Viral Videos

Media Strand: Viral Videos

In this TED Talk,  Kevin Allocca explains why  some videos go viral. The attached document included two articles from TIME magazine that explain the financial side of viral videos (you're not going to get rich) and the attempt by corporations to create viral videos.

Curriculum Connections:

 Audience Responses

1.4 explain why the same media text might prompt different responses from different audiences (e.g., explain why seniors and teens might respond differently to a political speech; suggest reasons why not all their peers like the

same type of music)

 Production Perspectives

1.6 explain how a variety of production, marketing, and distribution factors influence the media industry (e.g., suggest reasons why a film company is using the marketing strategies revealed on its website to market a specific new release; suggest reasons why particular products are

advertised in a specific magazine)

Google Doc Articles from TIME on Viral Videos

Classroom Connections:

Creative Task

How might the characters from one of the texts we've studied in class end up in a viral video? Demonstrate in your answer your understanding of the characters you select and your understanding of the factors contributing to a video going viral on YouTube.

Application Task

Research three viral videos. How well do they demonstrate the criteria Kevin Allocca outlined for the factors that cause videos to go viral? Create a presentation that applies Kevin Allocca's analysis to your chosen videos.

Close Reading Analysis Task 

Which of the two article is a better example of a well organized essay? Evaluate the organizational structures of the two articles and explain why one is superior to the other. Demonstrate your understanding of each author's purpose and intended audience.