Media Meditation: Parov Stelar

Parov Stelar: Emerging Talent.

Over the weekend, my roommate loaded this video, made it full screen, and plugged it into his LOUD DJ equipment.

I do not take dance lessons. I do not watch youtube videos of people dancing. I have never appreciated choreographed dance before this video.

The music is upbeat, modern, and energetic. It is a song that I could see played at Higher Ground. Modern songs like these are not usually associated with professional dancing, which is partially why I was so amazed at the video. This guy can move!

This video on youtube is under-viewed, but has the potential to make Parov Stelar famous. CONVERGENCE has allowed users like this to post their talents online, in hopes to one day be recognized.

PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES in this video are simple. It appears as if the dancer has set his camera on a table, and is recording himself dancing in his basement. It is made with very SIMPLE editing techniques which puts the entire emphasis on Parov's talent. A little bit of music and some empty floor space seems to be all Parov Stelar needs to entertain an audience.

The video is a serious display of talent, but at times the viewer finds themselves laughing out-loud and smiling. The video isn't funny, but somehow TRANSFERS HUMOR to the viewer. His talents are so superior to the average person that it is almost comical that he is "that" good.

His outfit appears to be an example of NOSTALGIA. He is dressed in outdated clothes that might appeal to a distant generation, but certainly not the 21st century.

We watched the video a bunch of times before realizing he has many videos posted on youtube. We browsed through them all and found some to be more impressive than others, and some more unique than others. The most impressive one I found was this one:

I consider this video to be both an expression of media, and art. The video features the dancer dancing in locations that you would not normally find a dancing performance. The dancer wears headphones that allow him to dance wherever he goes. The video shows him dancing in a crowded train station, crossing a street in a crowded city, on a moving train, in a park, in the middle of the woods, by a river, and on top of a mountain. These are very unique locations to shoot a dance performance. Throughout the production I couldn't stop thinking about a quote that I read a while ago:

"Those seen dancing are thought to be insane by those who cannot hear the music."

Through the use of MEDIA, I believe that one day Parov Stelar will receive the recognition he deserves for his innovative and artistic style of expression.