Spredable media - Chapter 2 ( I originally put this blog in my TV film page by accident)

Spreadable media a is a book written by Henry Jenkins, Sam Ford, and Joshua Green explaining how values and networks are made in today's networking culture. Chapter one gives an insight into the “web 2.0” and the platforms it is based upon, such as Facebook, twitter and YouTube. These platforms provide spreadable media to the entire world. Chapter 1 goes on to explain how fan bases have caused companies to rethink the way media is being spread through piracy and the values to getting information out to the general public.

 “Antiques Roadshow feeds peoples growing fascination with the process of appraisal, transforming the negotiation between different systems of value into the basis of public spectacle” (p88). The show where people bring on belongings with the idea of seeing how much they are worth, usually adding a story behind how they came to have them. Usually when the value is given to them for the object, only then will they say what they might do with it now.

( This is just a funny clip from a British comedian making fun of the Antiques Roadshow for a beer commercial)

Today everything and anything can be bought on the internet, via such sites as “eBay” and “Amazon”. “These are level playing fields with Friction-less exchanges between sellers and buyers”(p89).  The convenience of sitting in your bedroom buying clothes, food and pretty much anything is making people realize the benefits to such a simple task. This is one major reason why retail shops are being hit hard on the streets, as people would rather buy online then go out in the cold and rain for example and sit in traffic just to walk around a mall and not really see what they want. Everyday 4.8 million items are places on eBay with 40,000 categories to choose from.

Today more than ever, businesses are seeing the benefits of the internet as more companies doing business online. Businesses have to take notice more of customer’s opinions as the internet can make or break many companies’ reputations. This causes consumers to in a way become the producers. Today people will often look at reviews of a particular product before they buy it. There are many sites online that enable to general public to post their opinions about anything and this is becoming more beneficial to the customers more than ever before.

YouTube today have become one of the biggest sources of finding out information. YouTube is the one site that anyone in the world can become overnight famous off a simple uploaded video of them doing something (entrepreneurial vloggers). People are able to discuss any topics imaginable and gain thousands of followers as a result. In the introduction of this book, it explains how any video can become a massive hit simple by being put on YouTube. “goods can be shared  under a variety of  context simultaneously, and access to the item can be sold or offered as a gift without the content ever leaving ones possession”(p91) This was seen by Susan Boyle, who became a star in a matter of days after her performance on” Britain’s Got Talent”. It is now at almost 150 million views, which is a lot more the producers of B.G.T ever though and I am sure they would have done something about it had they known it would be a world hit.

"Reappraising the Residual" is the name of the chapter and the authors use residual in two senses, cultural and economic. Cultural values are developed when people come together for new discoveries of past materials such as retro thing such as games etc. Economic value is the extra monetary value of forgotten commodities such as Scooby-Doo or World Wrestling Entertainment. It has become possible for these to develop in the environment we live in today, where individuals and communities can easily spread media along with their appraisal. The book informs that Companies who are looking to spread their products should look into audiences cultural and social motivations for spreading media.

Blogging has over the past few years become an everyday thing in which more people are becoming aware of. The ability for anyone to post their opinions comments reviews and send it off into the world for the endless amount of people to read. This is seen through the internet’s ability to allow anyone to claim their fame and fortune. Sometime people forget how easily media can spread and how hard it is to be removed. So be careful what you post, lol.

 This chapter gives an insight into how the internet is being used to sell products more freely taking over the retail shops and allowing people to stay at home. One can simple review a product without buying and see reviews from other people. Business have to be aware of the benefits to doing business over the internet but also not forget that like a double edge sward, it can come back around and bite you with customers writing bad tarnishing reviews about the company. I am still trying to become a superstar on YouTube with my videos, but I am not getting too carried away, but I like the fact that so much can be done from a site such as YouTube.