Rebecca Sugar Tells Sublime Stories

Sublime art theory informs Rebecca Sugar's shows in obvious and subtle ways. Their careful decisions in the art direction, narrative, and expressions of their characters come together to form a sublime artwork. Looking into how Rebecca Sugar specifically employs sublime framing in Steven Universe, one comes to understand why their stories feel so personal and so engrossing.
#StevenUniverse #AdventureTime #RebeccaSugar

[@HellfireComms]

Wonderful video. It's refreshing to see someone get why SU works as a show instead of just chalking down anything not immediately obvious as "bad writing".

[@isabelr3467]

This is such a great analysis of what makes shows like steven universe so engaging! I think another reason why this style of storytelling works so well specifically for something like SU is because SU is a coming of age story, and a big part of growing up is realising that you don't know everything and that you're never going to understand everyone's experiences - I think the sublime storytelling does such an amazing job of emphasising that theme!

[@huxley3043]

ngl that moment when pearl looks down at steven; that made me think of a whole world of war that she was afraid for steven to experience. i loved rose's fountain but i wasnt hooked until that look had me seriously hooked on the character development. that moment at the end of rose's scabbard means so much and this video explains 2 me why im hung up on portal and at to this day LMAO

[@paloma4444]

Rose's Scabbard is one of the best episodes. Though I may be biased since Pearl and Rose's is by far my favorite love of the show.

[@soildweller]

this video's changed my view on sublime as a whole. like. a lot. it went from something thats just "when you have to fill in the holes in a story for yourself" to something waaaay bigger

[@paytonbarker6273]

Great vid bud i feel like this shows gets a lot of stupid criticisms.

[@faefelix3743]

this is a truly lovely video, absolutely highly recommended. youtube is a sea of terrible takes and you're an island. next to what you bring up, i think the limited perspective of steven also informs us of another important aspect of the show - namely, that everyone character's perspective in it is limited, and our perceptions of the world are colored both by their biases and steven's own biases. the search for perfect authority figures to guide you will never bring you happiness, you can't put others on pedestals - you have to find meaning knowing that nobody can give it to you. that search for meaning beyond what we can perceive can never be fully captured or understood, because as a limited individual, there will always be aspects of others and the world they will not share and you will not understand, yet you're still challenged to both try and simultaneously embrace your limitations (this being a big theme in 'future' in particular). it's very existentialist in that way.

[@pkdavidstorm7395]

FaeFelix !!!!! Hey I love your videos, thanks for stopping by here!
That’s a great point you make. No one in the show reveals their inner thoughts or knowledge to Steven outright. Instead, like Steven, we have to evaluate what we’re told at every step, and think about the implications.
One of the best early moments of this is Frybo, where Steven zones out and we miss Pearl’s explanation of Gem shards- something we’ll have to wait twenty-some episodes later to learn about more in Secret Team, but then even longer to finally have Garnet spell out exactly what’s so grotesque about shards.

[@dre1426]

Don’t forget the Wailing Stone. Pearl tried to explain it in Rose’s Room but Steven doesn’t pay attention and we hear very little.
Only in The Message do we get confirmation that it is indeed a sort of communicator.

[@burgertime3458]

Anyone have a link to that 2014 interview? Awesome vid btw

[@pkdavidstorm7395]

Just now seeing this question! Here is an archive of that interview, which is an extensive one of the Adventure Time staff: popula.com/2018/09/03/the-literature-of-the-universe/.
The part I referenced starts with the sentence, "Pen Ward told me to ask Rebecca Sugar about the sublime, and what she said turned out to be intimately involved with this idea of universal mystery, and with imagination."

[@burgertime3458]

I FINALLY GET IT OMG

[@peachie5000]

Awesome video!

[@killkaisumi]

I love that you respected her preferred pronouns

[@killkaisumi]

Hello Um she said she’s okay with being called she/her

[@Kirill-Ivanov2002]

Mate, meet the SUcritical community.
Empty your heart and fill it with your brain.

[@anotheryoutubeaccount5259]

Empty your heart and fill it with crap

[@SittinginAcoffeshop]

What is the music used within the video

[@pkdavidstorm7395]

In order of appearance (all show BGM):
Lapis's Tower
Strength and Forgiveness
Atop the Sea Spire
Night Drive 2
Mirror Gem
Love Like You
Theme from an Endless Romance