The power of Youtube

Youtube clip-"BUS UNCLE"


1.How many viewers are estimated to have watched the youtube video?


More than 1 million viewers have watched this youtube video. Viewers are not just HongKongers, include many foreigners.


2.   How would you rate the video?

A) Is it of high quality in technical terms? Is it interesting aesthetically eg camera angles, use of light, the narrative, and so on?

I rate this video as quite a high rate. It was very famous and controversial since few years ago. This video is not taken by a professional camera or cameraman. So that, it is not of high quality in technical terms, even no much aesthetic value is invested in this video taking. In this video, we can see that it is taken by a cell phone's camera. The quality of the video is low and the sound is unclear as well. It is obviously taken in an immediate moment.

B) Does it raise interesting socio-cultural issues? 

It arouse a big controversy and social concern after uploaded this clips on Youtube.  People are attracted by the conversation between "Bus Uncle" and  the young man. The clip arose hot topics in forums and media. Almost 1/3 Hong Kong people knew this issue. A group of netizens even made some creative videos, photos and topics which are related to "Bus Uncle".  The most well-known topical subject is the dialogues from "Bus Uncle". Such as " We both have persure" "not settled". These dialogues are joyful to most people, also this clips helps building a common subject or language for Hong Kong people. It is a kind of new public culture in this modern age.


A few sentences which are famous from "Bus Uncle":

A song mixed with the clip of Bus Uncle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v48tRk-Yy8&feature=related


3.   Do you think it deserved the attention that it received from the internet community?


Yes, it deserved the attention from the internet community due to the rude attitude on Bus Uncle. Many netizens blamed on Bus Uncle that he was too rude for just a little bit issue. They criticise what Bus Uncle said to the young man and his brutal words spoken from his mouth. By contrast, a part of netizens feel sorry for Bus Uncle. They agree that he had a huge persure on him and think that we should sympathize his flushed behaviour. He just same as other HongKongers, finding a way to express his bad mood.

4. Do video-sharing sites such as YouTube enhance or worsen creative culture? Comment.

It is no doubt that video-sharing sites help enhancing creative culture. Those sites create a platform for anyone to share ideas and video works. In this modern age, such great quantity of video/digital media producers are neccessary. Some talent video makers could take use of these sites for showing their works. These sites do attract many excellent producers to engage in creative culture. They also encourage people to create and join the business of creation.

On the other hand, this kind of video-sharing sites beat the development of creative culture. Acorrding to  an essay I read from reading, the writer pointed out that "user" should be divided into professionals and amateurs. professionals are used to create works for goals or busniess. But, amateurs could be producers, consumers, visitors or whatever. After video-sharing sities appeared, the identity of professionals and amateurs seems exchanged. Professionals became more and more unimportant, on the contrary, amateurs are going to be appearciated. They works are almost for fun and enjoyed by vast viewers. Therefore, those non-commercial works start replacing what professionals designed. Professionals even imitate those amateurs' works. It really ruin the market of creation. They help worsen the "copy culture", no profile to the market finally.