Anonymity Project: The PostSecret Effect by kzhines
Anonymity Project… is a research documentary that explores the ways in which people are interacting anonymously over the Internet in order to make connections within an increasingly disconnected world.
The author argues that people want to be “known”, and are learning to navigate through the opposition that is the public space of the internet (where we present ourselves and at the same time learn how to self-reflect and become more self-aware) versus the market economy (that is driving us toward authenticity and a desire to connect with strangers.)
Like a well-written essay, the author has logically and succinctly expressed her arguments and evidence – albeit visually. She has used simple editing techniques that have strengthened the narrative with appropriate visual cues.
The author doesn’t bombard the viewer with examples to back up her claims. She uses three perfectly-pitched examples to move her argument along. The video itself is brief and well paced.
The music selected for the video compliments the narrative and provides an emotional depth that allows the viewer to connect with the content in a deeper way.
I like the way the author has chosen to keep themselves anonymous throughout most of the video by only showing part of their face. This framing choice reinforces the argument the author is making about the anonymity of the medium. I also think it’s a pretty neat use of editing to “reassemble” the piece of paper at the end of the video (which also provides a visual representation of the ‘conclusion’ of essay).
Overall, the argument being made by the author resonates with me. As someone who has an academic interest in online communities, it also provided me with something new to consider. The video was easy to understand and entertaining to watch. Recommended viewing for Media students!
Learn more about the online communities referenced in the video: