Viral Videos

Jean Burgess’s article is about the construction of viral videos and how cultural participation are what build up to make what we now consider to be a viral video and networking site. Bernhard Drax’s Second Life videos contribute to Burgess’s idea of the viral video and networking sites because that is what you are able to do in Second Life. Without the contribution from the people, a virtual world would not be possible. In one’s life, we are always judged by what we wear, how we look, how we speak, and even by what our sex is. Drax shows us that none of this is of any importance when you are in you Second Life. He mentions that there are all sorts of people there and no critiques of how they look. Second Life is a place for everyone to come together without having all of the criticizing. Both Burgess and Drax make it clear that viral videos and networking sites are not places for critique, but rather places for everyone to be at peace with oneself without worrying about what the other people are thinking.