Given the internet’s ability to transcend physical borders and language barriers, it’s no surprise that dance videos have always been a cornerstone of meme culture.
Techno Viking
Germany's Techno Viking is one of the internet's most beloved memes. In the four-minute video, filmed at Berlin's street festival Fuckparade in 2000, a ripped, zshirtless German—later dubbed the "Techno Viking"—scolds an obnoxious male raver for shoving a woman in the crowd, sips a bottle of water delivered by one of his subservient minions, and finally breaks into an exuberant dance to hard techno. The video immortalized its subject, whose comical appearance, Robin Hood-like moral stance, and objectively fabulous dance moves sparked thousands of fan-made GIFs, YouTube videos, T-shirts, and even a line of novelty action figures, complete with authentically mis-matched socks.
In 2009, almost a decade after Fritsch's video hit the internet, he received a cease-and-desist letter from the lawyers of the man who appeared in the clip, alleging that Fritsch did not secure the "personality rights" needed to post it. The man—who turned out to be a very private person, and whose name has never been made public—took Fritsch to court, demanding that he remove not just the original video from the internet, but also all the user-created parodies, remixes, and mash-ups. The ensuing legal battle became the first case in Germany to pit privacy laws against the "remix" culture of the internet, posing an increasingly pressing question: where do we draw the line when an unwitting human being with no desire for public exposure becomes the subject of a global meme?
After a prolonged, three-year legal battle, the Berlin District Court ruled that Fritsch was only allowed to use the images of Techno Viking if they were manipulated such a way that he couldn't be identified, and that the fan-based content could remain online. Fritsch, who was already researching meme culture and Internet recycling, decided to make a documentary about the whole experience, believing his case represented an important ruling in internet history. According to Fritsch, the Techno Viking story demonstrates the extent to which memes still exist in a legal grey area determined by the subjective views of individual judges—and why we need new rules to govern a rapidly-evolving internet culture.
Cybergoth Dance Party
Cybergoth Dance Remixes refers to a series of videos featuring a group of cybergoth teenagers dancing to industrial music, which replaces the background track with unfitting music.
Cybergoth is a hybrid aesthetic that emerged in the late ’90s, combining goth and raver fashion. Its color scheme, combining black and neon clothing, was described by Vice as “too creepy for the ravers, too neon for the goths.” There is a bit of rivethead flare too — some cybergoths wear gas masks or goggles. They might also wear bright hairpieces known as cyberlox. The preferred musical style of the cybergoth is techno music, usually operating in the low to mid hundreds in terms of beats per minute.
You are probably at least a little familiar with cybergoths, even if you’ve never heard the word. Google “cybergoth dance” and your top result will likely be a video featuring a group of cybergoths dancing under an overpass in Dusseldorf, Germany. The most popular version, “Cybergoth Dance Party” has received more than 10.6 million views since September 2011. “Goth Underpass Rave” has been viewed more than 5.2 million times since January 2012. Both of them are freebooted versions, ripped from a YouTuber named GothicIke, who posted the original video, “6. Cybertreffen am 12.3.11” in March 2011.
You are probably at least a little familiar with cybergoths, even if you’ve never heard the word. Google “cybergoth dance” and your top result will likely be a video featuring a group of cybergoths dancing under an overpass in Dusseldorf, Germany. The most popular version, “Cybergoth Dance Party” has received more than 10.6 million views since September 2011. “Goth Underpass Rave” has been viewed more than 5.2 million times since January 2012. Both of them are freebooted versions, ripped from a YouTuber named GothicIke, who posted the original video, “6. Cybertreffen am 12.3.11” in March 2011.
Harlem Shake
The average half-life of a web video meme is not very long. And it’s getting shorter. There is a moment between when a fun video breaks and when the millionth iteration plops onto your screen, when much of the Internet is held in thrall. “Harlem Shake” hit that sweet spot and then tipped over it in about two days.
While dating back to the ’80s as a dance, the current craze name-checks the Harlem Shake in title only. The newer songis a bass-heavy synth-jam by Brooklyn producer Baauer, released as a single in May of 2012. Despite earning plaudits from dance music aficionados, the song never broke through in a major way. It took a fan-made video to do that.
It’s easy to account for the instant popularity of the form. For one thing, the video is short. At only 30 seconds long, fan-made versions are less burdensome to create than many other memes, and accessible viewing for those stumbling across the creations online. It’s also simple. In order to make a Harlem Shake video, all one would need is someone with an obscured face dancing while at least one other person acts normal, and finally some kind of descent into uninhibited body-rocking.
The built-in anticipation inherent in the videos has also no doubt contributed to the phenomenon–the fun is in seeing what settings, themes, and twists the videos take, and just who is performing them. Perhaps it will be a TV show host, in a pool, pouring milk on himself. Also, the template makes it easy for remixing existent videos and characters.
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