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Vlogumentary

Name: Vlogumentary
Director: Matthew Testa
Released: 2016
Duration: 75 min

Representation Score

7.4/10

Good

2016

Director

Matthew Testa

Runtime

75 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Vlogumentary captures a significant transition in media, moving from centralized control to a more decentralized, personality-focused landscape. By treating creators as professionals, the film includes diverse voices such as Gaby Dunn and Charles Trippy. However, it lacks a deeper ideological critique of identity and remains mostly observational. While the film successfully documents the digital economy and the shift away from traditional media structures, it does not provide transformative social commentary. Instead, it focuses on the practical aspects of individual ability to act and professional success.

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Category Breakdown

Does Vlogumentary have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

Gaby Dunn's portrayal offers a genuine look at LGBTQ identity within the vlogging community, avoiding including someone from a minority group without giving them real depth and providing meaningful representation.

How does Vlogumentary portray gender?

Fair

The film highlights female creators like Grace Helbig, showcasing their economic independence and ability to act. However, it primarily focuses on the mechanics of achieving fame rather than challenging traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Vlogumentary?

Fair

The film captures a diverse range of YouTube creators from the mid-2010s, but it does not delve deeply into the intersection of race and ethnicity within these creators' experiences.

How does Vlogumentary represent religion and culture?

Good

The documentary celebrates the rise of authentic, personalized storytelling in contrast to traditional media hierarchies, presenting a challenge to established cultural norms.

Does Vlogumentary include disability representation?

Fair

Charles Trippy's experience with vision impairment is presented as part of his professional identity, avoiding the clichéd 'inspiration porn' narrative.

Present on Screen

Offers meaningful representation through creators like Gaby Dunn.
Highlights female economic independence and ability to act.
Avoids clichéd narratives around disability by focusing on professional identity.
Documents the disruption of traditional media gatekeeping.

Limited or Absent

Could explore the intersection of race and ethnicity more deeply.
Focuses more on fame mechanics than challenging gendered power dynamics.
Remains more observational than transformative in social commentary.

Official Synopsis

YouTube may have begun as a website for videos of cats and funny babies, but it is now home to vloggers: video diarists who have conjured a massive audience and wild financial success by filming themselves, their thoughts and their daily lives. Vlogumentary pulls the curtain back on this new media revolution by following some of the top vloggers in the business, examining how they work, what they have to say and why their fans prefer videos of real life over traditional entertainment. Featuring Shay Carl, Swoozie, Grace Helbig, Charles Trippy and Gaby Dunn, Mikey Murphy.

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