Week 2

"I thought the web was a meritocracy, and that the good stuff generally rose to the top" (Holiday 2). This specific line definitely struck a chord, because it fittingly describes how the web should be, but isn't. There are artists and entertainers that we all love; stunningly talented and good-looking individuals that we wouldn't mind declaring to be our role models and idols. Yet, standing amongst these apex celebrities are controversial figures such as Jake Paul, touting the same level of influence, but with arguably little to no artistic talent. Of course, the worldwide audience comes in a variety of different tastes, but we can at least come to the conclusion that Jake Paul-esque 'celebrities' rely mostly on media manipulation, rather than any inherent talent or looks to rise to the top. 

Ryan Holiday does a solid job of laying out the media manipulation baggage for readers. In a nutshell, Holiday's job can be described as a 'troublemaker' of sorts: creating controversy out of thin air to generate buzz. Time and time again, humans have proven to be drawn to drama like bees to a jar of honey. There's just something about us that likes to dive into the juicy details, and react to outrageous situations. Celebrities like Jake Paul himself have become masters at riding this wave, using controversies to boost his brand name and propel himself into headlines month after month. The saying, "any publicity is good publicity" could not fit Paul's description better. 

There's a small part of me that remains perplexed as to why people like Jake Paul continue to rake in fans, when there are so many talented individuals taking a backseat. And yet, I find myself sharing Paul's headlines with my friends; not because I like him in any way (quite the opposite), but because some of his actions are so outrageous that I need to let others know just how idiotic this guy really is. In a way, even if some people are aware of these kinds of celebrities operate, it won't stop them from sharing and discussing, proving that this whole media manipulation thing is the real deal. 

After reading Holiday's excerpt on the dark side of media spikes, you can't help but feel a bit cheated. How can some people with no talent outdo others with talent? Especially through controversial methods? And why does the audience accept this? On the other hand, we could also simply divide the word "talent" into a few separate meanings, especially as the media landscape continues to change before our eyes. Now, we not only have artists/entertainers (raw talent), but we are also beginning to see the rise of so-called influencers (media manipulation), who can be described as possessing talent in altering the media sphere of interaction to their will.