Suppy Sup: On Learning & My Favorite Video Essays
Suppy Sup: On Learning & My Favorite Video Essays
Maryland launched online sports betting this week.
You don’t care! Unless you live in Maryland, in which case, happy betting!
I have been knee-deep in articles about the launch for my clients. Way to go, Maryland, ya picked a launch date right before a major US holiday!
In other words, I’ve been busy! And I’m off tomorrow through Friday. My brain is full of sports betting bonuses and launch info and internal cackling about Maryland’s abject failure to uphold its commitments to diversity in sports betting (more on that in a future issue; I am working on an in-depth investigation into this).
That weekly freight train stocked with inspiration has come and gone, and I was left sitting on the bench at the station, head down in a ledger full of Maryland-related factoids.
So today’s issue will be slightly different! A brief rumination, then a list!
On Learning
In a past issue, I wrote about my regretful longing and my retrospective desire to have participated more in the structural learning provided by a money-guzzling business venture posing as an academic institution my alma mater.
What I didn’t write about—probably due to my state of despair in recounting my lack of participation—was the fact the here and now, in my day-to-day life, I constantly seek new avenues of learning. I enjoy trivia (and am working through various books of it written by Jeopardy! champions). I read lots (and lots) of books. I read investigative journalism, especially when it offers vicious takedowns of corporate shills.
My most recent learning (or learning-adjacent) affinity is video essays.
Let me stop you before you say it. Yes, I know that YouTube more of a glaring capitalistic hellhole as any college. But I couldn’t turn on an ad-blocker for my college poetry class.
Video essays dominate my bedtime viewing block, and my wife (hello, dear!) has taken a liking to them as well. It’s fun to watch a deep dive into a single issue, fact, person, mystery, or what have you.
So today, instead of a self-deprecating diary entry, Suppy Sup will feature a list of my favorite video essays, the creators who make them, and other related thoughts! Consider each entry my personal favorite among each creator’s library and a blanket recommendation for said creator’s other work.
Before we start, please consider subscribing!
Razbuten: Gaming For A Non-Gamer
I play lots of video games! So does my wife, but she wasn’t always a gamer. She’s told me this video encapsulates many of her struggles with gaming before she became a seasoned platforming expert. Razbuten’s initial Gaming For A Non-Gamer video and its many sequels are worth watching, whether you play games or have only dabbled.
Further Razbuten Viewing:
CJ The X: Subjectivity In Art
CJ The X is my single favorite video essayist currently producing content. Big fan. This video in particular sparked one of the tensest and most ridiculous debates I’ve ever had with my friend Dylan (hello, Dylan!).
I don’t completely agree with all of the arguments CJ makes in this video, but the ideas resonate with me in a big way. This video (and CJ’s other work) has made me reflect on how I consume art. “Subjectivity In Art” is one of CJ’s densest. Many of their videos are dense, stuffed with deep philosophical explorations or art, meaning, and more. You’ve been warned. However, there are a few less involved videos on their channel still worth a watch!
Further CJ The X Viewing:
Fundie Fridays: Kent Hovind
Thanks to my friend Joolz (hello, Joolz!) for introducing me to Fundie Fridays, a channel full of calculated takedowns of corrupt fundamental Christian people and organizations! ‘Nuff said! Jen has a quick wit and well-researched scripts about these monsters, and every video is crazier than the last, in terms of what it reveals about the “fundie” community.
“Kent Hovind” earns the “favorite” designation because it was my first Fundie Fridays video. I’ve watched two others (highly recommend; they’re below) and plan to watch many, many more.
Further Fundie Fridays Viewing:
ContraPoints: Incels
“Incels” hits home. I teetered on a razor’s edge in college, and I very well could’ve fallen into Incel territory myself. Thankfully I did not! This video is a great primer on incels for the uninitiated.
ContraPoints aka Natalie Wynn regularly covers issues related to the LGBTQ+ community. Her goal is not to talk down to the haters and bigots, but to offer them an understanding of the communities they purport to hate. She’s one of the most educational and enlightening video essayists I’ve watched to date. Oh, and her sets and costumes absolutely fuck.
Further ContraPoints Viewing:
F.D Signifier: Dissecting The Manosphere
F.D Signifier analyzes pop culture, often through the lens of blackness or black culture. “Dissecting the Manosphere” is the first in a three-part series in the same vein as ContraPoints’ “Incels,” in that it unpacks what’s happening with men in our current sociopolitical climate. I’m only a few videos into my F.D Signifier journey, but he’s quickly made his way to the top of my list.
Further F.D Signifier Viewing:
We’re In Hell: Lost Resort: Oops, They Made A Cult!
We’re In Hell’s content can be loosely split into two categories:
Deep dives into trash reality TV shows
Philosophical explorations of various topics
Some of his videos meet in the middle. It’s not a perfect cateogrizationalistic system! Please forgive me!
This video is firmly in the former category, but both of his “styles” are amazing. “Oops, They Made A Cult” chronicles a bonkers “self-improvement” reality show that does the exact opposite of helping people heal from their trauma.
Further We’re In Hell Viewing:
Folding Ideas: In Search Of A Flat Earth
Dan Olson wonders why people bought into the Flat Earth theory, then ponders why Flat Earthers seem to be dwindling. The answer is not worth spoiling here.
“In Search of a Flat Earth” was the first video essay I watched that fully convinced me of the medium’s artistic and educational value. Since I watched this, I eagerly check the Folding Ideas channel for new releases.
Further Folding Ideas Viewing:
Jenny Nicholson: The Church Play Cinematic Universe
In this video, Jenny Nicholson chronicles one megachurch’s “adaptations” of popular stories to fit the Easter narrative. Spoiler: they’re delightfully cringe!
I’m very new to the Jenny Nicholson portfolio, but I’m already hooked.
Further Jenny Nicholson Viewing:
hbomberguy: ROBLOX_OOF.mp3
Holy shit, this one’s a wild ride. YouTuber hbomberguy releases a video once every few months at most, but it’s always worth it. ROBLOX_OOF.mp3 begins as a researched look at a popular sound/meme, then dives into the abyss of one video game composer’s thick, expansive web of lies. Thank you to my friend Wu for sending this to me (hello, Wu!).
Further hbomberguy Viewing:
Mia Cole: The Commodification of MrBeast
Mia Cole started a YouTube channel at 9 years old. Now she’s 18, and she has the unique perspective of a creator both fully entrenched in and understanding of the trappings that make it both profitable (for some) and sinister. In this video, she looks to MrBeast, who could be called the exact opposite of a video essayist, and what he means for YouTube. Mia Cole’s style is erratic and fast, reflecting the platform where her content lives.
Further Mia Cole Viewing:
Honorable Mentions & Too Soon To Call
I thought this would be a quick, fun list! A lay-up of an issue I could write in 20 minutes and send out to feel good about accomplishing something before the holiday!
But noooooo, here we are 2.5 hours later, and I’m only reaching this section on my re-read/edit.
I still have three videos/channels on my list. They’re the three I have only tangentially explored or can’t quite bring myself to categorize formally as “video essays.” I’ll share a quick (for real, I promise) note on each so I can at least include them.
Defunctland: Disney’s FastPass: A Complicated History
Exhaustive, interesting, entertaining! Plus, I just started Defunctland’s investigative video essay about the Disney Channel Theme, which is incredibly promising so far (18 minutes in).
James Somerton: Stranger Things and the Danger of Nostalgia
Confirmation bias! I despise Stanger Things. Matter of personal preference, and I am genuinely happy other people connect with and enjoy it so much. Please do not scream at me about how I am wrong.
Loved this video, and I look forward to watching more of James Somerton’s work.
Overanalyzing Avatar
It’s exactly what it sounds like! Deep readings and facts and small animation errors in my favorite show of all time. This is a must-watch channel for any Avatar: The Last Airbender fans.
The channel has expanded to do non-TV Avatar canon (including the Shyamalan movie, though it’s currently for patrons only) and other random stuff. Some person non-Avatar faves:
Done! Kablooey! Ba-blam! Sker-dow! Sometimes you need an explosive sound effect or three to signal finality.
Read, Watch, Play, Listen
A few stray thoughts about the things I did this week!
Hades: damn this game is so good. Playing it constantly, at least until Sports Story comes out. I beat the big guy for my first time. Now I’m amping up the heat and hoping to log a few more victories.
Snakes & Lattes: if you’re in Chicago and looking for a cool board gaming spot, check it out. Full-service bar and restaurant with 700+ board games! We played Sherriff of Nottingham and Wavelength. Both were gr8 times.
The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson: Cosmere fans rejoice! The book is out, and it’s amazing! I’ve updated my suggested reading order to include this tome. Full review coming to The Quill To Live tomorrow.
Linky Link
(To be read around in the same cadence as “Two hops this time!” from the Cha-CHa Slide) Two links this week!
A review of Cytonic, the third book in Brandon Sanderson’s series of the same name.
My favorite furry fuzzy fluffy fantasy animal companions! Featuring Baloo’s Tor.com debut!!!
If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Catch you next time!
I knew Subjectivity In Art was going to be on this list and still rolled my eyes. I'm glad you enjoy it so much.