VlogBrothers

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Vlog Brothers
File:Vlogbrothers youtube.png
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Screenshot
Web address www.youtube.com/vlogbrothers
Slogan Don't Forget To Be Awesome (DFTBA)
Type of site
YouTube channel
Available in English
Created by John Green
Hank Green
Launched January 1, 2007; 17 years ago (January 1, 2007)
Current status Active

Vlog Brothers (sometimes stylised as Vlogbrothers) is a video blog, or "vlog" style channel on YouTube.[1] The Internet-based show is created and hosted by the Green brothers: John Green and Hank Green. The first incarnation of the brothers' online broadcasting was the "Brotherhood 2.0" project, preceding the establishment of the pair's regular vlogging activity through the VlogBrothers channel.

The Greens state that their vlog has no consistent format: "Really, it's not about anything in particular. Whether we're talking about our lives, making each other laugh, or trying to get something more important across, people seem to enjoy it."[2][3] The channel passed one million subscribers on March 5, 2013.[4]

The fans and supporters of VlogBrothers are known individually as Nerdfighters, and collectively as Nerdfighteria. Subscribers of the brothers on YouTube are the base of the online community Nerdfighteria. The Green brothers encourage their viewers to become a community by creating websites and various projects, like the Project for Awesome,[5] to involve their subscribers.[6][7]

Presently, the brothers post two videos per week onto their VlogBrothers channel. John Green posts a video on Tuesday, and Hank Green on Friday.

Brotherhood 2.0 project

The Green brothers, strongly inspired by the show with zefrank,[7][8] devised the Brotherhood 2.0 project late in 2006. The project was launched on January 1, 2007, based on the premise that the brothers would cease all text-based communication for one year and, instead, converse by video blogs every weekday. The project was made available to the public on YouTube, as well as through the brothers' own Brotherhood 2.0 website.[9][10] On July 18, 2007, Hank Green uploaded a video of himself playing and singing his song "Accio Deathly Hallows" in honor of the seventh Harry Potter book.[11] This video was the first VlogBrothers video to make the front page of YouTube, and the starting point of the brothers' success as vloggers. The Brotherhood 2.0 Project ended on December 31, 2007.[12] However, the brothers decided to continue uploading videos on YouTube due to their popularity and growing fan base.

Post-Brotherhood 2.0

The VlogBrothers in 2008

In their December 31, 2007 video, the brothers revealed their decision to continue vlogging even though the project had ended.[12] Following the conclusion of Brotherhood 2.0, a website was set up for their community, known as Nerdfighters.[13] The website was originally maintained solely by Hank Green, but is now updated and moderated by a group of community volunteers known as the "Ningmasters". New projects, videos, discussions, groups and forums entirely made by the VlogBrothers fan community are uploaded daily. The brothers' videos continue to be the basis of the online community known as "Nerdfighteria".[14]

In September 2008, the Kiva.org Lending Team "Nerdfighters" was launched.[15] As of March 2015, the Kiva Nerdfighters group ranks 7th on the site for total money loaned through total domestic and international microloans.[15] It has roughly 48,000 members who have loaned a collective total of over $5.3 million.[15]

On January 20, 2010, John Green went on paternity leave and Maureen Johnson made videos in his place until February 10, 2010. John's only vlog during that period was on January 28, when he read from J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye as a eulogy/tribute to the author. John Green introduced his son Henry Green upon his return to vlogging on February 15, 2010.

Hank Green's video, The Ice Cream Changes, was featured on a CBS News article.[16] Hank Green was interviewed by Forbes in May 2011.[17] Hank's musical video about Tumblr was featured on The Huffington Post, as well.[18] In August 2012, John Green uploaded two noteworthy videos: one telling students why they should be excited going back to school,[19] and the other explaining if college is worth going to.[20] On September 14, 2012, Hank Green made a video celebrating the 1000th video on the VlogBrothers channel that commemorated the brothers' experiences over the previous 5 years.[21]

One million subscribers and continued growth (2013-present)

John and Hank at VidCon 2014

On January 15, 2013, they featured in "An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall" celebrating the anniversary of John's novel The Fault in Our Stars.[6][22] The Evening of Awesome also featured The Mountain Goats, Kimya Dawson, and Neil Gaiman. It was a two-hour livestreamed event and as of October 29, 2014, is available for viewing on the VlogBrothers' main YouTube channel.[23]

In February 2013, John Green participated in a Google+ Hangout with Barack Obama during which John's wife, Sarah, also appeared.[24] Prior to this, she had not been seen on camera or in any of his blogs, preferring not to join her husband on camera. Her elusive attitude gained her the nickname "The Yeti".[25][26]

On March 5, 2013, the channel hit 1 million subscribers and both brothers live-tweeted the occasion.[27] John Green explained that the Brotherhood 2.0 channel was started more than 2,000 days prior to the milestone.[28]

Later, on June 25, 2013, John Green went on paternity leave for the birth of his second child, Alice, and six guest hosts made videos in his place, including Hannah Hart (MyHarto), Grace Helbig (itsgrace), Craig Benzine (wheezywaiter), Rosianna Rojas (missxrojas), and the winners of the "Nerd Factor" competition, YouTube users MagicTurtle643 and NerdyAndQuirky. John returned to the channel on July 30, 2013.[29] In November, John Green created a video discussing bullying in general, as well as his personal experience with getting bullied.[30] Near the end of 2013, the Vlogbrothers channel was documented to have earned 1.6 million subscribers.[31]

Reception

The vlog channel has been able to reach out to a massive fanbase, called Nerdfighteria. As of December 2015, the channel has earned over 2.6 million subscribers and has received over 500 million video views.[32]

Margaret Talbot of The New Yorker has praised the topics of the video blogs, describing, "The tone of their monologues ranged from goofily informative... to wonkish." Talbot added, "Many posts dispensed adult wisdom, but in a reassuringly modern way."[26]

However, Craig Rubens of GigaOM, gave a more critical review of the video blog, comparing it negatively to the show with zefrank. While Rubens stated that, "none carry Ze’s torch with more earnestness than the brothers Green," he closed by saying the Greens' vlog "remains a nerdy knockoff of Ze’s seminal work."[33]

Community

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DFTBA is an initialism that stands for "Don't Forget To Be Awesome," the Green brothers' catchphrase, often followed by a hand sign (or "gang sign," as it is jokingly referred to by Hank and John).[34] The Nerdfighter "gang sign" is the Vulcan salute from Star Trek done on both hands instead of just one, with arms crossed and palms facing inwards. Since the VlogBrothers have taken off, many T-shirts and posters have been made featuring the phrase. The brothers often use it to say goodbye at the end of their video blogs (or "vlogs"). Additionally, Nerdfighteria is an internet subculture, which has inspired student-organized clubs on college campuses.[35] Actors Benedict Cumberbatch as well as Matt Smith have been noted demonstrating the subculture's "gang sign".[36] Several of the groups are members of the YouTube community, including Chameleon Circuit, Charlie McDonnell, NicePeter, Smosh, Rhett and Link, and Elliott Morgan (formerly) & Joe Bereta of SourceFed.[37]

DFTBA is also the name for a VlogBrothers' record label that helps to produce the music of several different independent groups.

References

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External links