I have recently stumbled upon what might be the best kept secret on the internet. If it seems foolhardy to give any numerical assignment to the wonders of the boundless internet, allow me to clarify. Over the weekend I saw something even better than that blog containing only pictures of otters, and that I feel warrants mention. What makes it better is that I wasn’t even looking for an internet-y thrill, but happened upon it while looking over the shoulder of my main squeeze who was inexplicably ended up on Youtube after adding a plush Seabiscuit doll to our wedding registry.
For what it’s worth, my virtual cap is off to you, Underground American Girl Youtube Community.
Oh yes, those American Girls. None other than the Chicago based, hugely overpriced, historically accurate, must have gift for every dorky girl. Being the epitome of dorky girl, I certainly had one. In fact, I had the colonial.
I got the doll for my 8th birthday after months of begging and leaving strategically circled copies in my mother's path of the monthly catalog (which she still receives) that I had sent away for after devouring the books. I can still remember the shock of reading the fuzzy-warm American Girl rendition of the American Revolution. Apparently the whole affair can be summed up by girlfriends, so symbolic of their respective countries, torn apart by political values though they shared moral and cultural ones. That’s pretty deep for a chapter book with little pictures showing the period vocabulary in the sidebar.
So there are these girls (presumably) who are putting elaborate videos of varying qualities, using American Girl dolls as the primary actors. I had intended on going into detail about one particularly dismal director, but I’m pressed for time so I’ll just air my primary reaction to this phenomenon.
These are children, equipped with what one might once have call ed imaginations. And where we once viewed the imagination as a private affair (and after adolescence something somewhat embarrassing), it is now the makings of a fanbase far surpassing in numbers what few friends these webcammed history buffs may have.
What is the youth coming to, when it proudly displays its imaginary friends to the world in slightly grainy footage and bad sound quality, and invites their comments?
For what it’s worth, my virtual cap is off to you, Underground American Girl Youtube Community.
Oh yes, those American Girls. None other than the Chicago based, hugely overpriced, historically accurate, must have gift for every dorky girl. Being the epitome of dorky girl, I certainly had one. In fact, I had the colonial.
I got the doll for my 8th birthday after months of begging and leaving strategically circled copies in my mother's path of the monthly catalog (which she still receives) that I had sent away for after devouring the books. I can still remember the shock of reading the fuzzy-warm American Girl rendition of the American Revolution. Apparently the whole affair can be summed up by girlfriends, so symbolic of their respective countries, torn apart by political values though they shared moral and cultural ones. That’s pretty deep for a chapter book with little pictures showing the period vocabulary in the sidebar.
So there are these girls (presumably) who are putting elaborate videos of varying qualities, using American Girl dolls as the primary actors. I had intended on going into detail about one particularly dismal director, but I’m pressed for time so I’ll just air my primary reaction to this phenomenon.
These are children, equipped with what one might once have call ed imaginations. And where we once viewed the imagination as a private affair (and after adolescence something somewhat embarrassing), it is now the makings of a fanbase far surpassing in numbers what few friends these webcammed history buffs may have.
What is the youth coming to, when it proudly displays its imaginary friends to the world in slightly grainy footage and bad sound quality, and invites their comments?
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