Since this is going to be a regular feature now, I've had to be more careful about keeping track of when these videos were actually posted. I've decided that since some of the creators are so obscure, and Youtube is constantly taking videos down for stupid reasons, I am going to allow myself a lot of leeway. Most of the videos were posted within the last year, or close enough that I feel comfortable treating them as recent. As always, most are video essays about media, or at the very least are related to media, and worth taking a look at if you're a fellow media nerd.
Pop Culture Detective: Marvel Defenders of the Status Quo and Verily Bitchie: The Consumerist Dystopia of Harry Potter - Let's start simple. I'm going to talk about these two together, because they represent the most basic kind of critical analysis being applied to two popular franchises. The first looks at the MCU through a political lens and reveals that the Avengers crew are on the conservative end of the spectrum, with lots of examples. The second delves into the socioeconomics of the Wizarding World and how they mirror the endless merchandising of "Harry Potter" in the real world Sadly, most video essayists that call themselves media analysts do not bother to do actual analysis, so I feel compelled to provide some examples.
Be Kind Rewind: How Michelle Yeoh Went From Bond Girl to Best Actress Oscar Winner in the American Media - A great profile of Michelle Yeoh, in the wake of the success of "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once," with a focus on how the American media framed their coverage of her in the press throughout the years. Michelle Yeoh was always great, but it took decades for the American media to treat her right, and it's important to acknowledge that. We all know Yeoh taking home the Oscar was a win, and this sheds more light on why and how.
Thomas Flight: Why Do Movies Feel So Different Now - After modernism and postmodernism comes metamodernism. Thomas Flight provides a quick rundown of how these movements have been characterized and what distinguishes them from each other. Once again, this essay is a reaction to "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once," which is used as the primary example of the metamodern film - not the noble ideal of modernism, or the cynical subversion of postmodernism, but something more self-aware and taking elements from each of its progenitors.
Breadsword: Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro is a Perfect Movie, and Here's Why - A deep dive, not just into Hayao Miyazaki's first masterpiece, but the entire history of Lupin III as an anime character. This covers all the television series, the movies, the specials, the crossovers, and more. There's a ton of detailed research, including cataloging many of the real world vehicles that appeared throughout the franchise, and all the media that took inspiration from Lupin III and the gang. It also functions as a life update from creator Breadsword, who reveals why he spent so long making this one video.
Patrick Willems: I Went to India to Learn About Bollywood - This is the most ambitious thing that Patrick Willems has done, taking a trip to India to help showcase Indian films. The resulting travelog is what I imagine Anthony Bourdain might have made if he were a cinephile. Patrick barrels through a quick history of Indian cinema, peppered with discussions of several recommended titles, while visiting some of the places related to them. In the process, Patrick plays cricket, Patrick goes to a Holi party, Patrick relaxes on a beach, and Patrick is clearly having the time of his life.
Princess Weekes: Why Are There So Many Confederate Vampires? - Myths about the noble intentions of the Confederacy are still alive and kicking in some recent vampire franchises, including "Twilight," "True Blood," and "The Vampire Diaries." Princess calls out and examines several examples of confederate bloodsuckers and how they're related to insidious Lost Cause messaging. American movies have always had a problem with this, of course, going all the way back to "Gone with the Wind."
Broey Deschanel: Immersive Van Gogh: Why Art is in Crisis - Here's a nice take on recent trends in capitalizing on and commodifying art, touching on remake culture and the AI art debate. The primary subject is the "Immersive Van Gogh" art installations that have been touring the nation recently. What happens to art when you take away the creator's intention, and then warp it into forms that it was never meant for? When is a Van Gogh no longer a Van Gogh?
F.D. Signifier: What Can Anime Teach Us About Masculinity? - Why are teenage boys so drawn to anime? F.D. Signifier breaks down what anime does so well regarding male protagonists and power fantasies, while also acknowledging where they fall short. This involves discussions of several popular recent anime series, including "Attack on Titan" and "Berserk," and ties into his other videos related to masculinity and culture. Getting clarification on major anime tropes and how they function is especially illuminating.
And Finally…
Matt Patches: I Ate a Shoe Because of Top Gun 2 - Okay, okay, this isn't a video essay. However, it is a spiritual sequel to the great Les Blank film, "Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe" and involves Film Twitter. I know Patches from his work with Thrillist and as one of the hosts of "Fighting in the War Room." Apparently, over a decade ago, he tweeted that if a "Top Gun" sequel were ever released in theaters, he'd eat his shoe. Well, it did, and so he did. And he documented the act for posterity.
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