Michael Wesch

1. Sum up Michael Wesch's main point about the web (or Youtube in particular) in one paragraph.
Michael Wesch belives that web 2.0 is about building a community within social networks and sites through videos uploaded on youtube via webcams. People can reply to other videos or make "remix's" on videos on youtube creating a culture and identity for themselves which can be commented and viewed by millions.

2. Write down your understanding of the following terms used by Wesch: "networked individualism", "the invisible audience phenomenon", "context collapse", and "connection without constraint".
Network Individualism is when an individual is lonely, they long for attention and a community. Due to the rise of communal sites sucha as youtube on web 2.0, communities are easier to build with a webcam and talk to strangers across the world.

Context collapse is not knowing when one is filmed as anybody in contemporary society can get out a smartphone and record and upload due to the advance in technology.

Invisible Audience is not knowing when or who will see a video you upload online. Like youtube videos uploaded, they will never know who will see it.

Connection without constraint  ????

3. On the whole, do you agree or disagree with Wesch's ideas? Why?
Yes i agree with Weschs ideas as now through the internet, is another form of communication and houses communities with common interest. This social cohesion is created and reinforced by social network sites such as Twitter and facebook where links are shared and fan pages are created. Also on Youtube videos are made and people subscribe and reply to individuals through videos, music or animations.

4. How might Wesch's ideas be applied to the music industry (or, at least, the production of music)?
As there are millions of viewers on youtube daily, artists with a low budget can reach a broad target audience by uploading it to Youtube and as technology has increased budget microphones have decent quality anyway. This will help to promote themselves like artists such as Justin Bieber who was signed through a viewer randomly surfing the web and noticing his talent. The key benefit is that websites like youtube, facebook and twitter are free therefore have many people on those sites.