible for an identity to just be constructed in a small community and influenced by a family ·     Everything concerning our lives is ‘media saturated’ – everything we do is surrounded by the media and we’re constantly effected by it o   Politics o   News itself – global link – only way we get the news now ·     When constructing an identity, young people make use of imagery derived from popular media, she states that: o   “It is becoming increasingly common for young children to have their own tv and music systems in their bedrooms whilst also having easy and frequent access to magazines especially aimed at the ‘developing’ child and or teenager” o   “Such young people would also have a way of accessing the Internet, be it at school or sometimes at home. However, it is fair to say that in some instances the freedom of exploring the web could be limited depending on the choice of parents or teachers” o   “If young people have such frequent access and an interest in the media, it is fair to say that their behaviour and their sense of belief will be influenced to some degree by what they see, read, hear or discover for themselves” ·     This can affect the way they behave, dress or the kind of music they may listen to ·     These are aspects which go together to construct a person’s own personal identity o   Eg – fashion constantly changes – hipsters, emo, goths etc §  More socially acceptable to be gay §  “Cut for Bieber” – acting on their obsession o   Changes that have affected ‘young peoples’ access to the media since then §  Smart phones §  Constant access to TV/ laptops and new media §  Not as valid/ representative today

To do list

Notes on

1. Quadrophenia
2. Harry Brown 

How far does the representation of a particular social group change over time?

Quarophenia	Harry Brown	Riots
Purpose = none – conflict between two groups but then there are against the police like HB and R	Purpose = terrorise for no reason but they are also scared	Purpose = none – want to loot but see it as going against the govt
Clothes = status Distinct groups Mods -	Clothes = status Not the case – one group	Clothes = status Hoodies
		Horrific

Britishness

·         “Britishness is a term referring to a sense of national identity of the British people, and common culture of the UK”

o   Frederic P. Miller, Britishness: British People Culture of the United Kingdom (2009)

·         Has the perception changed over time?

o   Victorian – global power

o   Still respected as a power

o   Still seen as a posh nation

o   Spain – fat tourists

o   Yob culture

Define Britishness? It’s like painting wind – Mark Easton, BBC News (2012)

·         Britishness is a form of identity so therefore can’t be defined in strict terms

·         It’s a flexible and evolving term which takes into account the constantly changing country

Online Communities

There has been a collapse of community in society - this has been replaced by a growth in online groups/communities
The communities are not confined to streets, instead they cross borders and exist worlwide

Nerdfighters

• Started off in America after a pair of YouTube bloggers called the Vlog Brothers
• Only communicated through online - not face-to-face
• Community are linked by fandom - Harry Potter and Doctor Who
• Slogan - Don't Forget to be Awesome - also the name of their record label - can publish and sell their music
• Also responsible for the Project for Awesome - raises money for a variety of good causes
• Fight against 'world suck'

Becoming YouTube

What does it say about identity?

• Obsessive
• If you insult this identity they will switch - do not understand that there are also other communities that aren't similar to theirs
• 'Socially awkward' - an inspirational label/ something to aspire to
• by stating this and celebrating this it makes it less of a problem - people have this in commen with each other
• Internet allows socially awkward people to connect and create communities - can be louder and more confident 
• No one's perfect - the originators are as complex as the people who support
• Nerdfighters are an identity based on vales, love and intelligence and fandom as well
• Secularisation of nerds and this identity 
• Tension between individuality and community - by labeling yourself as a nerdfighter you give a part of yourself to that community, but are you still an individual and do you lose your individual identity?
• Internet changes how we can consrtuct identity

What does it say about Community?

• Nerdfighterian - they have made their fans a strong community
• in jokes
• All share the same values and interests
• Work together to do good things - proud of this community and chose it over others
• What it stands for can get lost - the originators don't have any control anymore
• Can exclude - if you don't fit certain criteria then you can't be a nerdfighter - only a bad minority say this though
• They as well as others want to belong
• Can believe in the same things as a certain community but others don't necessarily need to belong
• Some are good and some are bad
• "Rather be a looser and believe in good things"

New Communities

• New sense of identity and community is both connecting and isolating at the same time
• We are increasingly connected to the world, but at the same time increasingly disconnected from reality
• MMORPG (Massive mulitplayer online role playing games) like WOW (world of warcraft) are increasing in size, allowing people to escape into an imagined world where community and identity are malleable and easily constructed

Authenticity?

• Ability to construct an identity, to be unseen while communicating increases the risk for impersonation and fraud
• It creates a sense of anonymity, a false sense of security
• In extreme cases this anonymity allows people to create personas and identities very different to their own

What does this mean for identity?

• Identity is constantly in flux, we are unable to distinguish between is authentic and what isn't. We are frequently constructing our own identities, presenting a mediated version of ourselves to the world
• Equally the collective identity of youth and youth culture can also be affected by this movement to online cultures
• rather than being controlled and constructed by outside 

Time Magazine person of the year = you - had a shiny backing so you could see yourself

Questions on An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube

1. When was YouTube first released?
April 23 2005

2. According to Michael Wesch what does Web 2.0 allow people to do?
Take part in the internet
Easily upload footage and things they have create - don't have to cost anything
Linking people in ways they have never been linked before 
People can collaborate over time and space
Can search all of their interests through tags etc
Connects different website together - Facebook, Myspace and YouTube etc
3. When media changes what else changes?
Human relation changes

4. What influenced the loss of community? And what has now filled this void?
The rise of suburban living where everyone is disconnected from each other as they live individual lives but the internet fills this void as people can connect with others

5. How are communities connected?
Different websites
Tags

6. Explain what he means by voyeuristic capabilities?
People put sexy' images as thumbnails as people are more likely to watch videos with it in

7. Write 3 points about what he refers when he discusses playing with identity
Looking glass self - mediation
When you make the video, others aren't just watching you, you in the future could too - mediating this


8. What does the 'Free hugs phenomenon' suggest about people?
Anonymous people sharing a connection 
Becomes an icon and others copy
People are trying to reconnect with humanity

18-24 and 25-34 more likely to be in YouTube
When you talk you're sizing up the context - online there is no context - context collapse - you don't know who you're talking to and you're awkward

anonymity  + physical distance + rare and ephemerical
"aestetic arrest" - people just can't stop staring 
Cultural tension - crave connection = constraint - internet allows people to deeply connect without being constrained 


The internet, social networking sites and content sharing sites like YouTube are chnging how identity is perceived and constructed

The Family: Teen Stories (2009)

Programme: Series 1, Episode 5
Release Date: 9 October 2009
Genre: Documentary
Plot: This series accompanied the landmark series The Family - which documented the ups and downs of life in the Hughes home for 100 days and nights. Teen Stories focuses on the three teenagers in the family

What problems are there with the youth in this episode? And how does it compare to the youth in other texts we have studies?

• She finds school hard - overworked
• She's bunked lessons because of this
• Dad views older sister as bad influence
• she doesn't communicate with her elders
• Not as confident as the other youths in texts - vulnerable
• In Quadrophenia there are identity issues, drugs - not in the family

What is the overall representation of British youth in this episode? How does this differ from other texts we have studied?

• Mentions school - hard work - doesn't want to riot or rebel, THOUGH she has bunked lessons so she has rebelled slightly
• Doesn't have a voice - doesn't speak much - her mum speaks for her - emphasises how young she is
• Naive - cries a lot - gets hugs from her dad and he offers to help - dependent
• Vulnerable
• Responsible - she's going "struggle through" - stronger than other representations  
• Relate able - everyone has exam stress
• Friendship and stable family is important

What theories can you apply to this episode?

• Cultural hegemony - reinforcing working hard
• Moral panic - family argument
• Identity theories
• Utopia - peace is restored - somewhere over the rainbow playing while mum and Charlotte are dancing - close-up shot is used
• Ideology of protection - Acland - asks to be monitored by her dad everyday through looking at Charlotte's diary everyday - needs this to succeed
• Deviant youth theory - needs normal people to counter balance the Deviant Youth = Charlotte is stressed but wants to do well

The Inbetweeners

What problems are there?

Broken family – dad left mum

Left private school and has to start another one – worried

Underage drinking – yearly drink – tradition

Bullying – “briefcase wanker” “that briefcase makes me want to punch you”– school bully Mark Donavon

Teen problems

·         Boys want girls

·         Friend fights

·         Heartbreak

What is the overall representation of British youth in this episode?

Good with technology – take pictures of Will on the toilet

Rude – humorous

Dependent on their parents – “can I have £20?”

Want to construct a different identity to fit in

Sex mad

Will is posh and his friends are fairly well spoken – Mark Donavan is the stark contrast of Will

What theories can you apply to this episode?

Gramsci – underage drinking is wrong – constant barriers

Utopia – when his friends come round after being humiliated at the charity

Deviant youth – The Inbetweeners are the norm unlike Harry Brown

Moral panic – trying to buy alcohol

How are they compared to the other youths?

Still quite mean for no reason – shout at Will in the corridor

But not as violent

Donavan – “she’s sweet and fragile” and is kind to parents – respects authority – sensitive side – not like in Harry Brown. He’s similar to Moses

Popular and unpopular – stereotypical popular hierarchy

Class hierarchy

·         Will = upper middle class – came from a private school

·         Neil = “your house smells of being poor” small middle class

·         Jay = in the middle – goes on caravan holidays – w/c and has w/c attitudes – this is seen as vulgar

·         Simon = in the middle

Essay Plan

“discuss how their identity has been mediated”