Trailer and Proposal: Final Edition

*After quite the adventure of learning the basics of Final Cut Pro, the final version of my trailer (which I am much happier with) is finished. Again, YouTube is far superior.*




With an increasing awareness of the internet as a new medium for culture and relationships, many have noted the increasing individualism, and disconnectedness that seem to characterize our lives.

Although the very fact that we have so many "concepts of self" may be considered proof of our newly individualized nature, I would like to argue that online anonymous communities are providing us with a way to seek out deep, meaningful connections to other people--a most basic human need.

These profound and real connections can be seen daily in the PostSecret community. With a foundation of anonymity, perfect strangers no longer fear judgment or embarrassment at sharing their most shameful secrets with one another. In doing so, they seem to have transcended the anomie, disconnection, and insignificance that threaten our increasingly technological existence.

Of course, the nature of these connections is very different from those in a face-to-face community. In a tribal community, for example, the network of relationships might be described as "one inch wide, but one mile deep." There are few people, but they are very intimately connected. Online, by contrast, produces relationships that are "one mile wide, but one inch deep."

Despite the ephemeral nature of these anonymous online relationships, the connections are very real and very significant. Many people even claim that the PostSecret site has saved their lives in making them feel less alone. Others say that it has restored their faith in humanity. In examining the PostSecret community (and others like it that form intimacy among anonymous strangers), I hope to uncover further insight about the transcendent potential of online anonymous communities.