Watching • Video Digest: November 17, 2006

The clip of the week—and maybe the year—was this corporate Bank of America serenade using U2’s “One” as a blueprint on which to rhyme fierce couplets about specialty themed checks and core values.




The compelling question, aside from which site could host the video longer than a day without getting it yanked, was whether or not it was a knowing spoof. In the age of irony, satire is rarely clear-cut. Just ask anyone who appeared in Borat, or their trial attorneys.

If viral video were a game show (and God, how my mind gambols like a happy foal with the possibility), its nailbiting dilemma would not be “Deal or No Deal” but this: “Joke or No Joke?” Consider this tribute to Laci Petersen. What do you think?

» Listen to “Remembering Laci” by John Strand

At first, I thought it was a joke. And then I noticed it was linked through the Modesto newspaper web site, presumably a straight-faced source for news about pregnant women tragically slain. And then I felt awful for thinking it was a joke. And then I felt awful it was being passed around the Internet. And then I realized I was hungry, so I ordered a bunch of delivery sushi, and tipped my courier mightily.

Maybe I prefer my satire further from the bone. Take this simple recutting of the Office Space trailer into a slasher film ad. At least I know harmless copyright infringement when I see it.




There’s no mistaking the following spoof—of a man taking a photo of himself every day—for anything but mockery. And I appreciate the gesture. If I saw one more time-elapsed YouTube flipbook, I was going to offer up a slow-motion shot of my middle finger craning upward.




But I have to admit: The fun often comes from not knowing whether or not the people involved are in on the joke. A good place to find such tension is public access TV. Enjoy queen of Florida public access, Tampa’s own Sondra Prill—Ms. Prill, if ya nasty.




Sometimes, it doesn’t matter if a video is meant to be funny or not—it’s just funny regardless. Here’s the video for a song called “Tunak Tunak Tun” by record-breaking Punjabi pop star Daler Mehndi. He’s having so much fun performing the song, and it’s so much fun watching him—how could anything be wrong with that?




 —Sarah Hepola, Nov. 17, 2006

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