One thing that I won’t readily admit to people is that I
have a small addiction to watching Youtube. Many people who are not part of
that community (which, to my shame, mainly consists of 13-17 year old crazy
pubescent fangirls) think that this involves watching viral videos, laughing at
people falling over and the like. But actually, my Youtube habit has become so
frequent that it has replaced the amount of TV I use in many respects and has
broadened my appreciation of many new different types of mediums such as short
film. The kind of youtubers I watch vary from sketch comedians, daily vloggers,
filmmakers and the general ‘vloggers’.
While many of the videos I watch are purely for entertainment,
some of the Youtube community use their influence in amazing ways. Recently, a
channel called JacksGap (a channel which was started by this lad called Jack to
document his gap year, who was later joined by his twin brother, Finn) moved
from making videos trying to get Americans to guess what British slang meant,
to stylishly documenting in four installations the Rickshaw Run across India he, his
brother, fellow Youtubers and friends did in Autumn 2013.
Together, they raised a six-figure sum for Teenage Cancer
Trust. Many Youtubers have also made videos talking about their issues with
depression, anxiety and the like, and by doing so have helped many to feel less
alone if they are struggling with these issues. They have in many ways become
celebrities, especially those who have embedded themselves into so-called ‘old
media’ alongside their channels, such as and men behind the channels ‘danisnotonfire’
and ‘AmazingPhil’, who have become DJ’s on Radio One on Sunday evenings (and
even won an award for it!). In other words, the world of Youtube has become
pretty impressive and there are ordinary people who, through their own hard
work, have created jobs for themselves in a way which no other generation has.
To celebrate this, and indulge in my own obsession a little,
I have decided to include a few of my favourite videos in occasional posts
under a few titles. This first post will have a range of videos probably made
over the last year and really are videos that have stood out among the
thousands that I have probably watched.
1) The One that made me cry with laughter
Yep, this is the ‘AmazingPhil’ that I mentioned earlier.
This is one of the videos that I have honestly watched multiple times and I
never fail to crack up at this poor man’s desperate past, the atrocious grammar
(which I have to admit that I used) and the way that people of such a young age
used to use the word ‘hun’ or ‘babe’. I used those words more when I was 10 or
11 than I ever did as a teenager or young adult. There are two more videos of similar comedy gold and I genuinely find Phil a hugely endearing character who I can't help but watch.
2) The Role Model
Louise, known as SprinkleofGlitter on Youtube, is very much
a role model to many. She is a person who in past vlogs has told a beautiful
story of how she came to faith in Christianity through an Alpha course and this
faith shines through in her personality, the way she treats others so visually
online, and videos such as this which I believe are hugely important. I do
believe that this video even got onto the news and I remember avidly sharing it
around for awareness of many who I have known that have hurt themselves. I am
glad that her well-rounded videos and positivity is entering the lives of such
a young audience, as well as these important issues. She is also not afraid to
admit her moments of completely tomfoolery (see one of her most recent videos
about having a breakdown after meeting Kylie Minogue) and it is for her
normality and humility that I continue to watch her.
3) The Short Film
Ah, KickthePJ. I could literally have given you any of his
short films. They are full of vivid colour, crazy imagination and are generally
barmy. His films are generally extremely entertaining, humorous and yet
incredibly well done and presented. Many of them also include a rather swish
voiceover. Even his vlogs and the way which he puts his take on the
ever-growing ‘tag’ trend on Youtube -which has become so incredibly boring
unless done creatively- makes him completely unique on the Youtube scene. I mean,
who does a tour of their toilet (known, quite seriously, as the “Toilet Tag”)
and makes it engaging and even fascinating?
4) The Inspiration
This one makes me angry as well as hugely inspired simply
because this is the work of 16-year old Bertie Gilbert who decided to drop out
of schooling post-GCSE’s to concentrate on honing his love for film. His shorts are interesting and are clearly
influenced by Wes Anderson in many ways, and are pretty refreshing to watch
compared to the formulaic blockbusters that are thrown in the faces of the
gullible public every year. This video is more of an experimental video and
doesn’t, by Bertie Gilbert’s own admission, have a particularly meaning or
story. The fact that these moments were just edited together in some kind of
homage to old movies and this forgotten state of Britain, yet was published on
this hugely progressive media and interpreted by thousands in the comment
section, is considerably clever, bold and brave.
5) The NewTuber
Oh, Aniamags. Having been subscribed to you for a year now,
I have watched you grow to nearly 10,000 subscribers through your wit and
general sass. Moving from videos where she used to joke about the guy she
killed and analysing lyrics of popular songs -exposing many of them to be
completely incomprehensible all the while- to her latter day videos talking
about whatever takes her fancy. While many might see her videos as a little
bratty, she has an on camera satire and presence which is pretty unique from
others that I watch. Her latest videos remind me of when Youtube was a smaller
community and videos did literally used to be talking to a camera without a
script, amazing lighting, a fancy apartment fire in the background and perfect
articulation that puts most television presenters to shame. They are authentic.
And recently, she posted the above video bravely opening up, if only a little,
about eating disorders. Which makes her, like, cool.
Hope you enjoyed this post! Do you have any videos or youtubers to recommend me? Any videos that have struck you, helped you or inspired you recently? Let me know in the comments!
-Antonia
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