October 2, 2013

I quit, because my boss only cared about quantity, not quality, and now this video has 8,532,328 views in 4 days.

Videographer dances her parting words to her boss, Via Metafilter, where people don't all appreciate the humor of her going after virality when she resented the boss's pursuit of virality. And:
I don't get it. I love a viral video as much as the next person, but neither the original nor the response was amusing or cute or interesting. She didn't do anything fantastically rebellious, or dish dirt, or anything. She just danced around the office a little -- we've all done that.
There's also the problem of appropriating someone else's music. And someone complains about her title for the video — "An Interpretive Dance For My Boss Set To Kanye West's Gone" — when "that is not interpretive dance/that is just bopping around."

Here's the above-referenced response from the company.

(Actually, the whole thing seems like a "subversive"-type ad for the company. Is it really that cute? And what's Kanye West going to do about it?)

ADDED: I've removed the embedded video, partly out of respect for Kanye West, but also because I've become convinced of what I was previously merely skeptical was the case: This is viral advertising.

20 comments:

Michael K said...

"Respect for Kanye West "???

MadisonMan said...

I figure it's just part of her next job application. Lookee here! I made a video with a gazillion hits!

I'm not sure why it's viral. It's not good. Mostly professional-looking, yes. But other than that? Meh.

Still, I confess I looked at it. I'm a sheeple.

Ann Althouse said...

""Respect for Kanye West "???"/"I'm not sure why it's viral."

West's music is a huge part of the entertainment value of the 2 videos. He owns the rights to his music, and my respect is for his rights (and for some level of appreciation for the catchiness of the music, even though it's not my type of music. I can tell it's successful because people like it.)

Paddy O said...

Probably the Kanye West issue will be important. If it stays up and there's no comments about it from West's lawyers or label, there's a fair chance it was licensed for use.

That the company version used the same song is suggestive. A single person might illegally use a song, a company almost certainly wouldn't. Youtube is very quick about copyright issues, and has filters that determines songs that are embedded in videos (I've had lecture videos tagged for copyright violations when I use a song or clip).

It also ends up coming off as a bit of a strength masquerading as a weakness. "What's your biggest weakness?" "I work too hard and am too dedicated."

gadfly said...

Ah yes, Generation Y - sometimes called Generation ME or a Millennial - who obviously voted for and admires Barack Obama - and who believes that everyone really cares or at least is required to observe the finite details of her life. She is important, doncha know? She doesn't ever think to question whether anyone really cares.

Bayoneteer said...

Reminds me of product placement stuff in tv and movies; it's so subtle, yet so obvious. More importantly it seems to work too.

Sigivald said...

that is not interpretive dance/that is just bopping around

Decent human beings can't tell you what interpretive dance is.

Other than a waste of time.

Bayoneteer said...

As with product placement advertising, this is so subtle and yet so obvious.

eddie willers said...

I clicked through to the video since, although I have heard of Kenye West, I'd never actually heard a thing he had ever done.

So I went to the youtube and I was shocked that he sounded just like Otis Redding! I was ready to give him his props when it all turned to shit at 11 seconds in.

Tom Flynn said...

Respect for Kanye West...How is that even possible?

William said...

I suspect I'm being manipulated and that I don't understand the true agenda. On the other hand, I think it's unhealthy to fashion a conspiracy theory around such fluff. Maybe they're just having fun, or, if not, then their conspiracy was just a way of having fun.

David said...

Woman quits job, gets praised.

Man quits job, becomes outcast deadbeat.

Big Mike said...

It got 8.5M views because the YouTube thumbnail seemed to show the young lady getting ready to remove her top.

donald said...

I can think of nothing to respect of Kanye West, Ceptin he's rich.

donald said...

I can think of nothing to respect of Kanye West, Ceptin he's rich.

Jupiter said...

So that's what Kanye West does? Screw up good music with his querulous whining about his first-world problems? What a contemptible idiot.

cubanbob said...

She's a genius. Just what every employer wants! Good luck to her. She is going to need it.

Poppop said...

I want to slap that punk brat. Does it show I have Gen Y adult daughters? Not interested either in looking at her actions in the lady's room.

Pat said...

I think the video has 8 million views because the girl is adorably cute and a good dancer. I've never heard the Kanye song but I like it and I'm going next to iTunes to download it. So he made at least whatever he gets from $1.29. If there was a way to link iTunes, you'd get a cut too, Ann! And finally, I think it is genuine because her video is so much better than the lame company response.

Locomotive Breath said...

"Respect for Kanye West"? If you have respect for Kanye West then I have no respect for you. If you meant "Respect for Kanye West's copyright interest in his work" then OK. Someone in your position should be far more careful with words right from the start.