MM
media and also carving out discreet space print and broadcast news. Most notable in this presenter to appeal for viewers’ home-made
for examining and commenting on the world category would be the obligatory video farewells reports, was one of the great TV moments – only
through on-line vlogs. By contrast there is of suicide bombers, and the various forms of undermined when several really interesting stories
plenty of evidence of the darker realm of ‘trophy filmmaking’ associated with the video by news-gathering amateurs emerged. Also
such domestic filmmaking on such sites as recordings of the torture and humiliation of Iraqi
worrying is the suggestion that now, when faced
YouTube where people can suddenly share prisoners in Abu Graib prison in 2004.
with death and disaster, the average Joe’s first
their dubious political, sexual and voyeuristic The happy slapping phenomenon also
response is less likely to be to lend a helping hand
material – from people filming themselves qualifies for mention here – the first incidents
and more likely to involve a grab for their mobile
biting the heads off mice, showing off their gaining coverage during the winter months of
phones to capture events for possible later resale.
latest ‘happy slapping’ antics or encouraging 2004/5. Since then the negative camcorder stories
suicide bombings. have become inseparable from demands that sites
The political
Dr Willett’s sketch of the polar extremes of like YouTube make greater efforts to remove films
The fact that the US presidential hopefuls are
camcorder use is a helpful starting point for featuring deliberate acts of violence, vandalism,
engaging in debate on social networks such as
investigating the impact of new technologies. And teacher-baiting and inter-gang taunting. This
YouTube is frequently cited as the coming of age
you may soon need to answer AS/A2 questions last category of film was particularly singled out in
of such technologies. The video blog or vlog is
about social networking and camcorder use, the summer of 2007 when YouTube films posted
now the communication tool of choice of David
given the power of the net to turn amateur and by well-known London and Manchester gangs
Cameron. On the flip side, online video sites are
no-budget filmmaking into cultural happenings formed an unfortunate background to the spate of
now repositories for the embarrassing slip-ups,
with global audiences to match. What follows inner city shootings and stabbings.
faux pas and slapstick pratt-falls that beset
is an attempt to capture some of the main
political campaigns. Once candidates could hold
manifestations of camcorder use and their possible
The explicit
their breath and ride out the storm of amusement
significance. It is a list that will inevitably grow,
As with violence, so with sex – the typical
generating an on-going source of debate and
narrative of star sex tape narratives goes as follows:
or derision occasioned by such incidents, knowing
concern that any AS/A2 student might do well to
1. An explicit film is recorded at the height of the
that within a day the news agenda would have
monitor and record.
star’s passionate involvement with the latest
moved on and the repeat broadcasts of the clumsy
love of their lives.
act, word or deed would vanish from public
The good 2. This film is then either stolen by strangers or
consciousness. Now cached on YouTube, they are
Among the most positive examples of grabbed by the now alienated partner seeking likely to live for ever.
camcorder use unearthed by the CSCYM team is some kind of payback.
that associated with 14-year-old Jack – a skilled 3. Either way the films invariably appear on the net
The commercial
skateboarder living in south-east London. For him and circulate virally for the rest of time.
The ease now with which amateur filmmakers
the ability to film and edit to a highly proficient 4. Meanwhile, the star makes a tearful or indignant can compile their favourite TV or film moments,
level has helped him establish a profitable line in appearance before the media complaining of most likely supported by a copyrighted music
movies featuring him and his friends’ exhibition the embarrassment the film’s broad distribution soundtrack, has put the cat among the pigeons of
skateboarding. He says: is causing them. broadcasters and media lawyers. The landscape
I try to make the films I make as much like 5. The star’s involvement in ensuring the film’s
is far from settled but steadily new forms of
the commercial ones that are available. I have distribution is later revealed – by which time
advertising emerge, for example the ‘see-though’
a fish-eye lens and that allows me to copy the star has already reaped the benefits of the
variety now being pioneered by YouTube. Then
some of the professional effects. I have one wave of publicity frequently kick-starting what
there are new, more mature responses among
skateboarding DVD out and I am now making was, it’s revealed, a flagging career. Paris Hilton,
communications conglomerates which are slowly
a second one. The first one has been popular Britney et al spring to mind.
coming to realise there’s marketing mileage to be
with friends and family. I have learnt my
editing skills alongside my dad using iMovie
The journalistic
gained by allowing – and even encouraging – the
cut-and-paste habits of those most involved in the
and I am getting better at using a variety of
Following acts of God – such as a tornado in
camcorder culture.
tricks to make the sequences more exciting
central London – it has become standard practice
including slow motion and matching music to
for the media to put out an all-points call for the
The unusual
skateboarding styles.
public to send in the still and moving images
High in the league tables of the more unusual
This copying of mainstream forms is important
they have managed to catch on camcorder or
manifestations of the video blog are those being
in its own right. The filming of dangerous stunts
mobile phone. Without such technology, it is
such as tombstoning clearly has its roots in the
doubtful anyone would really have had a sense of
recorded in the USA by pioneering ‘mourning
Jackass franchise. Meanwhile, out and out
the destructive power of the Boxing Day 2004
specialists’ who provide facilities for those wishing
parodies of popular films are among the most
Tsunami, for example. Without such technology
to leave a permanent video message for their
viewed on YouTube.
the sordid reality of Saddam Hussein’s execution
loved ones as a part of a living memorial in
would never have been revealed, nor the horrors
graveyard or mausoleum. In the camcorder culture
The bad of Abu Graib prison enacted and then revealed.
it seems you can live for ever. The same goes for
Unfortunately, people have been quick to However, while the camcorder or video phone’s
StarWars Boy, whose innocent depiction of light-
spot the anti-social possibilities of the video capacity to catch the news in all its immediacy
sabre skills became an internet phenomenon.
technology of their mobile phones. The fact is clearly beneficial to broadcasters, it’s more
For a comprehensive timeline depicting the
that examples of this negative side of digital debatable whether it is also generating a new class history of camcorder culture visit MoreMediaMag.
filmmaking get the most media coverage may of citizen journalists. The spat on Newsnight The list is ongoing; it’s one you could undertake to
indicate how flawed we are as human beings – or toward the end of 2006, when Jeremy Paxman maintain for yourself and certainly should plunder
merely emphasise the negative values of our rounded on his producer who had asked the if thinking about writing about this subject.
16 MediaMagazine | February 2008 | english and media centre
MM23S&G13.02.08.indd 16 14/2/08 12:30:36
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