White Diamond's Cognitive Journey (Video Essay)

แชร์
ฝัง
  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2019
  • Losing your identity has never been more freeing.
    TW: Television static, somewhat creepy imagery.
    Thanks to everyone for waiting. Please like and subscribe, and comment on what you wanna see next!
    I'm not good at TH-cam, so I've elected to post a transcript instead of attempting to subtitle this thing: faelapis.tumblr.com/private/1...
  • ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน

ความคิดเห็น • 127

  • @wormwoodcocktail
    @wormwoodcocktail 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +136

    18:32 I like how Lapis looks angry, Peridot and Connie are listening intensely (not sympathetically), but Bismuth looks *sad,* listening to Blue. Like, genuinely mournful. Considering how so much of Bismuth’s story is centered around her hatred of the Diamonds, this is an interesting choice. It’s almost like she assumed the Diamonds were happily goofing off in their land of luxury, and realized really don’t.

  • @Citokinesis
    @Citokinesis 4 ปีที่แล้ว +492

    God it's so REFRESHING to see an analysis that isn't "dictators bad, the show is ruined"

    • @wormwoodcocktail
      @wormwoodcocktail 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      Jerry Peet is screaming because of this post.

    • @Terron-de-pimienta
      @Terron-de-pimienta 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      The fact they dared to put dictators as villians is good.
      What's bad and ruined the very end of SU, is Rebecca's absurd overpacifism or "I won't kill pure evil, even if the inner logic requires it".
      She said to be a Disney fan (classic Disney inspired Homeworld) but she never truly show it.
      I guess she didn't watch The Lion King or The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

    • @Citokinesis
      @Citokinesis 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Ayo what's going on lol

    • @kamota8523
      @kamota8523 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@Terron-de-pimientaLMAO

    • @thevarietychannelofyoutube4769
      @thevarietychannelofyoutube4769 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +24

      ​@@Terron-de-pimientaIf Steven did shatter the Diamonds, it would be completely unbelievable if most of the Homeworld gems didn't hate him for that and see him as a villain. Remember how every Homeworld gem we see on screen is brainwashed with fanatical devotion to their Diamonds?

  • @matti.8465
    @matti.8465 4 ปีที่แล้ว +268

    It's really no wonder White allowed Steven to decide the direction of the colony right after what happened. The moment she realized she wasn't perfect, she also realized that the society she created wasn't either, everything was in shambles! White was extremely vulnerable and willing to accept any and all advice, because her old way of doing things was all she knew by that point.
    Also, have you ever thought about how pointless the Gem empire is? They're not living organisms, they don't need food, water, or to increase their numbers to survive. However, they spend all their time conquering planets for their resources, which they use to create more gems, which they use to conquer more planets and so on....There's no real reason for it, it's a pointless ideology of expansion over everything else.

    • @nevaehhamilton3493
      @nevaehhamilton3493 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Since she has no self-indentfication, she therefore has no purpose in the universe, and thus, no reason to live.

    • @RonnieNichols
      @RonnieNichols 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Iirc, they are based on viruses, essentially. Even the gem injectors resemble bacteriophages. They check all the boxes:
      Needs resources only for reproduction
      Doesn't consume outside reproduction
      Needs host to reproduce
      Injects "genetic" (gemetic?) material into host
      Only exists to attack hosts and spread

    • @Vendetta_killer
      @Vendetta_killer 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +18

      Yep, unless there’s some hidden info we don’t know about

    • @Raebeing
      @Raebeing 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +20

      kinda how sociey wll be in super late stage capitalism!!

    • @maximodubs4189
      @maximodubs4189 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      Maybe advance of technology?

  • @wormwoodcocktail
    @wormwoodcocktail 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +75

    23:50 Interesting. White always knew Pink was alive. However, she didn’t think it was possible for Pink to “grow up”, “stop acting like a child”, and truly change. Pink as Rose laments to Greg and baby Sourcream that gems are born as they will always be, and do not “grow up”.
    However, Pink did grow up. She went from being some hyperactive kid who had tantrums to someone who fought for Earth, gemkind, and life as a whole. Pink as Rose did grow and change. She realigned her own gem and thus changed her purpose. Pink (and all the gems who have what Peridot refers to as “character development”) can and do change, but even as Rose she has this fundamental contempt for gems. She sees humans as having a power they don’t have, when they do and always have. MegaPearl fusion says as much.
    For White, to acknowledge that Pink *chose to die* meant that she had to have a massive *shift in her personality.* She would have to have grown into another sort of person and done something genuinely *out of character* (in terms of gem factory settings).
    I think Pink learned this self-hatred from White. White also believed she was born fully formed and so were all other gems. Growth is impossible, and if Pink was created to be the ID / child, then she would always be that. Pink would always be the baby of the family over whom White would protect and rule. If Pink changes, *she changes.*
    This is the core of White’s identity issues, to use the language of this video. Her identity consists of the various dynamics between herself and others. Pink is the kid and she is the matriarch. Blue and Yellow are respectable adults forever and through whom White channels her will. For Pink to *truly* make an adult decision, or for Yellow and Blue to act like babies… this changes the nature of the dynamic. They have to stay the same because that means the dyad stays the same, and so White stays the same.
    At it’s core, Steven Universe is about adjusting to change. Which makes sense, given how much Sugar was inspired by *Revolutionary* (as in, revolving) Girl Utena. That show deals with the question of something “eternal”, and I think a true identity or character eases that impulse. Who is White when she is alone? We know that Blue likes swimming and combing her hair, and that Yellow is a workaholic who will do any task assigned to her with admirable work ethic and efficiency. But White? Her domain is barren, devoid of cosmetics or saunas or toys. She literally stands around staring at other gems to make sure they don’t evolve or change. Gem society is a weird house made of Jenga blocks. For a single Ruby or Mica to shift in place is to destabilize the network of interpersonal relationships that characterize White and society at large. It tumbles easy because she tumbles easy.

    • @arthistorynerd
      @arthistorynerd 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

      I adore this analysis! It’s a really very profound way of putting it!

    • @Claudia_Crimson_585
      @Claudia_Crimson_585 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Pink didn't have temper tantrums because she was a spoiled brat, when she couldn't keep her feelings bottled up anymore she would lash out at her abusers for the way they treat her.

  • @tylulia1039
    @tylulia1039 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +49

    This show is such a gem

    • @tylulia1039
      @tylulia1039 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +14

      Did not mean to make a pun I am a but tipsy

  • @kambriabennett3659
    @kambriabennett3659 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +43

    White light visually is actually a combination of all the colors on the spectrum, like a reverse prism. I think that’s a really cool thing to consider when discussing White’s characterization and her idea of collectivity versus individuality.

    • @debrahanes4439
      @debrahanes4439 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      She even says “ after all I’m every color of the light “

  • @paloma4444
    @paloma4444 4 ปีที่แล้ว +215

    You say that Greg "was the first being or person to challenge Rose and make her rethink things" when really I'd put it that he was just the first HUMAN to do so. Garnet made Rose rethink everything she believed about the rebellion and what it should accomplish, and even more simmilar to Greg is Pearl affecting Rose's beliefs by displaying herself as a complex individual with thoughts and wishes of her own and is precisely how she swept Rose off her feet - sure it may have been a lot less direct/intentional and taken a good while for Pearl herself to realize it, but both she and Greg shook up Rose's idea of who they were in simmilar ways and it helps explain why she liked them so much. Not really a criticism, just something I thought about :)

    • @faefelix3743
      @faefelix3743  4 ปีที่แล้ว +42

      thank you - to clarify, i meant challenge in the more confrontational sense! i feel like garnet didn't really "set out" to challenge rose the way greg did. to me, the contrast between them becomes the contrast between loyal followers and someone who genuinely saw rose as an equal + felt comfortable telling her she was wrong.

    • @paloma4444
      @paloma4444 4 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      ​@@faefelix3743 I understand what you are saying I do think Greg struggled somewhat less with treating Rose as an equal than Pearl did - although to be fair Now We're Only Falling Appart showed Pearl being a lot less passive and submissive than I would've maybe expected and overal, they both seem to agree Rose usually "did what she wanted' hehe

  • @wormwoodcocktail
    @wormwoodcocktail 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +35

    32:11 Diamonds and quartzes are both high on the Moh’s hardness scale. They are some of the hardest naturally forming substances in the world. The Diamonds are (literally and figuratively) *hardheaded.*
    It’s also interesting because it makes sense why quartzes would be soldiers - they’re harder than the vast majority of gems. It also makes sense that this is the class of gems that Pink would emulate. Her natural hardness was probably comparable to the strongest quartz soldiers. She couldn’t LARP as a sapphire because she had no future vision. She could play pretend as Rose Quartz by being tough and strong… which she was. “She had a scream that could crack the walls”, anyone?
    White says that Pink as Rose was “dulling [her] powers”, and when she becomes Rose permanently the gem’s orientation in her body flips. She probably did limit herself in some way. Fittingly, by becoming rebel outlaw heroine Rose Quartz, Rose had to *lower the hardness of her gem.* Physically restructure herself at an atomic level. She *chose to become more vulnerable.* We know that whatever Rose did to her gem was so profound that when White attempts to reboot Steven *the silhouette of Rose appears.* It’s fitting, and one of the few examples of real gemmology in the show.
    For reference, here are some other minerals (you know, gems?) from hardest to least: Diamond (10), corundum (9; rubies, sapphires), topaz (8), quartz (7), garnet (7), peridots (6.5), lapis lazuli (5.5), fluorite (4), bismuth (2.5), and pearl (2.5).
    Finally, note that Pink’s becoming vulnerable / Rose forever is correlated with a change in gem orientation. Pink’s gem faces up, toward the heart and head. Rose’s gem is not inverted, it is flipped so that the point faces inward, rather than up. Not sure what that means.

  • @tellmeaboutyourgame314
    @tellmeaboutyourgame314 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +49

    'You can only see yourself as perfectly objective through the denial of your own emotions, desires, and biases, denying the importance of listening to other people's perspectives.' This is life lessons right here

  • @demondog9660
    @demondog9660 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +45

    That really made me understand White Diamond's character a lot better. I always liked the finale, but I've seen White Diamond changing her mind so quickly as its flaw. But now I understand. It was actually much greater than I thought. Now I like finale and White Diamond's character even more. Thank you.

  • @Kanamo4781
    @Kanamo4781 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

    What i just noticed about Pink's drawing in here room is that - White's protrait overflow on yellow's and blue, but not on Pink's, showing how she was able to be a part of both yellow and blue, but she could never control Pink

  • @Dante45p
    @Dante45p 4 ปีที่แล้ว +66

    I'm kinda interested in her character arc
    I think nanefua would be a good "greg" for white since she's such a clear foil and Sugar loves opposites attracte
    Both the oldest members of their species and leaders, both grandmothers, one is an ancient ruler the other is newly elected, the tallest character and the shortest (adult human)

    • @wormwoodcocktail
      @wormwoodcocktail 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +15

      That’s… genius? Not sure how they would meet. Maybe there could be a joke about White wanting to meet “Earth’s leaders”, and ends up talking to some random municipal mayor.

  • @anthonyscarborough3813
    @anthonyscarborough3813 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    This really helped put things in perspective. If we compare Steven Universe to Star Wats, White and the other Diamonds aren’t like the Sith. They are more similar to the Jedi, in the sense they emphasize the “greater good” at the expense of their feelings, or the feelings of others. Rebecca Sugar is pointing out that that’s also evil, and I’m all for it.

    • @michellegeller813
      @michellegeller813 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      I love this. White diamond is the perfect explanation for why jedi ideology is toxic. Just imagine what would happen if someone somehow got a hold of Steven universe and everybody just... started watching. It'd be great.

  • @oatsie8727
    @oatsie8727 4 ปีที่แล้ว +89

    28:50 White Diamond DESTROYS weaker gems with FACTS and LOGIC
    Jokes aside, fantastic video. I'll admit I was in the camp of "her viewpoint changed too quickly" but this has actually made me change my mind [haha]. The fandom's insistence on pegging her solely as the 'abusive mother' type tends to stifle a lot of discussion about her, so I'm very glad you mention that.

  • @mimibreyes3532
    @mimibreyes3532 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +14

    I always thought of Yellow and blue as "mind" and "body" duality, since their powers seem to be related to physical self and emotional self and such

  • @Savannah_Simpson
    @Savannah_Simpson 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    This is an awesome analysis! People tend to just completely ignore the symbolism of the ending.

  • @AshAshBaby
    @AshAshBaby 4 ปีที่แล้ว +62

    It's interesting how so many people ignore this facet of the story to yell about how the "diamonds are fascists." It's even doubly interesting when, all I'm hearing from a sociopolitical perspective is a description of communism.
    something else interesting about white is how she describes pink as the "part of herself she always needs to repress", which is exactly what Freud thought the superego did to the id. the superego's role is to suppress and control the urges of the id, moderated by the ego. this is essentially the diamond's relationship dynamic.

    • @696190
      @696190 4 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      obligatory "it's not y, it's x" comment: it's not communism, it's technocratic totalitarianism, where every individual is strictly defined by their role within a society. totalitarian communism doesn't exactly define societal roles as strictly, a baker's children aren't tied to low-skill jobs, or any jobs, they still have autonomy with regards to their work choices. Calling the Diamond Authority fascist I find to be fair, but inaccurate, fair because of, among other things, how they deal with beings outside of their defined society, inaccurate because fascism does, in theory at least, allow upward social mobility. The most accurate description of the Diamond Authority might be technocratic absolutist feudal monarchy.

    • @jbark678
      @jbark678 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@696190 Agreed but swap feudal for mercantile or colonial.

    • @696190
      @696190 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@jbark678 ok, colonial

    • @nevaehhamilton3493
      @nevaehhamilton3493 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Redeeming a bunch of extraterrestrial dictators probably wasn't the wisest move, but this was the only way to get him to heal the corrupted gems. It's a terrible influence on impressionable kids who probably shouldn't be watching this at a preschool age considering all the political allegory vibes the show sends off, but there was no other option. Steven knew that the only way to heal the corrupted gems was for the Diamonds (all four of them) to reverse the effects permanently.

    • @animalbunnyaj5175
      @animalbunnyaj5175 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      why did this make me think of yellow and blue as discord mods ToT

  • @mercy4304
    @mercy4304 4 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    This was a really insightful analysis! I died at White's rantsona

  • @demirhane9179
    @demirhane9179 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    I finally got the White diamond analysis I wanted, thanks a lot.
    In addition, 1 in 15 of the viewers liked it, which is a nice rate.

  • @jamestolbert1856
    @jamestolbert1856 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I wish we got more screen time with their history and on White

  • @princembat
    @princembat 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    such a great video because like, youre right, but also just you being sane about this is so refreshing

  • @lapislazuli6596
    @lapislazuli6596 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    Love listening to this and hearing about more of these interesting theories! This is great writing and a great explanation!
    I know this was posted 4 years ago and I havent seen any recent videos, but a thing that made this a bit hard to watch/listen was cause it's a bit too loud & lots of unnecessary glitchy edits, but other than those all the other editing is great!

  • @user-cu7ow7ro4n
    @user-cu7ow7ro4n 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I feel rejuvenation after a long and painful breakdown.
    Thank you for your existence.

  • @DrakeMystical
    @DrakeMystical ปีที่แล้ว +5

    31:48 that was poetic

  • @viro_the_sheep
    @viro_the_sheep 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    THANK YOU!!!!!! this analysis is gold. Finally someone who understands the point. If only white noise sounds wasnt so loud and there wasnt flickering in editing

  • @flyingcapsicum
    @flyingcapsicum 4 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    I've been really looking forward to this and it was worth the wait! It was insightful and brought up things about White Diamond's thought process that I hadn't considered. Thanks man for taking the time to make this!

  • @Bluhm0702
    @Bluhm0702 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Maybe this is why her new power is projecting others into herself. Not only because it is the exact opposite of what she used to do, but because it's a way to explore other's identities and find her own through them and she finds enjoyment in the process

  • @josetrejo9457
    @josetrejo9457 4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I love your style of analysis, I am so happy I got recommended this, and I really do wish there were more sensible perspectives on Steven as a show on this level of detail, it’s wonderful.

  • @Skareware
    @Skareware 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

    awesome vid. this totally recontextualizes the fast-paced ending, for me at least

  • @fanaticalistic
    @fanaticalistic 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    This is a great video, I'm so glad I watched this, white diamond is so interesting to analyze.

  • @M0no3hr0me
    @M0no3hr0me ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Deserves a crap-ton more views!

    • @bighand1530
      @bighand1530 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      17,993 views as of now.

  • @doggo6816
    @doggo6816 24 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I like your voice, it's hard to describe why but it just kind of sounds calming

  • @dalila2442
    @dalila2442 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Such a great essay! You really deserve more views

  • @TreeHairedGingerAle
    @TreeHairedGingerAle หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Excellent. Lots of food for thought here!

  • @aiyhanakeith725
    @aiyhanakeith725 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I get a deeper understanding of White this way. Thanks a bunch!👍

  • @ssmaraagrr6804
    @ssmaraagrr6804 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    wow a love to see a truly inteligent person and their way they see things

  • @barryjennings5732
    @barryjennings5732 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I never looked at it this way this is a very well done essay very well put

  • @Anonymous-lt7ot
    @Anonymous-lt7ot 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Hello everyone, this is YOUR daily dose of Steven Universe.

  • @haleypeek5544
    @haleypeek5544 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Do more of these essays 10/10 excellent

  • @demi-femme4821
    @demi-femme4821 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Man, White's whole thing would be pretty good if Cartoon Network had let them have Season 6.

  • @TyrannoNoddy
    @TyrannoNoddy 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Great to see this finally come to light (pun unintended)! You definitely outlined everything you needed to, and I'm also pretty impressed with how quickly you seem to have gotten the hang of editing. Was gonna mention you should put a seizure warning or something of the like, but then I read the description lol
    But yeah, hope to see more videos :)

  • @klosbati7321
    @klosbati7321 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    that's why we need all 3 parts

  • @hyjinx1889
    @hyjinx1889 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    this is a really good video! thought a few criticisms I have would be the music and voice balance. The music was a bit too loud compared to the voice audio. and it made it hard to hear you. The into was very well done, but keep in mind that some viewers might find it very disorienting. Maybe add warning right at the beginning if you do something like this next time. Very well done video!

  • @ShyyGaladriel
    @ShyyGaladriel 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Interesting essay. I enjoyed it.

  • @bbbmd2007
    @bbbmd2007 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    GOD THIS WAS SUCH A GOOD VIDEO OMG

  • @vr4848
    @vr4848 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Excellent analysis!

  • @silverbowftw5225
    @silverbowftw5225 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    AMAZING VIDEOOO

  • @sssydneyfree
    @sssydneyfree 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Beautiful

  • @ilikegeorgiabutiveonlybeen6705
    @ilikegeorgiabutiveonlybeen6705 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    if gems society is led by resource logic why do they despise garnet fusion

  • @Vivian-eo3qc
    @Vivian-eo3qc 29 วันที่ผ่านมา

    she just like me fr

  • @zonmisty1231
    @zonmisty1231 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    WoW

  • @drrockstar4040
    @drrockstar4040 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Why dont they just make another hourglass of time?

  • @angelmatiastorres
    @angelmatiastorres 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    So she thought she was a good god?

    • @2gredvisions8560
      @2gredvisions8560 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Pretty much, yeah 😂. Despite thinking that she knows what's best for her creations, White Diamond is incredibly blind and deluded. Like what Blue Diamond inferred from "Legs From Here To Homeworld" and what Steven said to WD in "Change Your Mind", she's been stuck in her own head (Both metaphorically and physically in terms of her ship) for eons. She quite literally believes that everything she says is true and that everything she does is benevolent, which we the audience and the characters themselves know for a fact is not the case. WD was unable to fathom the nuances and complexities of things from a different perspective beforehand until Steven broke, I mean, changed her mind about it all 😉, lol.

  • @yagmurcenanboyacibalikci
    @yagmurcenanboyacibalikci ปีที่แล้ว

    Can you open subtitles?

  • @caoinhnamkhanh2795
    @caoinhnamkhanh2795 26 วันที่ผ่านมา

    well writen vid. just god awful volume on the damn static sfx

  • @user-rb9fy4hm5w
    @user-rb9fy4hm5w 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Basically she thinks she is the best and torture others below her

  • @HenryCasillas
    @HenryCasillas 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    ❄️

  • @JadeSkea
    @JadeSkea 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    14:23

  • @St0ned_ChildOfAphrodite
    @St0ned_ChildOfAphrodite 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    14:25 timestamp 4 me

  • @dimakeburia8022
    @dimakeburia8022 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    WHITE DIAMOND U ARE NOT GOOD CUZ YOU PICK STVENS DIAMOND

  • @gearguts7259
    @gearguts7259 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    So, fuck headphone users, huh?

    • @DrakeMystical
      @DrakeMystical ปีที่แล้ว

      Wym

    • @lovely-0009
      @lovely-0009 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Theyre freshly lobotonozied ignore them dw​@@DrakeMystical

  • @caligulasAquarius
    @caligulasAquarius หลายเดือนก่อน

    white diamond is so they/them pronouns coded.

  • @kaylalilly9281
    @kaylalilly9281 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Would be great to watch this video without loud ass music overwhelming the commentary. Boo.

  • @christopherpeelerii9700
    @christopherpeelerii9700 ปีที่แล้ว

    i still find the blushing idea stupid no offense