YouTube Stars: Why So Popular?

I was browsing through new videos on YouTube and I realized that although I was aware that YouTube ranks its users by number of subscribers in various different categories, I never really thought to peruse the videos of these “top dogs”. For some of these users, the concept is simply the host giving his or her take on current events and various other topics he or she deems of interest to the audience. I wanted to examine the rhetoric of one YouTube sensation and see why he is so successful, entertaining, and persuasive to viewers.

With 270,953 all-time subscribers on YouTube, user “The WillofDC” holds the top spot for most subscribers under the news & politics category with his show “YouTube Winners and Losers”. According to his info page, he shares YouTube news each Monday, shares videos, channels, and tweets, and comments he enjoys each Wednesday, and finally he discusses the winners and losers of YouTube based on all-time subscriptions every Friday.

 So, what is it that makes him so successful? I watched his most recent video (A Monday episode), “YouTube News: Homepage Horror?!?!” He starts off his video by appealing to his twitter followers’ topic requests for the video and jumps right into his thoughts on the new YouTube homepage and, by doing so, he makes viewers understand that he listens to their concerns. He clearly disagrees with the homepage changes, yet he goes about expressing his opinions by not taking a stance against YouTube by praising it, taking a “learn to love it” approach on the changes, and blaming users who wouldn’t stop the change from happening while putting down the new changes enacted by YouTube. He makes a clear call to action to organize YouTube, but it is strange how he outwardly expresses his political stance as liberal (perhaps because it is not a political channel, but it seems unnecessary).

All in all, I believe that what makes TheWillofDC so successful his that he clearly puts a lot of effort into his videos; he does his homework and he appeals to the fans and interacts with the audience in a relaxed manner (On top of that, he consistently responds to viewer comments). I am not a rabid enough YouTuber to need to follow news around YouTube close enough to subscribe, but he demonstrates a passion and understanding of YouTube that would easily appeal to a dedicated YouTube follower.

50 Years Later: John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address

Brief Introduction: In this blog, I will be exploring each week the use of rhetoric in life, television, and various other means of communication I come across as a part of my English and speech course, LA101H. Hopefully my understanding of the intricacies in speech will develop as I continue to grow and learn throughout this course and it will be reflected in my posts.

It has been half a century since President John F. Kennedy began his legendary presidency in historic fashion by delivering his stirring inaugural address to the people of America and of the world. Throughout this speech, President Kennedy makes it clear that the scope of his audience lies beyond his own countrymen; he calls out to the global community that a new era will be ushered in and the people of earth (both friend and foe) now possess the power to write the finale of the race of man on earth. Kennedy opens his speech by impressing upon his audience the foundations of the United States by using phrases such as “revolutionary beliefs” and the “rights of man” and repeating the word “forbears” as a means to instill unity as a nation before addressing the world. He continues his call to unity by pledging to stand by the friendly nations of the world in support of their freedom, well-being, and advancement in this new era. He reaffirms each call to action with noble justifications by appealing to God and to the values of freedom and liberty. Meanwhile he continues to evoke emotional bonds by referring to nations “sister republics” and to the UN as “our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace”. Kennedy then addresses potential enemies and recognizes their role as well in preserving the earth during this era of constant nuclear threat; he delivers a request (instead of a pledge) to urge for peace for the sake of mankind. President Kennedy then goes on to repeat the phrase “Let both sides” in reference to these adversaries, but each time speaks of ways in which these sides can come together to quell the threat of mass destruction, for peace is the only way to truly ensure the safety of the world in a nuclear age. Finally, he closes by calling his audience to action by making the people aware that their time to make history is present and in asking them rhetorical questions like “Will you join in that historic effort?” and reminding the people to “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”. By doing so he puts the power in the hands of the people while at the same time instilling hope that he will lead with them as their president.