Produsage: Is it the Killer of Original Content?

Thank you Axel Bruns, for making up a word that defines creativity for the amateur, so to speak. "Produsers" are participants in the creation of shared content, who have broken down the boundaries between producers and consumers. They are involved in the collaborative and continuous building of existing content for further improvement. (If you didn't understand that, to put it into layman's terms: You take an original piece of content, in this case a video, manipulate it by voice dubbing, mash up, photoshop it, basically doing whatever you want to it, to make it different) 


The best example I could find of produsage in a media sense, was a YouTube video of Charlie Sheen. To show how the original compares with the produsage version, below is the original media interview with a reporter:



Now here is the produsage version. It has been completely changed from an interview, and prodused into a song:




YouTube and other video sharing sites, allow the consumer to become the producer. But in this case we have to use the word "Produser" because you didn't create the original content. (Confused? Meh. You'll get there!)


Produsers have created a different and sometimes better version of the original. Possibly the most annoying video to date on YouTube is Rebecca Black's "Friday". It has had over one hundred and eleven million views! (Excuse me while I throw up a little). Initially consumers thought it was a joke, ( I still think it is!) hence the high number of views. Here is an example of a produsage video of the said "Friday":



It has had over four million views and really cements the cheesiness of the original! (It's so much better, even though I despise Death Metal! So that says a lot!)


The problem with produsage and it's definition, is the confusion of the ethics and what constitutes copyright. A video is technically not in breach of copyright if it is created for Fair Use. As long as the use is fair, someone can reference someone else's work for parody, education etc. However, if the original owner believes that it is "copyrighted" then the video is removed from YouTube because of its strict policies. My question then is: If you're an Amateur, how can you be in breach of copyright if you are not profiting from your "produsage"? 


But what if you're a celebrity doing a parody? Well then THAT'S OK! Right? It's considered Fair Use!

If popular videos are taken down, fans will then post copies of the videos onto other sites such as funny or die. Ironically two of the videos I have posted, were originally on YouTube but have since been removed.

The below video is a literal version of Vanilla Ice's, Ice Ice Baby. I think it's better than the original song itself! Obviously Vanilla Ice thought so too and packed in his wapper (white rapper) "career" to become a Landscape Gardener! Say WHAAAAAAT? That's right!

Ice, Ice Baby - Literal Video Version - watch more funny videos

Axel Bruns has four key principles of Produsage. I've used Wikipedia as an example of how it fits into them:

1.Open Participation/Communal Evaluation: 
The constant updating of information that anyone can edit. This is Charlie Sheen's Wikipedia page. This is a prime example of the evaluation part. It has been flagged for Recentism,which means that the topic has received recent public attention. (Hmmm you don't say?) It is Wikipedia's immediate editorial process. 


2.Fluid Heterarchy/ Ad Hoc Meritocracy: 
As anyone can edit the information available on the Website, it is not controlled by a moderator. There is no Hierarchy of control.

3.Unfinished artefacts/Continuing Process: 
The website is always accessible, with new pages being added. It is always updating, never completed. 

4.Common Property/Individual Rewards: 
Content is made available to current and future participants. This is covered under Licenses to ensure content is freely distributed and reproduced. 


(Of course, with anybody being able to edit any topic, you can't rely on the authenticity or accuracy of the information! If you do you're a WikiIdiot!)

To finish off this blog entry, I will end with what I believe is the funniest literal music video: Total eclipse of the heart, by Bonnie Tyler. For those of you who are concerned that Produsage is killing original content, I'll put this to you; isn't Produsage the greatest form of "original" content?

Total Eclipse of the Heart: Literal Video Version *ORIGINAL* - watch more funny videos

References:
www.funnyordie.com
www.youtube.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://produsage.org/node/9
http://www.foxtel.com.au/download/program-information/default.htm?id=BCMS_18038

Move over "Citizen Kane," make way for "Citizen Journalists!"

Hardly seems fair to compare the "Greatest movie of all time" with a bunch of wannabe journalists? How can a movie hold the title of "Greatest of all time" when it was made in 1941? It's quite an assumption to make considering the future advancement in cinematography. 

Yet some citizen journalists are trying to be the Citizen Kane's of Journalism. Yes they don't have the restrictions of accredited journalists, but does that give them the right to be known as a form of journalist? (In this sense I am a citizen journalist. I don't mind that title, considering the alternative is unemployed undergraduate university student!)


Posting your opinions on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and blogs hardly seems worthy of professional accreditation. Maybe these people are not after that title, and are quite happy to simply have their voices heard. After all, everyone is entitled to free speech.



So when does free speech become illegal? Especially when the Law cannot keep up with the ever changing Internet. Authorities try and target people as scape goats, and attempt to file law suits that might fit in with their agendas. 


Julian Assange: Is he the ultimate hero of the truth?


He is the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks. (I must warn you that the actual site is quite evasive, and changes constantly. So if the link doesn't work perhaps try this? Bahahaha! It must have moved!)


Julian is the ultimate Scape Goat! Governments around the world Public enemy number one! Are Julian and his team of "truth tellers"  the "truth heroes" of the modern era? Possibly so. Thank you Bill Gates, for "inventing the Internet." Look how far we have progressed! Julian has started a revolution.

To be honest, when I first heard of WikiLeaks I naturally thought it was a knock off of Wikipedia. I had absolutely no idea what it was, until Julian Assange was arrested and it made world wide news. 


The best way to describe WikiLeaks is: it's a non-profit media organisation that publishes material of ethical, political and historical significance, to the public from various anonymous sources. WikiLeaks is the forefront for Anti-Censorship. There is no doubt that WikiLeaks is changing the face of communication. Whether Governments or Traditional Media outlets like it or not, it is the newest form of Investigative Journalism. Minus the control of the Media Corporations:

Posting items online through media-related websites is technically publishing. Which means that WikiLeaks has the same rights as traditional publishers including, free speech, freedom of the press and the right to keep sources confidential. (Governments can stick that in their portfolios and file it!)

When WikiLeaks realeased Secret U.S Embassy Cables it was unprecedented and members of the public now had access to material that showed the true Agenda of the United States. Julian was labelled "Anti-American" a "Terrorist" a "Threat to National Security" and "Putting lives in Danger." The person who was blamed for the leak was Bradley Manning and he was jailed. Basically because he bragged to a third party. Idiot! (The Truth shall set you free? I guess not in this case!) 

Julian Assange has the ultimate control in what gets released and when it does. He has been criticised for withholding the remainder of the 251,287 cables releasing them in stages over a couple of months. Why not release them all in the one go? He simply states it wouldn't do them justice. Whatever that means! He is all for bringing out the truth, yet only when it suits him. Well if you had possession of "Pandora's box" would you want to release its contents all at once? 








Of course with such world wide attention the next logical step would be a Movie. Apparently Dreamworks has optioned movie rights to a pair of WikiLeaks books. This comes after the success of the 2010 film "The Social Network" which made $221 million at the Box Office Worldwide. (Can you smell money too?) Although there is no Director, Producer, or Actors to make this movie so far, it will not be made for a couple of years if at all! (Sounds promising!) If the Movie is eventually made and it doesn't get Oscar nominations, let's hope WikiLeaks doesn't release the Oscar Winners before the ceremony.

"WHY DIDN'T I WIN?" "WHY?" "THANKS WIKILEAKS!"

If there is one "Citizen Journalist" that deserves "Citizen Kane" status, it is of course Julian Assange. I wonder if he will utter a last word like Charles Kane, and who will be the first to "WikiLeak" its true meaning?


References:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/09/3088573.htm
http://www.wikileaks.ch/cablegate.html
http://globalenews.wordpress.com/2011/02/05/citizen-journalists-wikileaks-will-change-face-of-publishing/
http://www.theage.com.au/world/julian-assange-arrested-20101207-18ofs.html
www.youtube.com

-eExtremists- "Please explain, why can’t my blood be coloured white, I should talk to some medical doctors, coloured blood is just not right!"

I will begin this blog entry with a clip from Seinfeld:





Kramer had a point. It starts with a few jokes, slurs, then has the potential to escalate into Discrimination, Racism and Extremism. This clip is a tongue in cheek view of these issues, that are still being challenged by people today.

Matt Le Blanc, Aisha Tyler and David Schwimmer from "Friends"

At a L.A Comedy club back in 2006, Michael Richards who played Cosmo Kramer, verbally attacked an African American audience member, who was heckling him. Kramer's Racist Tirade was caught on film and sparked a media frenzy. (Probably much to the delight of Extremists.) You can view Kramer's Apology where he seemed sorry and says he's not a racist. (You be the judge!) 


Television Shows such as Seinfeld and Friends, main characters were "white." It wasn't until Season nine 2003, of Friends ( the second last season) that Aisha Tyler became just the second African American to have a regular guest starring role. Why did it take nine years for that to happen? Are the Television Networks scared that multiculturalism on Television shows, will encourage racism and the formation of Extremist Groups?

I own a toothbrush, toothpaste and clean my teeth more than twice a day! That doesn't make me an Anti-Dentite! I just don't want to have decaying teeth or develop a gum disease! But according to The Simpsons, apparently the British are Anti-Dentite Extremists! (Well maybe not! Ha Ha.)  It's true that Extremism comes in many forms, as do stereotypes of races/cultures. Now

thanks to the Internet, these E-Extremists can recruit new members online from all over the world. Simply by clicking on a link which will direct them to a site such as Hammerskin Nation. That's why it's so easy to spread Propaganda.

According to The Landover Baptist Church, Harry Potter is the Devil! They have even come up with 12 Reasons Harry Potter should be banned. The Extremist group, graciously placed Bible references supporting their claims and state "True Christians only touch a Harry Potter book when they are throwing it onto a fire" (As I am reading their website I am trying not to cry with laughter!) Their 12th reason is simply "God has a better way" and thrown in some YouTube videos. (What no Bible references?) They even posted this link:Satanic Harry Potter books burnt. (which made me laugh even more!) Especially when the leader of the Anti-Harry Potter sermon said "he had never read any of the four Harry Potter Books, but had researched their contents" I guess he only judges books by their EXTREME COVERS! 

"I am your leader. I move forward and slightly to the right."

It's the 21st Century! And there are still extremist groups out there! What's worse is they are now all over the Internet spreading their propaganda and infecting impressionable young people. I recenly viewed the Aryan-nations website and came across this article Australia Says No. The person who posted the article, has clearly taken it out of context and turned it into another excuse to "justify" white supremacy. 


As an example of the above mentioned propaganda, The photo of Julia Gillard is not her giving the "Hitler Salute." (Although it may look that way) You can view the photo's original form.


I'm sure there are Extremist groups out there who wish that Rosa Parks had just given up her seat on the bus! If she had, when would the modern day civil rights movement have started? Would it have started at all? I hate to think how much power the Extremist groups would have had today!


The most terrifying thought about E-Extremism, is it can lead young children to Terrorist websites and groups. They are being taught that it is ok to die for your extreme beliefs in terrorist training camps, and their sacrifices will be rewarded by a higher power. The Chaser's War on Everything (An Australian Comedy Series) frequently mock social and political issues. I chose the following clip because it demonstrates the frustration of how common suicide car bombings have become. They created this funny fictitious advertisement:





Thankfully there are also websites such as The Inteligence Project, that monitor extremist groups. This one monitors groups in the United States. If you look at the page Spl Center it explains that Extremists come in many different forms. It shows three featured profiles of the most dangerous Extremist groups in the U.S. If you navigate around this website, you will find a hate map. If you click on any state, below it lists the type of Extremist Groups that can be found. (At least we know where they are, and where to avoid them!)


Australia's One Nation Party and it's Leader Pauline Hanson,brought racism and extremist views back into Australia's Spotlight when she gave her maiden speech in Parliament. She was asked if she was Xenophobic in this 60 Minutes interview and gave the response, "Please explain." This phrase was mimicked for quite some time. You can view her Press Releases during her time as an Independent MP of the One Nation Party. Do you think she was an Extremist Leader?


I will always remember this song when I think of Pauline Hanson:





Attention Extremists! Your blood cannot be coloured white! If you have too many white blood cells, that could be an indication of Leukaemia! If you don't believe me, you should talk to some Medical Doctors.


References:
www.youtube.com
http://ausfirst.alphalink.com.au 

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files
http://www.aryan-nations.org/ (I had trouble changing this site to "The colour purple!")
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20471622_444594,00.html
http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-racist-tirade-caught-on-tape/
http://www.gwb.com.au/onenation/hanson/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1735623.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2010782.stm
http://www.australian-news.com.au/maiden_speech.htm
http://www.gwb.com.au/onenation/press/presmenu.html

Celebrities: Are they the "Twits" of Twitter? That is the #question!

Twitter was launched in August 2006 and was co-founded by Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone and Evan Williams as a way to stay connected with friends. (I know I’ve always wanted to connect with friends in 140 characters or less!) I'm sure they could not have predicted that Celebrities would virtually take over Twitter and use it as a tool for their Narcissism. (Sorry I meant self promotion!) Hence this tweet from Charlie Sheen: "I am not only the book of Sheen-yuss but also the Book of Face.... yuss. go there now." 

UBetaPackInDaWordsCosUOnlyHave140characters! In case you didn't understand that you better learn to read sms! Grammar has gone OutDaWindow with Twitter, so it's perfect for Celebrities who can't spell! Twitter is a convienent platform for Celebrity culture, as so many members of the public are just dying to know something trivial about the day in the life of a Celebrity. Comedian Kathy Griffin (who loves to bag fellow Celebrities) tweeted: "Any Kath-eters actually at the Charlie Sheen show?? Details PLEASE!!! How long did he do? For reals, did he seem f-ed up?" Judging by the below photos from his touring show, would it have really strained Kathy's tweeting fingers to do a GOOGLE SEARCH?

To make sure you are following real Celebrities, a blue tick appears next to their name as a Verified Account.I'm pretty sure that the million or so followers would be a bit of a clue. #ButIsBeta2BSafedenSoz! Apparently if you type # in front of a word, it is called a hashtag and makes it a worthwhile topic. You should be able to find it in a Twitter search. If the hashtag word becomes popular, then it is known as a trending topic.


How many Celebrities does it take to promote another Celebrity? Don't even try and answer that question! Unless you have been living under a rock, the Royal Wedding is just weeks away and Snoop Dogg generously decided to write a song for the future Mr Catherine Middleton. You know, just because he could!

Singer Christina Aguilera (tweet pictured below) was "impressed" by Pop-Star Britney Spears' latest album release and just had to tweet to her! Note that she doesn't actually say she likes the album, just can't wait to see the next video! Ha Ha.

Celebrities crave attention! Especially when they get fired from their popular T.V Sitcoms for their off screen antics! Because I haven't yet mentioned Charlie Sheen. A.K.A "The Warlock," "The Rock Star from Mars." I think it's best for you to take a look at Charlie Sheen's Twitter Account it's pretty much what you would expect from a Celebrity who has hit Rock Bottom. When he lost custody of his two pet pugs to ex-wife Denise Richards (because he aparrently mistreated them) he clearly regressed to his inner 13-year-old child with this response: 

Okay before we can say "Charlie Sheen who?"  Here is another one of the “Celebrity” “Twits” on Twitter: Ke$ha Yes this account is verified! Suxx Spelt with two x’s. Here's an enlightening tweet:" I LOOOOVE it when the dude next to u on the airplane is eating cold eggs that smell like sh*t on balls!" I guess someone else had already taken the username @Keshasux. Enough said!


Below is the live reaction of Ashton Kutcher reaching One Million followers! A little over the top? No way! Not for a Celebrity! ( Hint: Watch up to 1:43 then fast forward to 9:47 to avoid the boring speech!)

Here is a site that has the Top ten celebrity twitter accounts some of them actually have personalities! (Some of them probably have multiple) To finish off this blog entry, I have found another website to track all of your celebrities on Twitter. IRONICALLY IT'S NOT TWITTER! On the right hand side there are lists of Celebrity names you can click on and it displays all of their Tweets! (Check out Bob Saget, Funny Guy!) So if you’ve got some free time on your hands, or interested in zoning out for a couple of hours, why not read tweets from that list and decide for yourself: Are they the “Twits” of Twitter?

References: 

www.twitter.com

http://www.celebritytweet.com/

http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/10-most-outrageously-awesome-celebrity-twitter-accounts_b4262

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcZDh8nyGkA 
http://images.2dayfm.com.au/2011/03/02/539410/charlie-sheen-twitter-395.jpg
http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/apr2011/7/7/charlie-sheen-s-one-man-show-pic-splash-512584566.jpg
http://www.accesshollywood.com/image/143030/height=0/width=339/charlie-sheen-onstage-at-the-debut-of-his-charlie-sheen-live-show-in-detroit-mich-on-april-2-2011.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5124/5222638638_642c181d08.jpg
http://hitdanback.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tuna.png
http://www.buzzhollywood.com/celebrity-images/1301205610/7b4a1_chuck-sheen-tweet_410x278.jpg