Death on Facebook
Today, I became curious about what happens to accounts when Facebook members die. While I was trying to answer this question I happened across this video on YouTube:
Let me begin by suggesting that the choices made in video construction are often motivated by generic conventions and as such an understanding of the genre that the work is a part of is necessary to properly interpret the work.
In that respect, the creator of this work has successfully emulated the documentary style. The use of voice-over narration combined the moving still images that are so closely associated with Ken Burns’ work helps to create the “true story” aura that the piece relies on to be successful.
From here, the construction of the opening lines help establish another component that is present in most documentaries–the narrator quickly frames himself as an objective expert or insider. In this case, the narrator implicitly and explicitly claims to be both. He opens this piece by delivering some objective expert information (e.g. he knows the number of Facebook users who dies each day and what Facebook’s policy is when this occurs). From here, the video progresses and the now objective and capable narrator carries the viewers inside the story. We know he is an insider because he is able to guess his deceased friend’s password. By moving us to other side of Dan’s account and eventually into his house, we are shown the work that Anonymous has done to determine that his friend’s death was not accidental and was in fact the result of a femme fatale.
It is at this point that story takes its unexpected turn. Unlike most objective documentaries, this story takes a shift to the subjective. Here, we begin to sense that this is not just a story about what happens to a Facebook account when someone dies. Now the issue has become personal and only revenge will suffice. In other words, the cloak of the non-narrative style is lifted and narrative beneath is laid bare. In a sense, this is The Blair Witch Project for a YouTube generation.
In closing, I just thought this was interesting piece and in its simplicity it is beautiful–assuming that it’s not true. Have a Happy Halloween folks!
