when you cj said "you can change that *today,* you can do something different" my video froze and i truly believed that mia was just stunned in shock for a minute
damn she really brought in the whole squad for this one. Soon every video essayer/commentator will share a single platform, a single cage at which you throw scraps
The entire last scene of that Disney theme video was heart-wrenching; seeing him use his Disney wand for Alex instead, and those amazing four notes, already has me tearing up just thinking about it 😢
Artist imposter syndrome is something I've dealt with my whole life. Its hard to call myself an artist or poet, I feel like i haven't earned the right to claim the title yet.
You're an artist! :D The self doubt just shows that you take your art seriously, which is actually even more of a signal you're an artist! Go forth and keep creating! You've got this ❤
I think it's important to ask, are you defined by what you do? Do you have to be an 'artist' to create art? Does teaching your skills to others make you a teacher? Do you have to sell your art to become an artist? Why does the title matter? You make art. I image you also do a lot of other things too, why aren't you defined by those things? I don't think what we do defines us, I think we have come to see our employment as defining who we are, until we consider ourselves what we do, instead of who we actually are. There doesn't need to be a title to claim, just keep making art and bringing more joy and beauty to the world.
@themurderofcoke 100% agree. We both kinda ended up making the same general point at the same time. People need to stop making the things they do part of their identities. Just make art if you want to and stop waiting for and expecting other people to validate it. Stop referring to yourself as a single-dimensional adjective, and stop making it your identity. Stop describing and thinking of yourself as any kind of -ist or -ician or anything that solely defines you as doing one thing and one thing only. You're not a single-purpose machine. You are not an "artist", you just make art more than the average person and have decided that's how you will make your income. Embrace being a complex and multifaceted being instead of taking the lazy mental shortcut of pidgeonholing yourself into one specific thing and thus reducing yourself to a single dimension. Like it really gives me the ick when I see people with usernames like "EpicGamer42", "PlumberMan1956", or "DisneyFan4929193749". It's like... is that all you think of yourself? Is that all people you want people to think of you as? Just a single quality? It makes me so sad. And in thr last case it's extra icky cuz it's like, not even something YOU even did. You're defining your ENTIRE identity around the consumption of some pop culture media made by some greedy corp that doesn't give a fuck about you and you're just giving them free advertising and being a mental slave. (Yes, I have a MASSIVE issue with "fandom" in general. It's weird and creepy. Also, amazing username lol)
I'm on the other side of it and struggling to still call myself an artist. Context: I was(am?) a photographer almost a decade ago. My work was good, I was getting paid for my storytelling in the medium, I have(had?) a signature style and a process. Then my lower spine gave out and my disability stopped me from using my camera and gear in the way that I wanted to. I've become married since then and, recently, my spouse asked if I'd like to take some photos-they only initially meant some portraits to rep some of their favorite band merch. I missed that and launched into my process, spitballing ideas about what the intention of each piece would be, and cheerily started making lists of ideas and sketching out light diagrams for nooks I've idly scouted near and far. This started out as a little overwhelming for them but, the more I talked about it, the more they got into the idea, and I felt woken up from a creative torpor. I'm still not physically okay, but I want to plan for enough rest before, on set, and after. I want to try to think around normal acts that occur during the shooting day that will cripple me in a heatbeat, and find a way to accomplish the same result without harming myself. So, idk. It feels stupid to claim a thing that I know I was then, and haven't done since, and I'm planning to do again because I realize how starved my soul is for it. I haven't got a good answer.
The art is not the medium. TH-cam is the medium. Film, television, clay, paints, photographs are all mediums. The artist who has something to say will gravitate toward the medium they see is most accessible to them. Rarely is any art universally acclaimed and rarely do two people take the same things away. All you can hope is that the message you want to share is transmitted and received to those who need it.
I remember the webcomics community struggling with this issue in the 2000’s. Artists have to eat and live, and being commercially successful isn’t selling out, it’s living long enough to make more art
the child youtuber to film major to oh-my-god-I’m-still-doing-TH-cam pipeline…. I have no conclusion or anything valuable to add lmaoooo but this video/content/film/art is fantastic
hello, mia! this is molly, as you may know, who has seen you about 60% of our respective school runtime together, i would assume. i sat next to you as you worked on this project and brainstormed it. you gave up therapy, weekends and sleep. why? was it for the sake of art? it is a label lf validity that you are chasing. you made this so you could answer the question that has kept you awake at night since you started your youtube journey. i have my own answer for it. as a fellow aspiring filmmaker, i used to wonder this myself. why do people consider food to be art?! its just something you shove down your throat that eventually becomes bile to shove out. but its all much more than that. a chef cooking for a five star restaraunt, a mom baking a pie for the holidays and a hungry student that just came home from school making a snack all have one thing in common. they are putting an amount of time and effort into making something that another person, or themself, a person, can enjoy and sustain themself with. while they very with skill level and intention, they all have purpose, and the purpose is to create feeling. feeling is what cames me going. the fact that i can wake up and feel a myriad of emotions in five minutes makes me feel a live, considering there was a time where i felt emptiness for years. what gives me purpose though, is creating feeling or others. the fact that i have the power to impact someone in some capacity is what drives me to create, and i understand this is the base of your passion as well. as you observed, when we presented our short films, i had my ears covered and eyes closed the whole time. the real reason for this was because i hate the idea of seeing people react to my art in real time. i know i cant go back to post production and change their criticisms. i know i tell myself that it doesnt matter what feeling i create, as long as its something. but i guess thats not true. i want them to have a good feeling with it because i want them to easily see my intentions, if that makes sense. what is good art anyway? its art that isnt bad. art can be bad even if it has good intentions. there really is no handbook for creation, it is simply going along with your heart and with passion. everyone i saw you talk to, and especially yourself, had so much passion leaking through their words. which is why it was so pleasing to hear you all talk, as people speaking with their heart is music to my ears. i guess the whole point is, i cannot close my own ears because i must listen to the publics opinion, but i cannot deter that from my own. as my work is constantly changing, so will other peoples feelings about it. i know you want this video to get a bunch of views, and i know it probably will. you stripped your sole in front of possibly hundreds of thousands of people just so they could see your intention. i could immediately see it just from the vunerability in your eyes alone, and it is mystifying. im very glad to have you in my life, as you inspire me. i want you to view me as a good person and artist, because part of me has always seen you as some higher power. when in reality, we're just two depserate teens trying to create. and that connection in itself, is art. thank you for this mia!! i cannot wait to discuss this with you further tomorrow. it was really well done. and to anyone else reading this, thank you for watching her content! its not an obligation or anything obviously, but thank you for taking a slice of your free will and time and dedicating it to her, she really deserves it.
i’m a south african aspiring artist and i’ve been grappling with a similar issue for a while and it’s comforting to know that i’m not the only one struggling to figure it out. you’re doing great mia :) another banger as usual
Heartbreaking the way Mia looks at CJ like what they are saying is braking their worldview in half. Having had conversations like that, it hits too close to home.
Art is like a lot of other social constructs. It's whatever we collectively and individually decide it is, which tends to mean its definition can be a little fluid and squishy, especially around the edges.
I think Abigail from philosophy tube is really starting to make this transition into serious theatre actor and writer that sometimes posts great theatrical TH-cam videos
Hearing you say “I’m an artist” with such a tone of relief and confidence made me shed a tear. It’s a happy sweet moment when we see someone become so confident in themselves as I think you did throughout this video.
The “I find it hard to consider TH-cam art because we’re surrounded with so many videos/creators that ARENT” is really powerful and hard to get over (and I mean, did you *see* that Defunctland video?). But I think the reason I barely ever wrestled with it before saying that yeah, TH-cam CAN be art is because, like, pencil sketches can be art. But if you saw the half-done torso and arms of a person I drew for a high school art final that LITERALLY looked like a rotisserie chicken (it earned me a C) and saw 90 other trash pencil sketches before you saw actual art, you wouldn’t say pencil sketch isn’t art. You’d say it’s a form of recording that SOME people can make art, while others make rotisserie chicken torsos.
I think it’s kinda wild that in my mid 20s, after a decade of just being an artist, I’ve been more and more motivated to start creating TH-cam videos as a way to strengthen and expand my artistic voice. It shows how big of an impact perception can have on our understanding of what qualifies as art. Nobody i know is telling me TH-cam isn’t legitimate so I’ve never questioned It
Congrats on creating another amazing piece of art ❤ Sure people may think that TH-cam is just a land of mr. Beasts, but this little left tube corner has some of the most thoughtful and creative people like yourself. I hope to see the population of wildly dedicated artists like yourself and CJ continue to grow
When the creator is original and expressive of what they think or feel then the videos are art. Some are purely for information or entertainment, and they're also good, but some channels are art. This channel is art.
This is so beautiful. You message at the very end of "only I can decide if I'm an artist" rang so loudly. The sentiment reverberated into many of my insecure self identies. I'll definitely be watching this again. ❤
it's not a foolproof definition, but I've always thought that things can be art when they have the power to make you speechless. This video falls under my definition of art
Seeing that moment where it clicked for you, and seeing you expressing genuine pride in yourself, moved me to tears. I'm so happy for you. For what it's worth, TH-cam is a piece of paper. Think about all the things you can put on a piece of paper. Sure you can draw or paint or write a story or any other artsy thing on a piece of paper, but you can do so many other non-artistic things with it as well. Research results, journaling, notes, whatever. TH-cam is whatever you make with it, and your videos consistently move me in ways I've never been moved before. If that's not art, I don't know what is. You are by far one of the most artistic channels I've ever watched. I'm excitedly anticipating your future films. ^-^
Aaaaaaghghghg I love this!! personally of the belief that everything that's perceived as art is art, including people in a way, it's such a good conversation.
Whenever I think about doing something mainstream I always get stuck on the part where I release control something and start compromising my vision. It’s not acceptable to me.
you documented a changing point in your life, gave us that feeling of dread- and excitement for something new. even that is art. idk if saying this helps or makes it worse
This was amazing, whatever you want to call it, it was beautiful and heartfelt and the interviews were earnest. Thank you to everyone that was a part of it!
Was I nearly brought to tears by a youtube video about youtube videos? Absolutely. Maybe not every single one would fit even the broadest definitions, but your channel, this video especially, can and should be considered art. Thank you for sharing this with us.
How do you keep getting better at this?!? Every video is your best video! Thank you very much for existing, Please keep doing that. You are a brilliant artist.
I was waiting for the CJ the X comments in the first part because I knew it would be good. Then checking the time stamps.... They got their own part! I can't wait :)
I think we get so wrapped up in self-perception of whether or not we're "artists" or what we do is "art" that we lose sight of the "why" we want to create. There's such a need to be validated for who we are or what we do - the desire to be seen as "legitimate" - that we forget that other peoples perceptions can be just as unsteady as our own. The inner spirit/energy/soul/will to make stuff and going through that process for the creative outlet will always outweigh any outside perception - it's a state of being, irrelevant of any label ascribed to it. Whether or not you call yourself an "artist", call what you do "art" - if that helps you "to do" - that's great! Whether it's on TH-cam or whatever medium - it's fine. Everything will unfold.
Mia, I just spent an hour trying to make a hat out of card and paint, and then I realised that actually it was stupid and hadn't worked, but I'm very glad I was watching this video whilst I went through that emotional rollercoaster because it made the pure artistic panic of it all feel worth it. Thanks :)
I honestly teared up by the end! The pacing, your adorable quips, the nuanced conversations, and of course that powerful ending! When you said that only you get to decide who you are, it really resonated with me as someone who is really insecure. I am really thankful for this piece of art, and thank you for everyone who was a part of this production! We love you, Mia!
OW!!!!!! OW THIS MADE ME THINK IM NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT!!!! For me personally I view myself as an entertainer and I’m satisfied with that label because it’s regarded higher than youtuber and lower than artist. But is entertainment and comedy a performance art?? I HAVE A BFA HOW DO I NOT KNOW THIS??? What does bfa stand for? Bachelor of fine aaaaar- ASS. ASS. OK. ASS. good video btw
Mia this video's artistry is awe inspiring The mix of videography, contrast in your behavior and the existentialism of this subject,,, proves they can be art So fucc you, you're good at this and I hope you never stop!
TH-cam is to art, what the circular system is to any particular human. Feels like nothing when it's inside you, can be the most horrifying creation imaginable when given life outside of you.
Hi Mia. I wanted to come here and share how you’ve inspired me. I found your channel through the common CJ the X pipeline. I was awestruck by their presentation and commitment in their videos, but when I found your channel it was a whole different feeling. Someone roughly my age, who’s gone through a similar era of the internet, making content to her hearts content. You inspired me! I fell in love with camera work, photography, and videography because of how you create your videos, and in the fall I’m going to school to get a degree. I’ve been dreaming of becoming a film maker, and now this video has shown me there’s a multitude of methods and mediums for me to reach that dream. I wanted to thank you for your wonderful videos, without which I’m not sure if I would’ve discovered what soon became my passion. I hope you are doing well now.
Work. You are an artist and I'm glad you use TH-cam as a distribution tool because it's free for those who need it to be and it has captions and it's just more accessible than 'mainstream' art world art. Have a good day, this was great. You are so young and so talented.
this whole video got me thinking about the points in super eyepatch wolf's video about how media scares us. He brings up the topic of art and it's subjectiveness and how horror is a lot like art. seeing the connection between the two got me to realize things can be art but not everything has to be art, but also it's perception and intent matters
This is a wonderful video. It made me feel weirdly nostaIgic for my younger artist days. I went to college and got a degree in fine art. The main thing I came away from school was that the fine art world is a snobbish gatekeepy hell. I've always gravitated towards "low brow" art, animation and cartoons, and my passion for that was always dismissed and sneered at in college. Because cartoons are made "for kids" and "for profit". The older I get, the more I hate that perspective. If art isn't art under capitalism, than we live in an even bleeker world than it already is. We need food and shelter to survive, but we need art to live. Without it, we're soulless, and I think the world is a much more magical place if you choose to see art in everything. I know the pull to make "real art" is strong, but most of those expectations were put there by a system that's inherently exclusive. So why care about what's valid or not. The beauty of art is choice.
All throughout watching this I kept trying to define art for myself and I kept going between: 1) "An aesthetic expression in which the aesthetics or expression itself (alone or in addition to some other purpose like information or entertainment) serves as the purpose of the piece" and 2) A perception which the perceiver perceives to be art. I'm leaning toward the second.
i love this because i feel like every artist has to go through this phase of "what is art and i really an artist?" and the answer is always nothing, everything, and yes. looking forward to your nilhistic dadaist phase.
Is TH-cam art? Depends entirely on what your definition of "art" is. In university I took a mandatory course for my fine arts major called FACS (fine arts/ cultural studies). It was one of the more annoying bird courses as I recall. But something that stuck with me was that one of the first things the prof did was ask the class "What is art?" It was a surprisingly controversial question. Personally I guess I have a very liberal definition and include all kinds of things others wouldn't- porn, advertising, stand up comedy, and I guess youtube videos. But I remember one guy in my tutorial was getting really upset about the discussion like "No, not EVERYTHING is art! Some things just aren't art! Like this-" -furiously scribbles a couple lines on a piece of notebook paper and tears it out- "-THIS isn't art!" and the whole class was finally united like "No man, that is DEFINITELY art, you literally created something trying to showcase a deeper message, that shit is art as fuck"
This was an incredibly explorative and introspective piece of critical and meta analysis, and it was immensely engaging to explore your journey here. Everyone you brought on spoke with such care and consideration to your questions and provided some really profound insight into the conversation. I certainly feel like I have come away from this with a more wholly developed perspective on TH-cam and the art sphere, and I couldn't help but notice how I kept contrasting the concept of creating art with your hands and mind in a medium vs. say, something AI generated, and how that then affects how we come to define it. Definitely something to be said about ideas of intentional creation there (but that's a tangent). This was a magnificent work, and you are so creatively inspired and motivated, and I wholeheartedly hope your journey acknowledging your artistry gives you a sense of freedom and choice. Thank you for sharing this!
Also oh my god I’m just now actually looking at your numbers? You act like you have a million subs and I am angry you don’t have them. Or not angry angry but holy shit your amazing and I’m so happy to watch what you make
There is a tremendous amount of fantastic content on TH-cam and they're locked in the mid to low level of subs but that's only because of the amount of people who seek out that content vs the low effort and quality content. However once I started watching those videos I was able to find many more channels that are of a higher quality like this channel that I literally just found today through one of the collaborators.
Thank you. Hey Mia, (welcome to my TED talk of a comment) Firstly, you are an artist. Secondly, how dare you steal my video essay idea (but thank you for actually making it). Thirdly, I have so much to praise. The camera work is so intentional: I particularly appreciate the laptop screen light shots, ala Inside. The shots are interesting and varied. The narrative structure is compelling and clear. What I really appreciate is the respect for TH-cam as a medium in its own right; this was a documentary but it respected TH-cam-ic qualities like the text and image overlay onto videos, slow zooms, the presentation styles, font color and style. Basically, pop oooof! (Did you see what I did there; there were three parts because this was a trilogy.) Anyway, I’ve now decided to devote my wallet to you and get that Patreon. I hope to collaborate with a documentarian of your stature one day! Thank you.
This was a really powerful show of vulnerability, it was a love letter to the video essay community (insofar as it exists), and it felt like a coming of age moment. It's a very difficult thing to ask who you are and who you want to be and empty as our relationship may be, I'm proud of you for taking a step towards what you want to be.
TH-cam is not art, TH-cam is a distributor. We call it a medium, but really it's a container. An art museum contains art, but it is not the art itself. It can curate and position, but it cannot decide; the people in the museum decide what's art and what isn't. Art exhibits contain paintings, and sculptures, but they also contains walls, and toilets - it is not until the toilet is put in the center of the room, with intentionality and meaning, that it becomes art. P.S. Fantastic video Mia, imo one of the best I've seen from you, and on this platform in general.
I always hated the idea that art has to be grandiose and pretentious to be taken seriously. TH-cam videos have an impact on people, make them think and feel. That's what matters. George Miller, as Joji, is widely considered to be an artist, while his earlier work is often described as being "just a TH-camr". Yet my favourite song he has ever written was "Help" from Pink Season. It had an enormous impact on my life. It resonated with me, made me reconsider things that were happening to me at that moment in life. A silly song pushed me to seek help I desperately needed. And I bet I'm not the only one. It's art. Always has been and forever will be.
what makes Mia Cole videos special is you spend the first 90% engaged, thinking, taking it seriously, and then in the last 5 minutes get whacked by a baseball bat and wake up from a salvia trip
Man whh did the ending to part 11 remind me of Exurb1a? My mind already has an existential crisis from this video I don't want a second on top uuuuggfhhh Also I had a mild panic attack when I saw my name in the patrons, almost forgot I joined after your previous video.
Well that took a turn...the CJ The X convo was real...I mean, everything was real, but that interaction. What you do Mia, is art. Now when do we see you play a video game and debate this with Vaush....lofl....
I dunno Mia, 24 hours of What the Dog Doing is objectively a masterpiece of TH-cam content.
But is it art?
@themurderofcoke of course it is!
@@themurderofcoke its so art that it makes me wonder if anything else is
Well now I wanna look that up
hell yeah
when you cj said "you can change that *today,* you can do something different" my video froze and i truly believed that mia was just stunned in shock for a minute
CJ could release someone from The Matrix with a single sentence if they wanted to
I have TH-cam pause every 45 minutes to ask if I'm still watching and this creates so many wonderful effects.
Me biting my manicured nails to the nub in anticipation if THIS is the interview where I say the thing that getd me canceled 😮💨
damn she really brought in the whole squad for this one. Soon every video essayer/commentator will share a single platform, a single cage at which you throw scraps
I wasn't expecting such a powerful crossover but, damn, I teared up a bit.
@@resurrectthenight Earth's mightiest heroes
that’s just nebula
Video essayist monopoly arc
“Did you see that defunctland video?!” I cried, I was thinking about defunctland the whole time they were talking about TH-cam videos being art
which video?
The entire last scene of that Disney theme video was heart-wrenching; seeing him use his Disney wand for Alex instead, and those amazing four notes, already has me tearing up just thinking about it 😢
FD’s dad energy is pervasive. And calling out Natalie for a duel will just fuel her budget for her next video.
10/10 video.
Can’t wait to see Mia in an A24 horror film about the consequences of the internet on Gen Z
I'm an art historian, and in my professional opinion "art" is the ultimate social construct and is literally whatever people say it is
Artist imposter syndrome is something I've dealt with my whole life. Its hard to call myself an artist or poet, I feel like i haven't earned the right to claim the title yet.
You're an artist! :D The self doubt just shows that you take your art seriously, which is actually even more of a signal you're an artist! Go forth and keep creating! You've got this ❤
I think it's important to ask, are you defined by what you do? Do you have to be an 'artist' to create art? Does teaching your skills to others make you a teacher? Do you have to sell your art to become an artist?
Why does the title matter? You make art. I image you also do a lot of other things too, why aren't you defined by those things? I don't think what we do defines us, I think we have come to see our employment as defining who we are, until we consider ourselves what we do, instead of who we actually are. There doesn't need to be a title to claim, just keep making art and bringing more joy and beauty to the world.
@themurderofcoke 100% agree. We both kinda ended up making the same general point at the same time. People need to stop making the things they do part of their identities. Just make art if you want to and stop waiting for and expecting other people to validate it.
Stop referring to yourself as a single-dimensional adjective, and stop making it your identity. Stop describing and thinking of yourself as any kind of -ist or -ician or anything that solely defines you as doing one thing and one thing only. You're not a single-purpose machine. You are not an "artist", you just make art more than the average person and have decided that's how you will make your income.
Embrace being a complex and multifaceted being instead of taking the lazy mental shortcut of pidgeonholing yourself into one specific thing and thus reducing yourself to a single dimension. Like it really gives me the ick when I see people with usernames like "EpicGamer42", "PlumberMan1956", or "DisneyFan4929193749". It's like... is that all you think of yourself? Is that all people you want people to think of you as? Just a single quality? It makes me so sad. And in thr last case it's extra icky cuz it's like, not even something YOU even did. You're defining your ENTIRE identity around the consumption of some pop culture media made by some greedy corp that doesn't give a fuck about you and you're just giving them free advertising and being a mental slave.
(Yes, I have a MASSIVE issue with "fandom" in general. It's weird and creepy.
Also, amazing username lol)
This is evidence towards the argument that you're actually an artist.
I'm on the other side of it and struggling to still call myself an artist.
Context: I was(am?) a photographer almost a decade ago. My work was good, I was getting paid for my storytelling in the medium, I have(had?) a signature style and a process. Then my lower spine gave out and my disability stopped me from using my camera and gear in the way that I wanted to.
I've become married since then and, recently, my spouse asked if I'd like to take some photos-they only initially meant some portraits to rep some of their favorite band merch. I missed that and launched into my process, spitballing ideas about what the intention of each piece would be, and cheerily started making lists of ideas and sketching out light diagrams for nooks I've idly scouted near and far.
This started out as a little overwhelming for them but, the more I talked about it, the more they got into the idea, and I felt woken up from a creative torpor.
I'm still not physically okay, but I want to plan for enough rest before, on set, and after. I want to try to think around normal acts that occur during the shooting day that will cripple me in a heatbeat, and find a way to accomplish the same result without harming myself.
So, idk. It feels stupid to claim a thing that I know I was then, and haven't done since, and I'm planning to do again because I realize how starved my soul is for it. I haven't got a good answer.
the real revelation in this video is that under the bangs mia has a widow’s peak
the one time i do a forehead reveal, cant tell you fuckers anything 😭😭
@@miacole I have a widows peak and i’m so beautiful it’s okay mia you are too and that’s coming from someone who’s really beautiful
@@miacole half court hairline gang
@@JuantidoteI was about to say I think they’re so pretty TT-TT
CJ complimenting Mia on their skills and talent made a [me] cry ... And speechless apparently as I can't figure out how to finish this comment 🥺
Are you cosplaying Mario?
The ending made me weirdly proud of you, what a strange thing parasocial relationships are man
The art is not the medium. TH-cam is the medium. Film, television, clay, paints, photographs are all mediums. The artist who has something to say will gravitate toward the medium they see is most accessible to them. Rarely is any art universally acclaimed and rarely do two people take the same things away. All you can hope is that the message you want to share is transmitted and received to those who need it.
the defunctland foreshadowing was done so well. absolutely love this work of art.
I remember the webcomics community struggling with this issue in the 2000’s. Artists have to eat and live, and being commercially successful isn’t selling out, it’s living long enough to make more art
the child youtuber to film major to oh-my-god-I’m-still-doing-TH-cam pipeline…. I have no conclusion or anything valuable to add lmaoooo but this video/content/film/art is fantastic
"TH-cam isn't art"
(proceeds to make the most artistic youtube video ever)
*Natalie Wynn enters the room*
the amount of banger lines within the first 5 mins of this video like i’m so impressed
All videos are art but, not all art is good 🎭🎨🎭🎨
hello, mia! this is molly, as you may know, who has seen you about 60% of our respective school runtime together, i would assume.
i sat next to you as you worked on this project and brainstormed it. you gave up therapy, weekends and sleep. why? was it for the sake of art? it is a label lf validity that you are chasing. you made this so you could answer the question that has kept you awake at night since you started your youtube journey. i have my own answer for it.
as a fellow aspiring filmmaker, i used to wonder this myself. why do people consider food to be art?! its just something you shove down your throat that eventually becomes bile to shove out. but its all much more than that. a chef cooking for a five star restaraunt, a mom baking a pie for the holidays and a hungry student that just came home from school making a snack all have one thing in common. they are putting an amount of time and effort into making something that another person, or themself, a person, can enjoy and sustain themself with. while they very with skill level and intention, they all have purpose, and the purpose is to create feeling. feeling is what cames me going. the fact that i can wake up and feel a myriad of emotions in five minutes makes me feel a live, considering there was a time where i felt emptiness for years. what gives me purpose though, is creating feeling or others. the fact that i have the power to impact someone in some capacity is what drives me to create, and i understand this is the base of your passion as well.
as you observed, when we presented our short films, i had my ears covered and eyes closed the whole time. the real reason for this was because i hate the idea of seeing people react to my art in real time. i know i cant go back to post production and change their criticisms. i know i tell myself that it doesnt matter what feeling i create, as long as its something. but i guess thats not true. i want them to have a good feeling with it because i want them to easily see my intentions, if that makes sense. what is good art anyway? its art that isnt bad. art can be bad even if it has good intentions. there really is no handbook for creation, it is simply going along with your heart and with passion. everyone i saw you talk to, and especially yourself, had so much passion leaking through their words. which is why it was so pleasing to hear you all talk, as people speaking with their heart is music to my ears.
i guess the whole point is, i cannot close my own ears because i must listen to the publics opinion, but i cannot deter that from my own. as my work is constantly changing, so will other peoples feelings about it. i know you want this video to get a bunch of views, and i know it probably will. you stripped your sole in front of possibly hundreds of thousands of people just so they could see your intention. i could immediately see it just from the vunerability in your eyes alone, and it is mystifying. im very glad to have you in my life, as you inspire me. i want you to view me as a good person and artist, because part of me has always seen you as some higher power. when in reality, we're just two depserate teens trying to create. and that connection in itself, is art.
thank you for this mia!! i cannot wait to discuss this with you further tomorrow. it was really well done. and to anyone else reading this, thank you for watching her content! its not an obligation or anything obviously, but thank you for taking a slice of your free will and time and dedicating it to her, she really deserves it.
I was looking forward to this more than the Super Bowl
i’m a south african aspiring artist and i’ve been grappling with a similar issue for a while and it’s comforting to know that i’m not the only one struggling to figure it out. you’re doing great mia :) another banger as usual
Finally I found another South African
Heartbreaking the way Mia looks at CJ like what they are saying is braking their worldview in half. Having had conversations like that, it hits too close to home.
Art is like a lot of other social constructs. It's whatever we collectively and individually decide it is, which tends to mean its definition can be a little fluid and squishy, especially around the edges.
I think Abigail from philosophy tube is really starting to make this transition into serious theatre actor and writer that sometimes posts great theatrical TH-cam videos
Hearing you say “I’m an artist” with such a tone of relief and confidence made me shed a tear. It’s a happy sweet moment when we see someone become so confident in themselves as I think you did throughout this video.
A Thinkpiece Tribe X Mia Cole collab?!! What is this a crossover episode?!!
Your both growing in power and must do the god dance together. Was a inevitability.
this is just like when rick met morty (from the show rick and morty)
@@miacole i'm like the rick and morty of the commentary genre
@@miacole Next video needs an "EVERYONE IS HERE" smash bros style intro.
i want to become this video
do it
Omg your art. your the aart. You Mona Lisa
the nice thing is that you can make art even if the platform isn't distinctly for it. paper isn't necessarily art, but there's a lot of art on paper.
The “I find it hard to consider TH-cam art because we’re surrounded with so many videos/creators that ARENT” is really powerful and hard to get over (and I mean, did you *see* that Defunctland video?). But I think the reason I barely ever wrestled with it before saying that yeah, TH-cam CAN be art is because, like, pencil sketches can be art. But if you saw the half-done torso and arms of a person I drew for a high school art final that LITERALLY looked like a rotisserie chicken (it earned me a C) and saw 90 other trash pencil sketches before you saw actual art, you wouldn’t say pencil sketch isn’t art. You’d say it’s a form of recording that SOME people can make art, while others make rotisserie chicken torsos.
I think it’s kinda wild that in my mid 20s, after a decade of just being an artist, I’ve been more and more motivated to start creating TH-cam videos as a way to strengthen and expand my artistic voice. It shows how big of an impact perception can have on our understanding of what qualifies as art. Nobody i know is telling me TH-cam isn’t legitimate so I’ve never questioned It
Congrats on creating another amazing piece of art ❤ Sure people may think that TH-cam is just a land of mr. Beasts, but this little left tube corner has some of the most thoughtful and creative people like yourself. I hope to see the population of wildly dedicated artists like yourself and CJ continue to grow
TH-cam's not art, but artists work here. That's pretty danged cool.
When the creator is original and expressive of what they think or feel then the videos are art. Some are purely for information or entertainment, and they're also good, but some channels are art. This channel is art.
hell yes 47 minutes and 45 seconds of top tier content
consume. consume. consume.
This is so beautiful. You message at the very end of "only I can decide if I'm an artist" rang so loudly. The sentiment reverberated into many of my insecure self identies. I'll definitely be watching this again. ❤
it's not a foolproof definition, but I've always thought that things can be art when they have the power to make you speechless. This video falls under my definition of art
I love the style of this video, you’re so underrated omg
the fact you got all of the youtubers I watch to be interviewed in this video absolute shakes me to the core, very excited to listen to your thoughts!
Mia like a katamari rolling up all the good TH-cam peeps into one horrific planet sized ball
Seeing that moment where it clicked for you, and seeing you expressing genuine pride in yourself, moved me to tears. I'm so happy for you.
For what it's worth, TH-cam is a piece of paper. Think about all the things you can put on a piece of paper. Sure you can draw or paint or write a story or any other artsy thing on a piece of paper, but you can do so many other non-artistic things with it as well. Research results, journaling, notes, whatever. TH-cam is whatever you make with it, and your videos consistently move me in ways I've never been moved before. If that's not art, I don't know what is. You are by far one of the most artistic channels I've ever watched. I'm excitedly anticipating your future films. ^-^
Aaaaaaghghghg I love this!! personally of the belief that everything that's perceived as art is art, including people in a way, it's such a good conversation.
As always when watching a Mia Cole essay I think I have a comment, but I wait...and it's addressed. 10/10 no notes.
Whenever I think about doing something mainstream I always get stuck on the part where I release control something and start compromising my vision. It’s not acceptable to me.
you documented a changing point in your life, gave us that feeling of dread- and excitement for something new. even that is art. idk if saying this helps or makes it worse
Art is meant to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comforted. This video definitely achieved that.
This was amazing, whatever you want to call it, it was beautiful and heartfelt and the interviews were earnest. Thank you to everyone that was a part of it!
You deserve so much more views
Was I nearly brought to tears by a youtube video about youtube videos? Absolutely.
Maybe not every single one would fit even the broadest definitions, but your channel, this video especially, can and should be considered art. Thank you for sharing this with us.
this was so thought provoking and well made, it honestly inspires me so much to just make more art
another mia cole banger, 10/10 !!
Jake Paul who constantly making Mona Lisa's basically is the plot of Amadeus. And its answered a lot of questions about art in this regard.
I'm less than 5 minutes in and I'm CRINGING at the hesitation to "are YT videos art". YES. OBVIOUSLY. HOW ARE THEY NOT?
So I saw a Tumblr post referring cj the x as "the holy zest" and I must agree
"The pink suit guy is making RnB Drake Music?"
FD finally gets to ask THE question
How do you keep getting better at this?!? Every video is your best video! Thank you very much for existing, Please keep doing that. You are a brilliant artist.
I was waiting for the CJ the X comments in the first part because I knew it would be good. Then checking the time stamps.... They got their own part! I can't wait :)
I can finally put "was in a mia cole video" on my resume
put that one on your linked in
I think we get so wrapped up in self-perception of whether or not we're "artists" or what we do is "art" that we lose sight of the "why" we want to create. There's such a need to be validated for who we are or what we do - the desire to be seen as "legitimate" - that we forget that other peoples perceptions can be just as unsteady as our own. The inner spirit/energy/soul/will to make stuff and going through that process for the creative outlet will always outweigh any outside perception - it's a state of being, irrelevant of any label ascribed to it. Whether or not you call yourself an "artist", call what you do "art" - if that helps you "to do" - that's great! Whether it's on TH-cam or whatever medium - it's fine. Everything will unfold.
Not me getting an iphone ad right after the "whether or not they have an iphone" part.
Mia, I just spent an hour trying to make a hat out of card and paint, and then I realised that actually it was stupid and hadn't worked, but I'm very glad I was watching this video whilst I went through that emotional rollercoaster because it made the pure artistic panic of it all feel worth it. Thanks :)
I honestly teared up by the end! The pacing, your adorable quips, the nuanced conversations, and of course that powerful ending! When you said that only you get to decide who you are, it really resonated with me as someone who is really insecure. I am really thankful for this piece of art, and thank you for everyone who was a part of this production! We love you, Mia!
I've been binging your channel, your videos are so well made and eoeieijejdhdhew funny
this is my first mia cole video i’ve seen. absolutely mind-boggling. this is definitely art
OW!!!!!! OW THIS MADE ME THINK IM NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT!!!!
For me personally I view myself as an entertainer and I’m satisfied with that label because it’s regarded higher than youtuber and lower than artist. But is entertainment and comedy a performance art?? I HAVE A BFA HOW DO I NOT KNOW THIS??? What does bfa stand for? Bachelor of fine aaaaar- ASS. ASS. OK. ASS.
good video btw
I love what you make, and I love when you dissect a topic at *precisely the maximum speed I can process speech*. Truly the art of all time.
Mia this video's artistry is awe inspiring
The mix of videography, contrast in your behavior and the existentialism of this subject,,, proves they can be art
So fucc you, you're good at this and I hope you never stop!
TH-cam is to art, what the circular system is to any particular human.
Feels like nothing when it's inside you, can be the most horrifying creation imaginable when given life outside of you.
This person has quickly become one of my favorite TH-camr I’ve found recently. Great stuff Mia! 👌
Hi Mia. I wanted to come here and share how you’ve inspired me. I found your channel through the common CJ the X pipeline. I was awestruck by their presentation and commitment in their videos, but when I found your channel it was a whole different feeling. Someone roughly my age, who’s gone through a similar era of the internet, making content to her hearts content. You inspired me! I fell in love with camera work, photography, and videography because of how you create your videos, and in the fall I’m going to school to get a degree. I’ve been dreaming of becoming a film maker, and now this video has shown me there’s a multitude of methods and mediums for me to reach that dream. I wanted to thank you for your wonderful videos, without which I’m not sure if I would’ve discovered what soon became my passion. I hope you are doing well now.
Work. You are an artist and I'm glad you use TH-cam as a distribution tool because it's free for those who need it to be and it has captions and it's just more accessible than 'mainstream' art world art. Have a good day, this was great. You are so young and so talented.
An entire existential crisis in 45 minutes, relatable
This is better than most Netflix documentaries
This reminds me of when people ask if Techno is music. I just glare and blast that Frankie Bones mixtape louder.
THANK GOD SHE'S BACK !!!
I literally just said to myself 'thank god' when I saw this on my home page not joking
as you always should
this whole video got me thinking about the points in super eyepatch wolf's video about how media scares us. He brings up the topic of art and it's subjectiveness and how horror is a lot like art. seeing the connection between the two got me to realize things can be art but not everything has to be art, but also it's perception and intent matters
This is a wonderful video. It made me feel weirdly nostaIgic for my younger artist days. I went to college and got a degree in fine art. The main thing I came away from school was that the fine art world is a snobbish gatekeepy hell. I've always gravitated towards "low brow" art, animation and cartoons, and my passion for that was always dismissed and sneered at in college. Because cartoons are made "for kids" and "for profit". The older I get, the more I hate that perspective. If art isn't art under capitalism, than we live in an even bleeker world than it already is. We need food and shelter to survive, but we need art to live. Without it, we're soulless, and I think the world is a much more magical place if you choose to see art in everything. I know the pull to make "real art" is strong, but most of those expectations were put there by a system that's inherently exclusive. So why care about what's valid or not. The beauty of art is choice.
The cinematography was amazing! I love the in between videos!
All throughout watching this I kept trying to define art for myself and I kept going between: 1) "An aesthetic expression in which the aesthetics or expression itself (alone or in addition to some other purpose like information or entertainment) serves as the purpose of the piece" and 2) A perception which the perceiver perceives to be art.
I'm leaning toward the second.
Know that I mean this in the best possible way when I say that ending felt like the end of a whimsical fairytale, and I’m crying chopping ham rn
i love this because i feel like every artist has to go through this phase of "what is art and i really an artist?" and the answer is always nothing, everything, and yes. looking forward to your nilhistic dadaist phase.
Is TH-cam art? Depends entirely on what your definition of "art" is. In university I took a mandatory course for my fine arts major called FACS (fine arts/ cultural studies). It was one of the more annoying bird courses as I recall. But something that stuck with me was that one of the first things the prof did was ask the class "What is art?" It was a surprisingly controversial question. Personally I guess I have a very liberal definition and include all kinds of things others wouldn't- porn, advertising, stand up comedy, and I guess youtube videos. But I remember one guy in my tutorial was getting really upset about the discussion like "No, not EVERYTHING is art! Some things just aren't art! Like this-" -furiously scribbles a couple lines on a piece of notebook paper and tears it out- "-THIS isn't art!" and the whole class was finally united like "No man, that is DEFINITELY art, you literally created something trying to showcase a deeper message, that shit is art as fuck"
Only 50 seconds in and I've already subscribed.
This was an incredibly explorative and introspective piece of critical and meta analysis, and it was immensely engaging to explore your journey here. Everyone you brought on spoke with such care and consideration to your questions and provided some really profound insight into the conversation.
I certainly feel like I have come away from this with a more wholly developed perspective on TH-cam and the art sphere, and I couldn't help but notice how I kept contrasting the concept of creating art with your hands and mind in a medium vs. say, something AI generated, and how that then affects how we come to define it. Definitely something to be said about ideas of intentional creation there (but that's a tangent).
This was a magnificent work, and you are so creatively inspired and motivated, and I wholeheartedly hope your journey acknowledging your artistry gives you a sense of freedom and choice. Thank you for sharing this!
I had to rewatch this video several times over loop. My conclusion? Mia Cole is the Mia Cole of the Mia Cole genre.
Also oh my god I’m just now actually looking at your numbers? You act like you have a million subs and I am angry you don’t have them. Or not angry angry but holy shit your amazing and I’m so happy to watch what you make
The fact you straddle being insanely aware and actual exploring a topic in depth at the same time is so impressive to me
There is a tremendous amount of fantastic content on TH-cam and they're locked in the mid to low level of subs but that's only because of the amount of people who seek out that content vs the low effort and quality content. However once I started watching those videos I was able to find many more channels that are of a higher quality like this channel that I literally just found today through one of the collaborators.
Thank you.
Hey Mia,
(welcome to my TED talk of a comment)
Firstly, you are an artist.
Secondly, how dare you steal my video essay idea (but thank you for actually making it).
Thirdly, I have so much to praise. The camera work is so intentional: I particularly appreciate the laptop screen light shots, ala Inside. The shots are interesting and varied. The narrative structure is compelling and clear. What I really appreciate is the respect for TH-cam as a medium in its own right; this was a documentary but it respected TH-cam-ic qualities like the text and image overlay onto videos, slow zooms, the presentation styles, font color and style. Basically, pop oooof!
(Did you see what I did there; there were three parts because this was a trilogy.)
Anyway, I’ve now decided to devote my wallet to you and get that Patreon. I hope to collaborate with a documentarian of your stature one day!
Thank you.
Not me bawling by the end of this video
This was a really powerful show of vulnerability, it was a love letter to the video essay community (insofar as it exists), and it felt like a coming of age moment. It's a very difficult thing to ask who you are and who you want to be and empty as our relationship may be, I'm proud of you for taking a step towards what you want to be.
Wow, that was very uplifting. I hope millions of people watch this.
TH-cam is not art, TH-cam is a distributor. We call it a medium, but really it's a container. An art museum contains art, but it is not the art itself. It can curate and position, but it cannot decide; the people in the museum decide what's art and what isn't. Art exhibits contain paintings, and sculptures, but they also contains walls, and toilets - it is not until the toilet is put in the center of the room, with intentionality and meaning, that it becomes art.
P.S. Fantastic video Mia, imo one of the best I've seen from you, and on this platform in general.
I know this was a great video because of the crisis it provoked, thanks!
exactly, see you get it
The lit candle on the wobbly little table next to the flowers freaked me out the whole time!
I always hated the idea that art has to be grandiose and pretentious to be taken seriously. TH-cam videos have an impact on people, make them think and feel. That's what matters.
George Miller, as Joji, is widely considered to be an artist, while his earlier work is often described as being "just a TH-camr".
Yet my favourite song he has ever written was "Help" from Pink Season. It had an enormous impact on my life. It resonated with me, made me reconsider things that were happening to me at that moment in life. A silly song pushed me to seek help I desperately needed. And I bet I'm not the only one.
It's art. Always has been and forever will be.
what makes Mia Cole videos special is you spend the first 90% engaged, thinking, taking it seriously, and then in the last 5 minutes get whacked by a baseball bat and wake up from a salvia trip
Man whh did the ending to part 11 remind me of Exurb1a? My mind already has an existential crisis from this video I don't want a second on top uuuuggfhhh
Also I had a mild panic attack when I saw my name in the patrons, almost forgot I joined after your previous video.
"yeah.... Not all of em" was spot on
To answer question right off the bat, you and CJ get to define art lol
First video I've seen of yours and it's superb. Can't wait to see more of what you make, Mia.
Well that took a turn...the CJ The X convo was real...I mean, everything was real, but that interaction. What you do Mia, is art. Now when do we see you play a video game and debate this with Vaush....lofl....