Though I am tempted to launch into my decennial argument that the decade doesn’t end until we reach 2011, everyone is already starting to put out retrospective lists of the current decade.
By way of Michael Silence over at No Silence Here, I have been reviewing the Webby Awards’ list of the ten most influential internet moments of the decade. Mostly, it got me thinking about how the work I do has been affected by the ongoing evolution in digital communications and social media.
I’d like to write a more in-depth blog post article about this topic, but I need your help. Why not share some thoughts with me on how the internet has changed the way you work (or even your occupation entirely) in the past ten years in the comments section. Feeling shy? Feel free to send me a note to blog (at) shanerhyne.com
I’ve never been afraid of getting silly. Sometimes, it can be quite therapeutic. Tonight, for example, I went online to research some information and found myself suddenly awash in news that the latest Vampire-inspired teen romance movie was premiering here in Knoxville.
It’s hard not to notice that Vampires have completely invaded pop culture these past few years. In the wake of the premiere of New Moon, you can find all sorts of talk about why vampires are a hot property again.
Sure, it’s easy to see why teens would want to be vampires. Vampires are generally portrayed as attractive, hyper-sexual beings who stay up all night, avoid daylight, and give the appearance of living like the wealthy elite even 
when they really sleep in someone’s basement. In some ways Vampires are teenagers– or at least they resemble most of the stereotypes about teenagers cranked up to 11.
But, you know what? I remember being a teenager. The days I felt attractive and hyper-sexual were far outnumbered by the days I felt like sulking and contemplating pillaging small farm towns. So, I found myself considering what might be a good counter-balance to the Vampire craze and how could I cash in on it? Vikings, my friend. Vikings. There just isn’t a whole bunch of young adult literature based on Vikings right now (old Thor comics notwithstanding). It’s a market ripe with opportunity.
So, I tossed the idea out on my Twitter feed that Vikings would be a good replacement trend for vampires in 2010. Soon enough, I was able to get a few friends, acquaintances, and a stranger or two to join the conversation and, lo and behold, a new movement was born. Or at least a new hashtag was: #vikingsarethenewvampires.
In reality, what I was most impressed with was the spirit of fun and silliness that everyone adopted almost immediately. It’s good sometimes to let loose
and have a little silly fun.
But, if you one day read a tween-oriented book about a pretty young Saxon girl who falls in love with a sensitive teen Viking boy and how they are kept apart by the hot but evil Roman leader who wants the Saxon girl for himself, then you should know someone totally stole our story idea.
(Kudos, by the way, to Suzy Trotta who suggested the name Volhalla as the ideal name for a Viking story set in East Tennessee.)
Brad Henderson, an old college friend of mine, is a pretty talented and bright fellow– especially if you’re talking about branding and especially if you’re discussing music.
So, I tend to take notice when he publishes posts on his blog, Big Howdy, about how the music industry may slowly be warming up to the idea that fans are going to take photos of their favorite musicians in concert (as I did here with Delta blues singer David “Honeyboy” Edwards). It seems some of the savvier artists, venues and companies have begun to figure out that music fans are better allies than adversaries and are adapting their old “no camera” policies to reflect the realities of today’s smart phones and high-quality point-and-shoot digital cameras.
Jeff Brown (The Belleville Outfit) at Sundown in the City in downtown Knoxville
It’s a good read, so go on over and take a look and share your thoughts with Brad over there.
Speaking for myself, I agree with Brad. I love to share my favorite music in any way I can. So, yes, if the venue and artist allow it, I want to bring my Kodak to the show and take some photos as keepsakes of favorite shows. I want to remember the experience and share it with friends and family. I don’t take photos of every concert, festival, marching band competition, or impromptu street performance I come across, but I do cherish the memories each photo provides.
When people talk about social media earning a seat at the table, they don’t realize how accurate the phrase can be.
Nancy Scola of Personal Democracy Forum’s techPresident blog shares an interesting observation on the increasing influence of social media/digital communications senior staffers in the White House: they can now eat lunch in the West Wing cafeteria with the other traditional senior staff.
One of the features I wanted to include in the creation of this web site/blog was an opportunity to shine the spotlight on some interesting and (possibly) overlooked social networks online. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, and several others are usually hogging all the headlines and news coverage, but I am always one to happily recommend looking for social networking sites that closely match your personal and professional interests. With the advent of sites like Ning where you can create your own free social networking site, there truly is the possibility of a niche community for everyone.
It means it’s also pretty easy to become overwhelmed with all the choices out there. That’s why I’m planning to spotlight a different social media/networking site each month on ye olde home page and with posts here on the blog.
This month I’m starting with a social networking site near and dear to my own professional and personal interests– the Knoxville Social Media Association.
The KSMA is an organization open to anyone working in social media professionally or personally. I was delighted to be asked to serve on the steering committee when the group was forming this year and look forward to opportunities to meet so many of the highly talented folks working in social media in the Knoxville area. It’s truly amazing to see the raw talent that can be assembled just by convening a social networking event for the KSMA.
If you live in the Knoxville area and see a significant role for social media in your future, you should give serious consideration to becoming a member of KSMA. You can find additional information about the organization on the Knoxville Social Media Association web site or the KSMA Twitter feed. Of course, feel free to send me a note (or friend me on the KSMA site) if you have any questions about the organization and its activities.
Ackermann Digital Ackermann Wire No Silence Here 