(The boys from South Park are told to go make “Internet Money” and turn to youtube for help…)
The prospect of finding financial success seems awfully alluring and distinctly possible after reading about the horizontal economic structure found and easily facilitated through the Internet. Tappscott and Williams explain in their book “Wikinomics” how principals such as openness, peering, sharing and acting globally are the new models for business, and how the old ways of “closed” enterprising are rapidly becoming outdated (20.)
(They go to collect their money from the video, and meet a variety of other online sensations…)
When considering the success of a site such as Youtube.com, their confidence in the Internet seems well placed. It is an enormous financial achievement, despite the fact it offers little more than a free online space for its users to create communities and upload their own creative works. Yet, in allowing it’s users to generate the site’s content and connect to one another in this vast cultural video pool, the company has shown how profitable Wikinomics can be.
(They finally recieve “payment” for their work…)
However, sites such as Youtube also exhibit some of the (current) shortcomings of the web. Tapscott and Williams speak of “economy for all” (33), but as the episode “Canada Goes On Strike” shows us, its not everyone who comes to profit from this medium. The boys from the small town of South Park, Colorado, soon discover being an online phenomenon doesn’t mean you’ll be compensated for the actual revenue your work generates.
(Kyle’s final thoughts on what they’ve come to learn…)
Yet despite this, it is still worth considering what the internet does offer. In the past, to have access to an international audience would require you to have a major contract with a network (like South Park does.) Now, anyone can exhibit their work, be part of a niche market and colloborate with (almost) anyone, anywhere. The internet may have its pitfalls, but rather than abandon it, it would be worth appreciating it for what it does still offer, and always remember: there are other places to upload your videos, apart from youtube. -Allison (SOCS300)
The full episode of South Park’s “Canada Goes On Strike” (Season 12, Episode 4) can be found, free for download from the Comedy Network: http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/south-park/season-12/south-park-1204–canada-on-strike/
