This week, we were tasked with
reading articles on some websites that make the internet world turn.
Specifically, how both Youtube and Wikipedia do what they do efficiently.
They're both new communities that developed from the Web 2.0 revolution. But
while most people accept and love these resources, there is some
dissatisfaction with them. One of these naysayers, Andrew Keen, argues in his
book, The
Cult of the Amateur, that with the addition of these 'anyone can do
it' websites, we are losing our culture, and declining in artistic prowess.
In reality, however, not much has
changed. While there are new
technologies to facilitate easier access to knowledge of topics, the
understanding of them is still the same.
Look at Wikipedia. While it does
allow for anyone, presumably non-experts, to create a ‘wikiality’, the facts
must still be checked with concrete knowledge.
At the bottom of every Wiki page is a list of resources used, kind of an
internet bibliography. So while it is
true that amateurs – “a hobbyist, knowledgeable or otherwise, someone who does
not make a living from his or her field of interest” (Keen, 36) – make up the
bulk of the editors on Wikipedia, the facts come from the experts themselves.
Keen’s
other problem arises in the land of citizen journalism. He sees this as one of the many reaches of
amateurism that erupted from the internet.
The way he sees it, only the people who went to college for journalism,
or has a background in writing is allowed to report on events. But those people can only report on so many
things. They’re paid to talk about
certain things, and are allowed only that.
Citizen journalists, however, have no jurisdictions (besides the law, of
course). With the power of the internet,
they also helped bring mainstream news to a wider variety of people.
While
he doesn’t mention Youtube and its creations, I’m sure he has some negative
views on this video sharing site. It’s
the definition of amateurism. Whereas
Wikipedia required knowledge of something, anything, Youtube just requires a
camera. Even I have a Youtube account,
in my vain attempt to become noticed. But
that’s what it’s all about. The millions
of people on that website aren’t trying to destroy culture, and make a farce of
art and expertise. They’re trying to
develop their expertise into a profitable venture. Based on just the Youtubers I subscribe to,
the talents these entrepreneurs have range from video arts (Vincent Cyr, FreddieWong), to actors/comedians (Toby Turner, Ryan Higa, Kevin Wu), and musicians (DavidChoi, Chester See, Destorm Powers, etc.).
Some of these artists, such as Freddie Wong and Toby Turner, have
mentioned in their videos their educational background in videography and
acting, respectively. Yet in mainstream
media, it’s rare to see these professional, amateur Youtubers. Just because they haven’t been hired by a
record company or film studio, doesn’t mean they aren’t qualified.
In all,
the internet isn’t a place for only the professional and expert. It’s a melting pot of ideas, talents, upbringings,
and intelligence. From Wikipedia to
Youtube, culture isn’t being destroyed; a new one is simply being born.
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Bibliography:
Keen, Andrew. The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet Is Killing Our Culture. New York: Doubleday/Currency, 2007. Print.
