Friday, July 14, 2006

Look at us. Suddenly we're all freelance photographers?


I was interviewed for a Macleans article on the new narcissism. It took a while to get to me, and I haven't actually seen the article on paper at the time of this post. Josh Leo read the article before I even knew it was online...he's the only reason I know it exists!

I would like to clear up that:

  • I am a shift supervisor in a popular restaurant chain and NOT a full time freelance photographer, as this article would suggest.
  • the only reason I generate ad sales on my website is to help alleviate the costs incurred google & blip.tv, and not to become rich or market my life in a monitarily profitable way. I am in fact surprised that I have made $8.49 at all. And if I ever get cut a big fat cheque, I'll probably give it to charity or take my friends out for dinner. So if you know me in 10-17 years from now, expect a dinner date.
  • when I called myself marketable, it wasn't in regards to money. I said, "It's a very positive thing to like yourself and think you're marketable enough to put your face out there...as if to say 'hi, this is me, and I think you'll like getting to know me. Leave a comment, and I'd like to get to know you as well..." I invest in this website because meeting new people enriches my life! It's you! The viewer, the commenter, my untradeable commodity!
This leads me to wonder why I was in fact interviewed for an article that seems to end on a low note, warning of "solipsism -- the inability to recognize the existence of another viewpoint." I just so happen to be in the midst of learning a new language and have every intention of returning to school for a degree in International Studies. I listen to War News Radio and the CBC podcasts on CD in the car, and read the newspaper (the paper kind) every single day.

Was I really the wrong guy? Perhaps. I personally don't feel like I bring much credibility to the issue. But I'm ok with being a weak argument, really. I'm not OK, however, with being so poorly described in two paragraphs.

Also, in regards to blip.tv, I would never call it a "new vanity product...to make the narcissist feel important." Blip is so much more than a self centred entertainment outlet. I can watch someone else's point of view on the other side of the world, or raise up a banner for any cause worth shouting about. New products like blip.tv are begining to give the world a very loud voice, opening up forms of mass communication for the common middle class that has never been available before. Did we miss the real story here folks? For crying out loud, never before in history has such a mass communication medium been available to the masses!

Are we really on the brink of a
solopsistic society brought on by cherished memories and dull moments available online? I don't think I am, I'm too involved in getting to know other people ....but I understand your viewpoint if you think otherwise ;p

PEACE!

P.S. I always thought it would be cool to make a site around my remarkably EXTRAordinary exsistance, let the records show.

13 comments:

ben said...

hehe . . . am I the only one to see the irony in that? LMAO

Matthew J said...

I started reading the article, expecting it to be a short blurb about a new trend so they could look "with it", but then I see that it is an extremely interesting article. Not to mention it's about Michael, so that makes it even better. I'm definitely linking this article from my site. Cheers!

Josh said...

Ha... That's great. And I agree with Matthew, it ended up being a pretty interesting article to read as well...

Too bad they didn't link to your vlog though, that would have been good exposure for you...

Michael said...

Dude - $8.49 in ad sales! LET'S HIT THE DQ!!!

I can't believe they didn't include a link - that's disgusting...

(Currently jacked in to a neighbours wireless in Guelph - hoorah for bandwidth piracy!)

Michael said...

Oh and as for the freelance photographer bit - I think the inept writer had you mixed up with the girl mentioned later in the article.

"Barney generation" my dic..tionary.

Michael Tyas said...

Now now michael, don't call journalists inept until you're a journalist yourself. you can call all the web designers in the world inept all you want. And the same goes for guitarists.

Where is April O'Neal when I need her?

Michael Tyas said...

My french studies video is hilarious. I feel like I've lost some funny in the past 6 months.

Matthew J said...

I like the video update. I agree; I think Blip.tv and video blogging in general don't promote individualism, but rather a group mentality, as if we are adding to something. The vlogosphere, if you will. We all watch everyone else. (By the way, what's up with that catch phrase we talked about? Heh.) Anyway, talk to you later. Cheers.

Anthony said...

I think the article they wrote stinks.

Jan said...

Tapped this for http://vlogpresskit.blogspot.com through the delicious tags "vlogpresskit" and "vloggersinthenews".

All coverage is good coverage, but this MSM mag doesn't seem to get it, does it?

Sigh.

I'm convinced it's an "either-you-get-it-or-you-don't" scenario.

Sarah Smile said...

You were a refreshing breeze in a rather stale article.

Also, I miss you.

Darryl said...

yeah mike...

I think it is just mainstream media slamming new media.

I think you should write a letter to the editor with a definition to the word that describes journalists that think their puny articles can define reality... whatever that word is.

I don't think they get it.

Darryl said...

oh yeah,

Hey Renee can i borrow $20?