A self-portrait can be many things. Indeed we are many things. I myself wear a number of different hats in any one day, and my identity is an amalgamation of many sub-personas that I have worked to integrate throughout my life. Some of these personas I loathe and some I cherish. They are all here nonetheless.
I had a bit of fun with this. I was able to get some interactive elements with video, changing on click and showing and hiding different videos. Although I wasn’t able to get the exact interaction I wanted, I like the cacophony that ensues as the videos fail to pause and play as intended. You can view the “piece” here - https://billythemusical.github.io/live-web/week-1-self-portrait/
Live Online Platform - As far as a live web platform to check out, I really like Twitch. It’s a place where people go to watch other people, called streamers, play video games live. It is an incredibly robust platform with hundreds of games to choose from like World of Warcraft, Fortnite, PUBG, League of Legends, Call of Duty, and NBA2K. There many thousands of streamers, all playing live at any time of day. Some of the biggest streamers have upwards of a hundred thousand viewers each time they go online.
Follower-ship is balanced on a sliding scale between skill and showmanship. One of my favorite streamers is DrDisrespect - an uber-macho RPG player who sports a real mullet, Oakley-style sunglasses, and a thick mustache. He explodes with loud grunts and profanities when he gets a win and talks tons of crap, even when playing alongside very young competitors (I think the site is limited to those over age 13). When “Doc,” as he’s affectionately known amongst his followers, goes online, there are thousands pouring in to the chat stream, which runs live with each broadcast.
Since streamers can garner so many followers, there’s a large sponsorship and advertisement network attached, and it is estimated that the top 10 gamers garner over $20 million/year between them (source). While logging on to Doc’s stream today, I saw an ad beforehand which had the caption “This Ad Goes To Support DrDisrespect” which I thought was interesting. These streamers are basically afforded their own broadcast network. And the professional gaming industry is fast-growing industry, not only in an online context, but in actual live events where attendees can watch their favorite players and teams compete in the flesh.
The site’s tag line is “Don’t just watch, join in”:
Welcome to Twitch. We are a global community of millions who come together each day to create their own entertainment: unique, live, unpredictable, never-to-be repeated experiences created by the magical interactions of the many. With chat built into every stream, you don’t just watch on Twitch, you’re a part of the show.