[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.31,0:00:15.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Cell phone ringing)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.67,0:00:27.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.35,0:00:36.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hey. Sorry about that, folks.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.47,0:00:40.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My friend sent me\Nthe most adorable cat video,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.10,0:00:42.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I had to get it posted to Facebook.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.69,0:00:45.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, you guys know how it is, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.16,0:00:47.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's like you're in the middle\Nof doing something important,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.99,0:00:51.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like work or spending time\Nwith your children
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.33,0:00:53.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or giving a TEDTalk.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.92,0:00:57.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of a sudden, there's that ding\Nthat says, "You have a new message."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.85,0:01:01.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Someone's posted something\Nto Facebook or Instagram or Pinterest
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.26,0:01:02.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or tagged you on Twitter,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.47,0:01:04.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you have to drop\Nwhatever it is you're doing
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.78,0:01:06.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and go check it out, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.27,0:01:09.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, it's a common problem these days.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.06,0:01:12.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the internet has gotten\Na pretty bad rap for it, hasn't it?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.93,0:01:16.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, it's considered\Nthe ultimate time waster.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.48,0:01:18.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a collection of banality,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.92,0:01:23.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a scourge on our society\Nthat makes everyone less interesting,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.30,0:01:25.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,less intelligent, less creative,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.19,0:01:27.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,less social, less active.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.37,0:01:29.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You've heard these complaints, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.30,0:01:31.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That children don't know\Nhow to make eye contact,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.78,0:01:34.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and teenagers can't hold a conversation,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.39,0:01:37.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and none of us can spell anymore.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.94,0:01:41.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is what the internet\Nhas done to us, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.13,0:01:43.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, check this out.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.39,0:01:45.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe this is a familiar idea\Nto some of you guys:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.88,0:01:49.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the theory that if you took\Nan infinite number of monkeys
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.34,0:01:51.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and gave them an infinite\Nnumber of typewriters,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.59,0:01:55.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they would eventually come up\Nwith the collected works of Shakespeare.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.02,0:01:56.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is this a familiar idea?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.26,0:02:00.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That even monkeys would\Ncome up with something good
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.34,0:02:03.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if given enough time\Nbanging away at a keyboard?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.61,0:02:08.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, my fellow monkeys,\Nnow we have this belief:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.58,0:02:11.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the internet has finally\Nproven that one false.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.84,0:02:13.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.32,0:02:15.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yeah.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.47,0:02:18.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But here's the thing:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.44,0:02:20.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't necessarily believe that.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.82,0:02:22.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, I'm a folklorist,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.90,0:02:23.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and folklorists,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.91,0:02:29.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,unlike literature scholars\Nor art historians or music scholars,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.20,0:02:35.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we don't look to the productions\Nof the rare geniuses of humankind
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.21,0:02:39.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the only cultural products\Nworth paying attention to.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.45,0:02:41.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We look to other kinds\Nof cultural productions,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.90,0:02:46.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,productions that I think\Nmake the state of our digital lives
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.23,0:02:49.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seem a little less dire.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.14,0:02:51.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, the problem here
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.73,0:02:55.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,isn't with the connection\Nof all of us to monkeys.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.75,0:02:58.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The problem is with the assumption
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.17,0:03:02.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the collected works of Shakespeare\Nis the only valid cultural output
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.69,0:03:05.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that a bunch of monkeys\Nmight come up with.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.15,0:03:09.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the influence of institutions\Non our cultural thinking,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.76,0:03:12.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the idea that the stuff\Nworth paying attention to
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.76,0:03:15.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the stuff produced by the rare talents,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.86,0:03:17.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the unique minds,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.48,0:03:20.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the great geniuses among us.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.40,0:03:25.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What folklore studies is all about\Nis what all the rest of us can do,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.25,0:03:28.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the stuff that everybody\Nis capable of producing.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.63,0:03:34.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, you know, sure, we can't all paint\Nlike Van Gogh or Monet,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.03,0:03:36.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we can all manage\Na pretty decent stick figure
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.19,0:03:41.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or come up with some\Ngood bathroom graffiti, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.79,0:03:45.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we may not be able to sing\Nlike Barbara Streisand
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.14,0:03:48.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or engineer a structurally sound bridge
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.69,0:03:49.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or something like that,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.82,0:03:54.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but you know, we can manage\Na jump-rope rhyme
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.10,0:03:57.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or make a mean paper airplane, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.22,0:04:00.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the folk culture side of things,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.41,0:04:03.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the types of artistic,\Nexpressive, cultural production
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.84,0:04:07.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that everyone is capable of engaging in.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.04,0:04:11.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, this isn't what most people\Nthink of when they think of folklore.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.14,0:04:17.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most people think of things\Nlike quilting or old wives' tales
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.17,0:04:22.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or apocryphal stories, stories\Nof Johnny Appleseed or Paul Bunyan,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.35,0:04:23.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,things like that, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.98,0:04:27.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, when you think of folklore,\Nyou probably think of these guys,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.79,0:04:29.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.69,0:04:33.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who gave us one of the most famous\Nand beloved collections of folklore
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.06,0:04:35.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we have today: "Grimms' Fairy Tales."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.75,0:04:37.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And all of these things -
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.76,0:04:40.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,quilting and Johnny Appleseed\Nand Grimms' Fairy Tales -
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.35,0:04:41.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are absolutely folklore,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.59,0:04:47.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they're not folklore because\Nthey're old or provincial or false.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.93,0:04:53.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're folklore because\Nthey're the culture of everyday people.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.05,0:04:56.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, the Grimms were unique
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.48,0:04:59.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they recognized\Nthe value of stories
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.47,0:05:03.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that other scholars\Ndidn't even find worth considering,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.54,0:05:05.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much less documenting.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.19,0:05:11.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Grimms knew that in order\Nto truly understand a group of people,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.86,0:05:14.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you need to look\Nat the cultural productions
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.31,0:05:18.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that everyone is engaging in,\Nnot just a select few.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.04,0:05:22.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But let's take it to the next level.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.61,0:05:28.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine, for a moment, all the folklore\Nthat the Grimm brothers didn't collect:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.85,0:05:30.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all the dumb jokes
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.60,0:05:35.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that everyone in Germany\Nin the early 1800s absolutely knew;
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.18,0:05:38.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all the legends and rumors\Nshared over beer and bratwurst;
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.72,0:05:42.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all the incomprehensible\Nslang terms and swear words
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.30,0:05:46.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that every German teenager knew\Nand could use to perfection.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.87,0:05:52.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How much better would we understand\NGerman culture at that time
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.73,0:05:55.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we had all that documented as well?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.88,0:05:59.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which brings us back to the internet.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.94,0:06:02.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The internet has been described
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.10,0:06:08.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as "the world's largest,\Nunintentional folklore archive."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.48,0:06:12.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of our lame jokes;
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.63,0:06:14.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of our rumors and legends
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.54,0:06:17.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about politicians\Nand celebrities and corporations;
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.24,0:06:19.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of our incomprehensible slang
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.77,0:06:23.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is now being shared in a venue
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.67,0:06:30.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where just the act of sharing it\Nturns it into documented cultural data.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.26,0:06:33.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is unprecedented.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.27,0:06:36.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For the first time in history,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.31,0:06:42.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are preserving our folk culture\Nin all its artistry,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.83,0:06:44.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,its wisdom,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.79,0:06:46.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,its insight,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.32,0:06:51.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,its offline manifestations\Nas well as its on;
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.59,0:06:54.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,its social commentary
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.10,0:06:58.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as we create and share it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.05,0:06:59.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.82,0:07:02.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are you capable of taking\Na picture of Boromir,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.84,0:07:06.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,slapping some text on him\Nand posting it to Facebook?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.39,0:07:08.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That matters.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.21,0:07:12.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is a valid cultural performance.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.14,0:07:17.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Making an internet meme\Nor even just sharing one on social media
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.47,0:07:19.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is participating
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.10,0:07:24.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the documentation and preservation\Nof contemporary folk culture.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.12,0:07:26.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we want to know how people,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.27,0:07:30.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not the media, not political leaders,\Nnot famous authors or filmmakers,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.94,0:07:35.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but just people feel about something,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.34,0:07:39.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can look at our\Nshared cultural creations
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.94,0:07:42.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to understand how we feel about it.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.68,0:07:45.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anyone remember this guy?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.25,0:07:48.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His name is Lieutenant John Pike,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.22,0:07:52.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he made the news in 2011\Nwhen he was caught on camera
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.61,0:07:56.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pepper-spraying a bunch of\Npeacefully protesting UC Davis students.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.99,0:08:02.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's better known online as\N"Casually Pepper Spray [Everything] Cop."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.06,0:08:07.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he's the subject of a lot\Nof contemporary folk art.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.31,0:08:09.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of it funny;
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.13,0:08:12.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some of it serious;
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.75,0:08:15.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of it poignant.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.56,0:08:23.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, if we wanted to better understand\Nthis particular moment in history,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.14,0:08:25.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we could absolutely go back
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.07,0:08:28.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and read the newspapers and magazines\Nthat were published at that time;
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.90,0:08:33.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we could go and watch past episodes\Nof the nightly news or the daily show,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.56,0:08:39.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we could also look to each other\Nto see what we were saying,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.93,0:08:41.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what we thought was important,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.54,0:08:45.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what we found worthy\Nof passing on to others.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.42,0:08:51.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, of course not all culture\Non the internet is serious.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.99,0:08:53.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.00,0:08:57.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a lot of silly\Nand trivial and unimportant stuff
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.22,0:08:58.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the internet these days.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.72,0:09:01.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we need to remember\Nthat one, that's not new,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.35,0:09:03.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and two, that's not unique\Nto the internet.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.67,0:09:08.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There has always been silly, trivial,\Nunimportant, fun culture in the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.62,0:09:14.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we have always stood to gain\Na better understanding of ourselves
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.84,0:09:16.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we pay attention to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.07,0:09:22.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, folklore doesn't get\Npassed on for no reason.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.02,0:09:28.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If a joke or a story or an internet meme\Nisn't saying something,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.01,0:09:31.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if it isn't poignant\Nor illustrative or relevant
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.79,0:09:33.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or at least funny,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.43,0:09:35.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's not going to stay in circulation.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.28,0:09:41.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if something is staying in circulation,\Nthen it's saying something.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.59,0:09:45.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the next time you lose an hour\Nto browsing the internet,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.75,0:09:47.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't feel so bad.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.74,0:09:51.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Would you feel bad if you lost that hour\Nbrowsing in a museum?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.37,0:09:52.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Probably not.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.87,0:09:56.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm not suggesting that you\Nshouldn't also spend time in museums,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.85,0:10:00.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but don't let yourself fall into the trap
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.45,0:10:04.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of thinking that the only\Nworthwhile culture is high culture.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.73,0:10:09.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we look at the internet\Nfor what it's documenting,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.59,0:10:13.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what it's preserving,\Nwhat it's telling us about ourselves,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.22,0:10:16.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then it's time well spent.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.81,0:10:22.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So before I go, we should probably\Ndocument this moment as well, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.16,0:10:24.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are you guys up for a group selfie?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.14,0:10:25.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.60,0:10:26.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Alright.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.96,0:10:29.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Say cheese.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.31,0:10:31.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Audience) Cheese.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.41,0:10:33.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.92,0:10:35.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thanks.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.13,0:10:36.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)