The eternal issue of loving something so much you want to make it your profession, but then struggling with fact that it is your job and your survival depends on the success of your projects.

"In the beginning there was darkness, and then Joe Chill shot Martha and Thomas Wayne. Let us pray." The best thing I have ever heard.

I like how the title of the video lacks context

this is what happens when you ask an analytical person to come to your festival and describe their experience. from anyone else, you could expect rankings out of 10 or something. but from Dan, you get an essay about art as it relates to capitalism and a critique of society. i absolutely love that you described the process you went through to create this video. if that is how your brain works, it's a miracle you manage to actually produce content. congrats to you for figuring out how to synthesize what must feel like an electrical storm in your head. i just discovered you recently and i can't get enough of your videos

The transcript of this video should be put in a museum. Just on a technical level it is already a masterpiece.

I realized watching this that you are my favourite cultural critic by some margin.

You know that feeling when you are creative and are proud of many works you've done, but then you meet a person who is just so brilliant and seemingly light years beyond your own talents, to the point where you look back at your own work and almost view it as pedestrian? That's what this channel is to me.

After watching this video I've gained three (3) new vocabularly words I have no idea what to do with and a vague sense of existential unease. 3/5

I gotta say I like your videos alot more with a person talking to me versus a box puppet.

This video is the molecular gastronomy of videos. Dan broke what it is to make a video of this type down into its core elements and rearranged and presented them in such a new way they could be unrecognizable but once everything melts together you can tell what it is instantly. It's awesome, this is legitimately high art.

"Possibly the last superhero movie of any real cultural importance at least for the next 15 to 20 years" That was adorable

Calgary has an underground film festival? Calgary Alberta? I have been living here for a decade, half of which I spent working at a movie theater and I never heard of it. ... Googled it. Damn, I need to get out more. I could have been learning all kinds of things about a culture I really care for. What else am I missing out on in this city?

'a dour, exhausting ode to creative bankruptcy' brilliant

If you've been kidnapped, do this video in front of a greyish background.

I'd just like to take this opportunity to let you know that your work really does affect people. The video that really made an impact on me specifically was the one about fight club and toxic masculinity. Fight club perfectly symbolizes a struggle I've been having for some time now, namely the fact that, at least to my mind, I don't fit in society's, and maybe more importantly my own perception which stems from this societal definition, of a "man". This has led me to doubt my place in my personal relationships with friends, women and my self-image. I was aware of this fact for some time, but I was never able to really define the issue clearly, which is why I've been having a hard time dealing with it. The way you explained the themes of the movie really helped me to get a clear picture of the issue, and the way you explained the symbolism at the end of the movie really helped me to deal with it. Since watching the video I've been feeling a lot more comfortable with myself and with my interactions with the people around me, even though the toxic masculine image of a man is still (and perhaps always will be) the predominant one. For this I'd like to offer you my sincerest gratitude. And also to the Chuck Palahniuk and the makers of the movie, but I highly doubt they'll ever read this comment. :P I've been doing my best to share the video with as many people I can, because I think it is a large and perhaps a somewhat underestimated issue young men are facing. Keep up the great work buddy!

As a Dane, I feel the need to say something: At 8:07 you say "Men and Chicken starred Mads Mikkelsen, because without the brand power of a named actor, the film would have never been made". This statement only works on an internatonal stage, not on a Danish one. In Denmark, that was one of the great movies of the year it came out. All of the cast of the movie are extremely poplular in Denmark. It is not a niche movie in Denmark. It is a tripple-A movie in Denmark. Just food for thought.

Listening to you talking is a great delight. You are eloquent to the point I would not care if you told me you were sleeping with my girlfriend.

You absolutely cannot be a revolutionary all the time. When you live in a capitalist society, you must engage in capitalism in order to survive. You can't just refuse to play unless you're already rich or suicidal. I've yet to come up with a third option.

I can't believe it came out in 2016. It feels like it's always been with us.

That was really good. Reminded me of a simple explanation for why, for example, No Man's Sky received so much negative press and consumer attention than other games which under-deliver on their promises. But at the same time, art being always stuck in its context is a pretty sad notion. Nothing is truly universal or transcendent. After some time, time leaves the work behind and its dating become inevitable. Oh well, I guess I can still hope that that forward movement is in the direction of something better, whatever that means.

The music is a little too loud sometimes, but I like this video! It's a neat perspective.

This was good but the loud chiptune music that you faded in halfway through was very obtrusive

"It's about small deaths" La petite mort? Was that a sly pun?

I was trying to figure out where this was going, and that last line blew my mind. It's not something we think about or talk about a lot in our normal day to day. If someone asks you "Was *that* movie good?", and you say "Yes", they accept that at face value. They don't respond with, "Well is that because you were predisposed to like that movie because you follow the franchise, or out of a need to feel like you didn't just waste money on a ticket?" No one asks you about your preconceived notions going into a movie, often I'll like a movie if it can surprise me. The biggest sin a movie can commit for me, (and maybe just me) is to be predictable. This was a well phrased piece that has me examining my own preferences, bias, and as you so excellently put it: context.

You sir, deserve a clap. I saw myself saying, "Right?!" to every other sentence in this video essay. I must also comment that the speed at which you deliver your ideas is refreshing to those that have no problem understanding them. Elsewhere, communication tends to be a can't-have-it-all scenario in which complexity and speed never meet. But here, as the extense of your vocabulary guarantees its understanding, you also never bother to stop to let the thoughts sink in. The lack of breaks is delightful if the viewer doesn't need them. And this is something I have found throughout your entries as I binge through them. Congrats, good sir.

This video so adequately describes the mixture of emptiness, existential despair, and hatred that at my lowest points this capitalist society makes me feel that with my words I can only call oblivion. Thank you, Dan, for giving form to those feelings.

It's after midnight. I have work in the morning, and have been meaning to get up even earlier to make jogging a part of my morning routine. Probably not going to happen now, as I barely have enough time to get a decent nights sleep as is. Worse yet, after watching this video, I'm on LUMA Quarterly's website now, watching other videos in the same publication this one came from. It seems a decent nights sleep is even less likely now. That's the context behind this comment when I say that this is a great video essay and I hope you can put up more soon.

You're channel has been here the whole time? I'm thrilled! I've just been binge-watching (again!) the folding ideas "Modern Man in Media" videos. They're still great and clearly you're still great. I'm so happy I found this

Dormmamu, I've come to bargain.

Yes! The brilliant return of >10 minutes Dan. Great video.

Dan is such a powerful writer and speaker that i don't think there's many others I'd be more terrified of if they decided to critique something i made. How would he find my DND campaigns? I don't know. But i do know that if he chose to do so, i would be metaphorically immolated in the first 30 seconds

This script is such a strange mix of poetry and analysis, and I'm absolutely enamored

You are such a downbeat dude so much of the time and we love you for it

Dan, I find your videos entirely fascinating, amply intelligent and thought-provoking, and wonderfully addictive. Great work, sir. Also, major ups for having a VO/narration style that is conversational and human - a stark contrast from the innumerable creators who deliver in an absolutely mind-numbing loop of exhaustively repetitive inflections.

Ah gosh this video makes me hyperaware of my ahdh I cant focus on anything because of the background music aaaaa

Watching this video was almost like getting a view into my own head when I'm seven levels down in the rabbit hole of self-deprecation on my own writing. The way you described your self-analysis and how your own context affects your way of thinking when you're on an assignment really got to me; I suddenly felt as if I understood exactly how you were feeling even though I have no frame of reference except my own experiences as a writer. There were a few points in the video where the script felt a little dry, but on further thought I started to think that it was possibly intentional. Not to be dry, but to present your thoughts in a more formal manner. It brings across your ideas about context even better. Thanks so much for sharing this, I was deciding whether to subscribe and this is the video that cinched it! I'm really looking forward to perusing your work. Cheers!

“All creators are beholden to the realities of process and the pragmatics of finding an audience” Ive just come from A- thinking about your medium is the message vid and B from reading an essay on mysticism and how all mystics experience what they experience through the language and lens of their context.... This essay is interacting with those in a beautiful way now i am imagining not only mystics using the tools at their disposal to experience and explain, but also (theoretical) divine creators trying to reach humans in any way they can.... dealing with the pragmatics of finding an audience. Ha.

Mate. I love you. thanks for everything you make.

I rewatch this video all the time and always get something new out of it, it's a really good essay

The shots of the film festival in the opening quickly become a sort of appeal to authority, which within the context of this video, is humorously perfect.

Why did the volume of the music go up around 9:20

Dan's video essays should be a philosophy or filmmaking module available at all universities.

This is years old, and this might seem strange attached to this video in particular, but this video gave me a revelation about a project I'm working on, and I just wanted to say thanks.

I can only get half way through the video its has instilled in me a feeling of sickness and anxiety maybe its the speed in which you are speaking or the things you are saying but i can't finish this or maybe it is the samwich i had for lunch

I found this channel a few months ago and very much liked it, but stumbling across this video has made me significantly increase my estimation of how much I can read into all the other videos. Going a little meta in this video has shown me how much care and attention is put into the craft of writing for this channel.

Now, I know it's only a detail, but you use this detail to prove your point. Mads Mikkelsen has been an A-list actor in Denmark decades before he broke through in Hollywood. Danish produced films are weird regardless of the lead actor - so I'm fairly sure "Men and Chicken"/"Mænd og høns" would've been made even without him or his (now) international fame. (Plus the film is starring a lot of well-known Danish actors, without international fame). A little fyi :) I really liked this video though. However, it was hard to hear you sometimes due to the music being too loud and frankly a bit obnoxious, when you were talking about quite philosophical things.

I'd just like to say that this is very well written, and you have a great sense of vocal pace, on top of the fantastic ideas proposed

This was so good. Thanks for making it. It helped me understand the discomfort I have when making things.

It's mid-2020 and I can't remember what living in 2016 was like well enough to tell if the first 22 seconds of this is sarcastic or just completely wrong.

You motivate artists to do what they do or do something of which they are afraid of, you add perspective, clear and different one.

Music is a bit loud dude. Thanks for the insights!

“In the end, we and what we bring with us is the most important context there is”

8:08 - Old video at this point, but, as a Danish fella, this bit stuck out to me. The point that Men & Chickens wouldn't have been made without Mads Mikkelsen being popular isn't really true. First, pretty much every actor in that movie is a well-known actor here. Second, movies like Men and Chicken are kind of common in Denmark. And the director, Anders Thomas Jensen, has made similarly grotesque comedies since at least 2000 (Adam's Apples, the Green Butchers, Blinking Lights, all of which were pretty popular here, and they all star Mads Mikkelsen). Examples of other similar movies by other directors are Terkel in Trouble (a children's movie) and In China They Eat Dogs.

I aspire to create something true to me as I can. This video really had me thinking about everything that I want to do and how I want to do. And what is really me and what I want to do compare to what I'm feel compelled to. Anyways I truly appreciate your videos, and please continue to be true to you. Because it is truly inspirational.

it feels so weird to see video of people standing close together in large groups indoors from 2020

honestly, this is one of my favorite videos on the internet

Thank you so much for making this video. I was struggling with this concept and your video just put everything that I was worrying about into words.

I didn't really get the thesis of this video

Your videos rock! I am a complete amateur and even I can follow what you're saying. Kudos!

You are my new greatest inspiration!

I enjoy your series. Thanks!

i subscribed and love this, but the music is loud sometimes and its hard to focus though @_@

I got Charlie Kaufman vibes from this.

Drink up every time the guy with curls says "like". You'll get drunk in less than a minute.

wow. this was fantastic

"Lazy inertia" You win the word-of-the-day today, sir.

you sir, are personification of meaningful white noise

I don't think I've ever seen an existential crisis on KZfaq before

This may be your best video because you are speaking of your broad experience and relating it to what you love and don't like. I look forward to the next piece which catches that rhythm.

Fascinating.

Even though I missed Foldy, I really love this video and make a great point about how we interact with commercial art and how we interact with not really commercial art and only can be seen through festival. It is really great.

9:00 welcome to postmodernism, bby lol. I am wondering though if there will come a time that we will stop asking if there is any real act of rebellion....but to be fair, I think it's kind of already happened. I think people accept that there really isn't now. I think that maybe we've moved into a new stage where the question isn't even really asked , but I am not sure if i can put my finger on that right now yet.

Man, all your videos are insightful and interesting. Haven't left any disappointed and always learn something new. Im not even a film student, just enjoy learning about the art behind the scenes. Thanks man keep up the quality work

the introduction describing bvs as the 'last important superhero film for the next 15 years' is kinda funny in the wake of infinity war

Only seen three videos and already hooked. Right on, mate. Keep going.

5:06 I would love to read that essay sometime

I think you're making a lot of great points, through your personal discoveries (my favorite form of story telling). I think, if you come at it from the assumption that making money or a successful film makes that film no longer art, then this conflict will always arise. Money is a physical expression of what each individual values. While it isn't the only expression, it is the most universally transferable one. Every artist hopes their work will be appreciated and valued, so why would you feel guilty about hoping for a large audience to express that value. The frustration comes in, when you realize a large majority of the population doesn't appreciate or value highly artistic pieces. Part of this is because they are intended for a niche, smaller groups of people value content that is focusing specifically toward them. It can create a more dedicated audience (one that is willing to spend money to see your film at a convention) but maybe a smaller one. I think you're asking, in part, if one should compromise their artistic choices for the sake of hitting a larger audience, along with wishing that a larger audience valued your particular niche. Cons allow the opportunity to get your content to a larger audience, with you being confident that, once the larger audience has seen your work, they will then value it. This confidence or even hope is not the same. Selling and promoting a piece you really believe in is not the same thing as compromising something you really believe in, in order to sell. BUT, there is never a guarantee that your niche content will EVER be appealing or valued beyond that audience, even with a large marketing campaign.

I love your videos man, Your channel is really something special

I'm still mad at myself to ever care enough for BvS to not only buy a ticket in the starting week but to be exited for it. It was a Zack Snyder movie, I knew what I was in for. In my local multiplex it didn't even run in the big premiere theater, but in a mid size one. It was half full.

All I can think about after watching this is: "My eyes have been opened, and I don't like it."

I love your videos, they're very thought provoking!

If I can say nothing else about this guy- he speaks rather professionally, officially, as if he's only trying to state objective facts with either his personal bias as far removed as is humanly possible or at the very least acknowledged that it is/ may be present. I respect that, while others may be turned off to his monotone speaking. The things he says, his mannerisms and the way I think he intends them to be received, don't need if not would actually be made worse by multi-tonal speaking. He even speaks of some script ideas he scrapped because they didn't meet up to his own standards and the perceived standards of his audience- as if he's actively trying to avoid being unprofessional. I like that. Other Cinema KZfaqrs tend to be reviewers, expressing vitriol at bad movies. This guy may express disdain in passing, but otherwise doesn't really express hatred for bad movies the way someone like the Nostalgia Critic and his copycats would. This is only the 2nd video I've seen of his, so I don't want to speak prematurely, but I think I may have a new subsciption on my hands.

I only understood about 30% of what you said.

Can someone explain what this video is about? I heard “Mads Mikkelsen fucked a chicken,” and I had a dissociative episode

Great channel, great video. I like listening to the points you're making. Regardless of whether you're right or not, it's food for thought. I hope you keep it up.

Interesting reminder of how much the audience brings with them to the film. I'm not always as interested in the subjects you discuss, but i like to hear you unfold your ideas.

This was an interesting video that wasn't quite what I was expecting; probably on of your best yet despite not actually being about any one theme.

Simply brilliant

Man, this is such a uniquely intelligent video. Context doesn’t really get a ton of good expression on the internet, it’s usually felt more than heard. This script was great, but dense:)

Mads has been in all of that directors films though, I think he may be something closer to a muse.

I'm pretty new to your channel but I would just like to say that your work is deeply appreciated. I know that channels like this are bound to be attacked by GAMERGATERZ or whatever they call themselves, but this content is so important and necessary in a culture like this. Don't stop until you're satisfied.

I really like your channel but I wish the titles were more clear. I had no idea what I was watching until you explained it in the video. And I did watch it only cause I watched enough videos to trust you on that. Still I wish all your titles could explain better the content. Also as other people said the music was weird and off. That said, I could listen to you all day long. Thanks for being intelligent on the Internet.

This might be an average conversation inside a Beat generation Jazz club

Keep up the great work!

QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS

So...CUFF is enough? ...I'm so sorry.

"The last superhero film of cultural significance for the next fifteen to twenty years." *Cue Wonder Woman theme*

Epistemology 101: your experience of a thing is fundamentally subjective and can wildly alter its impact upon you. But it does NOT alter the thing.

I had to double take when you started talking about Men and Chicken because I remember watching it a few years back. Need me a blu ray.

my 2020 hindsight is even better