Rick Perry’s Video Inspires Thousands of Parodies… and a Few Comparisons to “Brokeback Mountain”

Perhaps you have had the opportunity to view Rick Perry’s recent advertisement encouraging Americans to become “Perry” strong. Of course it’s doubtful if you’d want to become “Perry” strong given his rather weak ratings, but the Texas governor appears confident that talking to the masses like a good ol’ boy from the South will win him the 2012 presidency. However, the Perry camp apparently didn’t realize that in addition to countless baby kissing photo ops and participation in a straw poll, candidates would also be subject to internet mockery, especially on YouTube. A lot of times people forget that YouTube and it’s spawn are social media, but despite this lack of respect these sites are producing a lot of political, social, and economic commentary. Sure, videos documenting your dog’s ability to sit on command may not spark social change, but as groups such as Anonymous have proved numerous times these channels can be very powerful. And this brings us back to our point: Rick Perry’s call to Christians has quickly become a meme thanks to the proliferation of social media.   

First and foremost, let’s take a moment and explore why Perry’s call to arms has attracted such attention on the ‘net. It’s plausible that viewers are rejecting the hypocrisy of encouraging tolerance for one group (Christians) while bashing another (homosexuals). Yet, there appears to be more than a simple dislike of an obviously hypocritical position. Specifically, as the many parodies popping up have pointed out, Perry’s position is kind of ridiculous. His “Us vs. Them” rhetoric is laughable when the context is altered with sodomites and infidels, dinosaurs, or um… dubstep. The beauty of social media is that it allows everyone with access to a decent internet connection to offer commentary on whatever propaganda is being spewed forth by political figures and pundits. Prior to the rise of social media Perry’s ad may have been met with snickers, but major networks wouldn’t have given air time to these parodies of Perry’s ad.

Ultimately, social media, including our behavior on sites such as YouTube, gives a voice to those who were previously not represented by traditional media. The content spewing forth may not always be intellectually or morally edifying, but the masses suddenly have the opportunity to question and critique the norm. Consequently,  we need to start taking social media seriously because it tells us what members of the culture are thinking.

How do you think the Perry memes have impacted the presidential race? What do you think memes tell us about social media?

A Friend Request from the F.B.I.

In a move which could either be a sign of the times or plain frightening, the F.B.I. has taken to Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube in order to apprehend James “Whitey” Bulger, an informant who disappeared sixteen years ago.  You may be familiar with this Irish mobster currently of the character he inspired in “The Departed”.  The F.B.I. is launching the social media campaign in fourteen cities and is particularly interested in Bulger’s significant other-  Catherine Elizabeth Greig.  They hope that thirty second television advertisements playing on shows with a heavy female viewing base will help them break the case.  The public service announcements began running on June 21, 2011 in cities which have been previously linked to Bulger and Greig.  Moreover, the F.B.I. has updated their Facebook and Twitter accounts with information regarding the case.  Furthermore, users can give the F.B.I. tips via either social media platform.

Do you think the videos of the accused woman, along with an active Facebook and Twitter feed, will result in the capture of Bulger and Co. or could federal resources be put towards a more useful pursuit?  Tell us in the comments!

Update (June 23, 2011):  Guess the campaign worked- Whitey was captured in Los Angeles after a surveillance operation.

Rockmelt: The Future of Social Media

          Rockmelt is partnering with Facebook, introducing new dynamics to the social media table. Before downloading the browser, I questioned the novelty, yet now I’m quite convinced this is a program you’ll enjoy if you’re a social media fanatic like myself.

          To start, visit the website Rockmelt.com. When going to download the browser, you’ll be asked to input your Facebook login information to customize the settings. If you don’t have a Facebook, this browser isn’t for you.

 

          Once loaded, either on your PC or Mac, you are taken to the web while being logged into Facebook at the same time. Your list of friends online remains open to the side while you surf different sites, and a small tools palette in the upper left lets you know if you’ve received any notifications or messages. You never have to visit Facebook to stay connected, making your web experience that much more enjoyable.

          Another nice feature is being able to share information at once from the web, via a button located at the top of the page. You can share the site that you’re visiting right away and you have the option of either posting it directly to your page or sending it in a message.

           If you don’t use Facebook as often as you Tweet, Rockmelt also comes in handy for Twitter or even YouTube. The ability to share content rapidly keeps you better linked with your favorite sites

and apps.

           I hope this is a social media trend that catches on fast. It’s user-friendly and the one drawback I can find is the constant distraction of having Facebook available.

           What are you waiting for? Go give Rockmelt a shot.

Creative Commons Licensing Option coming to YouTube

The Creative Commons (CC) licensing option has been a favorite of photography sharing websites, such as Flickr, and is now helping with other forms of digital media and the social network YouTube. For photography in particular, the license allows users to post or browse and use images at their discretion without resorting to stock photos. Stock photos can sometimes be costly to purchase or feature a blatant label, which is distracting if a user wants to use the photography such as on a blog or social media website.

The CC license, which aims to promote more sharing and caring of digital media across the web, will now be helping YouTube starting June 2. Though the demand for videos may not be as great as photography, it is still a great resource for artists who wish to use video content for mashups or remixes. It will be easier for them to produce original content without fear of consequences.

The Creative Commons tab on YouTube will help locate videos that do have proper licensing , including content from C-Span, Voice of America, and Al Jazeera.

So what are you waiting for? Go check it out.