I Watch Youtube So You Don't Have To
A range of recommendations, from a Marxist analysis of Chicken Run to the problem with NFTs.
It’s been a weird week. I started writing this before Russia began its full-scale war with Ukraine and Texas declared war on trans kids, and it felt inappropriate to send out during the week. It still feels slightly inappropriate, but I think this is a post that may offer a welcome distraction from the news (without being too frivolous).
Originally I wanted to make a post about all the media I’m consuming, from music to podcasts, but when I got to the video essay section… I just couldn’t stop. I think I watch about five times more Youtube than 90% of my subscribers. I used to be a Youtube non-believer, but the past 7ish years has seen in explosion of Actually Good channels and content. I want other Youtube non-believers to get with the times.
For those of you who avoid or don’t understand Youtube, you are lowkey robbing yourself of some excellent discourse. But I completely understand why you would avoid a platform in which parents exploiting their children for views is the one of the most popular genres. So I’ve made a list of channels I think you should check out, with a video of theirs I enjoy under each description as a little Costco sample for you. If any of these videos connect with you, or if you find yourself subscribing to any of these channels, let me know in the comments. I’m v interested to see what resonates with you.
FD Signifier
I found FD Signifier earlier this month and was shocked that his content had never made it to my recommendations. However, after watching his video about the state of Breadtube c(aka the leftist side of Youtube creators) called “Breaking Bread”, I realized why. FD Signifier, like many Black creators on Youtube, is not pushed to the algorithm the same way white creators are. I love that this channel features a lot of interviews, something not often seen in video essays in this genre. The video below is about the white unions vs. Black labor, Black fatherhood, and John Henry.
John the Duncan
The first video that caught my eye from this channel was his thorough and somewhat silly Marxist/Foucauldian analysis of the movie Chicken Run. From there, I found that he provides good insight and context about neoliberal politics in both the US and the UK.
Melina Pendulum
Though I took something fairly different out of this movie, I really liked Princess’ take on the ending of Promising Young Woman and SA revenge stories. I generally love Princess’ analysis and how her takes on pop culture sit at the intersection of race and gender. This celebration of Gabrielle Union is just perfection.
Timbah.On.Toast
This channel has been toiling away at nearly feature-length documentaries on one of my favorite topics; Right Wing Grift. The video on Tim Poole’s absolutely absurd and frankly pathetic fence-sitting below was what originally hooked me. But I spent Sunday cleaning and listening to his four part (5.5 hour total) series on Ultimate Dumbass Grifter (UDG) James O’Keefe.
Tara Mooknee
I like that Tara Mooknee’s channel engages with pop culture, sex, and gender in a fun and very funny way. While most leftist video essayists insert humor into their work, Tara’s just feels so authentic and silly. However, her most recent video on amatonormativity below is a bit more serious (though still littered with funny bits) and probably her best work to date.
Noah Samsen
My entrance to Noah Samsen’s channel was through his ire of debate bros. I think very few people will be as into the wonkery of leftwing debate bros vs. left wing video essayists as I am. But it satisfies my tsismis dependency and I honestly love seeing how stupid debate streamers are without ever having to watch their streams.
Folding Ideas
This is the be-all, end-all video about crypto and NFTs. Dan metabolizes all of your thoughts and questions and confusions about NFTs into an enjoyable and understandable (though 2.5 hour) video. It’s honestly the only primer you need to truly understand the insidious world of NFTs. He has nothing but hits on his channel.
José
If you like watching long leftist breakdowns of old TV series, José has extensive videos about Roseanne, Married with Children, Murphy Brown, and more. It is honestly mind-blowing how thorough José is with both his research and analysis. This Golden Girls essay is a thoughtful analysis of how progressive the show really was considering the time period it was produced in.
Yhara zayd
Probably my favorite voice on Youtube, Yhara zayd’s soothing tone talks you through analysis of media often associated with teen girls and LGBTQ fan bases. Her thumbnails are unapologetically femme in a way I really appreciate. (Most creators try to elicit emotional reactions through their thumbnails for clicks. Yhara does not need to deign to such lengths.)
Limmy
Not everyone is into streamers, and I don’t blame them. Watching a stream, especially when watching a clip on Youtube and not live, can be confusing and disorienting and deeply unenjoyable. However, I think Limmy’s stream clips on Youtube are generally worth wading through the confusion. I’ve loved Limmy since Vine, though, so I might be biased. Though he has his own channel, it’s rarely updated with the real goods so I’m linking to a non-official channel that regularly uploads his funniest clips.
Be Kind Rewind
I adore this channel’s breakdowns of Old Hollywood politics and scandals. I’ve learned more about film, production, and media from this channel than probably any other. The creator (I still don’t know her name!) focuses mainly on the lives and careers of actresses, and she delivers information with both authority and the vibe of a best friend. The video below, about Marilyn Monroe’s final film, changed my perspective on Marilyn (and her shit-ass ex-husband Arthur Miller).
Great Art Explained
This channel is my late night, getting ready for bed go-to. He creates lengthy and thorough explanations about famous pieces of art. Unlike most of the creators on this list, this dude is not funny. His videos are honestly pretty fucking dry. But I love longwinded explanations of things, particularly visual art. The wildest video on his channel is the one below on Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights, which I feel like has become more of an internet meme over the past year or so.
If you watch any of the videos in the post or check out any of the channels linked, let me know what you think! Also, if you have any recommendations for me I am always looking for more video essayists to subscribe to. HOLLER IN THE COMMENTS!