Dance On, Matt

I've been trying to figure out why Matt Harding and Melissa Nixon's Dancing 2008, the breakout viral video of the moment, is so charming, so endlessly watchable, and ultimately so moving. (If you haven't seen it yet, I won't spoil it for you. Watch it below.)

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

The last question is maybe the easiest: In a world that seems increasingly dangerous and riven by difference, we're suckers for the notion that people everywhere are basically the same. But why is the thing also such a delight? I think it has something to do with the medium itself. The world of blogs, which is the world that has launched the video, is a world of self-conscious cleverness. (Disclaimer: Me? Guilty, and guilty again.) When something comes along that's unabashedly goofy, it feels like someone opened up a window and let the breeze in. This isn't to say that Dancing doesn't have its few small grace notes -- you'll know 'em when you see 'em -- but they're so offhand and relaxed, so utterly in tune with the giddy spirit of the piece, that they sweep you right along. It's a funky little surprise, ingenuous and sweet-tempered and utterly original. See if you don't agree.