The first decade of the 21st century was full of war: war on terror, war in Iraq, war in Afghanistan. The violence has strayed from the realm of geopolitics into our bars and parties. Gangs of young people, typically DJs, have been battling it out with iPods and MP3s in order to prove their musical supremacy. Tragically, the conflict has now spread to YouTube.
Case in point: Artengine and Canteen Art Shop will be war mongering this Friday, December 4, with a YouTube battle at Babylon. The battle will feature 4 or 5 rounds in which two teams will take turns pummeling each other with 3 minutes of the best and funniest videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Funny or Die and other video sites. In an updated twist on the coliseums of old, Toronto artist Jeremy Bailey will use custom-built software to scientifically assess the audience feedback to each group of digital gladiators. The last of the 8 teams to be left standing will be declared the winner. Doors open at 7pm, the brutality starts at 8pm and ends with a night of dancing with Disorganized at 11. Tickets are $5.
Sure, these battles might seem like a great way to catch up on the latest viral videos, but would Ghandi approve?
I got some YouTube clips ready.
Thank you, Katie, for illustrating this with the best video on youtube.