Internet pop culture is very different from regular pop culture... It tends to be just a little off, a little more quirky and well, sometimes just plain weird. I can't always figure out why certain things become popular, and the video below is definitely an example of this. The first time I saw it, I wasn't sure what to think other than... "Okaaaaayyyyy." Have a look for yourself. See if you last more than about 30 seconds; that's about as far as I got the first time I tried to watch it.
I do have to admit though, that after a while, this video became slightly amusing... progressing to what one might even call highly entertaining. And I think it's because even though I wasn't too sure about what I was seeing, I kept the chain going, pasting the link into my Gtalk windows, and waiting to see what sort of responses I'd get. The more I read the funny reactions that my friends had, the more I grew to accept the strange video as humor. And this is exactly how and why internet pop culture works.
In days before the internet, pop culture was built on things like commercials and printed advertisements; simply clever marketing. Things became popular because well, we were told that they were so and/or they had some sort of hook that made the idea stick. And of course, this still exists (probably more than any of us really wants it to or even realizes). But what sets the internet apart from regular pop culture is the element of consumer interaction. The topic is presented by one of your peers, not some clever advertising scheme (Well, most of the time... Occasionally it happens with the help of a clever viral marketing scheme, much like the internet-centric advertising that helped build an enormous fanbase for last summer's "Snakes on a Plane.").
Not only is the idea presented by one of your own, but you actually have the opportunity to become involved with it, instead of being a silent observer. It is this involvement that makes it a better indicator of what people want or like (well at least, it's indicative of what internet-frequenters want or like). As a result, almost anyone or anything can become the next big thing on the internet. If something has a reputation there, there's usually a reason: The people have spoken.**
And right now, apparently, some of them are saying "Chocolate Rain." What does this mean? I'm not sure any of the people that decided to forward this on really understood, and I know I sure don't. But regardless, this video spread across the internet... along with my help, and the help of others like me; people who maybe aren't really too sure about what this video is about, but all agree that it is indeed awesome, and even worthy of forwarding. At the very least, just to know whether or not your friends find it as strange as you do.
Like other pieces of internet pop culture, the bizarre humor of this video inspired the creative spirit of others enough to respond in kind. Most of the time when this happens, these responses can't really be called genius, or... even very good at all, really. But every so often I see a response that rocks. I giggled while watching this video, posted up in response to the first.
Oh, the possibilities that come into play when anyone can get involved. On the internet, there really is true equality. All it takes is one iditotic video, and I have every right to make another in response, then dump it onto the net for consumption. If it's good enough, you can be sure that it will be passed along the series of tubes that we know and love as the internet. Better get started... Internet fame is only a forward away.
*Note that I am including myself in this statement.
**By "people," I mean the internet populous, which may be extremely skewed by age in favor of younger participants... This may explain the bizarre humor.
