If you have even a passing interest (as I do) in observing the sociology of our culture through the futurist glasses of the mystic…. you have to be fascinated with the Brookers phenomenon… especially from the perspective of the implications or opportunities (if any) of this (or any) cultural phenomenon for the church.
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For the uninitiated, Brookers is the screen name of a young girl who has raised a cult following (in the cultural not religious sense) by doing something she loves to do… submit quirky videos of herself on YouTube. Sure she’s been trashed but she’s continued despite the critics because… she just loves to do it. And now she has a contract in hand from MTV2 and Carson Daly Productions.
See her “thank you to her fans” video here: Everything Changes
Her raw emotions when she gives tribute to her father… just being real and being herself… is part of what made her so popular.
Are there lessons here for us? In understanding what this culture values? In the use of technology? In perceiving shifts in the definition of pop culture? In being yourself? In the explosion of YouTube in general?
What do you think?
nooc
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June 2, 2006 at 8:41 am
Parke
The ever-expanding production of high-quality electronic media (web, design and now video) by younger and younger creators has been fascinating to watch. A recent decision that web journalists had the same protections as print, television and radio journalists could have far-reaching impact as these once personal creators continue to demonstrate they are very legitimate content creators with valuable things to say.
Video-blogging (what Brookers is doing) has been around for longer than she’s been doing this, but I think her popularity is a sign that it’s really gained a broader acceptance.
The question in my mind is - What happens to the rich/poor divide when increasingly the wealthy (us) rely on technology like computers, video blogs and blogs to communicate. Some early videobloggers have really tried to give minorities and women a stronger voice through this tool and concepts like Node 101s that offer free videoblogging opportunities. All told though, there efforts are still in accessible to many and even in my own circle of friends I find that few are even aware of the technology.