Video Vortex: Blog #10

The Practice of everyday life by Lev Manovich: In his article, Lev addresses the idea of web 2.0. He comments on how there has been a definite shift from professional and company-produced videos to more public and personal videos. Anyone may now post a film on just about anything. This has not only allowed for a more constant and stronger form of communication within the public, but has created a web-based society.

Codecs and Capability by Sean Cubitt: Media sites create formats and codecs which monitor and limit the creative aspect of art media production as well as the reproduction of older media.

Both authors strongly agree on the fact that with the increased participation and customization of sites such as youtube and facebook, the world of web 2.0 has taken off and is expected to greatly increase in the years to come. Manovich highlights the reasons for such an increase in participation; with many sites gaining funding based on their number of visitors, the ability for any individual to post whatever they chose about their life has increased. By allowing the general public to post videos relevant to their own lives, websites have guaranteed participation. Cubitt heartily agrees with this point, stating the ability for every hobby, fetish and preference to be recognized and demonstrated all via the web. Each individual is capable of posting personally relevant material and is thus more likely to do so again in the future.

The largest difference between the two men's arguments is their general attitude toward the new age of web 2.0. Manovich highlights a more positive result in which any individual is validated and seen via the web. Cubitt instead illuminates the "old lie", claiming that the viewer is never alone. While he or she feels highly connected and pertinent to the success of the webpage, he or she is in fact irrelevant in the greater scheme of things.

In conclusion, while each author has a slightly different attitude and approach towards the increase of web 2.0 and in particular youtube, both agree on the positive feelings and positive actions it induces.No matter the reality of how disconnected an individual is from the world, through expressing whatever is relevant to them, they gain a sense of belonging.