This week in Renee Hobbs’ “EDC534: Seminar in Digital Authorship,” I experienced the joys of YouTube (so many videos!), the pains of decision-making (choose ONE video?), and the complexities of analysis (guided by 5 helpful questions).  I chose Joe Penna’s “Pregnancy Timelapse Video” and used Key Questions of Media Literacy (www.mediaeducationlab.com) as the framework for analysis.

Penna, A.K.A. “MysteryGuitarMan,” has his own YouTube channel with 252 videos to date and nearly 3 million subsribers.  He is also featured in Patricia Lange’s book, “Kids on YouTube” in chapter two.

Prior to reading Lange’s book, I had never heard of Penna (or his screen name).  My YouTube time usually involves finding music videos.  I see the occasional popular video when recommended by a friend but my overall use does not lend itself to video discovery… until now!  I am now a MysteryGuitarFan. Of course, during the project I tried to remain focused on the questions and present a fair, balanced analysis.  But come on, MGM’s videos are really cool!  I clicked on random selections from all of his playlists (short films, looping, animation, video tricks, stop motion).  The combination of technical expertise, humor, and collaboration won me over and stole hours of slumber.

I found myself wondering, “How in the world did he think of all these creative ideas and then execute them with such panache?”  Although my response to the last question regarding omissions was financially focused, I would like to see behind the scenes of this and his other work.  Penna references his “other YouTube channel”  so I think I must go now. I have more videos to watch!

Works Cited

Lange, Patricia G. Kids on Youtube: Technical Identities and Digital Literacies. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast, 2014. Print.

Media Education Lab. Key Questions of Media Literacy. N.p.: Media Education Lab, n.d. Print.

MysteryGuitarMan. “Pregnancy Timelapse – Stop Motion Animation.” YouTube. N.p., 25 Sept. 2014. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.