The internet is a wonderful new playground for us to humiliate ourselves. I thought I did a pretty good job without the internet, but according to the NY Times in February 2005, "humiliation -- like everything else -- has now gone public." So, just like Paris Hilton's hacked Sidekick or Laura Bush- the "desperate housewife", heed the tale of...Gary Brolsma, guy from New Jersey, who posted a webcam clip of himself dancing to the Romanian pop song: Dragostea Din Tei by O-zone (translated as "Love From the Linden Trees." If you haven't seen his heartfelt rendition of the song, click on Brolsma. I've heard many say he was better than Cats, others say he was not. No matter where you stand, you can assuredly laugh at this. Mr. Brolsma's story does not end with happily ever after, producing "She-Bang" videos like William Hung. In virtual reality, Brolsma did not gain notoriety and instead was rejected by Lady Luck. After stints on "Good Morning America," CNN and VH1 broadcasts, and huge site hits for his video, Brolsma knew how it felt to be the Star Wars Kid. Much like Ghyslain Raza, the teenage Quebecois, who taped himself in a mock light-saber duel, Brolsma found out that the fame did nothing for him, he was quoted on the NY Times saying, "I want this to end." Perhaps, not all who have fun are made out to be the Jim Carrey or Adam Sandler of the world. Sometimes our internet antics may just get us into trouble, like Jessica Cutler, the infamous Washingtonienne. For her and the guys at Jib Jab (This Land), their careers were made on the web. For others like Brolsma, he now shuttles embarassed between his home and his job at Staples. Others may argue that Brolsma's fame may only be due to the coinciding factors of a rising song in Europe (quite catchy in fact), and the public's need for another American Idol. No matter what the reason, the "numa numa" dance, Star Wars Kid, and others will live in the minds of our generation as the first of many humiliating, yet popular, unwitting celebrities of webdom. With the digital marketplace and the web at our fingertips, many of my peers do not even need a TV (because we watch the rise of 15 second news, as advertised by MSNBC.com), our society can have whatever it desires. The FCC may want to curb TV content or remove Howard Stern, but the consumer has already spoken. It's interesting that those who want an unregulated market and those who want to censor content are allies. Indeed the rise of Paris Hilton shows that the people will continue to watch what they want to watch. Ultimately, some have speculated that the FCC may actually chill television media, making cable or the internet the only alternative. If fame can begin and end on the internet, the consumer is at his/her strongest. As the Economist wrote in its March 31st edition, the consumer has been "crowned at last." Just ask Brolsma. Source: Alan Feuer and Jason George, "Internet Fame is Cruel Mistress for a Dancer of the Numa Numa," NY Times, 26 Feb. 2005, A1. Other News I'm now 20. Boy, I need to accomplish more. Since my birthday was recent, I hope the above post made you laugh and think, I also hope that these websites bring you some food for thought:
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Sojourners, these wonderful people of faith understand what faith really is.
- Atrios and his highlights on what marriage means to gays and lesbians
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Everybody Wins DC- the place I've been volunteering my Power Lunch this semester.
The hero amongst heroes, Rafe Esquith (listen to the NPR story). He makes me even more excited for the day that I can finally teach until I die.
