I think the big thing that strikes me about American Psycho is that Patrick has no real control over his own life. Despite being one of the most privileged people in America, he is invisible. He struggles to stand out among his wealthy peers, who all look and act the same way. The book spends a large amount of its word count describing every person's clothing and appearance, but they're still indistinguishable from each other. This is why he confesses his crime and desperately wants to get into Dorsia; people will actually see him and remember who he was.
There is something quite interesting about the clothing in the book, they don't match, meaning that A. Bateman is unaware of the actual clothing they are using (witch is my head cannon) or B. They dress really goofy
Funny thing about Dorsia, in the book he goes there because his brother gets them table just by telling them who he is. Bateman could have always gone to Dorsia but refused to name drop his dad to get in as a point of pride.
Christian Bale made an interesting point in an interview that Bateman effectively lacks any subconscious. he does nothing without it being the result of a calculated decision, and nearly has a mental breakdown when facing any situation that does not proceed according to a formula he can identify and calculate an outcome from. It's no wonder he's completely insane when he's not only aware that nothing he does has any consequence or meaning, but is unable to be unaware of it
A lot of people lack sub conscious. That voice in your head that's your own, the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other? Yeah some people just straight up lack that. A symptom of easy lives?
I love the little line "it's the pursuit of happiness that's guaranteed." So many people falsely connect money and success to happiness, and go to the ends of the earth to get it. What they don't consider are the things that actually make them happy, and how to pursue more of that. It's why artists and musicians seem to have the most passion for their work when compared to office workers, as nobody finds number crunching or office politics enjoyable, but everyone enjoys a good song. To contribute to what makes you happy is in and of itself a self-perpetuating cycle of enjoyment, even if you reach a few road bumps. It's what drives TH-camrs to create good content, or a construction worker helping to create a new skyscraper. The work can vary in how difficult it is and the type of difficulty, but it's still working to create and contribute. Those who pursue material wealth fundamentally do not understand this, and it feels like their existence is poisonous as their status is viewed as desirable. Money is a means to an end. Treat it that way.
It's because the desperate lack of money leads to misery, so people think -- a total influx of money must lead to joy Money enables agency, and as someone who is not well off, I can recognise what I can and can't do because of my income
@@accountnamewithheld Yeah money is certainly not a cure-all, but people who say money can't buy happiness have never experienced soul crushing poverty.
This is a very idealistic take. Not entirely wrong but it ignores the fact that undesirable work is inevitable. Taking out the trash, building a house, exercising to keep a healthy weight, carrying a child for nine months, etc etc. And yet we do it for a delayed reward ie: shelter, food, a bouncing little baby. Pain is inevitable but joy is too. The issue is keeping things balanced. (Saying this as an artist btw ♥️)
This. This right here almost perfectly explains why I dream of becoming an artist and illustrator. May seem far fetched as it is now then ever but I’ll do my best!
I have an interesting history with The Great Gatsby. It was the first book we read in 11th grade lit, and my teacher definitely did a great job teaching it to us. However, maybe a week after the test, my teacher disappeared and was never heard from again. The school hired a new teacher to take her place, and that teacher ended up being the worst teacher I ever had as well as the worst person I ever met. In the end, we all bonded over how much we hated the new teacher and wondered whatever happened to the old one.
That happened to me freshman year and senior year. Idk what these English teachers are doing. I had 3 different teachers both years. I didn't even bother taking the AP test as a senior because the last 2 teachers barely taught us at all and sometimes they didn't even show up for class.
I only ever had one teacher disappear, music teacher. She was great... though she got caught embezzling funds meant for the music program. I honestly didn't blame her, teachers are paid for shit. lol And trust to script her replacement was a hard-assed, no nonsense jerk who gave off vibes that he has a torture dungeon in a cabin in the woods somewhere... He was always weirdly intense, and his demeanor reminded me of a violent cult leader prior to demasking. >__>
English teachers get pregnant halfway through the year and disappear off the face of the Earth permanently afterwards. Most people I know who I've asked say their English teacher randomly disappeared one day. Common story.
I like how people who are well off complain about money not making them happy, but when offered to give the money away then they clench onto it like their life depends on it.
"it's the pursuit that's guaranteed" I love this line, so ingenious. edit: wow that's a lot of likes, tnx, didn't even notice until now. Why I meant it's ingenious, because seeking itself implies lack thereof, so to truly find happiness one has to cease seeking and turn inwards instead of looking for it outwardly in endless pursuit of status, wealth and other vain values imposed by society. You can have it all right here and now in simple things, just start appreciating the things you already have instead of looking for what you don't have. There's nothing wrong with you inherently, nothing to be obtained, you just need to realize your true nature beyond the ghostly apparitions and shadows of "Plato's cave", you rather need to remove "the excess" that veils your cognition to a true reality, this is why ancient Greeks said "know thyself", it was a precursor to Jungian concepts of shadow integration and individuation, to become whole, "holy" like a saint, to fully individuate means to transcend the world of duality and integrate both aspects into a singularity that operates on a cosmic level of consciousness, this is Christ consciousness. You need to reprogram how your mind has been conditioned and trained, constantly looking for approval and acceptance by society, or torn between divisive political polarizations. Remove yourself from any cults or ideologies that bind your cognition, it's a weakness, the need to belong, means to conform. Don't idolize anyone, learn how to connect with people horizontally instead of vertical hierarchy. Know that we are all equal in face of death, always know that no matter what. People are mostly afraid of freedom, the door is open and yet they are afraid to leave the cage, they fear freedom more than anything, because they've never felt freedom, all they know is false comforts of conformity. You need to start with yourself, don't depend on approval by anybody, self-love is the answer. Just be simple and ordinary, and yet strong from inside out, when you try to appear what you are not this is when the devil takes over, and you spend your entire life unsuccessfully trying to live up to your unreal fantastical expectations, this is what makes you miserable. Even in neurology there's a clear distinction between dopamine (instant gratification) and serotonine (long lasting happiness), the more pleasure you seek more unhappy you become, while on the other hand you can never have too much happiness.
Ever watch the pursuit of happyness? People get so mind blown thinking it’s what they deserve when it’s clearly not. Sorta like the same people who think certain privileges we have here in America are “rights”.
You like Bret Easton Ellis? Their early work was a little too new wave for my taste. But when American Psycho came out in '91, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole story has a clear, crisp message, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism... that really gives the nuance a big boost. He's been compared to F. Scott Fitzgerald, but I think Bret has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
You like EmpLemon? Their early work was a little too "meme-wave" for my tastes. But he really came onto his own, not so commercially but artistically in '18 with 'Neutral Response'. The whole video has a crisp, clear, fast paced dense writing style he is known for now. To take a simple theme and to explore it through history and pop-culture to truly drive an important question, an artistic statement even. His videos would soon grow longer in length, allowing more nuance to seep through, the scripts become more conceptually evolved and begin to make more profound statements, with a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
As a Native American myself, who has spent many hours studying my peoples past, culture, and heritage. - I have to point out how unbelievably asinine and inaccurate the assertion is that America’s Natives were living in peace and harmony before the arrival of European explorers. Nothing could be further from the truth, America’s Natives were split up into many independent nations. Nations that were at war with each other for centuries, that practiced slavery, and all kinds of other forms of brutality. And I don’t say this to be disparaging, only because it’s the truth. What was happening on the American continents is no different than what was happening in all corners of the world at that time. I just think it’s time to put to bed forever these myths of a people living in utopian state only to have it destroyed by evil outsiders, because it’s simply not true.
Thank you, I'm glad someone else brought that up. One of my main gripes with natives in my family and friend groups is that they perpetuate that idea that all natives were peacefully living on the land
only idoits say native americans lived in utopia. the point is america was build off of genocide and has to give land back and stop whitewashing history as some sort devine foundation of a country
@@dropyourself the idea behind bringing this up isn't to justify genocide or the disease exchange, obviously, but to give these people agency as human beings. Often the subtext behind depicting the native Americans as a one dimensional nomadic utopia is that they wouldn't deserve sympathy if that wasn't the case. Based on how Emp covers the history of the Seminole in his Talladega video, he's probably aware that this idealized view is inaccurate, so he was probably just paraphrasing something Columbus said to try and illustrate his larger point here. The comment you replied to seems to just be pointing out that including the "best people in the world" bit without adding more context is misleading and trope-y.
@@NicJJiacGive them agency to justify genocide? I agree it's something that doesn't have to be hidden beneath a utopian lie. But gotta be honest, all that "truth" is gonna do is give white supremacists arguments.
The idea of being rich, having it all, and still not feeling fulfilled has always reminded me of a quote I saw a few years ago: "Sometimes the hardest part of the climb is getting back down" - Shiey 2016
As I get older I realize that all that stuff I wished I could have if only I had more money is just...stuff. Empty pointless distractions from the monotony of the every day. Family and community is the real aspiration.
You’re part about Tony’s life entrapping him reminds me of a wuote my dad would say. “You may believe the eagle flies free but he is still bound from freedom by the necessity to feed, sleep, and breathe”
One of my favorite speakers is quoted in a much nicer and polite way that I'm about to present, but essentially he states: "Even the rich and powerful have to shit every day."
@@graye2799 Sounds like very basic observations about America. Your freedom only extends as far as you are able to eat, sleep, and continue breathing; all things which are not guaranteed to you by virtue of being here. They could be, in theory. But then what would truly separate the wealthy from the poor? The idea of which the wealthy simply cannot stand.
Great video emp, you're a hundred percent right about how children assigned Great Gatsby never really appreciate it. In my class we were essentially taught to laugh at Gatsby, completely neglecting the tragedy of a man who achieved his dream only to find it brought him no joy.
I feel like that's a common thing to happen in school. People see that there's a great lesson to be learned somewhere, be it a book or general history, and figure that everyone should experience it. But when these things eventually do make it into classrooms, students simply lack context as they haven't seen enough of the world yet. What good is the best analysis of our world if you can hardly recognize it as such? Sure it does at the very least familiarize them with the topic, but when this happens in a nonsensical context it's not too unlikely that people come to hate works they would definitely enjoy later in life.
These were all works of fiction more about the authors than anything people try to make it about, the closest one gets is Bret Easton Ellis but it was his father who was wealthy, his success paled in comparison.
my experience with the great gatsby in school was at the end of the unit we had a "gatsby day" where everybody was supposed to dress up and party like the ultra-wealthy. idk if that's a bad thing. maybe if every day was gatsby day we would've learned something
I'd like to praise my Highschool english teacher, because he actually taught my class Great Gatsby in a very interesting way where the essay that we had to write about it was a comparison to a topic of our choosing. We were allowed to take a topic or lesson we thought we learned from the book and compare it side by side with something historical or something that was happening in modern day which was very interesting. Idk how much the rest of my class got out of the assignment but for me it was one of the best essays I had ever written in Highschool.
“before the United States, the world was run on bondage. Until somewhere along the way we figured out that you can make people just a little bit harder by convincing them that the freedom they desire is sitting just out of reach. Is it a fantasy we follow or just a delusion” Damn that hit hard
@Cosmic Munkee I mean there were systemic differences in American and Latin American colonial foundations. Latin America was seen as a money pumped by Spain and Spain didn't develop their colonies as much. However most Criollos (people who moved go Spanish colonies) moved there for the money
The Haitian revolution is partially a result of taking that slim bit of hope away. Before the racial laws of the late 1700s, some slaves were allowed to work on their day off(Sunday) and get paid, or sell the excess food that their plot of land produced. They could in theory(not reality) buy their freedom. Blacks and whites were indistinguishable under the law, and black slaves yearned to one day be a black slave owner. Once they began to be discriminated against based on race, the free blacks revolted, and the slaves soon after.
There was once a house party hosted by a very wealthy and famous individual, I can't remember his name. Two guests, novelists Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller, sit and admire his art collection. Vonnegut says "Look at all of this wealth the host has. He makes more money in a day than you did in your whole life so far" Heller replies: "Yes, but I have something he'll never have." Vonnegut replies with "What?" to which the second one says: "Enough."
It's terrifyingly prophetic how much Jay Gatsby's life mirrors that of Scott Fitzgerald's life, even in the events that happen to Fitzgerald after writing The Great Gatsby.
Facts man. Nothing in the physical real will ever be enough. I get joy from God. I love how PewDiePie waits till his only pair of shoe wears out before buying a new one; he finds it exciting since he can buy anything. When I get something I've saved up for, it's cool and all, but it doesn't change a depressed mood. Art, socializing, & being in nature make me happy. Got some more deep quotes from Jesus. 👇 Matthew 6:19-21 comes to mind for this topic. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." -Jesus And here's what Jesus says about the old money (Mark 10:25) "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." -Jesus The way we view what we have is important. We don't always have to give up all we own, but they're not what's important; we should recognize that and be willing to let things go if they get in the way of what God wants for us. I encourage those willing to give up the pursuit of money for joy & eternal life to visit a church. :'D
@@JSRMedia that was awesome and made my day man I have been working on a book and part of it or a lot of it is about working on your spiritual gifts and how work is good but don't make it your identity. I see you mentioned art and that is extremely important to me personally I feel that (and for me anyway) film and music helps build a connection with God. He gave me the gifts to use and use them for his glory and the benefit of others. (And not to plug my channel) but I feel inspired by content like this because the message is good and we need more of that I want to create content that gives depth and insight and is thought provoking as this is. I also want us to start really considering the children in our world. Look at the top 50 songs most are explicit and the ones that are not promote things children don't need. So I ask this where is there music? What about the children?. Anyway my rant is over and thank you for commenting
There is a late 19th century American poem that is relevant to this subject. It's called "Richard Cory" and it's by Edwin Arlington Robinson: Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim. And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich-yes, richer than a king- And admirably schooled in every grace: In fine, we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place. So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head.
@@purpleprinc3 It's just a bot meant to trick people into giving views to that video. "Here's the clip, thank me later." Every comment that says that just wants to make a fool of you.
I'm someone born between two classtypes, my mothers side is exceptionally wealthy, and my dad's side comes from trailer parks. The differences in attitude, outlook, and personality I have noted between these two sides of my family has been eye opening in my life. I understand the concept of "the smouldering hatred of a peasant" as you call it.
Same here, except my mother came from a more middle class background. Interestingly the middle class side of my family were far more abusive and nasty behind closed doors than the working class side. Was it similar for you?
People have to understand throwing gasoline on human nature doesn't make it more endearing, it makes it untenable. that's the thing about "scientism" today in all aspect of life, everything is used for the wrong reasons to further things not in our own interests...
That part flew over my head a little bit. Maybe I'm just an idiot, but is this smoldering hatred? I very much love I and was raised in the lower-middle class and the only thing that comes to mind for me is that I hate corporations, how they are short sighted and selfish. Is that what Emp and yourself are referring to?
You like EmpLemon? His early work was a little too meme heavy for my taste, but when NEVER EVER came out in 2018 I think he really came into his own, commercially and artistically. The whole series has a clear, crisp vision. And a new take on millennial pop culture that really gives the videos a big boost. He’s been compared to writer Jon Bois, but I think Emp has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor. In 22, Emp hit 1 million subscribers. His biggest accomplishment yet. I think his undisputed masterpiece is “American Psychos”. A video so well edited, most people probably don’t listen to the thesis. BUT THEY SHOULD. Because it’s not just about a movie, tv show, and a book, it’s also a personal statement about America itself!
I believe that American Psycho is the most terrifying movie I’ve ever seen, maybe not the most scary but definitely the most terrifying. The concept of the world around someone letting them get away with murder seems impossible but American Psycho shows us just how real this concept is. The real world super-rich get away with so many heinous acts because the world around them just lets it happen. Thats a world where a psycho thrives. “And as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention” -Talking Heads
its because you know we are clay without god's breath and each day by His grace we keep walking. open your eyes to the sin of this world. one of your eyes is trapped in hell. just see the light bro stop lying you know we are all sinners in a satanic ruled world. the matrix was trying to tell you that in a figurative way, they feed on your eternal soul. you were an elohim. you fell here. wake up. they are trying to build over the third temple and make everyone walk to hell now. just turn and walk away man. once you believe the truth youre saved from the dark you were in. forever. ill see you in heaven. shalowam in the name of yahawahshi
@@doom5895 Aren't both to blame? After all, "corporatism" is a part of "the free market", and that market in the United States (and elsewhere), operating as its various parts have incentivized it to do, have led to corporatism and all its various effects including dominance over most other aspects of the economy and society at large.
The US legal system overwhelmingly favoring the rich doesn't stop at the case of Ethan Couch. There was an ex-mortgage CEO who was only sentenced to 40 months in prison after committing fraud worth 4 billion dollars, meanwhile a homeless man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a quote-unquote "robbery" of a single $100 bill. One who, might I remind you, probably wouldn't have even been noticed had he not turned himself in as a result of remorse.
Emp, the portion of the video where you talk about Fitzgerald after his death made me realize how much stories where people don’t get fame until after death inspire me-if you did a video on this subject I would probably cry by the end. Great vid!
I just learned about Van Gogh recently in an art class. He never sold any of his paintings, lived in poverty, was dismissed as a crazy man by everyone in town, and was shot in the stomach by someone (possibly himself) before dying in his 30's (I think 30's). A decade later, his paintings were shown in a gallery and after that became famous.
The Great Gatsby was one of those books I had no interest in reading, and expected to hate, but found myself thinking fondly of it often after I had read it. Not a necessary read, but worthwhile.
Reading the book in high school really opened my mind up to books. I hated reading ( typical high schooler in the 90s) . But after reading it I fell in love with it and I’m so glad they remade the movie with Leo
The "Dorsia" shown at 21:28 is actually real and is located in Miluwaukee. I didnt know it even existed for the first few years i lived there until some of my friends asked if i wanted to go (they had never seen american psycho funnily enough). They mainly serve unique pasta combinations that are actually reasonably priced for the insanely massive portions they come in. Oddly the only reference to American Psycho in there is a whisky cocktail called "The Bateman". If you're in the Milwaukee area I reccomend stopping by for dinner, if not for the food then just so you can say "I went to dorsia" and mean it.
The Sopranos is one of the best works of fiction ever put to screen. James Gandolfini is deeply missed, and i feel like would have continued to have an amazing career
@@Duncaster Not all concepts are appealing to percieve, and not all videos will be appealing to you to watch. These essays are something I find compelling and intriguing to watch, while some people find them boring or uninteresting. The world is and has bred generations of people with shorter attention spans that require instant gratification in order for the user in question to remain intrigued to the content in question, even if at first the user wishes to watch the video in its entirety, if the punchline doesn't come quick, it will bore them into leaving without an afterthought. Documentaries are certainly niche, even moreso now with the endless mediums of quick, spoon-fed entertainment and information the internet gives us at our fingertips, but it's satisfying in it's own right to know that you can sit down, listen, and enjoy the information being given. It all boils down to a preference, a preference in favor of longer strings of information that is being obsoleted by ease of access and simply the methods that our children are raised.
I just started my first full time job out of college and I am making more money then I could have ever imagined growing up. Yet I still feel more unhappy now than ever before. To say this video came at the perfect time for me in my life is an understatement. Outstanding storytelling and narrative yet again Emp.
I graduated this year with an engineering degree, and I ended up moving into a tech job that doesn't make as much money but works fewer hours and is much more fulfilling than sitting at a desk working on excel/solidworks, and I've found that I'm a lot happier than I was at my old internships/engineering jobs. I don't know if this information will help you with your problem, but I just found that pursuing the simpler path has made me much less miserable.
I genuinely feel for your struggle and hope you can find more fulfilling work, so please don't take the following in the wrong way. People in your unfortunate situation always get used as examples of our "widespread societal problems", but you're among an incredibly small percentage of the population. Most people do not and never will work in those unfulfilling corporate (or similar) jobs, and don't feel the way you do. We're content with our lives and most of us have no motivation to climb the social ladder because of it. The reason I bring that up, is that videos like this portray struggles like yours as the most common experience even though it's statistically rare, then use that as justification to dismantle everything. But people like me, who make up the majority of the population, and who would suffer the most from dismantling everything, get entirely left out of the equation. These middle class and higher corporate-type gigs that make people miserable make up less that 10% of the economy, while 80+ percent of it is trade work and the like. It just really bothers me that proclamations like the ones in this video completely neglect to consider the vast majority of people, then imply "solutions" that only serve the minority of people in a higher income class.
just take some psychedelics and you'll realize to appreciate the life that u got. There are people who steal from grocery stores just to get their vitamins to stay healthy. Appreciate what u doing my guy and enjoy the process. If u know what u doing I'm pretty sure you'll have 100s of millions one day. Don't let a video change ur perspective about the great work ur doing
I always love how I listen to video-essays from a person who used to upload YTPs of all things. It feels so abnormal but organic at the same time! Keep it up!
i realized money was nothing when my brother committed suicide at 20 years old. we had a tough abusive childhood and then our family came into wealth in my late teens and everything changed, we didnt live in a hoarder house anymore, i used to have to lie to the school nurse and just say i was gross and refused to shower because if i admitted we didnt have running water or a working bathroom i would have been sent to essentially a government concentration camp for kids. we came into wealth and moved into a literal mansion, im talking whole floors to your self with a bedroom, a media room and a gym on every level like legit mansion. it didnt change anything. when my brother died all alone in his bedroom on the bottom floor, right outside his door is a pool table, a ping pong table, a 2000 dollar gaming pc, a 65 inch flatscreen, but not one of those things prevented himself from putting a bullet in his brain, he could have came upstairs and asked my dad to buy him anything and he would. but it was meaningless to him. and now after spending tens of thousands to try and fill that hole in my heart its only gotten bigger because I can not share what I have now with him. the old joke about its better to cry in a Ferrari than a civic isn't true its actually the opposite, you cry worse in a Ferrari, because you know it should make you happy yet it doesn't. money is less than nothing, it deludes you into thinking a piece of paper is worth anything more than the tree its made out of.
Don't really know if money is less than nothing, I mean you do need it to enjoy certain conveniences. But I think everyone needs to have a long Come-To-Jesus meeting with themselves as to how much money they need to not only enjoy conveniences but also enjoy other stuff that DOESN'T cost money. I mean I've lived in my car before: Might actually enter a situation where I'll need to again in a week or so. That's really gonna suck for me. But when my dad died and left behind a massive savings account that I just blew through because I was young and stupid, not a single red cent of that can replace what I lost...but not a single red cent could ever repair our hate/hate relationship either. I went through a similar phase with my dad like you did your brother. I spent money trying to fill that void and it just turned into an abyss. So I get it. I mean my dad indirectly told me that if he died it would be MY fault. How do you recover from that? Can you EVEN recover from that? So in the end I think its a personal choice. How much money does it take to satisfy things? Where is the stopping point? What will I use it for other than buying stuff I need to function? Think everyone needs to answer those questions without any outside influence. I mean I spent most of my adulthood at or under the poverty line and although I always thought that I could stand to make more money, I would turn around and ask myself "what would I do with it tho? Save it? Why? I like living for the moment better." I enjoy having just enough money to pay for stuff because it gives me a rush. I do gig economy stuff for money too and that gives me a bigger rush. Never know where the next paycheck will come from but I know I can get it and I'm excited to find it. Condolences on your loss. I'm an only child so I can't relate but it doesn't mean I don't know what loss feels like. I think what happened to you was that you went from one extreme to another way too fast and along the way you might have associated your brother's untimely death with having lots of money. Just a rando's psychoanalysis tho, take with it what you will. Take care of yourself and know that better times are ahead. Even though he's not with us I believe that your brother would be proud of you to have the courage to express yourself the way you did here.
Yeah.... I don't recall the constitution having the words "get rich by breaking everyone else's backs." It turns out, it talks a lot about freedoms, liberties, and justice instead. So I'm pretty sure America was founded on those and gangsters just happened to show up to get some cash in a place that couldn't stop them from being assholes. The opening segment was so full of historical inaccuracies I was wondering if EmpLemon got all his news from children stories written exclusively by Russians. When Christopher Columbus showed up in the new world he commented on slaves and victims of genocide as being the greatest people. He then proceeded to annihilate the oppressive regime that was ritualistically sacrificing them and proceeded to enslave them putting the "greatest people" at the top. Later on the "greatest people" were slowly relegated down as slaves due to racism. There is an extraordinary over abundance of evidence showing that the Aztecs were genocidal slave masters. Why leave this part out? What would drive a person to do such a thing? It seems like this is just some sort of "hot-take" low brain commentary that's rotten American politics to it's core. America has had a gangster problem from it's very inception, but conflating the two? Look, I'm just saying there's significantly better stuff out there criticizing America's fascination with gangster mentality than a piece that just throws in the idea that America was literally built on it.
i don't think I can express enough how great of a TH-camr EmpLemon is... every video is an absolute banger in its own rite and isn't always among the same subject but always still prevalent and digestible. my favorite TH-camr forsure.
Perfect timing. Just finished reading The Great Gatsby, and watched this video. Halfway in, I was wondering why Emp hadn't mentioned Fitzgerald yet. And there he was. It's uncanny how these fictional stories start to become a reality. In a lot of ways, The great gatsby could be considered an "autobiography" of Fitzgerald himself. When he killed off Gatsby, he basically dug his own grave.
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor" -Seneca "The true rich man is he who is content with what he has" "He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has" -Epictitus
It's not always true because with the right attitude you can be content sitting naked in a pile of your own shit. But then you'll die from dysentery and cold. The fact is it's not all "in your mind". You can have it all and not be content with it but you can also be objectively and dangerously poor.
That stuff is generally true, but the peace of mind the rich have of never needing to worry about the necessities of life is always going to mean their lives are generally easier, especially the old money ones but either way. Not having that privilege can feel almost suffocating at times, and I speak from experience. I'd still have problems if I won a billion in the lottery, but man, I'd get rid of the biggest one.
@@fromulus I believe those teachings are meant to find peace and happiness in the face of our coveting human nature. What you say is completely true, the quotes do not contradict it, they complement it by teaching you to embrace your blessings and take strength from them. Strength which you can use to seek improvement as an engaging goal and not a stressful need. Remember, amor fati. Also remember: if two men are doomed to a terrible and unavoidable fate, the one that from the very beginning starts worrying and mourning over it suffers twice as much as the one who doesn't.
Remembering doesn't count for much if we aren't doing anything. Look at how repulsed the average american was at last year's violent protests or jan 6 supposed insurrection. People aren't ready to get their hands bloody and so we stay in our place
@@StarryxNight5 An insurrection where not a single politician was hurt or killed? See what I'm talking about? Even braindead extremists aren't ready to go all the way.
To me there are two American Dreams. The first is the one you're video is about. The void of wealth and divine aspirations. Drawing in those who have no way of achieving true happiness through material things and recognition. The Second dream is the real one... one not founded on climbing to the top but by finding a spot your comfortable with and working with and around that. Some people find joy in hanging out with others like and different from them, from creating things that make you happy and others can appreciate too, to enjoying the things others have created as well. Having all of that without the fear of oppression and the will to fight back against those who wish to destroy that. Unfortunately it's obvious which version of that dream became more popular. Now if there was any character I could name who embodied the second dream the best... I would probably say someone like Hank Hill. But who knows really...
You said it very well! I'm very critical of this video because it completely neglects to acknowledge those things, and it falsely presents the alternative as "the way its always been" which is absolute nonsense. The problems he describes are only modern, have nothing to do with the foundational principles of the country like he implied, and only apply to a small fraction of our society. Most people, like 80%, do not face these issues because they aren't part of this corporate world he seems to think is "working class". Real working class people, people in the trades and the like, do not face these issues. Most of us are completely content with our position in life. Presenting these issues as common problems is absurd to me. Nobody I know thinks more money will solve all their problems or are desperate to climb the social ladder. This is the sort of perspective rich suburban kids posing as struggling poor kids have because their only concept of work is the corporate gigs their parents have. I know I'm taking this beyond what you said, but I wanted to add my perspective to it. I appreciate you saying something sensible and balanced here, because most of the comments seem completely unaware of the working class majority I'm a part of. The people who share the perspective you just shared. We're always invisible to these people, even though we outnumber them 10 to 1.
@@NautilusGuitars It's great you added this. This is exactly what I wanted to say but wasn't able to express it in a way that didn't sound hypocritical. Thank you. I love my country, but people want to keep the "America bad" train running without actually solving the problems or accepting that our ancestors weren't in the right so we should do better. Instead we have to keep reminding ourselves over and over again that "Genocide bad", "Racism bad", "Thing -our government- we did bad", and all it does is make the crazy people go nuts and just utterly degrades everyone. Personally I'd rather just keep up on trying to get my own projects going without the stress of using it to climb this dumb pyramid. Just a quick personal tangent but everyone I've talked to in my family sees my (very obviously) comic book/manga style art and goes "You should become a tattoo artist" or "You'll make alot of money painting that on people's cars" or "Make those into welding statues" etc. and it's a neat idea I guess but just... no? Anyway yeah the need to make money compared to making anything else has really hindered the real American Dream to an agree you'd think it'd died along time ago...
"Beneath the short 2 word titles, and the questionable thumbnails, there's treasure behind every EmpLemon video." -Sun Tzu, the art of youtube recommendations
You’ve really got something here, man. Your analysis is honestly stunning and there’s some really great scriptwriting. Please, keep this content going as long as it makes you happy to make it, it’s on another level.
I love emplemon essays. And it doesn't matter what they're about most of the time either. Do I have any interest in NASCAR, for instance? Absolutely not. But I watch the video essay on it.
I think most people realize on their death beds what really mattered in life was other people. The relationships you had with your fellow humans, and all life really, is what truly matters. It's a shame most of us have to live an entire life to finally figure this out
When on your death bed, you likely will value companionship most, because at that point your are entirely reliant on others to care for you. People often think that there is one true self, that the other selves are just facades or mistakes, but i do not think there is any one true self. People change, people adapt, people are in a constant state of flux and their values are constantly changing to fit their current instinctive urges and survival priorities. Once your most urgent desire is satisfied, your mind will wander to the next. There is no one single most important thing to achieving happiness.
I don't know how emp does it, but he has this way of telling his story with such love and passion for what he is talking about that he can make anything sound fantastic. My favourite example would be the NASCAR videos he has done. I have never watched NASCAR in any real investment, but he managed to keep me hooked on the stories he sharing. Awesome video man!
I feel the same. Some of the topics he talks about I either have no interest or never heard of them but once I play the video I’m hooked on it and wanting to know more and wait till the end of the video. I sometimes end up looking it up (the Everest video) just to read more on it. He does such an amazing job with these videos. Quality over quantity
There's something profoundly ironic about doing a video like this and ending it with a manscaped sponsorship. Manscaped in itself already being a carricature of itself.
Video essay is the best description of his works I’ve heard. That is exactly how it is formatted. Like he is reading his essay to the class with a supporting video on the board
It's strange too how some idolize people like that too. I never have, but I understand how those characters can be seen as well written and we'll acted. They are excellent characters but they are meant as warnings and not aspirations. Perhaps their admirers are the parts of our generation still poisoned by the pyramid of success and only see the sheer power they hold instead of the struggles they go through or the atrocities they commit. Drawn in by the "Gigachad energy" and nothing else.
@@GenericProtagonist118 it's easier to relate to a protagonist that is deeply flawed, especially the ones who try so hard to be perfect, and still fall flat. maybe it's just me, but it gives me hope. no matter the resources someone has their disposal, they will never obtain perfection. a reminder that even the immensely wealthy, and seemingly unflawed, still give in to human desires that have been railed against for as long as i can remember.
"Oh boy I sure do love being born in the year 1990! I hope I'm in for decades of back-to-back economic prosperity, geo-political peace, and a severe lack of political division where neighbors are encouraged to turn on eachother! The 2000's are going to rock!"
NFKRZ a Russian YTP creator back in the day has now become an avid anti-Russian propaganda TH-camr who criticizes Putin's regime and the current situation in Russia itself, Pyrocynical who was an MLG & YTP video shitposter is now one of my favorite movie/game reviewer ever.
Absolutely love this moment 20:19 when the narrator says "But they should.." in sync with Bateman gloating about Huey Lewis and the News. Masterfully done!
@@cromulom2223 War. War never changes. Or does it? The war has changed. Did it? The answer is "no". Unless it is "yes". No, of course it is! Is war. Yes! No. Yes?
"The only country in the world where the pursuit of happiness is guaranteed in writing. Where's my happiness then ???" [23:51] "It's the PURSUIT that is guaranteed..."
The whole notion of emptiness and lack of fulfillment after striking total material wealth reminds me of what Heath Ledger said as Joker: “I’m like a dog chasing cars. I wouldn’t know what to do with one if I caught it.” Then there’s that one quote about how diplomacy is a harder battle than the war itself. When we want something we don’t have it may cause us dissatisfaction but at least it gives us something to focus on. That’s why video games are so addictive, they can impose a near limitless amount of things to focus on. But once you “beat the game” so to speak, you grow bored and eventually drop it. There’s a paradox that I learned when studying game design that goes something like this: there are two goals for a player: to have fun and to beat the game. But those two things inherently cancel each other out. If you want to beat the game you have to give up your fun since there’s nothing else to do. But if you wanna have fun you can’t beat the game. I think life is a lot like that. For many of us if not all of us, our reason to live is because we aren’t satisfied with our current situation in some way, and want to climb higher. We have to be in a constant state of motion. The moment we stop, life becomes meaningless. Not saying you can’t be rich and still have a meaningful life. But it’s interesting how the ones who die the happiest are the ones who never beat the game, choosing instead to have fun.
I think that Walter White deserves mention in this archetype of American antihero. Perhaps their strive for status and sexual side is incomparable to that of Walt, but their drive for success and self preservation is definitely similar.
Walt is absolutely driven by sex and status. The show just holds him more accountable. It shows how what he pursues is visibly hollow, but as its a path to power for Walt it works to correct his position in life. Walt feels owed entrance to the elite, and that repressed desire is so intense it leads him to view the world in such a twisted way as to be almost psychotic, where being a meth kingpin with a broken life is equivalent to being the leader of a Fortune 500 in a happy marriage because both have money and power
There we are glad someone else thought of him, because he really is a awful person that was never happy with anything, and only felt alive doing terrible things, and maybe homelander, from the boys because obviously he’s literally made of America.
In grade 11 the whole theme of my English class was “the corruption of the American Dream” we read books like Great Gatsby, Fast Food Nation, etc. It’s just crazy that we don’t pay attention to the lessons these books try to teach. We write them off so we can keep the façade up of achieving a better life. Sadly I don’t see any other way for us to find meaning other than this endless chase of “happiness”
Nice video. It's important to note that one of the larger themes of The Great Gatsby" concerns mammonism, not just old money vs new money, but the industrial era vs a romanticized age before the industrial dynamo. Gatsby's green light is not money, it's a dream of the past- before the time that he needed to posture with money- and whether or not that time ever existed. Gatzby is not just new money, he's a man from a different era, who cannot compete with the new age of Tom Buchanon. Most of Fitzgeralds' works revolve around the same theme of a long-gone past that we romanticize in our heads, and are always chasing in the present.
Been in the fold since the Complaining days of 2017, seeing you not only rapidly shift your style but be able to consistently improve and refine no matter what year it is... That's why you went from "yeah that guy has some really good points about TH-cam" to "one of 5 channels that I need to rush to as soon as they upload." As always, the editing & writing here is top of the game. Great vid.
Emp is literally the only TH-camr of whom I drop basically almost anything to watch. I literally have no idea when he drops and I must feed my addiction immediately.
great video. i liked the part where pointed out that patrick bateman and his coworkers' appearance, hobbies and mannerisms have made them all literally identical, and can't show even a hint of their real personality. watching them talk is like watching robots interact.
I’m starting to read The Great Gatsby in my high school class, and I instantly fell in love with it, and the concept of American Psycho always fascinated me. The way you managed to weave both into a video together just shows how brilliant you are at this
I've never heard of this guy but this video is actually so well made. Stuff like this is art. I feel like I could enjoy watching it in school and feel like I've learned something interesting.
@@caseys2698 Dude you get it, it's such a refreshing feeling to watch *high quality* content for the first time. Like I recently found out about NorthernLion like a half year ago and have had so much fun just with the SAP content. Which is a funny coincidence since NorthernLion a.k.a.Ryan Letourneau is a a very well documented psycho himself.
@Will lmfao, you made my day with your comment. Too funny to be insulting Edit: idk why but his comment was deleted, so for anyone wondering, it said Will • 2 minutes ago *How does his pen15 feel bouncing on it so violently like you are?*
We all know the Most Profound Moment in Gaming, the speech the Colonel gives at the end of MGS2. One of the lines is about the paradoxes we must somehow reconcile in our own realities to justify our existence. One of the themes that hits home to me is that hard work only benefits the top unless you are working for yourself. Thats why im making it my goal to be working for myself this time next year.
I hate how people say when Columbus stepped foot on the American continent when he never made it here he made it to the islands and then the coast of central and South America he never even saw the North American continent let alone step foot in American or the USA as we know it
Wait what? Are we sure the Amerindians were all that Utopic and Peaceful? I suppose the ones Colombus encountered at the Caribbean were, but that certainly can't be said for the inhabitants of the mainland. There were brutal fights and genocides between indigenous confederations long before the British arrived
It doesn't really matter whether it's true or not, what matters is that that's what Columbus said. Despite him holding that opinion, he and other colonists enslaved and eradicated almost all of the native population. It shows how little they cared and where their priorities lay.
One of the great cultural commentators, philosophers, and critics of this generation. A swift and easy click ever time a new video becomes available. Thank goodness Emp has become recognized and appreciated before it was too late for him to experience it.
Camus came the closest to understanding existence than anyone ever has. Ultimately life is worth living not because of goals or some attainable happiness or future, but because there’s simply nothing better to do. His death was ironic, and I don’t think he would’ve wanted it any other way. There’s something transcendent about his work and his life, like an inhuman level of serenity, perhaps he was just too good for us
It's a very stupid line by Camus in his "Myth of the Sisyphus" (his worst work, where he critisize other philosophers and existentialists, while later making similar thesis as them). But ignorant people, who never read it, like it very much.
@@EvgeniyNeutralMusician no, Camus takes a much different approach than ones like Sartre. Sartre argues that man has agency, Camus argues that man does not. The “absurd” that he establishes borrows more from Kierkegaard yet without religion, and is much more focused on the paradoxical nature of life than its possibilities. It also allows for more comedy. Camus accepts some nihilistic view points about reality, however he does not view suffering as inevitable or constant, which Sartre does. Camus acts as agnostic or pantheist compared to Sartre’s atheist and Kierkegaard’s theist, believing in an ambiguous degree of transcendence. Camus is also much more optimistic than Sartre is.
@@ScarlettR61 From where that "no" comes? Denial for denial? Tragicomedic and absurd. You just compare someone cut off from formal logic and longest philosophical debate, in which all Kierkegaard, Sartre and Camus are just children in the sandbox. If you would read "The Fall" by Camus, you would not write such foolish opinion, however if you compare some works by Sartre" with naive optimistic and most stupid work by Camus, which is "Myth of the Sisyphus", then yes. You are not very bright and can't look too far, too bad. Be happy in your ignorance.
I was one of the stupid students who didn't understand Great Gatsby in english class, but now that I'm older I begin to understand it. And thanks to this video, I fully get it and want to read it again. Great vid, lemonman.
That’s sort of the great irony of school lit curriculum, it gives you some of the best literature in history to read, but you couldn’t give less of a shit at that time.
A truly horrifying video, and I mean that as my highest compliment. There are channels dedicated to horror stories, depressing politics, and dark predictions of the future, but somehow this video stands out against all of that. Impressive work.
Easily my favorite piece of youtube content of the last 5 years. Incredibly insightful and masterfully relatable, it's hard to avoid sounding "preachy" when diving into stuff like this, but man did you do it.
I hate and always will hate that one human feeling. When you finally find that one thing you truly believe will make you feel satisfied suddenly becomes another worthless treasure. Just like gum, the flavour is wonderful but in the end its in the trash.
Learn to observe it and remember it will come and go. No one thing will absolutely fulfill you forever. You’re already one foot in because you’re aware that it exists.
Your presentational style is absolutely superb. You know just when to shift tone, topic and pace, and your tangents always come back to support your main point quickly - shown, not told.
I really don't understand how you can be an adult and still be materialistic, sure, when you're 16 it sure sounds cool to buy expensive cars and clothes - but I thought at some point in your 20s you should be mature enough to get over that phase lmao
I would love to see a source for Colombus saying this as I haven’t found a single one of his letters saying that. He describes them in a positive light but never that quote. Nor did he remark how surprised he was of how peaceful they are, only that he they lacked any sort of iron and weapons on account of their Timid nature.
This is probably the best, most well put together video I've watched on TH-cam in some time. The way you adverised Manscaped at the end in a Patrick Bateman but trolling-like way was the cherry on top and it made me crack up... Bravo!
This is one of the most compelling video essays I've ever seen. It's so well thought out and ties together so beautifully. By far one of your best yet!! Hail to the emp!
Video topic idea: Superman and the negative perception of modern young audiences towards him. IMO mainstream audiences seem to have developed this bitter and cynical disdain for this character who's meant to represent everything righteous, patriotic, honest and selfless about the average person. And yet the average person seems to only show contempt at best towards him.
Dorsia, Ducks, & Daisy's Dock. Incredible video
american psycho breakdown WHEN
Hey dad!
The 4 D's
It's wendigoon
Delectable deep-dive/documentary*
I think the big thing that strikes me about American Psycho is that Patrick has no real control over his own life. Despite being one of the most privileged people in America, he is invisible. He struggles to stand out among his wealthy peers, who all look and act the same way. The book spends a large amount of its word count describing every person's clothing and appearance, but they're still indistinguishable from each other. This is why he confesses his crime and desperately wants to get into Dorsia; people will actually see him and remember who he was.
@leaked footage thank you, Deadpool.
@leaked footage I don't need a potato wedge recipe, I need a medic.
I read the book a few months ago and it’s extremely dark and messed up, though oddly charming and funny as well. Great novel.
@@nightmarishcompositions4536 good lord the book turns into pure gore porn by the second half but goddamn is it a fantastically written book
There is something quite interesting about the clothing in the book, they don't match, meaning that A. Bateman is unaware of the actual clothing they are using (witch is my head cannon) or B. They dress really goofy
Funny thing about Dorsia, in the book he goes there because his brother gets them table just by telling them who he is. Bateman could have always gone to Dorsia but refused to name drop his dad to get in as a point of pride.
His brother is the dude from rules of attraction.
@@hashvendetta7226 yeah I thought that was cool.
I think it has to do more about people knowing HIM and not his dad
@@robertsnyder1111 Exactly, thats why he wont name drop his dad, so he can get in via his own status
A wonderful example of why the book beats boob
I’ve never watched the sopranos but the line “it’s the pursuit that’s guaranteed” is amazing
You should, one of the greatest shows of all time
The Sopranos is the greatest show of all time
The sopranos is one of the shows of all time
The Sopranos is a show
The Sopranos is.
Christian Bale made an interesting point in an interview that Bateman effectively lacks any subconscious. he does nothing without it being the result of a calculated decision, and nearly has a mental breakdown when facing any situation that does not proceed according to a formula he can identify and calculate an outcome from. It's no wonder he's completely insane when he's not only aware that nothing he does has any consequence or meaning, but is unable to be unaware of it
In other words: ENTJ
@@emmanuelmondesir8677 fuck, guess I'm screwed
@@emmanuelmondesir8677 In other words, clinical psychopath?
A lot of people lack sub conscious. That voice in your head that's your own, the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other? Yeah some people just straight up lack that. A symptom of easy lives?
@@lucamckenn5932 you realise that the subconscious is not literally the conversations or internal monologue you have in your head?
Bro goes dark for a month and comes back with a masterpiece every single time. We’re watching perhaps the greatest video essay TH-camr of all time
Bro you didn’t even watch the video yet💀
I’d say Emplemon and LEMMiNO should do a fusion dance and form the ultimate being: EmpLemmino
@@XAyeItsDuck nah bro. He’s just built different. He can watch videos at the speed of light or some shit
@@XAyeItsDuck 😂😂😂 acting like he just saw Jordan in the finals
Good stuff takes times, patience comes with rewards.
I love the little line "it's the pursuit of happiness that's guaranteed."
So many people falsely connect money and success to happiness, and go to the ends of the earth to get it.
What they don't consider are the things that actually make them happy, and how to pursue more of that.
It's why artists and musicians seem to have the most passion for their work when compared to office workers, as nobody finds number crunching or office politics enjoyable, but everyone enjoys a good song.
To contribute to what makes you happy is in and of itself a self-perpetuating cycle of enjoyment, even if you reach a few road bumps.
It's what drives TH-camrs to create good content, or a construction worker helping to create a new skyscraper. The work can vary in how difficult it is and the type of difficulty, but it's still working to create and contribute.
Those who pursue material wealth fundamentally do not understand this, and it feels like their existence is poisonous as their status is viewed as desirable.
Money is a means to an end. Treat it that way.
It's because the desperate lack of money leads to misery, so people think -- a total influx of money must lead to joy
Money enables agency, and as someone who is not well off, I can recognise what I can and can't do because of my income
@@accountnamewithheld in other words: having money is not everything. Not having it is.
@@accountnamewithheld Yeah money is certainly not a cure-all, but people who say money can't buy happiness have never experienced soul crushing poverty.
This is a very idealistic take. Not entirely wrong but it ignores the fact that undesirable work is inevitable. Taking out the trash, building a house, exercising to keep a healthy weight, carrying a child for nine months, etc etc. And yet we do it for a delayed reward ie: shelter, food, a bouncing little baby. Pain is inevitable but joy is too. The issue is keeping things balanced.
(Saying this as an artist btw ♥️)
This. This right here almost perfectly explains why I dream of becoming an artist and illustrator. May seem far fetched as it is now then ever but I’ll do my best!
I have an interesting history with The Great Gatsby. It was the first book we read in 11th grade lit, and my teacher definitely did a great job teaching it to us. However, maybe a week after the test, my teacher disappeared and was never heard from again. The school hired a new teacher to take her place, and that teacher ended up being the worst teacher I ever had as well as the worst person I ever met. In the end, we all bonded over how much we hated the new teacher and wondered whatever happened to the old one.
That happened to me freshman year and senior year. Idk what these English teachers are doing. I had 3 different teachers both years. I didn't even bother taking the AP test as a senior because the last 2 teachers barely taught us at all and sometimes they didn't even show up for class.
I only ever had one teacher disappear, music teacher. She was great... though she got caught embezzling funds meant for the music program. I honestly didn't blame her, teachers are paid for shit. lol
And trust to script her replacement was a hard-assed, no nonsense jerk who gave off vibes that he has a torture dungeon in a cabin in the woods somewhere... He was always weirdly intense, and his demeanor reminded me of a violent cult leader prior to demasking. >__>
English teachers get pregnant halfway through the year and disappear off the face of the Earth permanently afterwards. Most people I know who I've asked say their English teacher randomly disappeared one day. Common story.
James Gandolfini, absolutely killed it as Tony Soprano. May that man rest in piece.
It's sad when they go so young.
If you like James's acting, you should see the series he produced called "the night of" very similar themes to what was talked about in this video.
@@HeronSight that series is wild... acting is really good, and the story very captivating...
Rip takeoff
@@STOPSYPHER who?
"As long as america's been in business" this dude doesn't miss a single beat
It's such a good quote.
🤓
corny
One person said it was corny, guess that quote isn’t very good
The revolution started because the British threatened the founding fathers’ assets lmao
Moral of the story: Emp is still depressed even after making bank on TH-cam.
Lucky bastard still dares to feel like shit after all this
Why and how does this fit into the narrative of his story/history on youtube so well!?
I like how people who are well off complain about money not making them happy, but when offered to give the money away then they clench onto it like their life depends on it.
@@TwistedFireX Because nobody wants to live in squalor
@@dildonius It's simply a love of money.
"it's the pursuit that's guaranteed" I love this line, so ingenious.
edit: wow that's a lot of likes, tnx, didn't even notice until now.
Why I meant it's ingenious, because seeking itself implies lack thereof, so to truly find happiness one has to cease seeking and turn inwards instead of looking for it outwardly in endless pursuit of status, wealth and other vain values imposed by society. You can have it all right here and now in simple things, just start appreciating the things you already have instead of looking for what you don't have. There's nothing wrong with you inherently, nothing to be obtained, you just need to realize your true nature beyond the ghostly apparitions and shadows of "Plato's cave", you rather need to remove "the excess" that veils your cognition to a true reality, this is why ancient Greeks said "know thyself", it was a precursor to Jungian concepts of shadow integration and individuation, to become whole, "holy" like a saint, to fully individuate means to transcend the world of duality and integrate both aspects into a singularity that operates on a cosmic level of consciousness, this is Christ consciousness. You need to reprogram how your mind has been conditioned and trained, constantly looking for approval and acceptance by society, or torn between divisive political polarizations. Remove yourself from any cults or ideologies that bind your cognition, it's a weakness, the need to belong, means to conform. Don't idolize anyone, learn how to connect with people horizontally instead of vertical hierarchy. Know that we are all equal in face of death, always know that no matter what. People are mostly afraid of freedom, the door is open and yet they are afraid to leave the cage, they fear freedom more than anything, because they've never felt freedom, all they know is false comforts of conformity. You need to start with yourself, don't depend on approval by anybody, self-love is the answer. Just be simple and ordinary, and yet strong from inside out, when you try to appear what you are not this is when the devil takes over, and you spend your entire life unsuccessfully trying to live up to your unreal fantastical expectations, this is what makes you miserable. Even in neurology there's a clear distinction between dopamine (instant gratification) and serotonine (long lasting happiness), the more pleasure you seek more unhappy you become, while on the other hand you can never have too much happiness.
its because its true. nothing is guranteed except for your own ethics.
Yeah you have to make your happiness.
@@joshshrum2764 you can attempt to make your own happiness but the only thing that is guaranteed is that attempt itself once you make that decision
Ever watch the pursuit of happyness? People get so mind blown thinking it’s what they deserve when it’s clearly not. Sorta like the same people who think certain privileges we have here in America are “rights”.
@@major_lag2643 speech and fire arms are not privileges. All of those are rights
You like Bret Easton Ellis? Their early work was a little too new wave for my taste. But when American Psycho came out in '91, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole story has a clear, crisp message, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism... that really gives the nuance a big boost. He's been compared to F. Scott Fitzgerald, but I think Bret has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
Best thing is that Bret speaks in a similar way to this
@Emotional Damage damn u
The Weird Al and Jerry Lewis skit for Funny or Die? Classic.
Hey emp,
This made me laugh waaaaayyyyy harder than it should have
"The truth is that blind justice really only applies to the invisible masses"
Damn.
You like EmpLemon? Their early work was a little too "meme-wave" for my tastes. But he really came onto his own, not so commercially but artistically in '18 with 'Neutral Response'. The whole video has a crisp, clear, fast paced dense writing style he is known for now. To take a simple theme and to explore it through history and pop-culture to truly drive an important question, an artistic statement even. His videos would soon grow longer in length, allowing more nuance to seep through, the scripts become more conceptually evolved and begin to make more profound statements, with a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
Emplemon was modernity
I like how he went from TH-cam pooper to TH-cam philosopher.
@@lemmingscanfly5 In some ways, a thin line. Like between insanity and genius. Very much like that, come to think of it.
@@lemmingscanfly5 Truly the Diogenes of his time
HEY PAUL!
As a Native American myself, who has spent many hours studying my peoples past, culture, and heritage. - I have to point out how unbelievably asinine and inaccurate the assertion is that America’s Natives were living in peace and harmony before the arrival of European explorers. Nothing could be further from the truth, America’s Natives were split up into many independent nations. Nations that were at war with each other for centuries, that practiced slavery, and all kinds of other forms of brutality. And I don’t say this to be disparaging, only because it’s the truth. What was happening on the American continents is no different than what was happening in all corners of the world at that time. I just think it’s time to put to bed forever these myths of a people living in utopian state only to have it destroyed by evil outsiders, because it’s simply not true.
@@dropyourself Wtf! How did you manage to get that out of what I stated? I’m not even going to dignify that nonsense with an answer. Grow up!
Thank you, I'm glad someone else brought that up. One of my main gripes with natives in my family and friend groups is that they perpetuate that idea that all natives were peacefully living on the land
only idoits say native americans lived in utopia. the point is america was build off of genocide and has to give land back and stop whitewashing history as some sort devine foundation of a country
@@dropyourself the idea behind bringing this up isn't to justify genocide or the disease exchange, obviously, but to give these people agency as human beings. Often the subtext behind depicting the native Americans as a one dimensional nomadic utopia is that they wouldn't deserve sympathy if that wasn't the case. Based on how Emp covers the history of the Seminole in his Talladega video, he's probably aware that this idealized view is inaccurate, so he was probably just paraphrasing something Columbus said to try and illustrate his larger point here. The comment you replied to seems to just be pointing out that including the "best people in the world" bit without adding more context is misleading and trope-y.
@@NicJJiacGive them agency to justify genocide? I agree it's something that doesn't have to be hidden beneath a utopian lie. But gotta be honest, all that "truth" is gonna do is give white supremacists arguments.
The idea of being rich, having it all, and still not feeling fulfilled has always reminded me of a quote I saw a few years ago: "Sometimes the hardest part of the climb is getting back down" - Shiey 2016
The myth of sisyphus
@Will let people have ideas.
@Will What do you gain by being so bitter and full of hate? Let people think, have ideas, and share quotes that helps provoke them.
As I get older I realize that all that stuff I wished I could have if only I had more money is just...stuff. Empty pointless distractions from the monotony of the every day. Family and community is the real aspiration.
shiey as in the guy who travels and train surfs or 🤨
You’re part about Tony’s life entrapping him reminds me of a wuote my dad would say. “You may believe the eagle flies free but he is still bound from freedom by the necessity to feed, sleep, and breathe”
One of my favorite speakers is quoted in a much nicer and polite way that I'm about to present, but essentially he states:
"Even the rich and powerful have to shit every day."
Your* quote*
@@_Jay_Maker_ bound by our primitive earthly vessels we call our “bodies”
Sounds like some trite edge lord bs.
@@graye2799 Sounds like very basic observations about America. Your freedom only extends as far as you are able to eat, sleep, and continue breathing; all things which are not guaranteed to you by virtue of being here. They could be, in theory. But then what would truly separate the wealthy from the poor? The idea of which the wealthy simply cannot stand.
Great video emp, you're a hundred percent right about how children assigned Great Gatsby never really appreciate it. In my class we were essentially taught to laugh at Gatsby, completely neglecting the tragedy of a man who achieved his dream only to find it brought him no joy.
I feel like that's a common thing to happen in school. People see that there's a great lesson to be learned somewhere, be it a book or general history, and figure that everyone should experience it. But when these things eventually do make it into classrooms, students simply lack context as they haven't seen enough of the world yet. What good is the best analysis of our world if you can hardly recognize it as such?
Sure it does at the very least familiarize them with the topic, but when this happens in a nonsensical context it's not too unlikely that people come to hate works they would definitely enjoy later in life.
These were all works of fiction more about the authors than anything people try to make it about, the closest one gets is Bret Easton Ellis but it was his father who was wealthy, his success paled in comparison.
my experience with the great gatsby in school was at the end of the unit we had a "gatsby day" where everybody was supposed to dress up and party like the ultra-wealthy. idk if that's a bad thing. maybe if every day was gatsby day we would've learned something
I'd like to praise my Highschool english teacher, because he actually taught my class Great Gatsby in a very interesting way where the essay that we had to write about it was a comparison to a topic of our choosing. We were allowed to take a topic or lesson we thought we learned from the book and compare it side by side with something historical or something that was happening in modern day which was very interesting. Idk how much the rest of my class got out of the assignment but for me it was one of the best essays I had ever written in Highschool.
Problem is they often assign it to kids who are way too young to appreciate it.
Same thing with To Kill A Mockingbird.
“before the United States, the world was run on bondage. Until somewhere along the way we figured out that you can make people just a little bit harder by convincing them that the freedom they desire is sitting just out of reach. Is it a fantasy we follow or just a delusion”
Damn that hit hard
This is fundamentally false tho and is an elementary understanding of history.
Like Argentina had basically the same founding as America
@@ernestjones8618 No, it really isn't. Simplified, but not incorrect.
@Cosmic Munkee I mean there were systemic differences in American and Latin American colonial foundations. Latin America was seen as a money pumped by Spain and Spain didn't develop their colonies as much. However most Criollos (people who moved go Spanish colonies) moved there for the money
The Haitian revolution is partially a result of taking that slim bit of hope away. Before the racial laws of the late 1700s, some slaves were allowed to work on their day off(Sunday) and get paid, or sell the excess food that their plot of land produced. They could in theory(not reality) buy their freedom. Blacks and whites were indistinguishable under the law, and black slaves yearned to one day be a black slave owner. Once they began to be discriminated against based on race, the free blacks revolted, and the slaves soon after.
There was once a house party hosted by a very wealthy and famous individual, I can't remember his name. Two guests, novelists Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller, sit and admire his art collection. Vonnegut says "Look at all of this wealth the host has. He makes more money in a day than you did in your whole life so far" Heller replies: "Yes, but I have something he'll never have." Vonnegut replies with "What?" to which the second one says: "Enough."
Underrated comment.
@@carlosleonardo88 Thanks!
I'd love to know who the host of the party was. Good story though!
Forgive me for saying this, but it's an Emplemon classic: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
I believe your talking about Jack Bogle, the founder of Vanguard
It's terrifyingly prophetic how much Jay Gatsby's life mirrors that of Scott Fitzgerald's life, even in the events that happen to Fitzgerald after writing The Great Gatsby.
self-fulfilling prophecy, perhaps?
@@erubin100 - Nah, it's just that 99% of writers can only write about themselves and the people they know
I absolutely love how Japan portrays Americans. Just loud brash, wearing flags and ultra patriotic. Gets me every time.
how we should all aspire to be
Isn't Japan kinda the same, minus the loud and brash?
@@desuretard8654 that would apply to pretty much every country is asia, so it’s more a cultural thing in the area, speaking from experience
@@ethanmcfarland8240 no.
@@adamjarrett5490 Yes.
"what good is it if a man gains the world but forfeits his soul"- Jesus
ty JC, dully noted
What good is a fortune if you're no happier. Tony and Pat were both miserable and stressed a shitload more than I'll ever be.
Facts man. Nothing in the physical real will ever be enough. I get joy from God. I love how PewDiePie waits till his only pair of shoe wears out before buying a new one; he finds it exciting since he can buy anything. When I get something I've saved up for, it's cool and all, but it doesn't change a depressed mood. Art, socializing, & being in nature make me happy.
Got some more deep quotes from Jesus. 👇
Matthew 6:19-21 comes to mind for this topic.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." -Jesus
And here's what Jesus says about the old money (Mark 10:25)
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." -Jesus
The way we view what we have is important. We don't always have to give up all we own, but they're not what's important; we should recognize that and be willing to let things go if they get in the way of what God wants for us. I encourage those willing to give up the pursuit of money for joy & eternal life to visit a church. :'D
@@JSRMedia that was awesome and made my day man I have been working on a book and part of it or a lot of it is about working on your spiritual gifts and how work is good but don't make it your identity. I see you mentioned art and that is extremely important to me personally I feel that (and for me anyway) film and music helps build a connection with God. He gave me the gifts to use and use them for his glory and the benefit of others. (And not to plug my channel) but I feel inspired by content like this because the message is good and we need more of that I want to create content that gives depth and insight and is thought provoking as this is. I also want us to start really considering the children in our world. Look at the top 50 songs most are explicit and the ones that are not promote things children don't need. So I ask this where is there music? What about the children?. Anyway my rant is over and thank you for commenting
Jesus was full of shit lmfao
There is a late 19th century American poem that is relevant to this subject. It's called "Richard Cory" and it's by Edwin Arlington Robinson:
Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.
And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
"Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked.
And he was rich-yes, richer than a king-
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.
So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.
Didn't realize that's what the Simon and Garfunkle song was based off of. Thank you.
@@yehuda8589 that is how I found out about the poem lol
@The wock Hey I tried the link but it went to a different video, could you provide another link please?
@@purpleprinc3
It's just a bot meant to trick people into giving views to that video. "Here's the clip, thank me later." Every comment that says that just wants to make a fool of you.
It's a shame people aren't paying attention to Bobby Brown's lyrics too. I find they're very contemporary
I'm someone born between two classtypes, my mothers side is exceptionally wealthy, and my dad's side comes from trailer parks.
The differences in attitude, outlook, and personality I have noted between these two sides of my family has been eye opening in my life. I understand the concept of "the smouldering hatred of a peasant" as you call it.
Same here, except my mother came from a more middle class background. Interestingly the middle class side of my family were far more abusive and nasty behind closed doors than the working class side. Was it similar for you?
@@Tofu_va_Bien Oh my yes, they are much more willing to completely alienate family members over rather small things, even political disagreements.
People have to understand throwing gasoline on human nature doesn't make it more endearing, it makes it untenable.
that's the thing about "scientism" today in all aspect of life, everything is used for the wrong reasons to further things not in our own interests...
@@Redx6504 it kinda fuck you if you really think about it
That part flew over my head a little bit. Maybe I'm just an idiot, but is this smoldering hatred? I very much love I and was raised in the lower-middle class and the only thing that comes to mind for me is that I hate corporations, how they are short sighted and selfish. Is that what Emp and yourself are referring to?
You like EmpLemon? His early work was a little too meme heavy for my taste, but when NEVER EVER came out in 2018 I think he really came into his own, commercially and artistically.
The whole series has a clear, crisp vision. And a new take on millennial pop culture that really gives the videos a big boost.
He’s been compared to writer Jon Bois, but I think Emp has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
In 22, Emp hit 1 million subscribers. His biggest accomplishment yet. I think his undisputed masterpiece is “American Psychos”. A video so well edited, most people probably don’t listen to the thesis. BUT THEY SHOULD. Because it’s not just about a movie, tv show, and a book, it’s also a personal statement about America itself!
Hey paul!
Let's see Paul Allen's emplemon
Hey his ytps are amazing.
@@Forcoy Actually in this context it would probably be: Hey BehindTheMeme!
Should be the pinned comment 😂❤
I believe that American Psycho is the most terrifying movie I’ve ever seen, maybe not the most scary but definitely the most terrifying. The concept of the world around someone letting them get away with murder seems impossible but American Psycho shows us just how real this concept is. The real world super-rich get away with so many heinous acts because the world around them just lets it happen. Thats a world where a psycho thrives.
“And as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention” -Talking Heads
its because you know we are clay without god's breath and each day by His grace we keep walking. open your eyes to the sin of this world. one of your eyes is trapped in hell. just see the light bro stop lying you know we are all sinners in a satanic ruled world. the matrix was trying to tell you that in a figurative way, they feed on your eternal soul. you were an elohim. you fell here. wake up. they are trying to build over the third temple and make everyone walk to hell now. just turn and walk away man. once you believe the truth youre saved from the dark you were in. forever. ill see you in heaven. shalowam in the name of yahawahshi
Doesn't seem impossible in 3rd world countries.
OP just making crap up to scare Opself.
corporatism is to blame not the free market
@@doom5895 Aren't both to blame? After all, "corporatism" is a part of "the free market", and that market in the United States (and elsewhere), operating as its various parts have incentivized it to do, have led to corporatism and all its various effects including dominance over most other aspects of the economy and society at large.
The US legal system overwhelmingly favoring the rich doesn't stop at the case of Ethan Couch. There was an ex-mortgage CEO who was only sentenced to 40 months in prison after committing fraud worth 4 billion dollars, meanwhile a homeless man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a quote-unquote "robbery" of a single $100 bill. One who, might I remind you, probably wouldn't have even been noticed had he not turned himself in as a result of remorse.
Emp, the portion of the video where you talk about Fitzgerald after his death made me realize how much stories where people don’t get fame until after death inspire me-if you did a video on this subject I would probably cry by the end.
Great vid!
That would be interesting
I just learned about Van Gogh recently in an art class. He never sold any of his paintings, lived in poverty, was dismissed as a crazy man by everyone in town, and was shot in the stomach by someone (possibly himself) before dying in his 30's (I think 30's). A decade later, his paintings were shown in a gallery and after that became famous.
The Great Gatsby was one of those books I had no interest in reading, and expected to hate, but found myself thinking fondly of it often after I had read it. Not a necessary read, but worthwhile.
Reading the book in high school really opened my mind up to books. I hated reading ( typical high schooler in the 90s) . But after reading it I fell in love with it and I’m so glad they remade the movie with Leo
I read it in high school and thought, hey this could be neat. I liked it a lot despite hating a lot of the other books we read in high school
The "Dorsia" shown at 21:28 is actually real and is located in Miluwaukee. I didnt know it even existed for the first few years i lived there until some of my friends asked if i wanted to go (they had never seen american psycho funnily enough). They mainly serve unique pasta combinations that are actually reasonably priced for the insanely massive portions they come in. Oddly the only reference to American Psycho in there is a whisky cocktail called "The Bateman".
If you're in the Milwaukee area I reccomend stopping by for dinner, if not for the food then just so you can say "I went to dorsia" and mean it.
"Yours in great depression" gave me chills, *good lord*
Cringe
@@chrismanaloe3507 No u
@@chrismanaloe3507 cringe in "this is too embarassing to watch" or "I dont like this"? either way, _no._
@@SpringDavid cringe as in watch this man structure a whole essay around two ridiculous movies just to say murica bad
@@chrismanaloe3507 its an analysis, and it argues the what, how, and why the Murica has and continued to be a shithole country
The Sopranos is one of the best works of fiction ever put to screen. James Gandolfini is deeply missed, and i feel like would have continued to have an amazing career
@im sacred liking your own comment? Desperate
Something I'll always love about your work is your musical choice/taste, and how perfectly each song conveys the theme or idea you're introducing.
Must have wrote this after the GTA3 theme
The gran turismo music is what does it for me, really subtle but engaging lounge music!
The captain Murphy beat about halfway through 🤩
I mean, the :the game: music surprised me a lot
Mellohi is my favorite Minecraft song
From making hilarious YTPs to making compelling video essays. You truly have talent, EmpLemon.
POOPS!! =D
Remember the Shrekening? Pepperridge Farms remembers
@@Duncaster it’s not easily digestible content fo shure
@@Duncaster Not all concepts are appealing to percieve, and not all videos will be appealing to you to watch. These essays are something I find compelling and intriguing to watch, while some people find them boring or uninteresting. The world is and has bred generations of people with shorter attention spans that require instant gratification in order for the user in question to remain intrigued to the content in question, even if at first the user wishes to watch the video in its entirety, if the punchline doesn't come quick, it will bore them into leaving without an afterthought.
Documentaries are certainly niche, even moreso now with the endless mediums of quick, spoon-fed entertainment and information the internet gives us at our fingertips, but it's satisfying in it's own right to know that you can sit down, listen, and enjoy the information being given. It all boils down to a preference, a preference in favor of longer strings of information that is being obsoleted by ease of access and simply the methods that our children are raised.
@@Duncaster look! someone with the attention span of a goldfish!
its kind of poetic that patrick just wants to be heald accountable and the memes made about him idolize his actions
Well, it's all meant to be ironic, I'm pretty sure. They're showing how easily his terrible actions fit into "sigma male grindset" behavior.
If everyone approves, then you have been found accountable. To summarize using an anime quote:
"Cast in the name of God,
Ye not guilty."
@@smergthedargon8974 I've seen people who unironically like parts of his personality that are obviously extremely flawed.
@@smergthedargon8974 Nah we're serious. Go back to Reddit.
I just started my first full time job out of college and I am making more money then I could have ever imagined growing up. Yet I still feel more unhappy now than ever before. To say this video came at the perfect time for me in my life is an understatement. Outstanding storytelling and narrative yet again Emp.
@@kevinsedwards asking the real questions…
I graduated this year with an engineering degree, and I ended up moving into a tech job that doesn't make as much money but works fewer hours and is much more fulfilling than sitting at a desk working on excel/solidworks, and I've found that I'm a lot happier than I was at my old internships/engineering jobs. I don't know if this information will help you with your problem, but I just found that pursuing the simpler path has made me much less miserable.
@@kevinsedwards at least 3
I genuinely feel for your struggle and hope you can find more fulfilling work, so please don't take the following in the wrong way.
People in your unfortunate situation always get used as examples of our "widespread societal problems", but you're among an incredibly small percentage of the population. Most people do not and never will work in those unfulfilling corporate (or similar) jobs, and don't feel the way you do. We're content with our lives and most of us have no motivation to climb the social ladder because of it.
The reason I bring that up, is that videos like this portray struggles like yours as the most common experience even though it's statistically rare, then use that as justification to dismantle everything. But people like me, who make up the majority of the population, and who would suffer the most from dismantling everything, get entirely left out of the equation.
These middle class and higher corporate-type gigs that make people miserable make up less that 10% of the economy, while 80+ percent of it is trade work and the like.
It just really bothers me that proclamations like the ones in this video completely neglect to consider the vast majority of people, then imply "solutions" that only serve the minority of people in a higher income class.
just take some psychedelics and you'll realize to appreciate the life that u got. There are people who steal from grocery stores just to get their vitamins to stay healthy. Appreciate what u doing my guy and enjoy the process. If u know what u doing I'm pretty sure you'll have 100s of millions one day. Don't let a video change ur perspective about the great work ur doing
I always love how I listen to video-essays from a person who used to upload YTPs of all things. It feels so abnormal but organic at the same time! Keep it up!
@ЕmрLemon 🅥 these nuts
Follow your leader.
i realized money was nothing when my brother committed suicide at 20 years old. we had a tough abusive childhood and then our family came into wealth in my late teens and everything changed, we didnt live in a hoarder house anymore, i used to have to lie to the school nurse and just say i was gross and refused to shower because if i admitted we didnt have running water or a working bathroom i would have been sent to essentially a government concentration camp for kids.
we came into wealth and moved into a literal mansion, im talking whole floors to your self with a bedroom, a media room and a gym on every level like legit mansion. it didnt change anything. when my brother died all alone in his bedroom on the bottom floor, right outside his door is a pool table, a ping pong table, a 2000 dollar gaming pc, a 65 inch flatscreen, but not one of those things prevented himself from putting a bullet in his brain, he could have came upstairs and asked my dad to buy him anything and he would. but it was meaningless to him.
and now after spending tens of thousands to try and fill that hole in my heart its only gotten bigger because I can not share what I have now with him. the old joke about its better to cry in a Ferrari than a civic isn't true its actually the opposite, you cry worse in a Ferrari, because you know it should make you happy yet it doesn't.
money is less than nothing, it deludes you into thinking a piece of paper is worth anything more than the tree its made out of.
Don't really know if money is less than nothing, I mean you do need it to enjoy certain conveniences. But I think everyone needs to have a long Come-To-Jesus meeting with themselves as to how much money they need to not only enjoy conveniences but also enjoy other stuff that DOESN'T cost money.
I mean I've lived in my car before: Might actually enter a situation where I'll need to again in a week or so. That's really gonna suck for me. But when my dad died and left behind a massive savings account that I just blew through because I was young and stupid, not a single red cent of that can replace what I lost...but not a single red cent could ever repair our hate/hate relationship either. I went through a similar phase with my dad like you did your brother. I spent money trying to fill that void and it just turned into an abyss. So I get it. I mean my dad indirectly told me that if he died it would be MY fault. How do you recover from that? Can you EVEN recover from that?
So in the end I think its a personal choice. How much money does it take to satisfy things? Where is the stopping point? What will I use it for other than buying stuff I need to function? Think everyone needs to answer those questions without any outside influence.
I mean I spent most of my adulthood at or under the poverty line and although I always thought that I could stand to make more money, I would turn around and ask myself "what would I do with it tho? Save it? Why? I like living for the moment better." I enjoy having just enough money to pay for stuff because it gives me a rush. I do gig economy stuff for money too and that gives me a bigger rush. Never know where the next paycheck will come from but I know I can get it and I'm excited to find it.
Condolences on your loss. I'm an only child so I can't relate but it doesn't mean I don't know what loss feels like. I think what happened to you was that you went from one extreme to another way too fast and along the way you might have associated your brother's untimely death with having lots of money. Just a rando's psychoanalysis tho, take with it what you will.
Take care of yourself and know that better times are ahead. Even though he's not with us I believe that your brother would be proud of you to have the courage to express yourself the way you did here.
Damn dude. Your writing has really reached a new level. This is truly the pinnacle of quality content.
Honestly this is one of the best video essays I've ever seen.
Yeah....
I don't recall the constitution having the words "get rich by breaking everyone else's backs." It turns out, it talks a lot about freedoms, liberties, and justice instead. So I'm pretty sure America was founded on those and gangsters just happened to show up to get some cash in a place that couldn't stop them from being assholes.
The opening segment was so full of historical inaccuracies I was wondering if EmpLemon got all his news from children stories written exclusively by Russians.
When Christopher Columbus showed up in the new world he commented on slaves and victims of genocide as being the greatest people. He then proceeded to annihilate the oppressive regime that was ritualistically sacrificing them and proceeded to enslave them putting the "greatest people" at the top. Later on the "greatest people" were slowly relegated down as slaves due to racism. There is an extraordinary over abundance of evidence showing that the Aztecs were genocidal slave masters. Why leave this part out? What would drive a person to do such a thing?
It seems like this is just some sort of "hot-take" low brain commentary that's rotten American politics to it's core. America has had a gangster problem from it's very inception, but conflating the two? Look, I'm just saying there's significantly better stuff out there criticizing America's fascination with gangster mentality than a piece that just throws in the idea that America was literally built on it.
Tony Soprano hitting the radio and making MDE tune start.... so smooth, such vibe
@nezuai you are not really making it better
It would be a pity if... this comment section forced someone into a self defence situation
I love how Fitzgerald attempted to careen the family car off a cliff, but Zelda is the one institutionalized. Classic 1930s stuff.
When you last expect it, Emplemon posts a video and makes our day
Bots be back
@@FrostyFrosto they came real quick
@@ethansprague2005 pretty sad tbh. TH-cam comments have basically been turned into scams, ads, and ads for scams right before our own eyes
You said it
facts
i don't think I can express enough how great of a TH-camr EmpLemon is... every video is an absolute banger in its own rite and isn't always among the same subject but always still prevalent and digestible. my favorite TH-camr forsure.
The last 2+ years of this channel has been like watching the Michelangelo of TH-cam in his prime.
I hold him in the same regard as zfranks true facts, take that as you will.
@@chrisbarnes2882 I haven't had of him ! but he must be good for you to make the comparison
Perfect timing. Just finished reading The Great Gatsby, and watched this video. Halfway in, I was wondering why Emp hadn't mentioned Fitzgerald yet. And there he was. It's uncanny how these fictional stories start to become a reality. In a lot of ways, The great gatsby could be considered an "autobiography" of Fitzgerald himself. When he killed off Gatsby, he basically dug his own grave.
You missed one of the more iconic American psychos, Jerma.
I dont have the link but I remember a clip where jerma started laughing meniacaly when someone called him a capitalist
No joke
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor"
-Seneca
"The true rich man is he who is content with what he has"
"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has"
-Epictitus
It's not always true because with the right attitude you can be content sitting naked in a pile of your own shit. But then you'll die from dysentery and cold.
The fact is it's not all "in your mind". You can have it all and not be content with it but you can also be objectively and dangerously poor.
I always enjoy finding random Stoicism, thanks
@@nomad5544 that is what makes stoicism great. it randomly in a way applies to everthing
That stuff is generally true, but the peace of mind the rich have of never needing to worry about the necessities of life is always going to mean their lives are generally easier, especially the old money ones but either way.
Not having that privilege can feel almost suffocating at times, and I speak from experience. I'd still have problems if I won a billion in the lottery, but man, I'd get rid of the biggest one.
@@fromulus I believe those teachings are meant to find peace and happiness in the face of our coveting human nature. What you say is completely true, the quotes do not contradict it, they complement it by teaching you to embrace your blessings and take strength from them. Strength which you can use to seek improvement as an engaging goal and not a stressful need. Remember, amor fati.
Also remember: if two men are doomed to a terrible and unavoidable fate, the one that from the very beginning starts worrying and mourning over it suffers twice as much as the one who doesn't.
That’s why I love the phrase, “Epstein didn’t kill himself” it’s the population fighting back by remembering how that thing go away with it
Remembering doesn't count for much if we aren't doing anything. Look at how repulsed the average american was at last year's violent protests or jan 6 supposed insurrection. People aren't ready to get their hands bloody and so we stay in our place
but not actually doing something about it.
@@ileutur6863 Supposed? I mean, even if we say *justified*, it was still an attempt at an insurrection
@@StarryxNight5 An insurrection where not a single politician was hurt or killed? See what I'm talking about? Even braindead extremists aren't ready to go all the way.
ok dork
To me there are two American Dreams.
The first is the one you're video is about. The void of wealth and divine aspirations. Drawing in those who have no way of achieving true happiness through material things and recognition.
The Second dream is the real one... one not founded on climbing to the top but by finding a spot your comfortable with and working with and around that.
Some people find joy in hanging out with others like and different from them, from creating things that make you happy and others can appreciate too, to enjoying the things others have created as well.
Having all of that without the fear of oppression and the will to fight back against those who wish to destroy that.
Unfortunately it's obvious which version of that dream became more popular.
Now if there was any character I could name who embodied the second dream the best... I would probably say someone like Hank Hill.
But who knows really...
You can thank Liberalism for the psyop.
You said it very well! I'm very critical of this video because it completely neglects to acknowledge those things, and it falsely presents the alternative as "the way its always been" which is absolute nonsense.
The problems he describes are only modern, have nothing to do with the foundational principles of the country like he implied, and only apply to a small fraction of our society.
Most people, like 80%, do not face these issues because they aren't part of this corporate world he seems to think is "working class". Real working class people, people in the trades and the like, do not face these issues. Most of us are completely content with our position in life. Presenting these issues as common problems is absurd to me. Nobody I know thinks more money will solve all their problems or are desperate to climb the social ladder.
This is the sort of perspective rich suburban kids posing as struggling poor kids have because their only concept of work is the corporate gigs their parents have.
I know I'm taking this beyond what you said, but I wanted to add my perspective to it. I appreciate you saying something sensible and balanced here, because most of the comments seem completely unaware of the working class majority I'm a part of. The people who share the perspective you just shared. We're always invisible to these people, even though we outnumber them 10 to 1.
@@NautilusGuitars It's great you added this. This is exactly what I wanted to say but wasn't able to express it in a way that didn't sound hypocritical. Thank you.
I love my country, but people want to keep the "America bad" train running without actually solving the problems or accepting that our ancestors weren't in the right so we should do better.
Instead we have to keep reminding ourselves over and over again that "Genocide bad", "Racism bad", "Thing -our government- we did bad", and all it does is make the crazy people go nuts and just utterly degrades everyone.
Personally I'd rather just keep up on trying to get my own projects going without the stress of using it to climb this dumb pyramid.
Just a quick personal tangent but everyone I've talked to in my family sees my (very obviously) comic book/manga style art and goes "You should become a tattoo artist" or "You'll make alot of money painting that on people's cars" or "Make those into welding statues" etc. and it's a neat idea I guess but just... no?
Anyway yeah the need to make money compared to making anything else has really hindered the real American Dream to an agree you'd think it'd died along time ago...
I know of a character who’s haunted by their pursuit of the first & struggling to understand the second.
Very well put. Kudos
“We’re all equal, but some of us are more equal than others”
Niccolo Machiavelli never said " The ends justify the means". That phrase is from Ovidio, a roman poet.
"Beneath the short 2 word titles, and the questionable thumbnails, there's treasure behind every EmpLemon video."
-Sun Tzu, the art of youtube recommendations
You’ve really got something here, man. Your analysis is honestly stunning and there’s some really great scriptwriting. Please, keep this content going as long as it makes you happy to make it, it’s on another level.
Agreed 🙂
I love emplemon essays. And it doesn't matter what they're about most of the time either.
Do I have any interest in NASCAR, for instance? Absolutely not. But I watch the video essay on it.
“Woke up dis mornin’ got sum gobagool”
-Dunkey
I think most people realize on their death beds what really mattered in life was other people. The relationships you had with your fellow humans, and all life really, is what truly matters. It's a shame most of us have to live an entire life to finally figure this out
When on your death bed, you likely will value companionship most, because at that point your are entirely reliant on others to care for you. People often think that there is one true self, that the other selves are just facades or mistakes, but i do not think there is any one true self. People change, people adapt, people are in a constant state of flux and their values are constantly changing to fit their current instinctive urges and survival priorities. Once your most urgent desire is satisfied, your mind will wander to the next. There is no one single most important thing to achieving happiness.
@@elio7610damn.
"Wow, he's literally me!"
He just like me frfr
I don't know how emp does it, but he has this way of telling his story with such love and passion for what he is talking about that he can make anything sound fantastic. My favourite example would be the NASCAR videos he has done. I have never watched NASCAR in any real investment, but he managed to keep me hooked on the stories he sharing. Awesome video man!
Same. I do not watch sports but his video on sports upsets/ chokes had me hooked.
Not really hard when most TH-cam content is just shithole
I feel the same. Some of the topics he talks about I either have no interest or never heard of them but once I play the video I’m hooked on it and wanting to know more and wait till the end of the video. I sometimes end up looking it up (the Everest video) just to read more on it. He does such an amazing job with these videos. Quality over quantity
I never thought I'd find a better storyteller than emplemon until i found jesus he loves all of us
and yet he shoves his agenda down our throats like everyone else
There's something profoundly ironic about doing a video like this and ending it with a manscaped sponsorship.
Manscaped in itself already being a carricature of itself.
In my opinion, one of THE best video essays of all time. The way it really just comes together.
This and the simpsons video are some of the best videos on TH-cam imo
@@MadMaximo my personal favorites are the ones about new coke and mac tonight. the pure aesthetic of the music just ties it all together beautifully
my personal favorite is the one about Hungrybox, but emplemon is just consistently amazing at what he does
Video essay is the best description of his works I’ve heard. That is exactly how it is formatted. Like he is reading his essay to the class with a supporting video on the board
I gotta love how literally every depression/recession spawns a deeply flawed character in media that slowly becomes hyper popular.
It's strange too how some idolize people like that too.
I never have, but I understand how those characters can be seen as well written and we'll acted. They are excellent characters but they are meant as warnings and not aspirations.
Perhaps their admirers are the parts of our generation still poisoned by the pyramid of success and only see the sheer power they hold instead of the struggles they go through or the atrocities they commit.
Drawn in by the "Gigachad energy" and nothing else.
I failed at revolution, Hitler did too...... I am really looking into politics.
@@GenericProtagonist118 it's easier to relate to a protagonist that is deeply flawed, especially the ones who try so hard to be perfect, and still fall flat.
maybe it's just me, but it gives me hope. no matter the resources someone has their disposal, they will never obtain perfection. a reminder that even the immensely wealthy, and seemingly unflawed, still give in to human desires that have been railed against for as long as i can remember.
"Oh boy I sure do love being born in the year 1990! I hope I'm in for decades of back-to-back economic prosperity, geo-political peace, and a severe lack of political division where neighbors are encouraged to turn on eachother! The 2000's are going to rock!"
It's insane how ytp creator in the past can make serious content this good. I wish you all good things that you could wish empLemon
NFKRZ a Russian YTP creator back in the day has now become an avid anti-Russian propaganda TH-camr who criticizes Putin's regime and the current situation in Russia itself, Pyrocynical who was an MLG & YTP video shitposter is now one of my favorite movie/game reviewer ever.
he was 13 when he made those but go off
@@berserk1437 Weird attitude to have when they're literally just proud and wishing him the best, but keep being passive-aggressive.
Putting "It's hip to Fuck Bees" as the opening song was a genius choice.
I’m positive that would sting to fuck.
Absolutely love this moment 20:19 when the narrator says "But they should.." in sync with Bateman gloating about Huey Lewis and the News. Masterfully done!
He definitely knew what he was doing.
@@ImJCyo no way
@@cromulom2223 War. War never changes. Or does it? The war has changed. Did it? The answer is "no". Unless it is "yes". No, of course it is! Is war. Yes! No. Yes?
I don’t think the time stamp is correct
27:14
"The only country in the world where the pursuit of happiness is guaranteed in writing. Where's my happiness then ???" [23:51]
"It's the PURSUIT that is guaranteed..."
When the GTA III soundtrack drops, I knew I was in for a real treat. A man of taste
I smiled when I saw the copyright graph when talking about how rich people can change even the laws themselves
The whole notion of emptiness and lack of fulfillment after striking total material wealth reminds me of what Heath Ledger said as Joker: “I’m like a dog chasing cars. I wouldn’t know what to do with one if I caught it.”
Then there’s that one quote about how diplomacy is a harder battle than the war itself. When we want something we don’t have it may cause us dissatisfaction but at least it gives us something to focus on. That’s why video games are so addictive, they can impose a near limitless amount of things to focus on. But once you “beat the game” so to speak, you grow bored and eventually drop it.
There’s a paradox that I learned when studying game design that goes something like this: there are two goals for a player: to have fun and to beat the game. But those two things inherently cancel each other out. If you want to beat the game you have to give up your fun since there’s nothing else to do. But if you wanna have fun you can’t beat the game.
I think life is a lot like that. For many of us if not all of us, our reason to live is because we aren’t satisfied with our current situation in some way, and want to climb higher. We have to be in a constant state of motion. The moment we stop, life becomes meaningless. Not saying you can’t be rich and still have a meaningful life. But it’s interesting how the ones who die the happiest are the ones who never beat the game, choosing instead to have fun.
I think that Walter White deserves mention in this archetype of American antihero. Perhaps their strive for status and sexual side is incomparable to that of Walt, but their drive for success and self preservation is definitely similar.
Walt is absolutely driven by sex and status. The show just holds him more accountable. It shows how what he pursues is visibly hollow, but as its a path to power for Walt it works to correct his position in life. Walt feels owed entrance to the elite, and that repressed desire is so intense it leads him to view the world in such a twisted way as to be almost psychotic, where being a meth kingpin with a broken life is equivalent to being the leader of a Fortune 500 in a happy marriage because both have money and power
I mean, not a verbal mention, but he is at least shown at 2:44
There we are glad someone else thought of him, because he really is a awful person that was never happy with anything, and only felt alive doing terrible things, and maybe homelander, from the boys because obviously he’s literally made of America.
Walts not a Psycho though unfortunately by definition
In grade 11 the whole theme of my English class was “the corruption of the American Dream” we read books like Great Gatsby, Fast Food Nation, etc. It’s just crazy that we don’t pay attention to the lessons these books try to teach. We write them off so we can keep the façade up of achieving a better life. Sadly I don’t see any other way for us to find meaning other than this endless chase of “happiness”
Nice video. It's important to note that one of the larger themes of The Great Gatsby" concerns mammonism, not just old money vs new money, but the industrial era vs a romanticized age before the industrial dynamo. Gatsby's green light is not money, it's a dream of the past- before the time that he needed to posture with money- and whether or not that time ever existed. Gatzby is not just new money, he's a man from a different era, who cannot compete with the new age of Tom Buchanon.
Most of Fitzgeralds' works revolve around the same theme of a long-gone past that we romanticize in our heads, and are always chasing in the present.
I agree
Been in the fold since the Complaining days of 2017, seeing you not only rapidly shift your style but be able to consistently improve and refine no matter what year it is... That's why you went from "yeah that guy has some really good points about TH-cam" to "one of 5 channels that I need to rush to as soon as they upload."
As always, the editing & writing here is top of the game. Great vid.
What’s the other 4 channels
Please inform us of the other 4 🙏
Same! Love EmpLemon. Also yeah what are those 4 other channels? 👀
@@Shlappz For me it's (in no particular order): EmpLemon, Internet Historian, Vsauce, FUNKe and Lemmino
Sopranos taught me that all the mafia does is go to funerals and eat a lot of food
how do you continue to consistently come up with fantastic video essay ideas and on top of that execute them perfectly still? i love this channel!
Emp is literally the only TH-camr of whom I drop basically almost anything to watch. I literally have no idea when he drops and I must feed my addiction immediately.
Him and Summoning Salt
@@joshuasalem5022 two of the GOATS
@@joshuasalem5022 Super Eyepatch Wolf, Folding Ideas, and We're In Hell getting there too, imo. YMMV
great video. i liked the part where pointed out that patrick bateman and his coworkers' appearance, hobbies and mannerisms have made them all literally identical, and can't show even a hint of their real personality. watching them talk is like watching robots interact.
I’m starting to read The Great Gatsby in my high school class, and I instantly fell in love with it, and the concept of American Psycho always fascinated me. The way you managed to weave both into a video together just shows how brilliant you are at this
best book in the US Education System
I'm an enormous sopranos fan. And you, sir, have provided an amazing breakdown of Tony soprano. Your videos are incredible.
@@dxbrasky why so sad?
I've never heard of this guy but this video is actually so well made. Stuff like this is art. I feel like I could enjoy watching it in school and feel like I've learned something interesting.
Probably one of my most satisfying youtubers to watch. 👌
so cool to see new EmpLemon viewers! You have hours and hours of top notch content to watch now
@@caseys2698 Dude you get it, it's such a refreshing feeling to watch *high quality* content for the first time. Like I recently found out about NorthernLion like a half year ago and have had so much fun just with the SAP content. Which is a funny coincidence since NorthernLion a.k.a.Ryan Letourneau is a a very well documented psycho himself.
@Will lmfao, you made my day with your comment. Too funny to be insulting
Edit: idk why but his comment was deleted, so for anyone wondering, it said
Will • 2 minutes ago
*How does his pen15 feel bouncing on it so violently like you are?*
We all know the Most Profound Moment in Gaming, the speech the Colonel gives at the end of MGS2. One of the lines is about the paradoxes we must somehow reconcile in our own realities to justify our existence. One of the themes that hits home to me is that hard work only benefits the top unless you are working for yourself. Thats why im making it my goal to be working for myself this time next year.
Raiden turn the game console off,MGS2 is legendary
I hate how people say when Columbus stepped foot on the American continent when he never made it here he made it to the islands and then the coast of central and South America he never even saw the North American continent let alone step foot in American or the USA as we know it
Central America is part of North America
I think it's very important how often you use the Twin Towers as a backdrop in this piece, illustrating a quiet theme of symbols and cycles.
Wait what? Are we sure the Amerindians were all that Utopic and Peaceful? I suppose the ones Colombus encountered at the Caribbean were, but that certainly can't be said for the inhabitants of the mainland. There were brutal fights and genocides between indigenous confederations long before the British arrived
It doesn't really matter whether it's true or not, what matters is that that's what Columbus said. Despite him holding that opinion, he and other colonists enslaved and eradicated almost all of the native population. It shows how little they cared and where their priorities lay.
@@theviralmelon I think like 90% of the indians were killed due to the diseases the early settlers brought. That wasn't really intentional.
@@MrMasterKaio yeah, that wasn't intentional...but the colonists certainly did plenty to prove they didn't care about the natives
@@theviralmelon I agree
One of the great cultural commentators, philosophers, and critics of this generation. A swift and easy click ever time a new video becomes available. Thank goodness Emp has become recognized and appreciated before it was too late for him to experience it.
Cringe.
Didnt know limp wristed simplistic america bad opinions were so hot rn
Too much maybe
EmpLemon just doesn't miss man, I never expect what he essays about but find them all fascinating. He's like an up and coming Jon Bois.
Massive respect for using Tom Davies (Geo Wizard) music in this. It gave me the biggest grin hearing those iconic notes.
haha me too
gave me goosebumps
it genuinely made me double take lol
“One must imagine Sisyphus happy” is the best quote I’ve heard. Literally helped me the most out of any in my life.
Camus came the closest to understanding existence than anyone ever has. Ultimately life is worth living not because of goals or some attainable happiness or future, but because there’s simply nothing better to do. His death was ironic, and I don’t think he would’ve wanted it any other way. There’s something transcendent about his work and his life, like an inhuman level of serenity, perhaps he was just too good for us
Fuckin same, dawg
It's a very stupid line by Camus in his "Myth of the Sisyphus" (his worst work, where he critisize other philosophers and existentialists, while later making similar thesis as them). But ignorant people, who never read it, like it very much.
@@EvgeniyNeutralMusician no, Camus takes a much different approach than ones like Sartre. Sartre argues that man has agency, Camus argues that man does not. The “absurd” that he establishes borrows more from Kierkegaard yet without religion, and is much more focused on the paradoxical nature of life than its possibilities. It also allows for more comedy. Camus accepts some nihilistic view points about reality, however he does not view suffering as inevitable or constant, which Sartre does. Camus acts as agnostic or pantheist compared to Sartre’s atheist and Kierkegaard’s theist, believing in an ambiguous degree of transcendence. Camus is also much more optimistic than Sartre is.
@@ScarlettR61 From where that "no" comes? Denial for denial? Tragicomedic and absurd.
You just compare someone cut off from formal logic and longest philosophical debate, in which all Kierkegaard, Sartre and Camus are just children in the sandbox. If you would read "The Fall" by Camus, you would not write such foolish opinion, however if you compare some works by Sartre" with naive optimistic and most stupid work by Camus, which is "Myth of the Sisyphus", then yes. You are not very bright and can't look too far, too bad. Be happy in your ignorance.
I was one of the stupid students who didn't understand Great Gatsby in english class, but now that I'm older I begin to understand it. And thanks to this video, I fully get it and want to read it again. Great vid, lemonman.
That’s sort of the great irony of school lit curriculum, it gives you some of the best literature in history to read, but you couldn’t give less of a shit at that time.
A truly horrifying video, and I mean that as my highest compliment. There are channels dedicated to horror stories, depressing politics, and dark predictions of the future, but somehow this video stands out against all of that. Impressive work.
Easily my favorite piece of youtube content of the last 5 years. Incredibly insightful and masterfully relatable, it's hard to avoid sounding "preachy" when diving into stuff like this, but man did you do it.
I hate and always will hate that one human feeling. When you finally find that one thing you truly believe will make you feel satisfied suddenly becomes another worthless treasure. Just like gum, the flavour is wonderful but in the end its in the trash.
Learn to observe it and remember it will come and go. No one thing will absolutely fulfill you forever. You’re already one foot in because you’re aware that it exists.
Your presentational style is absolutely superb. You know just when to shift tone, topic and pace, and your tangents always come back to support your main point quickly - shown, not told.
very very good video emp. I thoroughly enjoyed it
Always love how Emp picks the jams from my gaming youth to back up his videos.
I really don't understand how you can be an adult and still be materialistic, sure, when you're 16 it sure sounds cool to buy expensive cars and clothes - but I thought at some point in your 20s you should be mature enough to get over that phase lmao
Some people never really grow up
I would love to see a source for Colombus saying this as I haven’t found a single one of his letters saying that. He describes them in a positive light but never that quote. Nor did he remark how surprised he was of how peaceful they are, only that he they lacked any sort of iron and weapons on account of their Timid nature.
This is probably the best, most well put together video I've watched on TH-cam in some time. The way you adverised Manscaped at the end in a Patrick Bateman but trolling-like way was the cherry on top and it made me crack up... Bravo!
This is one of the most compelling video essays I've ever seen. It's so well thought out and ties together so beautifully. By far one of your best yet!! Hail to the emp!
Magnum Opus
Video topic idea:
Superman and the negative perception of modern young audiences towards him.
IMO mainstream audiences seem to have developed this bitter and cynical disdain for this character who's meant to represent everything righteous, patriotic, honest and selfless about the average person. And yet the average person seems to only show contempt at best towards him.
That's a great idea honestly, I hope Emp sees this