The Breathtaking Horror of 'The Electric State'

Рет қаралды 3,486,250

Күн бұрын

Not all nightmares are so easy to wake up from. An exploration of Simon Stålenhag’s brilliant worldbuilding artbook ‘The Electric State.’
---
Buy ‘The Electric State’: www.amazon.com/Electric-State...
Buy ‘Tales from the Loop’: www.amazon.com/Tales-Loop-Sim...
Buy ‘Things from the Flood’: www.amazon.com/Things-from-th...
Follow Simon Stålenhag: / simon_stalenhag
The Electric State is a beautiful nightmare. I don’t know how else to describe it.
I could say it’s an artbook by the brilliant artist Simon Stålenhag that explores an alternate version of the United States in the late 90s. This is true. I could say it’s a story where a young woman and a small robot venture across a ruined landscape littered with the skeletons of terrifying machines. This is also true. I could say it’s a poignant warning of how runaway consumerism can have apocalyptic consequences. This, I believe, is true as well.
Yet none of these descriptions tells the whole. So, for this entry into the archive, I’ll dive deep into this masterpiece of sci-fi worldbuilding. Now, let’s enter the world of The Electric State.
0:00 Enter The Electric State
1:10 A Girl and Her Robot
3:40 The Decay of that Colossal Wreck
5:28 Commercializing a Nightmare
8:45 Monsters in the Mist
12:13 The Dark Network
14:43 Drone Sweet Drone
16:33 Ends of the Earth
18:53 Support The Electric State
Copyright Disclaimer: Under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. All video/image content is edited under fair use rights for reasons of commentary.
I do not own the images, music, or footage used in this video. All rights and credit goes to the original owners.
♫ Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio:
Mysterious Green Fluid, Sanity Unravels, Haddonfield Horror, Alone in the Dark, Dusk, The Witch, The Vanishing, Tenebrae, The Guardian
♫ Additional music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com):
Beauty Flow
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
#CuriousArchive #TheElectricState #Worldbuilding

Пікірлер: 2 600

@idavid8391 Жыл бұрын

I was just looking into this book because of this video when I found out Netflix is making a movie about it. I sincerely hope it delivers even half of the world that this incredible book displays!

@Coldwater-sw6me Жыл бұрын

Don’t get your expectations to high. The book has a pretty high bar.

@SergioLeonardoCornejo Жыл бұрын

There's so much you can make with such bizarre and fascinating settings tbh.

@1331423 Жыл бұрын

Narrator: It didn't!

@brtt1159 Жыл бұрын

holy shit no way

@callumbreton8930 Жыл бұрын

Dear God

@SYD.0_o Жыл бұрын

Simon Stålenhag has been my favourite artist for ages. His work really is a masterpiece

@MichelDood Жыл бұрын

same, even for another genre of art, his paleo art is amongst my fav

@ratboyOwO Жыл бұрын

same, I remember I used to see his art posted a lot on the wallpaper board on 4chan years ago.

@troythefrog4084 Жыл бұрын

I agree. Simon Stålenhag is GOAT.

@vangard9725 Жыл бұрын

The waffle House has found its new host

@hanknewman54 Жыл бұрын

@@vangard9725 🤓🤓

@SlashForeward Жыл бұрын

As someone who spent their childhood living in the Mojave, I think it's the perfect setting for this. There's... nothing out there. Barely any towns, and what towns there are, it's as if they're just clinging to life. There's hundreds of square miles of nothing at all. I love this. In a terrible way, I'd love to explore this world

@sovietunion7643 Жыл бұрын

i only know the mojave from fallout new vegas although im sure the nuclear apocolyspe changed very little about the desert's appeal

@threethrushes Жыл бұрын

Be careful for what you wish. It might just come true.

@edanpino-xt1ph Жыл бұрын

As someone who lives in the desert, I say there is a lot. Sure it isn’t human but there’s a lot

@leociresi4292 Жыл бұрын

Electric State, 50 % humanity, cancer rate 95%

@arcadeassassin7176 Жыл бұрын

It's no wonder that so many post apocalyptic stories take place there.

@Markus_Andrew Жыл бұрын

The concept of people losing themselves in addictive virtual realities is older than many may realize. The first work of fiction to explore this idea was a series of short stories, later condensed into a novel, called "The Man Who Awoke" by Laurence Manning. It was published in 1933. A similar work, "Pygmalion's Spectacles", was written by Stanley G. Weinbaum in 1935. This is certainly not to take away from Stålenhag's magnificent artwork and concepts. Quite the contrary, his work is breathtaking. I just mention it as a point of interest.

@lonewasp 4 ай бұрын

@@marzupalami I don't think the Allegory of the Cave is about losing oneself in an alternate reality, but rather having a blindness to reality. Similar concepts that overlap at times, but not exactly the same.

@hardbrocklife 3 ай бұрын

Reddit = Neurocasters

@leociresi4292 Ай бұрын

Apple Vision Pro!

@klowen7778 5 күн бұрын

Gamers....

@thatkidmamboGaming Жыл бұрын

The sense of melancholy that Simon Stalenhag can convey simply through art is truly baffling

@brownbearboxproductions3458 Жыл бұрын

Devoid colours , dead ambience and empty environments…? That’s the cause surely?

@mrplanet752 Жыл бұрын

Nerd alert

@BroadcastingCN Жыл бұрын

@@mrplanet752 what

@teslashark Жыл бұрын

All he needs to do is to really like the 90s

@DEFGHST Жыл бұрын

@@BroadcastingCN 0:46

@cinders5305 Жыл бұрын

What I really like is how the main villain, the Intracerebral Intelligence, is only spoken of like 4 times, nothing is known about it except that it exists and it's trying to create a physical body to manifest in the organic world. No explanation as to why it does this, what it wants, what its end goal is. Just it's a thing that is there, and it's not going to leave

@ZozoOriginal Жыл бұрын

Why it does: What it wants: And it's end goal is to be able to replicate itself, just like humans. Parasites are we on Earth(as humans killing the organism we live on[the reality]); Parasitic it wants to be[Just like you and me].

@ZozoOriginal Жыл бұрын

Great comment, it got me thinking!

@SandraRodri7726 Жыл бұрын

The purpose is to trap you so you lose your soul and eternal life if you believe in Jesus Christ. AI is the image of the beast

@sovietunion7643 Жыл бұрын

i mean hell for all we know it could be trying to transform humanity into robotic bodies. we know it essentially has all human brains and emotions downloaded into itself, it could genuinely still see itself as human and wanting the best for humanity. of course being a bio-technological hivemind means its ways of doing so will be strange and borderline grotestque but still. i personally think that's even more strange, scary and offputting. not some malicious hivemind AI (which has been overdone in terminator and in so many others) but an hivemind AI made up of human brains that wants to transcend humanity. something that does the grotesque because it sees it as good for the whole. a hivemind that wants to do what it sees as help humanity. not only does it grey the moral lines but it make the reason for all this be.. strange. the catastrophe that ended a nation has melded said nation's minds together into something alien but still thinking. for me that's even stranger and more off putting as its like seeing something you were at a long time ago but different.

@TrashGoblin824 Жыл бұрын

I like how it's just kind of in the background of this world while the story focuses on the main character's journey, somewhat ironically since it's implied there's a connection between them and the hive mind

@kentslocum Жыл бұрын

I'm mostly just grateful that Simon doesn't feel the need to explain or explore every single detail of the lore and backstory of the world he's created through his incredible art. So many game developers, writers, illustrators, and filmmakers leave nothing to the imagination when it comes to the worlds they create. But that sense of mystery and intrigue regarding the unknown is exactly what makes these worlds so captivating.

@alejandrorivas4585 Жыл бұрын

i think there is room for both. Part of what makes 40k interesting is that literally any question you could possibly have has an in lore explanation, and it makes the setting feel extremely fleshed out and real. But there is something to be said of the allure of the unknown.

@kentslocum Жыл бұрын

@@alejandrorivas4585 Good point! I was mainly thinking about the Star Wars universe, where the lore is no longer cohesive, there is extremely detailed information about some things and no explanation for other things, and where any sense of mystery has disappeared because literally anything can happen without following any pre-established rules.

@hermestrismegistus3417 10 ай бұрын

The original Silent Hill game haunted me for years, in part because so much of the story was left open to interpretation

@Selrisitai 9 ай бұрын

I've never seen this "leave nothing to the imagination" thing. Every time I hear about world-building it's in the context of "good" or "I'm not reading a million in-game books just to know what the eff is going on here."

@kentslocum 9 ай бұрын

@@Selrisitai Then you've been extremely lucky. I got fed up with Star Wars precisely because they decided to try to explain and explore every single part of it, only revealing how nonsensical it really is.

@BelelEscabel 8 ай бұрын

Love how you mentioned Norco. Not enough people have played that absolutely magnificent piece of art.

@Zayza12332 8 ай бұрын

Bro I live in louisiana and I was just thinking about narco and then BOOM

@itsd0nk Жыл бұрын

This is an artist with some incredible understandings of lighting, light transport, and how photography functions with these elements. I’m amazed by how accurate his lighting is. Even the dynamic range of his hypothetical camera that’s taking these images seems accurate.

@Salty010 Жыл бұрын

agreed the lighting ambient its invoke the mystery feel and unknown.i heard russo brothers gonna make a movie or series out of it...i dont even know they can do justice about it though...

@josephnerney4823 Жыл бұрын

Have a look at his Instagram, I'd imagine he uses a lot of reference photos but super impressive.

@AJTheInvisibleGirl Жыл бұрын

I thought it was from a movie…

@jacobshort6528 Жыл бұрын

I bought an art book of similar quality to this one from Bud Plant's Incredible Catalog. It is called The Alien Race.

@jacobshort6528 Жыл бұрын

Aliens land a gargantuan ship in the middle of the East River of New York. It is totally automatic. It starts to broadcast a signal calling for the best of Earth's racers to come participate in the Alien Race on their home planet.

@drewcifer1754 Жыл бұрын

A lot of this reminds me of the imagery seen in Half-Life 2. Specifically the idea of old urban areas being overtaken by a sort of alien looking technology, wires, high tech doors built over tenement buildings, abnormal power sources, the awe and fear you get the first time you see the giant Striders (which are essentially huge robots themselves) Top tier stuff all around.

@keithwasntbarrumsing483 Жыл бұрын

This is exactly what I was thinking! What makes the imagery so dramatic isn’t the technology, which looks like reasonably standard sci-fi engineering, but the fact that everything around it is so… normal. It almost seems old fashioned. Of course central to this is Stålenhag’s art. I have seen very few illustrations that give such a convincing impression of light.

@wingy200 Жыл бұрын

@@keithwasntbarrumsing483 I've never seen such realistic water droplets on a window from someone's art before. That blew my mind.

@kenrickbaughman992 Жыл бұрын

Half Life 2 imagery is about ALIEN take over fool, this imagery is in a different reality ding ding

@drewcifer1754 Жыл бұрын

@@kenrickbaughman992 No, the the plot is about an alien take-over, the imagery has a lot more going on artistically and thematically, and as I said there are robots in it e.g. the Manhacks, Dog, and the Striders. I said the imagery here reminds me of some things in Half-Life 2, not that they were the same. You don't need to be an internet tough guy. Think before you type.

@kenrickbaughman992 Жыл бұрын

@@drewcifer1754 dude im an retired 20 year travelling tattooer and artist, Stalenhag story to this movie is the Electric State retard it has nothing to do with Half Life and im not gonna play patty cake with some dork talking about video games pffft.... Watch the movie!!

@Gfors85 Жыл бұрын

Ive actually worked with Simon on a smaller company and I remember seeing his stuff being totally blown away. supernice guy aswell.

@hyakin7818 8 ай бұрын

Patrolling the Mojave Almost Makes You Wish For a Nuclear Winter

@Coldwater-sw6me Жыл бұрын

This is probably by far my favorite piece of printed art in the last decade. Its very nuanced tale about our current obsession with interconnectivity and the very human things that might get lost with it are just topped by stålenhags iconic art. Every single artwork makes you stop and pulls you in. I have it standing visible in my bookshelf together with things from the flood. Thank you for covering this. It really can’t hurt if it gets a more wider public range. Let’s hope the upcoming TV-Series can draw some more people in. Again Thank you a lot. Great work👍

@romanhamala2127 Жыл бұрын

Well, darn... one of us is going to have to change!

@Coldwater-sw6me Жыл бұрын

@@romanhamala2127 no😀 I think we both are pretty fine🫡✌️

@sovietunion7643 Жыл бұрын

i mean yes the internet has its issues and isolation and other problems are at a high but that's not really just the internet's fault. its more of a lack of social boundries and norms around the internet because its so new. give it 100 years and we will have traditions and certain areas to be respected which will make people fair better. also societal trauma from post WW2 area has effected a lot of countries negatively (see declining european birthrates/religocity as a good example) so overall the internet will be a net good once society and social norms catch up to it.

@juimymary9951 Жыл бұрын

What tv series? We getting tales from the loop season 2?

@hillwench Жыл бұрын

Your videos are becoming increasingly artistic over time, your passion for the material really shines through. One note though- Raw Fury is the publishing company for Norco, but the developers were Geography Of Robots.

@MasterShade32 Жыл бұрын

My wife bought me this book as an anniversary gift after she saw I had a couple wallpapers on my PC from it. What an incredible piece of art.

@ravenmeyer3740 Жыл бұрын

If you noticed, even the abandoned cartoon type characters that were supposed to be happy and smiling, looked angry and evil.

@orionbarnes1733 Жыл бұрын

I found this book once in a library when I was too young to understand all of it, but even at the time, I felt that it was something absolutely amazing. I didn't get the book, and just read it in the corner. I left and went home, and I didn't think about it for so long that I completely forgot the details, and I had no idea what it was called, so I couldn't search for it either. I didn't even know how to describe it, and I was beginning to wonder if it was even real. Today I found this video, and it's amazing to see these things that I was starting to wonder if they were just a dream. Now, as somebody with more interest in storytelling, I truly realize how incredible this book is. As somebody raised in the early 2000s, these images have an almost GMod like feel to them.

@nickmaclachlan5178 Жыл бұрын

I have a similar experience with a different, but similar book from my childhood. In the eighties I remember a school friend having a large coffee table type book full of illustrations of long since crashed and decayed Alien Spaceships on far flung planets. I have no idea what the book was called or who the artist was, but I remember being captivated by it and I'd love to find out more and maybe even track down a copy.

@RCAvhstape Жыл бұрын

@@nickmaclachlan5178 Look up Stewart Cowley's "Terran Trade Authority" books, I bet that's what you were looking for. I had one of them in the 80s and a few years ago I found two more my local library was trying to get rid of. Cowley is a Brit who compiled a bunch of unrelated space art works and compiled them into these volumes that loosely tie them together as part of a future history. One of the books is called "Spacewreck" and sounds like what you describe.

@nickmaclachlan5178 Жыл бұрын

@@RCAvhstape Many thanks for that, I will have a look.

@cesarsain3731 Жыл бұрын

How old are you cuz the book was published in 2018

@tnttiger3079 11 ай бұрын

They could be an 18-y/o adult now but 12 or 13 when the book came out tbf

@quanzoboi420 Жыл бұрын

This story has horrified and enchanted me beyond any description of words. I absolutely love Stalenhag’s work here as well as “Tales from the loop” and he has quickly become the artist that inspires me the most.

@Skumrasket Жыл бұрын

Yet you cant spell his name right, shame

@trc8197 Жыл бұрын

@scumbasket wow guy, you've got such a good outlook and perspective to be able to correct someone's spelling of their fav author the way you do. No one will pity you. And no one will recall what you've done or said. Or even how you've made them feel. Fade away little person.

@uhuh9859 Жыл бұрын

@Skumrasket All they did was type å as a, they might not have that letter on their keyboard.

@uhuh9859 Жыл бұрын

@T r C Holy shit that's the biggest overreaction I've ever seen. All they did was say some (probably sarcastic) dumb thing about a misspelling, and you're telling them to "fade away", and that they're insignificant and worthless? Calm down and touch some grass.

@Stp1497 Жыл бұрын

@@Skumrasket not everyone has the letter used in his name, it's from a different alphabet to english.

@Lenape_Lady Жыл бұрын

As impressive as this art is…so is your ability to explain it, to put into words the *feeling* of it all. I wouldn’t have been able to explain how this art makes me feel, but you did. And you did it with such accurate poignancy that it blows me away as much as the art does. Thank you.

@jaykelley103 8 ай бұрын

sycophant

@glowcube1244 2 ай бұрын

@@jaykelley103?

@greenberrygk Жыл бұрын

This really reminds me of the original Siren Head video. I know it seems kind of stupid because of how the internet obsessed over that video, but it really gives off the same feeling of nostalgic dread and of looming lifeless machinery. It shares the sense that whatever these things in the sky are have somehow gone unnoticed for so long despite their incredible size, and only now make their presence known.

@krissleo5374 6 ай бұрын

I was thinking the same thing, especially seeing all the lose wires and stationary structures that may or may not remain stationary and just waiting for someone to get to close.

@Wepawnet 13 күн бұрын

Siren Head video? It was originally an artpiece.

@jeremyruiz4741 Жыл бұрын

I remember buying this book in 2019. As a photographer I was astounded by Simon’s use of atmospheric lighting, especially when the protagonist reaches Linden Point. By far my favorite artist so far.

@doppy8682 Жыл бұрын

During the bit where the Neurocasters were compared to the internet, I momentarily felt like the internet was being judged too harshly because I would argue that it's a tool to be used and that we use it for our livelihoods, but now I wonder if the people in the Electric state similarly had to depend on the neurocasters in a similar fashion

@funkuro Жыл бұрын

Dystopias always make a comment about the society they were created in. Obviously we haven’t had an apocalypse yet, but it’s fun and maybe even necessary to consider.

@Vivian-eo3qc Жыл бұрын

@Capital J good post OP

@johnmicheal3547 Жыл бұрын

Blame on capitalism is like blame your parents for giving birth to you. Just look at the countries that practice capitalism vs countries that worship socialism, you will see a huge different. People were more free and happy when america was practicing capitalism. Now you find yourself working 12 hrs a day to pay for your car to get you to work because america is socialism. Look at china were socialism had always been at their core. People there are practically slaves. Capitalism is at fault just like your parents at fault for giving birth to something so stupid that bites the hand feeding it. Kinda ironic.

@johnmicheal3547 Жыл бұрын

Washing machine is the result of Capitalism. Don't worry, thanks to the progressive socialism you will get to experience hand washing soon and not by choice.

@Vivian-eo3qc Жыл бұрын

@@johnmicheal3547 okay can't even spell your own last name right-kun

@matthewacemusic Жыл бұрын

What a fascinating segment this was, sci-fi needed an incredible work like this lately..if anyone was curious, the main car that the characters are driving is a 92-94 Oldsmobile Delta 98 which was a great car and considered quite high-end in the 90’s! 🤠

@ya_dude_himself Жыл бұрын

Does anyone else think that something like this would make an amazing futuristic-dystopian souls like game? Like you've got the gigantic monsters and the weird zombie-like humans. Combined with a few stranded survivors and upgrades with cybernetic or digital upgrades. I would sell my soul for that game.

@wagahagwa6978 Жыл бұрын

yeah, id love to capitalize on a free market economy, selling cola to any consumer, using money printers and hoping the government doesn't stop them, by making a labyrinth with a building system and armed guards

@Whalebun248 9 ай бұрын

⁠what

@2homies1zinger 8 ай бұрын

only real ones understand this reference.@@wagahagwa6978

@noahsains6227 8 ай бұрын

Its called the surge / the surge 2

@ya_dude_himself 8 ай бұрын

@@noahsains6227 yeah, in between the time I posted the comment and now I actually played them both, loved them lol

@jamzee_ Жыл бұрын

Having visited Norco during a trip through Nola, its the spitting image of “painful industrialism.” It’s so surreal to drive through those streets, to smell the fumes of the factories, the rust in the air even miles away. You can smell the gas even from Kenner. Where we live, we consider the entirety of the Nola side of Pontchartrain as part of New Orleans, but to say the parts of it like Norco are part of New Orleans is a strange contradiction to the picturesque beliefs people have towards New Orleans. In reality, New Orleans is the real life equivalent of a catholic and gothic Night City from cyberpunk. High crime included. It feels the same as these games and images. Its a city gone wrong. Nola screams decay. Norco just happens to be the best example of how it does so. But just like the images… the billboards and commercial chains stand defiant against the decay around it. Theres a few McDonalds in Norco and New Orleans that are surrounded by rusting sheds and rundown houses probably older than the United States itself. Its, creepy.

@unaif.2171 Жыл бұрын

There is a visual adventure also called Norco, set in the close future. I didn't even knew the place existed irl but your description matches the game.

@bluest1524 Жыл бұрын

I agree that McDonalds is creepy. The hideous, mechanized and traumatizing cruelty to animals at the core of their product, the horrific destruction of the planet for profit... one of the most creepy things I've ever seen.

@whit9250 Жыл бұрын

I'm from Baton Rouge. I've driven through Norco many times, and lived in New Orleans. Your description is very accurate.

@DavidDrouant Ай бұрын

@@whit9250 Fat City boy here

@katefresina832 Ай бұрын

I've never been to Norco but I have seen pictures, and good grief they are just as you described it.

@wesleymiles8756 Жыл бұрын

Simon has been my favorite visual artist for years. The landscapes he recreates invoke a kind of nostalgia and familiarity I have yet to see elsewhere. Growing up in the New York/New Jersey region, I find a lot of his pieces to be very reminiscent of the sights I see on a daily basis. Thinking about it now, i’m pretty sure he inspired me to pursue an art career.

@Vivian-eo3qc Жыл бұрын

new jersey hell YEAH!

@bonus_boss Жыл бұрын

i was up all night, i have never seen or herd anything about this author or book, and watching this short overview has me compleatly captivated. The way you Narrated this, covering all of the major points was spectacular. You are very skilled at this Narrative. Thanks for this, you have brought me a new obsession. This type of sci-fi isnt really so far from our actual reality is it.

@mike-pm6xn 8 ай бұрын

The narrator sounds like he has been in this futuristic meager world for a while, as if the controllers finally captured him and told him he must narrate this video or they will end him. It sounds like he's reading from a dark underground dungeon where he is being held by the evil robots and forced to record his voice, with an electric zapper gun aimed at his head.

@tmseh Жыл бұрын

I bought this book last year. Excellent read. I've heard it may be adapted for film/streaming.

@housewilma4904 Жыл бұрын

it already has a show called "tales from the loop" that launched in 2020.

@fireblade295 Жыл бұрын

@@housewilma4904 but not Electric State.

@oriyo899 Жыл бұрын

@@fireblade295 Netflix is making an Electric State movie, full of big name actors (as far as we know). I really wish it was more similar to the Amazon Tales from the Loop adaptation where most of the actors weren't too recognizable, cause imo that makes it fun to see new people instead of the same person we've seen act 500 times. No shade at the casting (maybe Chris Pratt because...really?) but I don't know, could be good, could be really bad.

@RominaJones Жыл бұрын

The movie started filming this October past. There is already a full wikipedia entry for it with the cast list.

@jasondashney Жыл бұрын

@@oriyo899 I 100% agree that "fresh" actors are best. There are about a zillion talented actors out there and you 100% buy into a world more if you haven't seen the person 10 times before, and the effect triples if they've made idiotic comments on social media. There are a few stars I look at in a completely different light because as soon as I see them I'm instantly taken back to their real world lunacy instead of focussing on their current character.

@nix-cipher Жыл бұрын

Absolutely fantastic video! This 'Electric State' is both mesmerizing & terrifying. I hope someone does fanfiction on this.

@Dirtfire Жыл бұрын

Isn't there a movie being made of this?

@nix-cipher Жыл бұрын

@@Dirtfire i dont know,but if its half as cool as the artwork it should be awesome. Im gonna look online

@bogahaneesh Жыл бұрын

@@Dirtfire Yeah the russo brothers are working on it

@uhtred7860 Жыл бұрын

@@Dirtfire Yeah, its going to be Netflixed, so prepare to be disappointed.😏

@NAF275 Жыл бұрын

@@uhtred7860 and?

@DiamondChicken10 Жыл бұрын

I got this book after watching your video on Tales from the Loop, and I'm so glad you made a video on it. The story is incredibly haunting but hopeful in a kind of singular way for the protagonist. It feels like she deserves the ending she gets after her background and the twist at the end of the book are revealed. How you narrate and talk about these stories makes them resonate with the mysteriousness and dread that seems so inherent in most of Stålenhag's work. So thank you for covering these stories and introducing me to a new world of fantastical settings.

@stinkletoes8285 9 ай бұрын

This is the comment I was looking for...Couldint rememebr the name of the show( Tales from the Loop)..really want that second season..?

@StylizedStation Жыл бұрын

The art is beautiful, but I really apprecieate the brilliant writing you did for this video!

@RBLXProd Жыл бұрын

I agree

@MichelDood Жыл бұрын

Simon Stalenhag is a LEGEND. He's also done paleo art which yall should check out since this audience is similarly into spec evo.

@Slovflyer Жыл бұрын

I was about to post this. I've been aware of this group of sci-fi paintings for almost a decade, and about 4-5 years ago found a load of his paleoart on his website. Very cool renditions of traditional favorite dinos/prehistoric reptiles. I actually use those as slideshow wallpapers for my laptop. 😄

@triprpc01 Жыл бұрын

You have to love how only the best modern artists actually have true lore behind their paintings.

@ianevans8939 11 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for bring this title and author to my attention. Stunning artwork and gripping gritty dialogue. Haven't seen anything like this in many years.

@Grim_sights 10 ай бұрын

His art borders on the “AI” look simply because of how uncannily realistic a lot of these look whilst having a derelict and horrifying feel

@BeastyBundy 10 ай бұрын

Probably because they were digitally painted, but this was made far before AI was advanced enough to generate imagery as good as this.

@danbellian5617 9 ай бұрын

His art borders on the “ai” look because despite his constant pleas that people not use his art without permission a bunch of dicks trained their ai models on his art.

@bennbritton 8 ай бұрын

It might be that AIs are trained using this art so actually the AI art has the Stalenhag look

@franki1990 8 ай бұрын

AI doesn't exist

@user-burner 5 ай бұрын

@@franki1990bit if a bizzare way to word it but yeah we only have large scale computing/data models. AI is just a marketing gimmick

@CindyandRicoTheCoonhoundCross Жыл бұрын

I went to the library to get Tales from the Loop and found Electric State instead. Very fascinating concept. She can't use neurocasters due to something being wrong with her eyes.

@TheFirstCurse1 Жыл бұрын

Oh that's super cool. I wish that he would've talked about that.

@joostine3720 Жыл бұрын

i’m not sure when i’m going to be able to get my hands on the book but i’m very curious how it ends, would you care to explain?

@CindyandRicoTheCoonhoundCross Жыл бұрын

@Joostine they get to their old home and the robot is her younger brother.

@noahmook5814 Жыл бұрын

This is like a perfect combination of artistic illustration and storytelling.

@DrCruel 8 ай бұрын

It's really short. Took me about three hours to zip through it, like a graphic novel.

@wesleyward5901 9 ай бұрын

It's amazing how much story is conveyed just by a few pictures. That's a sign of a great artist..

@RanWhenParked1021 8 ай бұрын

15:54 That's a cool AMC Pacer.

@TheGreatAuk Жыл бұрын

Always love it when you talk about some underrated stuff, keep doing what you do best man!

@NeosAvias Жыл бұрын

I ready need to check out more of Simon’s art, just simply due to his sense of scale and atmosphere. That liminality conveyed with his lighting and color is friggin’ phenomenal.

@michaelperks4416 Жыл бұрын

Simon's work is absolutely groundbreaking. Even without knowing the story and seeing some of the images on their own, my imagination was able to run wild. I may have to get hold of the book after watching this.

@sparklespartan935 19 күн бұрын

🏳️‍🌈⚠️Warning ⚠️ 🏳️‍🌈 A big chuck of this book is just the protagonist having flashbacks of her and her girlfriend. She goes into detail about her relationship (kissing, rubbing). It really didn’t seem to have anything to do with the plot so if you’re not interested in a lesbian love story, just enjoy the video!

@bixbites Жыл бұрын

god i love your channel so much. your analyses are fascinating and you've introduced me to so many incredible artists i'd never heard of. cheers!

@Wnick1996 Жыл бұрын

They should make a game out of this. I would love to play it!

@Nindroid-zw7zc Жыл бұрын

There’s a roleplay game on Roblox 💀

@brunitop4753 Жыл бұрын

Brought to you by Hideo Kojima

@RominaJones Жыл бұрын

There is a movie currently in production. If it is successful there will probably be a game too.

@yehooz2150 Жыл бұрын

@@Nindroid-zw7zc there is but after reading the book at looking back to my memories in-game it honestly feels like two different subjects.

@BlackvvvFist Жыл бұрын

The game Generation Zero is seemingly inspired by his work

@7vector Жыл бұрын

I'm so glad this channel exists, the videos are amazing and you can tell how much passion is put into them.

@Thailerr 8 ай бұрын

For anyone who likes this kind of melancholic, apocalyptic, "make you think" artstyle. The video game Neir Automata is an incredibly similar and incredibly well written story that plays on similar tropes and artstyle. Highly recommended. It gave me that feel like after you finish a really good anime or movie that your mind escaped into. Almost empty and sad.

@hoshii_5797 5 ай бұрын

Nah that shits gay asf

@richardskinner4198 11 күн бұрын

This is all completely new to me and completely fascinating ,so thanks for this I would never have discovered the artist without you .

@Erichiper Жыл бұрын

Simon Stålenhag introduced me to conceptual artists while I browsed Art Station a long ago and I've never looked back. I love his work.

@creme-glacee Жыл бұрын

I just wanna say, thanks for making the captions yourself! It makes your already amazing videos accessible to more people and although I don’t need captions to enjoy videos, they improve the experience for me a great deal.

@crypto-radio8186 Жыл бұрын

What captions? @solus_ren? I don’t need captions too? I just wanna say, thanks for making the captions What captions? Netflix is making a movie. It is already in production, release date estimated January 2024. ##@@?This story has horrified and enchanted me beyond any description of turds.

@whannabi Жыл бұрын

Ice Cream

@creme-glacee Жыл бұрын

@@whannabi Yup, it’s my favourite food

@IrishTechnicalThinker 11 ай бұрын

What a fantastic concept and excellent writing with art that's almost hypnotic but terrifyingly brilliant.

@user-zr1og9qx5i 2 ай бұрын

Watching this for the second time and it's very good. The local cancer clinic where I live has video advertisements running in the exam rooms on flatscreen 2'x4' monitors. They run ads for various commercial messages about drugs and treatments while sometimes terminal patients sit trapped in a tiny room alone with the screen, probably wondering WTF am I in this scenario? IDK but this video just reminded me of it.

@heliotoro Жыл бұрын

I love your videos, the editing is so good and your naration is top tier.

@ihaveateaaddictionhelp5876 Жыл бұрын

I'm praying this becomes a show, the horror, mystery, and unique concepts.

@RominaJones Жыл бұрын

Netflix is making a movie. It is already in production, release date estimated January 2024.

@zefft.f4010 Жыл бұрын

Don't worry, soon enough it won't be far from real life.

@minamotonoyoshitsune6081 Жыл бұрын

@@zefft.f4010Ahhahaha I mean you'll never know but very possible

@56postoffice Жыл бұрын

*"Black Mirror,"* anyone?

@henryd.4802 11 ай бұрын

I think this is by far the best series of videos on Stalenhags work that I've seen. I've only read through The Electric State but I've been a hugue fan of his artwork for years now and these are the only good exploration videos into the themes and stuff about his work

@Spork-Art 6 ай бұрын

i picked up 'The Electric State' at the library after watching this video and i cannot recommend reading it enough. There's a wonderful humanity in the story told to us by the protagonist that i'm glad Curious Archive didn't spoil, but I fully sobbed through. there is a familiar and haunting parallel in the main narrator's backstory and the world she's traveling through. Can't thank this channel enough for dissecting the book and inspiring me to read it!

@brothermaleuspraetor9505 Жыл бұрын

I love the way the artwork is rendered. There are many different sections that are rendered differently, giving rise to complexity mixed with photographic accuracy, especially when it comes to light and colour reflection on surfaces. It's as if the artist is aware of Ray-Tracing tech as it is evident in the artwork. Then you see a simplistic interpretation- level quality afforded to the background, such as in mountain ranges and the sky. It's also as if the artist has been influenced by Japanese Anime, such as Appleseed, Gundam or Akira. Love it!

@adolinkholin Жыл бұрын

One of the coolest things I've ever had the opportunity to experience, and such an incredible video covering it as well!

@joeyj6808 3 ай бұрын

You have a real talent for highlighting excellent artists I have never even heard of, and showing why their visions are worth examination. Thank you for doing that! This was another eye-opener for me. Amazing work! And yes, his work IS better than a hug from Stalin!

@neuroisis85 Жыл бұрын

I had all but forgotten about Simon Stålenhag! Thank you endlessly for reminding me!!!!

@benjaminrude3814 Жыл бұрын

I've always been a big admirer of Electric state's work, and it's definitely had an influence on my pixel animation creations.

@victoriouswinner7745 Жыл бұрын

I've never heard of who this is, nor have I heard of this art but this seems really cool. The story is really interesting, and the art is stunning. I'll need to give this a look.

@mrdeer111 Жыл бұрын

🔥🔥

@PZYiPsymon Жыл бұрын

I have just bought the book because of this video. Thanks for a great video and peaking my interest in this artist!

@festersmith8352 Жыл бұрын

The irony. I stumbled onto this video and became intrigued by the narration, visuals, and story. This couldn't have happened without the net. As one who does not enjoy reading, I was a little disappointed by not finding out the end of the story. But I do understand the concept of spoilers. Good video production!

@gatopandillero7899 Жыл бұрын

This channel is great, but the thing I like the most is discovering the works where you get the ideas for your videos

@arcosprey4811 Жыл бұрын

Hey Curious Archive, it’s Ernesto Marrero one of your first subscribers. You’ve grown like crazy! I love your channel. Hope you continue in your success! PS: I changed my name, lol.

@pedrovitsch Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing this! Simon Stålenhag was unknown to me ... til now!

@dropmaestros3680 Жыл бұрын

This book has been one of my favorites for the past few years and I am happy to see that so many people are also interested in this sort of stuff.

@koriw1701 Жыл бұрын

I must tell you how much I enjoy your work. Do you write your own scripts or does someone prepare them for you? Your explanations and observations are often so poignant and deep that I have come to expect to see your videos every month or so. I am very proud to know about someone such as yourself who takes the journeys for us, and then returns to our world to give us your report (that's how it feels!) Thank you once again for a very exciting foray into "Electric State."

@ven7165 Жыл бұрын

id totally be interested in a series about surviving the leftovers of humanity, with the everlooming temptation of submitting to a force that makes you feel at peace in return for your freedom.

@jasondashney Жыл бұрын

You're in luck! It stars Keanu Reeves and had ground breaking special effects.

@MitchellDouglas4933 Жыл бұрын

its called The Matrix

@sovietunion7643 Жыл бұрын

@@MitchellDouglas4933 i would argue the matrix doesn't really take your freedom, you can still move around and live in the late 20th century life as you would. you think and do things of your own devices. hell that's why at the end of the matrix the deal between humans and robots was "ok you can live in real life if you want and anyone can chill in the matrix should they choose" because living in first world country standards even if its fake is nice than living like a refugee in the real world.

@426F6F 8 ай бұрын

It would be so cool to see Simon's work get made into a TV series or a movie, whether live-action or animated!

@MorrisJones-ne1nf 6 ай бұрын

Simon Stålenhags art is so special especially when you’re Swedish, all the settings are so familiar(the ones set in Sweden) I feel like I’ve been in most of his pictures, and the creepy feeling mixed with nostalgia and dejavú is just so… One of the coolest artists ever according to me

@lovesick_loser Жыл бұрын

oh hey, i own this book! its truly heartwrenching, and i feel it's way scarier in a more psychological way than his other books. the artwork is incredible and the story is written in a way that really captures the reader... i still think about how haunting the images of the people in headsets looked!!

@elizabetho.7484 Жыл бұрын

I really love the old commercial clips you've added--so in keeping with the tone of the Electric State. Awesome.

@purplejanew Жыл бұрын

This is incredible! I have been very moved by this video and by the images. Thank you.

@npc5z 8 ай бұрын

There were actually a few images shown here that weren't in the hardback edition I borrowed from my library. The image of the scrappers picking up materials, in particular. Anyone else have a similar experience?

@adamboysen7719 3 ай бұрын

Yes I did too, there is also one of "the agent" talking to a cop that doesn't seem to be in my library copy either, yet I don't see any mentions of an expanded edition or anything online?

@isaaclockwood8039 Жыл бұрын

love this channel, such soothing narration through the most eldritch of topics

@nartsadiku8249 Жыл бұрын

I remember seeing images like this on instagram so this was quite the watch Great job as always and i hope everyone is doing well❤️

@xXJAng3lXxx 8 ай бұрын

As an artist, I'm glad you didn't give away the end cause I was really contemplating stopping the video to buy the book but didn't, but now I'm going to

@Dwendele Жыл бұрын

I've been into this type of art since probably the late 70s. I remember a couple album covers my brother had that were very similar to this and I was always transfixed by the images. I can't believe I've never seen this guy's work!

@TheSteven00 Жыл бұрын

I dig when this script veers off from being about the Electric State specifically, and becomes more about a peculiarly specific aesthetic rising in prominence. I started watching your channel for the spec evo, but I would love to see more of that popular art criticism out of ya

@kaykiekid 6 ай бұрын

The photo-like style of painting is beyond amazing. It's like Edward Hopper, but much sharper with science fiction in mind. 😊❤

@johnnyhunter Жыл бұрын

Pretty sure the machine at 10:00 is a demented Uncle Sam. Complete with starred top hat, wires as beard and the "I want you!" pointing, gloved hand.

@joahnyyssonen577 Жыл бұрын

I love these videos. So excited when a new one comes out!

@britfox7766 Жыл бұрын

Great video, always enjoy coverage of Simon Stålenhag. Clarification: both films of "Village of the Damned" are adaptations of the book "The Midwich Cuckoos", by John Wyndham, better known for writing sci-fi horror stories like "The Day of the Triffids" and "The Crysalids". "The Midwich Cuckoos" is set in England, like most of his books.

@zipliner45 Жыл бұрын

This is some of the best art I have ever seen. And it comes with an interesting story too!

@fizzyizzy8261 6 ай бұрын

I wish some one would make a feature film of this art book. Most innovative work, I've seen in years.

@diogene_s8032 Жыл бұрын

Simon Stalenhag is one of the best artists I've ever heard about, and I'm trying to get a hold of all of his books (I recently got Things from the Flood). I love what you did in this video. Great work!

@awsomeness Жыл бұрын

What a masterpiece! I’m working on writing a post-apocalyptic road trip novel and definitely want to pull from some of these visuals for the setting.

@sgringo 9 ай бұрын

Superb analysis and very well written and delivered narration.

@dlibby4979 8 ай бұрын

Sublime. Giant Trolls. I imagine the stories of his youth gave inspiration. 14:23 reminds me of the Night Hawks painting by Edward Hopper.

@PopeIvanThe11th Жыл бұрын

I didn't get a notification, but thankfully I found this video. Keep up the good work man! You deserve every sub and like you get. And also Simon S. is one of my favourite artists covered on this channel.

@thegammingbolaschannel7529 Жыл бұрын

You should explore the plane of New Phyrexia from Magic The Gathering as it is such an interesting yet twisted world of mechanical horrors

@jimihatten1958 Жыл бұрын

Fuck wizards.. you're cool, just had to say it.

@Riddle.Monster Жыл бұрын

Agreed

@marleywalker3284 8 ай бұрын

I've been trying to find this type of art for ages!

@scoopy8798 Жыл бұрын

WOOOOO YEAH BABY WOOOOOOO

@nemesis_is_here_04 Жыл бұрын

That’s what I’ve been waiting for! that’s what it’s all about wooooo!

@filth1744 Жыл бұрын

I remember being fascinated by the amazing artwork when seeing this book in my local store. So glad you are covering this piece of content.

@cubbyduck9018 Жыл бұрын

The fact that when the people are laying in their backs the Nerocasters look like gravestones is so terrifying to me

@leociresi4292 8 ай бұрын

The people sitting in a abandoned church holding what appears to be fleshy computers is disturbing

@Ramekinnz 11 ай бұрын

this feels like a silent warning of what might become of our nation if we continue to feed into mass consumerism

@elliejohnson2786 Жыл бұрын

I love how you've evolved beyond just showing off artwork, and now you're actually comparing and contrasting it with other forms of artwork, and really making something tangible here instead of a video-form of their original work. Really impressive stuff, keep it up, CA!