Credit: M i x y
Technology has been nothing but beneficial for creative expression. In recent years, advancements have seriously reduced the cost of being creative so that anyone with a vision and the right tools can make a video or write a song and can have that art be seen and heard — sometimes by tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of people.
YouTube is the premiere platform for this new DIY form of creative expression. It costs nothing to use, anyone can upload content, and it allows for instant feedback. Aspiring filmmakers can post their work on the site and direct others to view it, with viral hits unexpectedly catching on solely because of their artistic merit.
One such video is “Hayden and Sean Save the Date,” a filmed wedding invitation by a talented young couple. Very much inspired by Wes Anderson of Rushmore and The Royal Tannenbaums fame, the 2 and a half minute video has been viewed by almost 90,000 people even though it was intended for only a select few. It has caught on because of its creativity, artistic merit, and the sweetness inherent with being a wedding announcement.
The DIY revolution also offers an extremely low entry cost for PR and self-promotion. Anyone who is creative and has something unique to offer with artistic merit can promote their work for free via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and a host of other social media platforms. These artists can achieve success by building loyal fanbases through these mediums, and can even see the fruits of their labor turn into celebrity — and more importantly, an income.
Many new popular musicians have circumvented the major label system by independently releasing their material and promoting it themselves.
One musician who goes for more of a theatrical/entertainer aim is the Mystery Guitarman, whose “Arm Attack!” video has over 1.3 million views, an astronomical figure to say the least. The “Arm Attack!” video is kind of annoying and contrived for me, but it has become a viral sensation. The special effects look fine even though obviously low budget, and the Guitarman stars in the video with palpable showmanship and personality.
The internet and new technology have allowed anyone with a voice or a vision to be seen and heard, sometimes by thousands of people. YouTube lets talented people be found by those who will appreciate their contributions, and lets these individuals get the recognition they deserve — recognition that would otherwise have been impossible.
J. Gustav is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on forensic psychology schools for Guide to Online Schools.
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