With so many ways to step into the public eye, many people in this day and age have notions of becoming famous. Some people (usually those who are particularly determined, have connections in the business, or simply have good luck) do this by becoming reality television stars. They often parlay that opportunity into further opportunities, dragging their fifteen minutes of fame out for much longer. For some people, however, breaking into the public eye is not as easy. One way to do it is via the internet, for instance a fashion blog or an anime review show on YouTube.
Before reality television, and before everyone had access to webcams and the ability to broadcast things on the internet, cable access television was often one's first attempt at fame. Local cable networks would provide airtime at a low or nonexistent cost to the public.
In the 90s, Saturday Night Live took a jab at cable access with its Wayne's World sketch. The characters, Wayne (played by Mike Myers) and Garth (played by Dana Carvey) were two students from a local high school who had a program on their access network. The sketch was later expanded into a movie, following a chain of events in which the program was picked up for national exposure.
Although cable access still exists, many people these days turn to the internet, and particularly YouTube, with similar hopes to those of Wayne and Garth. Perhaps they simply want fame, or perhaps they have a message or a talent they want to share with the public. Either way, YouTube provides a platform for addressing as many people as you can get to click on your video.
When a particular video suddenly picks up a lot of traction on the web, and is circulated by many people through email and social networks, it is deemed a "viral video." Some of these videos, like "Friday" by Rebecca Black, have been designed to go viral in the first place. Others happen as the result of people finding humor in an interview or a news broadcast, like Antoine Dodson's comments to a news reporter which were eventually turned into a video called "Bed Intruder."
For people who have information they want to convey but do not feel comfortable in front of a camera, blogging is often an option. Bloggers have achieved sudden fame and even fortune, too, such as in the case of Nate Silver. Silver was a political blogger. When he was younger, he had developed a formula by which he predicted baseball statistics. Silver adapted this tool to be applied to election results, and shared his predictions on his blog. When they turned out to be correct, he became an overnight sensation and a millionaire.
One of the reasons the internet has become more popular than cable access is that it provides the user with a wider audience. While cable access is a local thing, the internet broadcasts things all over the world. It is generally unlikely that cable access would connect an aspiring performer or journalist with the type of audience that could catapult them to fame. However, this happens all the time on the internet.
The World Wide Web has created a space where all kinds of people can share their ideas and display their talents. Whether your dream is to have an anime review show, to write about fashion, or to perform a comedy sketch, you can do it online. Sharing it with the world is as simple as using a webcam and clicking a few links.
Before reality television, and before everyone had access to webcams and the ability to broadcast things on the internet, cable access television was often one's first attempt at fame. Local cable networks would provide airtime at a low or nonexistent cost to the public.
In the 90s, Saturday Night Live took a jab at cable access with its Wayne's World sketch. The characters, Wayne (played by Mike Myers) and Garth (played by Dana Carvey) were two students from a local high school who had a program on their access network. The sketch was later expanded into a movie, following a chain of events in which the program was picked up for national exposure.
Although cable access still exists, many people these days turn to the internet, and particularly YouTube, with similar hopes to those of Wayne and Garth. Perhaps they simply want fame, or perhaps they have a message or a talent they want to share with the public. Either way, YouTube provides a platform for addressing as many people as you can get to click on your video.
When a particular video suddenly picks up a lot of traction on the web, and is circulated by many people through email and social networks, it is deemed a "viral video." Some of these videos, like "Friday" by Rebecca Black, have been designed to go viral in the first place. Others happen as the result of people finding humor in an interview or a news broadcast, like Antoine Dodson's comments to a news reporter which were eventually turned into a video called "Bed Intruder."
For people who have information they want to convey but do not feel comfortable in front of a camera, blogging is often an option. Bloggers have achieved sudden fame and even fortune, too, such as in the case of Nate Silver. Silver was a political blogger. When he was younger, he had developed a formula by which he predicted baseball statistics. Silver adapted this tool to be applied to election results, and shared his predictions on his blog. When they turned out to be correct, he became an overnight sensation and a millionaire.
One of the reasons the internet has become more popular than cable access is that it provides the user with a wider audience. While cable access is a local thing, the internet broadcasts things all over the world. It is generally unlikely that cable access would connect an aspiring performer or journalist with the type of audience that could catapult them to fame. However, this happens all the time on the internet.
The World Wide Web has created a space where all kinds of people can share their ideas and display their talents. Whether your dream is to have an anime review show, to write about fashion, or to perform a comedy sketch, you can do it online. Sharing it with the world is as simple as using a webcam and clicking a few links.
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