This is a virtual micro ethnography of the YouTube phenomenon – Davidsfarm. With only a week to explore Davidsfarm and write this ethnography it is a ‘first pass’ look at what constitutes a virtual community. This is a very tentative exploration – hence, the use of the term ethnographic sketchbook. It aims to give a ‘big picture’ of Davidsfarm. I have designed it to give the reader the choice and flexibility to explore this virtual presentation. You are free to explore as selectively, as deeply or superficially as you wish.
There is a chronology in how the options are displayed below so you can follow a linear account if that is your preference. However, I realised while I was exploring Davidsfarm that users found it through a variety of entry points. They might have been searching for ‘how to buy a good used car’ and found one of Davidsfarm ‘How to’ videos. Or one of the car stunt videos could have been a featured video on YouTube. So I want you the reader to have the same kind of choice as to where to dip in. This account is also meant to be interactive as this ethnography is at a very early stage. Feel free to add your own interpretations in the comments.
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#1 by Henry Keil on November 5th, 2009
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Pugh – what a project; nice intuitive interface with loads of media, combined with deep reflections on the issues/dangers of certain types of virtual communities.
In my view this would make half an MSc dissertation already.
You get an A* from me for that – easily.
#2 by John on November 6th, 2009
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I really liked this too Silvana- very well presented, easy to navigate and I really got the feeling that I was ‘dipping in’ to this culture as I was reading/watching your sketchbook.
#3 by Sibylle Ratz on November 6th, 2009
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I also thought this was really interesting. I could go on reading and watching the videos for ages. I think this is the appealing thing about ethnography, it’s an excuse to be quite voyeuristic! As others have already said this is a great interface and really nicely presented.
#4 by sian on November 6th, 2009
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Reading this after Bill’s and Tracy’s pieces, it’s striking to me the narrative force of these ethnographies – in all cases I really want to know ‘what happened next?’. This one’s a compelling read – the sleazy grimness (to me) of Davidsfarm is allowed to emerge alongside some really stimulating thoughts on how the virtual and the real intersect and interact. I thought back to Bill’s ‘elements of community’ and the question of ’specific locality’ – is the locality here the farm, youtube, Dave himself? As you say Silvana, the real, the constructed and the imagined are all so tightly bound up with each other here.
I particularly liked the comment on wikipedia made – in such an understated way – by the link you provide to the reasons why Davidsfarm doesn’t ‘count’ for wikipedia. He ‘Fails notablility, he is not notable outside of Youtube’ – a really telling comment on the judgement one social media ‘collective’ makes on another, and on the power operations within the wikipedia community. One virtual ethnography seems to spawn so many potential others.
Finally, my favourite quote:
“he’s just a regular guy who likes to build stuff, go fast, jump over things and blow shit up!!! Dave is THE MAN!!!”
lol!
#5 by Mas on November 7th, 2009
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Wow! The layout itself made me feel so small when reflecting on my own ethnography. Shamed on me! Well done!
#6 by eneasm on November 8th, 2009
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This was so addictive! I found the dark undercurrent surrounding Dave very eerie. This is a fanastic piece of research.
#7 by caroliner on November 9th, 2009
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Enjoyed reading this, very well presented!!
#8 by andym on November 9th, 2009
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If the X Factor was about presentation, you’d win hands down. I feel like Jonathan and Edward.
I’d never heard of Davidsfarm before so this was all new to me. I’m intrigued why so many people follow such personal stories.
#9 by Nicola Osborne on November 12th, 2009
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Wow. Like Eneas I found this totally addictive to read through. The personal videos and responses are really interesting as a comparison with the videos Damien includes in his ethnography: in both truth is unreliable and all version subject to questioning in some way or another.
And perhaps there is also something about the exclusion of outsiders that is common to both – Dave would be an odd man regardless of his past so are we as surprised when dark comments start to appear? The culture of laughing at others on YouTube is integral to many of the videos that go viral and therefore perhaps viewers come to videos with lower levels of empathy or identification born both of unfamiliarity with the channel itself BUT ALSO because of the native browsing behaviours of the site?
I also have to commend you on drawing me to YouTube comments. Many times I’ve been told they are the most interesting thing on the site but my limited patience with textspeak tends to be a blocker – it was a really nice touch to grab a small representative sample of these.
#10 by emma on March 30th, 2010
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Great work (thanks for your speech in Berlin!)
#11 by silvanad on March 2nd, 2011
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In December 2010, YouTube terminated the Davdsfarm channel due to a campaign by what Dave and his fans call 'the haters". The particular video that YouTube cited was – naked snowmobiler Dave – which had over 200,000 hits and had been up for three years.