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==Background==
==Background==
The woman was first described as anonymous,<ref name="pp"/> in order to keep her safe,<ref name=hp/> but was eventually identified as Yulia Marushevska, a Kyiv Ph.D. student of Ukrainian literature at [[Taras Shevchenko National University]].<ref name=tgwp/> Marushevska and British photographer Graham Mitchell<ref name="voanews"/> shot the video after the January 22 deaths of the first five protesters, including three from gunshot wounds. Marushevska explained that she made the video partly out of guilt because she felt that she was not doing enough to help the [[EuroMaidan]] Revolution, and partly out of frustration with foreigners’ ignorance about why demonstrators were camping out on Kyiv’s streets to change their government.<ref name="tgwp"/> She also wanted to inform the viewers about corruption in the Ukrainian government.<ref name=syracuse/> In the 2 minute, 4 second long video,<ref name=syracuse/> she speaks in English.<ref name=bbc/>
The woman was first described as anonymous,<ref name="pp"/> in order to keep her safe,<ref name=hp/> but was eventually identified as Yulia Marushevska, a Kyiv Ph.D. student of Ukrainian literature at [[Taras Shevchenko National University]].<ref name=tgwp/> Marushevska and British photographer Graham Mitchell shot the video following the January 22 fatalities among the demonstrators , when five people perished, three from gunshot wounds. Marushevska felt she needed to do more for the [EuroMaidan]], and that she was frustrated with foreigners’ ignorance about why the protests are happening.<ref name="tgwp"/> She wanted to inform the viewers that the Ukrainians want to change their government as they are concerned about unchecked corruption within it.<ref name=syracuse/><ref name="tgwp"/> In the 2 minute, 4 second long video,<ref name=syracuse/> she speaks in English.<ref name=bbc/>


==Viral spread==
==Viral spread==

Revision as of 05:18, 8 May 2014

A promotional still for the video

"I Am a Ukrainian" is an Internet viral video, first posted on YouTube in 2014 featuring a young Ukrainian woman supporting the protestors in the 2014 Ukrainian revolution. It was directed by documentary maker Ben Moses. By late March that year the video has been viewed about 8 million times.

Background

The woman was first described as anonymous,[1] in order to keep her safe,[2] but was eventually identified as Yulia Marushevska, a Kyiv Ph.D. student of Ukrainian literature at Taras Shevchenko National University.[3] Marushevska and British photographer Graham Mitchell shot the video following the January 22 fatalities among the demonstrators , when five people perished, three from gunshot wounds. Marushevska felt she needed to do more for the [EuroMaidan]], and that she was frustrated with foreigners’ ignorance about why the protests are happening.[3] She wanted to inform the viewers that the Ukrainians want to change their government as they are concerned about unchecked corruption within it.[4][3] In the 2 minute, 4 second long video,[4] she speaks in English.[5]

Viral spread

The video was uploaded to YouTube on 10 February.[3] By 19 February it was reported to have about 3.5 million views.[5] By February 21 it had about 5.2 million views,[4] by February 22 it had about 6 million views,[6] and by February 27 it passed 7 million views.[7] As of March 14, 2014 the video has been viewed over 7.8 million times.[3]

Its popularity has been attributed to its being anonymous, as viewers were more easily able to identify with the presenter.[1] Its professional production was also credited; it was directed by American documentary film maker Ben Moses[2][5] and released on his YouTube channel, "Whisper Roar".[8] Moses was shooting a different documentary in Ukraine and Yulia was working as his translator; together they came up with the idea for the "I Am a Ukrainian" video.[2][9]

The video has received a mostly positive reception, with the majority of the tens of thousands of comments in support.[4][5][6] A February 21 count on YouTube gave the video about 70,000 "likes" and 4,000 "dislikes".[4] A minority of voices, primarily those opposed to the revolution, argued that it is too one-sided.[5][6] It has also been criticized for its professional production value, invoking a comparison to the controversial Kony 2012 viral video, which misled viewers into thinking it was a purely amateur production.[6][7][10] Some conspiracy theories have attempted to link the video director Moses with an American think tank, the Council on Foreign Relations.[10][11]

BBC News has described it as having by far the greatest impact of any video from the 2014 Ukrainian revolution.[5] Moses is now working on a feature-length documentary about Yulia's and Ukraine's progress in the year following her viral video.[12]

External links

Notes

  1. ^ a b André Crous, ‘We want to be free’, Prague Post, (19 February 2014).
  2. ^ a b c Deborah Stambler (2014-02-14). "I Am a Ukrainian: Can You Be Viral and Anonymous? | Deborah Stambler". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  3. ^ a b c d e Jim Hoft, Yulia Marushevska: Ukrainian Activist’s YouTube Video Viewed 7.8 Million Times, The Gateway Pundit, (March 14, 2014).
  4. ^ a b c d e Central New York. "Viral video 'I Am a Ukrainian' generates millions of views, many fans, some critics". syracuse.com. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  5. ^ a b c d e f BBC Trending (2014-02-20). "BBC News - #BBCtrending: 'I am a Ukrainian' protest video goes viral". BBC. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  6. ^ a b c d "Questions Raised Over The 'I Am a Ukrainian' Video". Neon Tommy. 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  7. ^ a b "Mass protests in Ukraine: Tracking America's hand in regime change | Celebrating Being Zimbabwean". Thepatriot.co.zw. 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  8. ^ "Whisper Roar". YouTube. 2012-06-03. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  9. ^ Brian Bonner (2014-03-14). "Her powerful message, viewed 7.8 million times (VIDEO)". Kyivpost.com. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  10. ^ a b "» Exposed: Ukrainian 'Protesters' Backed by Kony 2012-Style Scam Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!". Infowars.com. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  11. ^ "Apel młodej Ukrainki sfinansowany przez Amerykanów?". Tvn24.pl. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  12. ^ "I Am a Ukrainian: The Movie" Official Website. Retrieved on March 31, 2014.
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