The Wonders of The Viral

Hey guys.

Today I want to write about why some videos go viral.  I'm not talking about music videos and TV programmes but just random clips taken by 'normal' people like us.  It's something which I have been thinking about for a while and it really does perplex me. Of course the reason for this reasonably new phenomena is simple, with social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and of course Email, it's certainly not difficult for information (both accurate and false) to spread faster than wildfire! But what I really wonder is why do these videos go so crazy in the first place?

Is it the shock factor they hold? Do they surprise? Outrage? Or simply make us laugh?

There are millions of videos on youtube (some people estimating around 120 000 000 and counting) and with an astounding 48 hours worth of video uploaded every minute, why is it that one video can suddenly attract millions of viewers and others will simply pass by unnoticed?

Some videos go down in Youtube history (do I really need to give examples?.... Charlie bit my finger, Double Rainbow!! and Sneezing Panda) while some just add to the years' and years' worth of forgotten and unseen footage.

Off the top of my head recent virals have been:

And:



Finally, another one which came to light a couple of months ago was that of the racist woman. She spouted obscene and cruel verbal abuse towards people on a packed London tube. This video caused such shock and outrage, not only at her ignorance and spiteful tongue but also because she continued to swear unconcerned in front of young children. (this video is available on-line but is continually removed) Fortunately for the London passengers, (and for society as a whole) the woman, a 34 year-old called Emma West, was later arrested and charged with racial harassment. Aaaah! The glorious power of the viral video.

This website was excellent for looking at current virals going around the web and it was amazing how they had all gone from being practically unknown to world famous in a matter of days. Of course, the examples here are few and there are plenty more clips floating or more likely racing around the web right now.

So why do these videos catch on? Well for most of them, I think it is the simple fact that they make us laugh and what more do we want in our God forsaken lives? Something to cheer us up.

Others, like the terrible and offensive video described above, appall us so much that we're shocked. We find ourselves needing to tell everyone about it. I think that if a video clip can bring someone to justice and unite society then the viral is positively a good thing.

Lastly, on a more selfish note, virals can be beneficial to the individual because they can provide an easy income and 15 minutes of fame if that person really desired it..

So what do we gain from these clips? Justice, enjoyment, fame and an income. That is what makes viral videos a success. Overall however, laughter.... (usually)...well laughter is the key to their popularity.

This post was brought to you by Youtube (not really).

Oh and lastly...

Hmmm...pensive...

I just had a bit of an epiphany.  

Wouldn't it be really sad if in a hundred years' time people won't listen to some of the amazing songs around at the moment? Complete masterpieces will pass into oblivion - to the graveyard of lost music if you may. 

Some songs have been around for centuries. Greensleeves, for example, is a well-known ditty around half a millennia old. However this song was passed down lovingly from generation to generation, liked a treasured possession or an ancient tale elaborated and changed through every telling. Unlike today in which most forms of media seem to be discarded once they've reached a certain age.

Why is this? Do we simply lack the creative talent to make something truly inspiring and therefore are incapable of adding anything new to our magnificent repertoire of masterpieces? Or are we simply too fickle to appreciate someone's hard work and effort for more than a mere moment? Whatever the case our current contemporary music, literature and art won't last for long unless we're careful.

I think in some cases it's unreasonable to say that we lack creative talent, especially when I see inspiring artwork like this everyday.

Street Art in Bristol

I'm not much of a connoisseur in the field of art so maybe this isn't good enough to become a masterpiece?

But then I don't understand why some pieces like this hang in the Tate?

Please forgive me if this is meant to have some deep, significant meaning, as I'm sure it may but I find work like this so uninspiring. Of course this is just personal opinion but I can understand why art like this gets forgotten especially when comparing it to some of the greats that spring to mind; Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli. 

And what about classic literature, Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen? Who do we have to compare it to? The most popular books of the 21st century appear to be Harry Potter and dare I say it...Twilight? Will these become classics in a hundred years' time? Will they be analysed for their poetry and philosophical meaning in a couple of centuries? I doubt it. However just because they're popular now doesn't mean they are or will become a masterpiece. It is often the hidden treasures which are unearthed years after their creation which become inspirational. Perhaps there is a potential classic piece of literature being written right now or a piece of art that is worth a fiver at present and a couple of million quid in centuries time. It seems that this is often the case. 

So what inspired me to start writing about this topic? 

Well...okay...maybe this is a bit of a let down for some but it was Foal's song, Spanish Sahara. Maybe it isn't a masterpiece or maybe it is; that's for the future to decide. However whilst I was listening to it during a very wistful mood, I thought; "It's a shame that perhaps future generations won't know about a song which personally holds a lot of meaning and emotion".

By the way; the introduction is beautiful but very quiet, so turn up the volume!

Dear anyone still reading, hi. I just would like to say that I have touched on a vast subject here and I suppose there are lots of stances to take, so if you have any opinions let me know. (And please let me know of any recommendations for classic/contemporary music, art, literature or even film which you think are inspiring and brilliant.)