Out with the old, in with the new they say. The ever growing popularity of the internet has created a paradigm shift from your everyday programs on television to an all new online version, known as web television.
It all started with webisodes, which are generally short form content distributed online through websites such as YouTube (Screen Actors Guild 2009). Many popular television series 'today have webisodes that spin-off from their tv plot such as Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, Chuck, and the Office.
Screenshots from Lonelygirl15
In the context of new media trends, I shall focus on Lonelygirl15, a web series that is unique because it seemingly blurred the line between fact and fiction when first aired in June 2006. Lonelygirl15 was made to look like an actual YouTube user who narrated her troubles in front of a webcam. It gained quite a following as viewers initially thought that all the drama and mystery was for real. It was eventually proven to be a hoax, with the main character actually played by New Zealand-American actress Jessica Rose.
Hence, the pertinent question that arises is: are new media technologies actually blurring the audience's sense of reality? and if so, is that ethical? While Lonelygirl15 was structured as such for entertainment value, it signalled an intent by producers to trick viewers, hinting that they were capable of doing so. Even one of the show's three producers, Grant Steinfeld was initially doubtful of the legitimacy behind the idea (Heffernan and Zeller 2006).
Meadows (2008) also discussed other similar but prior cases to Lonelygirl15 about two YouTube filmmakers known as LisaNova and LittleLoca (what's with the weird names anyway?) who also turned out to be actresses. Truly, a future where fiction is perceived as real or even vice versa is a scary thought to ponder.
Therefore, once the thrill of the new media bandwagon finally settles, apparently all is not quite rosy anymore. Nevertheless, it is vital that we control the pace of new media and not let it control us.
References:
Heffernan, V & Zeller, T 2006, 'The lonelygirl that really wasn't', New York Times, September 13.
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/13/technology/13lonely.html
Meadows, MS 2008, 'The three white girls from YouTube: the modern day fable', Peachpit, viewed 15 June 2006.
URL: http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1170496
Screen Actors Guild 2009, New media glossary, viewed 14 June 2009.
URL: http://www.sag.org/content/new-media-glossary
It all started with webisodes, which are generally short form content distributed online through websites such as YouTube (Screen Actors Guild 2009). Many popular television series 'today have webisodes that spin-off from their tv plot such as Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, Chuck, and the Office.
Screenshots from Lonelygirl15Hence, the pertinent question that arises is: are new media technologies actually blurring the audience's sense of reality? and if so, is that ethical? While Lonelygirl15 was structured as such for entertainment value, it signalled an intent by producers to trick viewers, hinting that they were capable of doing so. Even one of the show's three producers, Grant Steinfeld was initially doubtful of the legitimacy behind the idea (Heffernan and Zeller 2006).
Meadows (2008) also discussed other similar but prior cases to Lonelygirl15 about two YouTube filmmakers known as LisaNova and LittleLoca (what's with the weird names anyway?) who also turned out to be actresses. Truly, a future where fiction is perceived as real or even vice versa is a scary thought to ponder.
Therefore, once the thrill of the new media bandwagon finally settles, apparently all is not quite rosy anymore. Nevertheless, it is vital that we control the pace of new media and not let it control us.
References:
Heffernan, V & Zeller, T 2006, 'The lonelygirl that really wasn't', New York Times, September 13.
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/13/technology/13lonely.html
Meadows, MS 2008, 'The three white girls from YouTube: the modern day fable', Peachpit, viewed 15 June 2006.
URL: http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1170496
Screen Actors Guild 2009, New media glossary, viewed 14 June 2009.
URL: http://www.sag.org/content/new-media-glossary
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