The Stories We Tell Ourselves: A Video Essay
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
- Someone said to me recently that there’s no point to fiction because it’s all lies; we made it all up. Don't we mess with ideas and concepts and memories through stories? Don't we make a lot of things up? Every conversation and every exchange is, in its own way, a story. We’re telling each other information and colouring it with our perspective. Even when it’s pure facts, we’ve selected which parts are the important ones to pass on. And I like that, so here we are.
Hi hi hello! I'm still alive! I wrote this over a year ago now, just before starting a master's course thinking eh, it'll be fine, I'll have time to work on it between projects. Reader, I did not. Happy 2024 🎉 (PleaseplayRuleofRoseit'sreallygoodIpromi-)
The John Green speech quoted is over here: johngreenweblog.blogspot.com/2... (I could not find a recording of it for the life of me which is a real shame, but luckily it's been archived as a blogpost)
Part One Chapter audio from Rule of Rose
Part Two Chapter audio from Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, read by Moira Quirk (that's Daniella from Haunting Ground!! How cool is that?! Also The Locked Tomb is wonderful)
Part Three Chapter audio from Fragile Dreams
//Find me at:
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/honey_bat
Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/smolhoneybat
Twitch: / smolhoneybat
00:00 Intro
02:07 Self conception
20:02 Emotions
35:20 People Aren’t Stories
Tracklist in order for the curious:
Lonely Space- Coffee Talk
Song of the Ancients (no vocal)- Nier
Lost Library- Omori
The Attic- Rule of Rose
Playing Airship- Rule of Rose
Turned Around- Signalis
Furukiashiki- Higanbana no saku yoro ni
Forest- Fran Bow
Bullying- Rule of Rose
Train Ride- Signalis
Folsense- Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box
Puella in Somnio- Madoka Magica
Tsumi- Higurashi no naku koro ni
Fear- Rule of Rose
The Attic- Rule of Rose
Backbiting- Rule of Rose
Conturbatio- Madoka Magica
Wingless- Umineko no naku koro ni
Title- Omori
Laura Plays the Piano- Silent Hill 2
Forest- Fran Bow
Rumour- The Witch’s House
Reflection- Hollow Knight
Card Castles in the Sky- Alice Madness Returns
Safehouse- Downfall
Tenderhearted- Coffee Talk
Explosion- Arcane
Conturbatio- Madoka Magica
Lily- Ender Lilies
Peaceful Sleep (music box) - Nier Automata
Song of the Ancients (no vocal)- Nier Automata
The Attic- Rule of Rose
Edith’s Theme- What Remains of Edith Finch
Let’s Play- Little Misfortune
Goofball- Ib
The House- What Remains of Edith Finch
The Finale- What Remains of Edith Finch
Die Toteninsel (Emptiness)- Signalis - เกม
"If she doesn't care about anything then there's nothing to manipulate... against her."
Oh boy, that hit a little close to home. Honestly caught me by surprise.
Having watched this essay twice now, I can't wait for your big Rule of Rose video. I'm so glad you took your time to extend empathy towards the other children in the orphanage, much like the game does, despite them having done some truly horrible things to Jennifer and to each other. I've sadly seen many people who talk about this game only in terms of "wow, here's why children (and usually girls) are awful and cruel and inhuman creatures" without even mentioning the fact that they've been absolutely failed by every adult in their lives. Thank you so much for your work on this!
Damn, is the bar that low 😢 that just regular empathy is mindblowing
No way. A new honey bat upload to start the year? I thank you from the bottom of my heart
Thank you for the kind welcome back ^.^ hope your new year has gone great!
Same the Bloodborne video is something I go back to regularly and always tell to new people
@@HoneyBatTrying to revive your dead youtube career?
I think getting so caught up in a fictional character can be difficult for some people too. There's a important line between finding part of yourself in a character and wanting to become them. As you mention, people are not stories; I know this was difficult for me personally. Why can't I just act one way and stick to it? Why doesn't my personality fit into a neat little bubble like my favorite characters? It's something I struggled with for a long time, realizing that one story does not make you but thousands, even millions do was an eye opener. The complexity of the self is truly mind boggling. I think rule of the rose captures it really well, it's an adventure of the self that's a bit confusing as it's not from your own perspective. I think that's partially why people like having simple explanations for their emotions; the self is already so complex, adding emotions makes it incomprehensible. But emotions are important, an integral part of ourselves. Inside out really captures it in such a simple way. Emotions are often mixtures of multiple that can lead to something entirely new, and sadness and joy are basically 2 mirrors facing each other; they don't exist without the other.
Very brilliant video, my favorite quote was "cooperation is our greatest asset; we're social creatures".
wow, this happened to me too. As a young bookroom I was so confused when thinking about my personality, wondering why I reacted 'unlike myself' in certain situations, wondering why I didn't fit in a neat little box like all the characters I'd read about, wondering 'who' I really was. Only after I grew up a little did I realise that people (including me) are complicated and that we can't all be put into limited categories.
I don't think I've ever thought of myself as acting out of character like that, but I have had a different "reality v fiction" problem: sometimes, if I read a story with a character I really identify with in it, there's a part of me that will later reference the character's memories as if they are my own. I know it's not real, I can tell, I'm not psychotic, but it's still jarring and unsettling to realize the situation I'm worried about isn't real, that the event I just referenced never happened. Empathy gone too far, I guess.
"It is finished, it is done. You can't take loved away." MAN holy hell that quote has been rattling around in my head since I first read it. absolute banger of a video essay, I'm glad I found this channel.
As someone who suffers from OCD (scrupulosity to be exact) this video really resonated with me. OCD makes it extremely difficult to have your own sense of who you are, it’s always trying to sell you a different story.
I laughed so hard when I spotted the 'I am so normal about this' under 'Rule of Rose'
Thank you for, again, sharing your perspective in such a thought provoking and moving way. A lot has changed in my life in the past few months and you said some things I really needed to hear. It's always fucked me up how I will never be able to truly understand another person, no matter how hard I try. I've managed to consume a lot of media that has changed the way I view life and people in the past 2 weeks (I highly recommend citizen sleeper if you haven't played it yet) and this video perfectly fits in with those. I was also happy to see how well your bloodborne video is doing now and wish you a great year :)
20:05 locked tomb jumpscare got me SO hard
I heard the Locked Tomb audio and instantly subbed.
I've just stumbled across your channel from your Bloodborne video and just wanted to say how impressive your insight into these topics is. Also your ability to write your thoughts into an emotionally captivating story truly is second to none. You had me genuinely in tears while you were talking about inside out. I can't remember the last time I cried before that.
Thank you Honey Bat, I hope you had a good new years, can't wait to see how far you continue to grow.❤
Everytime I watch that movie I cry so much, but it's so well done. I'm really glad my scrambly thoughts resonated 💛 Have a lovely new year!
i also found this channel through the bloodborne video and i feel exactly the same
I watched Inside Out with my mom some years ago and yeah I totally cried lol
That bloodborne video just keeps bringing in more people lol, it was the first one I saw too.
Rule of Rose is one of my favorite games of all time. I don’t think we have had many games that compare in its effectiveness in showing the female victim experience. Often many victims DO cope by becoming a tormentor, but is rarely viewed with compassion or empathy in video game plots. I struggle with the games mechanics, so I am good with my one playthrough, but anytime a video analysis crosses my page I get so happy! This game deserves so much more attention.
This was quite a treat to listen to, as always. Consider my whole bag of popcorn thrown at you. Wish you all the best for 2024!
Thank you! Hahaha, I'm gonna have so much popcorn by the end of this
Every time I hear about RoR it sounds like such a unique and compelling game. But it also sounds like a game I'd totally hate playing lol (the animal deaths alone would put me off). So I'm very grateful there are writers like you to thoughtfully explore and analyze it. I still get to appreciate the ideas that a great game has to offer
Ror is pretty well known for having really bad gameplay
I'm definitely going to leave a comment once I'm all done watching this essay but I just have to say that the Nona jumpscare at 20:05 grabbed me by the god damn throat
came down here to say this, my head was in my hands
It is indeed "funny", and on closer inspection a downright unnerving concept how much our minds construct narratives and fill in the blanks.
The Mandela Effect in full swing.
I myself just had to wrestle with this concept with an event my mind was absolutely adamant happened in "sometime summer 2023" BUT upon inspection of raw undeniable data (discord messages with literal minute-sharp timestamps) happened near halloween 2022.
That's how quickly some narrative distortion in one's mind can happen.
Brains are so odd... every time you recall a memory you change it slightly which is horrifying. Not even consciously, just the way you're feeling can impact the next time you recall it so everything distorts over time. It's fascinating but also, y'know, a little terrifying. Everything becomes echoes of itself but that's why I really like stories about amnesiacs and repression I think haha (Rule of Rose, Omori, A Space for the Unbound etc) I wasn't expecting to find it somewhere like Inside Out but here we are!
The way I screeched with joy at seeing a new honeybat post.
Ok, I’ve watched it now. Excellent video, well written, well crafted, and well presented. You made an excellent selection of media to facilitate the deconstruction and reconstruction of the concept of self.
Personally I relate very much to your experience of anger. I, too, grew up fearing it in myself and others, and considered it a purely negative emotion. Long into my adult life I lacked the tools to express anger without causing harm, so I just didn’t. I know better now, the habit of fear lingers.
This is probably why I find horror games so hard to endure. I relate most strongly to the monsters.
Thank you so much for the kind words!!
It's funny, I had the complete opposite response to horror to you but perhaps that's because I felt fear more often than anger. With horror media I found it comforting that yes the scary thing was real but I could DO something about it, whether that was shoot it, hide from it or just physically turning off the TV. The ideas would linger but I could continue and see it resolve whenever I wanted, and if I didn't want to I wouldn't. Anger definitely took me a LOT longer because I hadn't seen it used healthily but I am very gingerly trying out some martial arts these days. We're all growing and I'm hoping that the more ways people have to look at concepts and emotions, the more likely it is they find something that clicks with them and a new way to understand different pieces of themselves. I know I've got a lot more bits to chew on. But yeah, I'm really glad this resonated with you and I hope you have a lovely new year!
Thank you so much! I hope you have a lovely new year too. Here’s wishing good luck to you, and me, and everyone working on growing and changing and becoming healthier.
the cold princess to me is also the autistic princess, her lack of eye contact and silence, going along with the social norms, i cant imagine what sort of internal experiences she's having, hidden under her inability to appropriately express.... the entirety of rule of rose is such a tragic, powerful story
Ok so the essay itself is great. But can we talk about this person's fantastic taste in soundtracks? Omori? Hollow Knight? Sis Puella Madoka Magica? Avsolutely based.
OMG!!! Thank you for your analysis of Eleanor!!! The intricacies of her character have been eluding me for years!!! 🤩🤩🦜
NEW BAT ESSAY!!!! This was absolutely lovely, thank you so much for it
Thank you, I'm really glad you enjoyed it!!
All I can really say in response to this is that it reminds me of something I heard once where someone told me that we see ourselves one way and everyone else sees ourselves in other ways and no matter what we do, there will always be different versions of ourselves out there and that's what makes humans truly weird.
I had to pause the video and run to check the tracklist - GREAT use of the Higurashi soundtrack!
Omg, the poster of Edith Finch on a thumbnail - imma watch it right away
I always enjoy your breakdowns of psychology and metaphor heavy games. Thanks for your hard work!
I have always felt that we are what we choose. Thought more or less is subconscious coming from the computing our minds are capable of. But action…that is me. My soul thinks and I act upon it.
"I am so normal about this" I felt that in my bones, I'm completely normal about this game lol. Thank you for this analysis ❤
thank you so much for this. i started this year feeling really bad and stressed out, its always nice to be reminded of other things and emotions
I hope the year goes well for you, you've got this 💛
I WAS LITERALLY LOOKING AT YOUR PAGE YESTERDAY HOPING YOUD POST SOON YAYYY
Surprise Bat! 🎉
I have a hard time finding the words to express just how incredible your videos are! You are so thoughtful and compassionate with every line. Its comforting to know such people exsist. Keep it up!
Subbed almost a year ago when I came across your Bloodborne upload and went through your other videos over the next few months. Great to have another. Very engaging and well thought out content.
OH MY GOD!!! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A NEW HONEY BAT VID DUDE I'LL CRY OH MY GOD
Love, love, looove this game!!! And I always love your analysis. Can't wait for that BIG Rule of Rose video 👀
Thank you!! I finally had a good excuse to talk about my favourite Rule of Rose character (Eleanor) and realised how little she's actually on screen. I want to do a massive one where I can talk about alllll of them one day ^.^
yeeeeessss can't wait!! @@HoneyBat
Nice video here, and people on the RoR discord like it too!
Me I especially enjoyed the Eleanor part.
Looking forward to the bigger RoR video !
Thank you for continuing to make these. They really help me a lot. I hope that the art form of exploring one's self and the workings of humanity is never lost.
I'm so happy you're still here! I found you from your Bloodborne video and watched everything and subscribed and was worried you quit. I love your stuff!
Happy 2024! glad to see your still doing video essays! got so excited when i saw this!!
You Tube randomly recommended this video to me-- I too, have very normal feelings about Rule of Rose, so I clicked.
Excellent video-- well edited, interesting topic that flowed naturally, thoughtful commentary, and your vocal candor is lovely. Maybe that silly algorithm get's it right sometimes. You've got a sub from me!
This is one of the best most perfectly timed video essays I have ever seen. Thank you. This means so much more to me than I can explain.
Just came here through your Bloodbourne video and binging all of your stuff now. You are so eloquent, wow. Can't get enough!
I've always viewed the question of "describe yourself" in a negative way: I'm introverted, easily overstimulated, constantly spaced out and motivated by validation of all things. this was and still is the story i tell myself because i see how i struggle, i see how i fail and how i succeed and i ultimately choose the negative aspects instead of viewing myself as multitude of things. i don't hate myself, at least i don't consciously think so. all these traits are simply matter of fact to me; this is me and how i live my life. seeing all the things i lack and struggle with are just fundamentally easier than the positive ones. even now i really struggle to describe myself in positive words.
This is a great video! I've seen other videos about the story of Rule of Rose, but never about the deeper psychological aspects of the gameplay itself -- I never even knew about the secret chapter! Thank you for showing these other layers I wasn't aware of
my birthday isn't until the 14th yet my first present is already here! thank you honeybat
Babe wake up!!! Honeybat posted!!
A FRAGILE DREAMS: GOODBYE RUINS OF THE MOON REFERENCE? Alright. You got me. This an amazing analysis of multiple different properties i love, and it's so layered and textured, and i really appreciate that.
i knew this was the perfect video to keep my attention when i saw “i am so normal about this” in the thumnail. just the amount of normal needed in any video, yup yup
I found your channel a few months ago and watched a lot of your stuff. I'm only at the start but super excited to see what you've made this time ❤
So greatful to get a new video! I appreciate getting to hear your break down of digtal media and psychological concepts. You clearly write from a place a competency and passion and all of your work is a delightful reflection of that. Thank you so much for what you do!
So happy to see a new video from you! What Remains of Edith Finch was one of the best games I played last year, really enjoyed your analysis of it!
Your work is genuinely beautiful. Thank you.
The speech at the end about being the stories we tell ourselves and we want to pass them forward reminded me of the speech about Memes and Genes.
At the end of the day we are free to just be, and put out to the world what we want to keep moving forward through generations.
i discovered your channel yesterday for the bloodborne video, oh boy, i cant stop watching your videos, its so good! please continue
Gosh your essays just. Give so much! What a great way to start a year :D Can't wait for more
I'm so excited to see a video from you! I check in about once a month, but this one came up on my feed just as i was struggling to find something to watch to stop scrolling today! Thank you for this. I'd never heard of this game, but this video is so interesting!
Welcome back! I'm so glad that we don't seem to have heard the last of you (and I hope that there is more to come)
This was such a good essay, and I'd LOVE to see whatever big Rule of Rose vid you have in store!
Man, editing is better than ever in this video, such high quality!
Nice work HoneyBat!
I am seriously grateful this video found it’s way to me!! Rule of Rose has never quite left my mind even after years of my first time seeing it and you put this together in such a wonderful way, it was a joy to watch!!! The chapter about emotions especially anger and sadness also really resonated with me!!! Thank you, I’ll definitely stick around ✨
I'm so excited whenever someone actually talks about this gorgeous and terrifying whimsical little gem ❤
Came here for a good time and got attacked by the "can't take loved away" Locked Tomb quote. Beautiful essay, I will be checking out as many of the things you used as B-roll as I can.
sooooooo thrilled to see this. Ive watched all of your videos like 5 times each since finding you 6 mos ago.
Oh heck yes Honey Bat has returned!! I come back to watch your old videos while I’m playing games and I’m so glad you’ve come back with more 🥹
I can’t wait to see what else you do this year
I love your channel! Happy new year and I'm super excited to see what you have next!
as a relatively new viewer of your channel this is the first time i’ve ever watched a new video !! your bloodborne essay is honestly one of my favourite video essays ever and i don’t even know the game that much!!!! this video was so good and i enjoyed it so much , hope to see you upload more in the future !!! happy new year :]
Wonderful timing hahaha, I'm really happy you're enjoying my work and hope that you have a lovely new year!
That video was absolutely bonechilling and yet so very empathetic and made me want to play this incredible game, the essay itself was beautiful, thank you for this video honey bat. I adore one and all of your videos and I hope you have a great new year and that you create more incredible videos this year.
Rule of Rose is such a wonderful game. I think anyone can relate to Jennifer in some way, whether that be the abusive relationship or the bullying.
another beautiful video!!!
I've began to ration out the last few ones of yours I haven't watched yet to fill some dark nights I will surely have
to draw while listening to your takes is a beautiful gift
Thank you!
and I can't wait for the teased full Rule of Rose analysis ^^
So excited to watch, will need to wait till tomorrow, but I loved your bloodborne and nier videos. You choose very interesting topics every time!
Just discovered the channel, and I've already added this video go my "best video essay" playlists. Amazing video, can't wait for more ❤
thank you for putting the perfect amount of spoiler warning time at 25:20, had scramble my mouse awake whew
loved this essay!! really reminds me of stuff we talked abt in my linguistics class- the types of metaphors that we make/use, and how we talk abt communication. great job!
Omg she's back
I love your essays and voice so much ;-;
Welcome back! 🎉 good to see you!
Thank you!! 😊
Omg new Honeybat. A blessed beginning to the year.
Hi hi hello happy new year!
your videos may be my favorite. just the choice of imagery that accompanies the intro showed so much insight into the topics being discussed, i was hooked. thank you for making this. please get as many of your thoughts out as you can -- they are a benefit to humanity, i think.
look who it is!! welcome back🤗
Welcome back honey bat! 2024 is gonna kick ass!
Incredible, your videos always are!
Using the character the Hollow Knight when talking about how repression Downey work was fun move.
A character who’s very sense of self was forced to be repressed…
I can’t believe I’m three weeks late, anyways so happy about the new upload THANK YOU I love your video essays!!!
This is such a well-written essay. Love your work. Great taste in music. Great narration. So happy to get to see this new vid :)
impeccable writing
thank you for your hard work on these videos
they're such a treat to watch
Thank you!! They take a while but they're a lot of fun to do, happy new year ^.^
Ahhhh new honeybat!
This was incredible. I've only just finished watching it so my brain is very much still digesting it but i wanted to let you know how much i love your work and appreciate what you create!
Wow, incredible, incredible! Really, thanks. Thanks for the Higurashi and Umineko representation too hehe
Rule of Rose has been on my wish list of games to play forever. I guess at this point it's a matter of putting the effort, eh? It's cool to finally get a glimpse into it, even just briefly.
Omg I can’t believe you’re doing a rule of rose video too!!!! This game is so close and special to me, I can’t wait to hear your thoughts about it!!
I can only blame serendipity that you released this video just when it would resonate so much with me. It was a treat, and I don't think I've heard such a good "meditation on identity" from someone aside from my psychologist.
Also, my god you have great taste in media, don't think all those unmentioned clips and OSTs would go unnoticed, not a single mid choice!
YAS! New Honey Bat. Ive loved since your Bloodborne video and thought you've stopped posting
That was so, so beautiful! You're an artist, thank you
Great introspective way to start the new year, thank you for the insight!
This video really hit home. Awesome work
Fantastic video and lovely to see an update from you! I'm looking forward to the Rule of Rose essay, albeit with some mixed feelings as it has never been possible to legitimately play it here 😔
As soon as I saw Ren holding the marble at 22:12 I nearly freaked out that someone knows Fragile Dreams! That game is so special to me and I am so happy to see it ne remembered!
Instant sub and like. I hope to see a Fragile Dreams video from you if you don't have one yet!
I think honeybat has played it on stream before! Might play it again since they talk about it often...
It's not a honey bat video without a nier reference in it.
So soo happy to see you release a new video essay. And on one of my favorite games no less!!!
The queen has returned! Happy to catch a new video after the cozy live streams 🎉Happy new year!
Thank you for watching!! And happy new year! 💛
Thank you so much for this video! It's obvious that whatever you are, you are definitely a thoughtful and talented writer ;P
I think it's a great choice to explain what narrativising is at the start of the video, just to then enforce the idea (or narrative) in the listener that all the examples you give are, in fact, cases of narrativisation. Now we the listeners will spend the next weeks thinking about the games we are playing and what kind of narrative they are trying to impart. You have infected us with the narrative of narrative.
Thank you also for your deconstruction of childhood trauma - you managed to take what is a sore topic for many of us and present it in a kind, if detached way.
Welcome back! You are very good at what you do.
HOLY SHIT I LOVED YOUR BLOODBORNE VIDEO I CANT WAIT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT RULE OF ROSE
Yay, a new Honey Bat video! I discovered you a few months ago and really liked your essays, esspecially the one about Bloodbourne and its feminine perspective. It's really nice to your pleasant voice again. :)