Blog 6

Blog 6:

Lynette Adkins is the author of YouTube video which encompasses interviews with students at UT, the University of Texas. The author of this video is not explicitly visible, rather her presence is implicit. The audio of Lynette Adkins is predominate in the video as she interviews several students. The information regarding the author is very limited because the video only entails her correspondence to the interviews, her personal responses are not included. Although the information about the author is limited, it is evident that she has an interest in the perspectives of minority groups.  This can be inferred because she initiated the conduction of interviews regarding this topic, and made the information she obtained public on YouTube. Additionally, the commentary she makes in the background has indications that she is in agreeance with the statements made by the individuals she interviews. Therefore, we know the morale, and opinions of the author. 

The purpose of Lynette Adkins YouTube video is to obtain perspectives of black students at a predominately white school. The course of interviewing black students from UT gives insight on their personal experiences. The students stated how they went into culture shock, felt uncomfortable, and unaccepted as a black student comprising 5% of the student population. For example, one student stated how she was insecure wearing what she wanted. Another student stated; “It’s frustrating in some regards, because I want to be part of the black community, but I don’t feel represented within that.”. On the other hand, some students expressed positive perspectives as a black student at UT. For instance, on student said, “the black community is a close-knit community within UT”. Another student stated how he was glad to meet people at his university. These statements demonstrate the purpose of this video as they bring light to the positive and negative perspectives experienced by students of minority.

The audience of this film are individuals that have access and utilize YouTube. YouTube is a highly prevalent video platform around the globe. The intended audience of this film is non- black, heterosexual individuals. This is the projected audience because they deviate from the interviewees, therefore unaware of the experiences encountered as a, homosexual/ pansexual black student. Furthermore, the perspectives alluded in the video will be made visible to majority to allow an understanding of experiences that differ from one’s own. Also, conscious awareness to the negative experiences may aid in reducing the likelihood of it occurring.

Lynette Adkins wants to make underrepresented voices heart but publicizing them on a well-known social media platform, YouTube. YouTube is effective because its available to anyone, people in all age groups, class, gender, race, etc. use YouTube, it is not seclusively accessible to certain individuals.