This video took me 6 months to make and due to TH-cam's copyright laws I never made a dime off it. If you enjoyed this video and want to support the channel, consider joining my Patreon :) www.patreon.com/comedywithouterrors
I got an ad at 59:09 and i dont think anything will convince me to spend less time on my phone than this. Having all my thoughts and understandings about the internet that I couldnt put into words just be said in such a perfect way really made me understand just how much the internet has wormed its way into almost every facet of my life. Even now im worried that if I type a comment too long that people wont take the time to read it because I wouldnt do the same. This made me reflect like nothing else, thank you
I read your comment but I read too many comments, so don’t count me. Will be back to update you on whether your epiphany was contagious or not after 59:09
The way I see Bo Burnham is...he is to comedy what Penn and Teller are to magic. Penn and Teller are notorious for revealing the secrets behind very famous magic tricks and then using that peek behind the curtain to subvert your expectations even further. Bo does a very similar thing. By pointing out how staged everything is, it actually makes his show more impressive. Like realising at the beginning of What. He was wearing 3 pairs of pants, had two pocketfuls of glitter and a *mouthful of water* before the show even starts!
Yet at the same time Inside is very different because there's an artifice to all of the "behind the scenes" moments. The camera is always placed with intention and Bo is clearly aware that he's performing something that is intended to not appear to be a performance.
There's a related concept in theatre, and by extension cinema, called Brechtian style. The idea is basically to keep the audience detached - aware of the artificiality, or uncomfortable, or even bored - enough that they can't fully immerse into the fakery and are forced to remain on some level intellectually and critically engaged.
Damm dude, you not only have great insights about comedy , you also possess supernatural powers of editing. They transactions were so smooth, one hour vedio felt like 15 minutes.
It isn't rare to have a piece of media change your life, and Inside did that for me, and a lot of people. This is probably because it and so many pieces of art exist as a kind of amorphous, emotional miasma that bores deep into your feelings and the lizard part of your brain. But I think it's a lot rarer for a piece of media analysis to do so, because so often it's offering staid regurgitations of the literal aspects of the work, or worse, pith for the sake of pith. Not in this case. What you've achieved here is nothing short of extraordinary. I think you gave a lexicon and structure to something that was previously an amorphous, deeply emotional experience, giving crucial context that's invariably missed when you're suffering an existential crisis you can't give form to when first watching Inside. With that lexicon and structure, it's providing not just a path for self reflection and an understanding of the issues that Burnham has grappled with for a decade and a half, but even, potentially, a way forward that even Burnham isn't necessarily capable of offering, being as stuck in it as any of us. Josh, your other stuff has been excellent, but it's mostly provided useful and interesting and entertaining ways to analyze comedy and think harder about why we're reacting the way we do to things which entertain us and make us thing, the quality of which was, prior to today, enough to merely put you in the top echelon of TH-camrs I know of. This is on an entirely other level, and I think is, beyond being one of the best bits of media analysis I've ever seen, is a sterling example of why media analysis exists in the first place, to provide form to the emotional swirl that so many of the best works exist as. Thank you for creating this.
I was coming down to the comment section to effectively say the same thing, but this comment said it much more beautifully. You deserve all the good things that are bound to come your way from making such high quality content, I look forward to whatever you put out in the future.
@@ComedyWithoutErrors this video feels more like a documentary than a video essay. It's edited superbly, the subject is very insightful, and the language used/tone of voice are engaging. This is the kind of TH-cam video I'd be okay with showing friends on the TV, and that's something I've only done with ~15 minute videos.
Inside inspired me to quit most social media sites. But now I’m becoming aware how impossible it is to connect with people and create relationships without it. There’s no phone books to reconnect with someone and if you call them you’re crazy for wanting to hear their voice and get to know them.
4:50 This is what is crazy about actors, stand up comedians, and all that do acts on stage for hours. They are reading all of that in their head and not only all of that is happening in their head they are performing it perfectly on time and its just all continuous, no need to stop and look at a script like in a movie or anything its really quite impressive.
This video essay on INSIDE effectively gave that eery, existential yet controlling atmosphere in INSIDE, and the in-depth level of analysis reached parts of the special i wouldnt even think about analysing. This is seriously so cool.
This was insanely good. It blows my mind how effectively video essays can organize thoughts while also leaving room for the viewer to think about it. It connected and explained the thoughts I had about the special while also helping me think about it even more. It’s just so cool. I loved this.
Duuude…I saw a bunch of comments about how well edited this was but it really hit me at 9:10 when there’s a shot from 2001: A Space Odyssey and then it cuts to an interview and there’s a 2001 poster on the wall behind Bo
I cannot express how happy I am that this video exist. I have watched every interview and listened to every podcast Bo has done since his career started. Having all that context in my head while watching inside took it from a masterpiece to an indescribable work of art.
I cannot believe I slept on this young man's genius for so long. I knew about him for years but just saw him as edgy and nihilistic. In my defence, Inside is probably one of the most important works of art in our generation and it puts his previous work into focus/context. In hindsight, you can see all the seeds of a modern performative genius were planted from the very start.
Bo and Enya actually have much in common, especially in regards to his special Inside. What many people don't know about Enya is that she does the vast majority of music herself. She plays virtually all the instruments herself, occasionally getting assistance on the keyboard from her producer. She doesn't really have band members. She doesn't have an orchestra that follows her around. She's created the majority of her music out of a shed that was converted into a sound studio in the backyard of her close friends and producers home. Just like Bo, Enya is very unique.
When Bo dropped “Inside” I heard some pretty well known “podcast comedians.” Talk about how they couldn’t finish or try and diminish how ground breaking it is. It’s like they all knew that they will Never be able to match that creatively and couldn’t stand it. I have a feeling a lot of big name comedians were hit with the reality of the fact that Bo is just smarter and more clever than all of them.
I think the same thing. I hate celebrity culture, but Bo is someone I actually feel like I can see which parts I relate to and which I don’t and admire his accomplishments. I think Bo does this for a lot of people and this fact makes people uncomfortable. Others I think feel a jealously. And then there are the people who don’t quite get it. They think Bo is being condescending to be malicious, whereas I and many others believe that he acts condescending in order to make statements about society. Statements that make people, especially privileged people, uncomfortable.
I feel that your points are even more validated after I watched the Inside Outtakes. They are really just another look at Bo, not the performer, but the creator. The puppeteer behind inside. It is the extension of Inside, or the things that we only got a glimpse of in the actually special, but now have a full view of. Really amazing special, life changing stuff for me.
Holy shit that was dark. Dude it's 3 am and now I'm scared to get outta my bed and go to the bathroom, i only felt like this when i watched a horror film this is truly psychological horror and it's scarier than regular ghost horror films. I cannot explain in words how grateful i am for this video. I didn't know how to put my feelings in words after i watched inside. This is exactly how i felt. Thank you for showing the geniusness of bo and thank you for being a genius yourself. Mad respect.
Duude, what you have created is sooo powerful. You obviously understand comedy and Bo Burnham himself really good. I felt like the last 10 minutes were like impossibly uncomfortable and somewhat dwelling to watch. Even having seen Inside multiple times and watching his Videos on TH-cam, listening to his music, you made me feel another 10.000 times more insecure when you played Welcome to the Internet in the end. Your putting in the work and the hours into researching and explaining all these details really made a difference for me to listen to something, I thought I couldn't be impressed or shocked by anymore. You proved me wrong. Thanks for sharing this art piece of a video!
so smart. this video explained to me more about the scenes I was the most confused about. it makes me appreciate the special even more. i hate to say but when i initially saw the special, I felt connected to seeing him as a performer and an editor/creator, that I completely forgot that he was also the bigger, truer Bo, the writer. good video!
I'm not one to comment, but this is genuinely one of the most interesting, compelling and insightful video essays I have ever seen, you somehow managed to put so many interesting points in this video on a topic that has been talked about SO much these past months. The editing and the way you progress the points is just incredible. Genuinely great job on the video.
This is a spectacular video essay that very well encapsulates the eerie disturbing existentialism from the special. Also I love that addition of Gustavo Santaolalla's music at the end there
I can't speak highly enough about this video essay, it's absolutely flawless. I'm writing about it as an example of Cultural Analysis for a college popular culture class, so I just want to say thank your for this.
Astounding! I was super engaged the whole way through and I think everything yourself and Bo are saying is so powerful. Honestly the production value on your videos is superb you are truest underrated.
Brilliant shit man. Bravo. I do wish you’d included the line from Make Happy: “What do we want more than to lie in our bed at the end of the day and watch our life as a satisfied audience member?” I think about that one all the time and this video has given me a new context and breadth to consider it. Thanks for making a great video. Cheers.
Didn't expect to sit through the whole video, but thought I'd start watching, since I've watched what feels like every interview you showed throughout this video. Bo will be talked about for generations I think. His art will be taught in schools.
I havent watched a whole lot of retrospectives on Inside but Im glad I clicked on this. Fantastic insite and I cant tell you how much it meant to me that you included Douglas Rushkoffs talks, books and perspective in his works. Since watching Inside, I have read Throwing Rocks at the Google bus, Present Shock, and also Team Human. Hes a wonderful author and has had influenced Burnham in ways that you just wont see without reading his books. Ive become an absolute fan of his that probably wouldnt have happened without Bo. He even said in the interview with Rushkoff that he *wanted* to call 8th Grade- "Present Shock" (which btw out of the 3 I've read I'd recommend most) It was a joy watching this. A lot of creators had retrospectives on Inside up within a month or even a freakin' week after the movie was out (gotta get those clicks while theyre hot right?) I just appreciate the time and effort you so clearly put into this. Thank you
I love the use of the Social Network score when discussing the allure of the internet and the Welcome to the Internet song, that score is haunting but feels oddly enticing simultaneously. It has also become the soundtrack that (for me) best exemplifies the intriguing and horrifying nature of social media.
Comfortably one of the best essays I've ever seen on this site, and an absolutely incredible achievement in criticism and editing on your part mate. So many genius nuggets of editing where your choice of shot elevated your entire point without a word. Thanks so much for all your work to craft this phenomenal video I'm sure I'll come back to many times, and continue to take so much from - not just about Inside, or even art in general, but about performance, technology, social media, and the danger of how they all intertwine in our personal lives. Cheers man
i can't believe how little views this has. this is top tier stuff and a wonderful analysis of the special. everyone has been annoyed at the idea of meaningless "critiques" of inside that are basically just summaries with a score attached at the end like we're used to with most media analysis on youtube but honestly most of what i've seen tackling this special has been very thoughtful and very personalized. people walk away with different ideas and it's been interesting seeing the similarities and differences of what people have said about it along with comparisons of my own takeaways. maybe the algorithm has figured me out well enough to not even waste its time putting someone like Chris Stuckman (i'm sure he's a nice guy but my god are his "reviews" literally a waste of time and breathe) in my recommended. i find as a 20 something surrounded by peers who were raised by the internet when i, myself, was not allowed nor had access to the internet growing up that i'm a little more resilient to the dangers of the internet while also feeling a bit isolated from my peers. that isolation one feels on the internet extends now to people not as inundated because the internet has its own culture. my boyfriend who is the same age as me will make references to popular things on the internet back when we were teenagers that i have no knowledge of because i wasn't there to experience it. even now, because of my resistance to the internet- i don't really watch twitch i don't have twitter (though i did download it for a time only to delete it when it overwhelmed me and i realized how its functions were designed so purposefully to negatively impact my mental health- its true goal being addiction) i definitely don't have tik tok- i sill notice that even only having youtube and instagram, i'm still very addicted to my phone. i am on youtube and instagram for a lot longer than i should be and i can only look in horror at my more social media adept peers. or even my boyfriend who grew up on his computer and still spends a lot of time on his computer and browses things like youtube and reddit and has an extensive and long history with his steam account lol despite not really using his phone very much. (i didn't get my first laptop until halfway through college and didn't get steam until this year) i feel like there is a class divide that can be observed through how the internet has impacted certain people. Bo and my boyfriend have that suburban take, where they had all the tools from a young age with little supervision and went off the rails with it where people like me who grew up poor slowly integrated the internet into their lives. for us, i think it's more likely to see a social media app addiction with things like facebook, instagram, tik tok, youtube, etc. where those who had at it all from the go really got sucked in. i used to feel a little envious of people like Bo and those early influencers for being able to strike gold and be creative for a living and now i see how taxing it all is and how i would feel pretty similarly to Bo and despise an audience and a spotlight. i suppose i feel lucky in that regard. and that relationship just on youtube and twitch of creators who feel burdened to create is something i'm becoming more aware of as time goes on and can be incredibly uncomfortable to witness in real time. it's uncanny and creepy watching people i enjoy struggle through a video. i've been watching a lot of pokemon gaming videos over time as a nice thing to put on in the background and as time has gone on i've been watching in real time these people getting burnt out and putting out a video they didn't want to do and aren't proud of and it's difficult to watch. i think long form video essayists are in the best position because in this small circle of creators, there is an understanding between the creator and the audience that the videos will be random and not on a timely schedule. of course, there are problems there's always an upside and a downside but that's where i see the least cynicism and burn out. i've rambled on here but i appreciate Inside and Bo's ability to make me think about and make me discuss these ongoing thoughts and experiences that we're all living through right now. and i appreciate videos like these that give me new ways to look at these topics and a place to host my thoughts written
This is the best video essay I've seen on Inside. You didn't really say what could Bo be meaning, or what ifs. you showed context, and the reality of all these situations with Bo and the real world. Incredible work, sir.
for ages i've wanted to do a video essay on his specials, but decided against it because i felt that i could honor the inspiration his creativity has granted me better by making original content rather than talking about his. BUT you have changed my mind about that. this is a transformative essay that brings true new insight into the way that i view this special. i've been a fan since his youtube days and yet you managed to open my eyes to certain things i hadn't considered. this is one of the best video essays on the site. well done
What's even worse than the situation of the internet Bo describes in his interviews, is that he is often dead serious but people just laugh about it as if it's a joke. (e.g. 57:17)
I wasn't going to watch this one at first because there have already been so many video essays on this, but this video is very good and unique. Great job! I hope you continue making video essays on comedy.
Incredible video, you met Bo where (at least to me) he was at, not acting like it was simpler or more complex than it was, and I loved all your background references, the blade runner scene was especially cool to me, as that scene and Inside are roommates in my head.
As someone with extreme social anxiety, the final part of Make Happy was really moving AND difficult to watch, and hearing him talk about his stage persona afterwards - it struck a chord as I often felt I portrayed a different person in large groups of people at work than I was in real life with friends I was close to
I don't usually write comments about the things I watch, even if I enjoyed them. However it would be a crime not to comment on this masterpiece you created. I can just imagine how much time and energy it took you to create this but be assured that it was absolutely worth it. It's, by far, the best video-essay that I have ever seen. Thank you very much and do know that you did something amazing. You helped me understand why I was so amazed by INSIDE. I was sure that it was an astounding work of art and something absolutely extraordinary, but I could not explain why. And thankfully you explained it perfectly in this video. I hope that a lot of people see this because it surely allows us as viewers to reflect more deeply and to see a lot of aspects of reality in a clearer way. Btw, I had a lot of goosebumps watching this. You're an amazing editor, congratulations. Also I'm very glad to see so many other persons praising your work, because it totally deserves it.
Wa sgoing to write a comment, but when I read this, I realized it was going to be exactly the same! I add up to the feelings you had with Bo and this video. Great works of art! From Argentina, my greetings!
24:00 Such an insightful thing to do... I love Bo Burnham's mind and this video so far has indeed been edited very well as others have said, and it's a very meaningful dialogue for us all to think about.
Yeah this is it. This is the best video i've watched in a long time if not ever. I'm just speechless. I was speechless after watching "Inside" and now i'm even more speechless.
Lovely video. It’s obviously after the outtakes came out. But I feel like the light and blinds and airplane are the metaphor and I’d never thought of it until this vid. We see what Bo let’s us see. And the blinds are to control the amount of light he lets in. I love that analogy and it resonates deeply. Thanks!
This was exceptionally well thought out and put together. I suspect humanity will be pulling apart Inside for years to come. It’s like OK Computer for Millenials. That said, Bo’s quote about trying to contact Enya by attaching a letter to a salmon still has me in stitches…
In this moment I've come to understand the line "Now your inside's out," as multiple lines in a state of superposition. Bo is, in a sense, both talking to himself about his Inside and to his contemporaries about what, for all intensive purposes, is their respective Insides either created before or simultaneously in isolate circumstances devoid of influence from Bo while also, simultaneously, talking to specific members of his audience who, in the future, have walked away from experiencing Bo Burnham's Inside inspired to make their own Inside and saw such projects to completion before having to return to life again. At this moment Bo is likely secretly unsure if he's going to ever let himself finish to begin with. What if Bo immediately begins working on Inside 2 but, to him, he's never stopped working on Inside? Inside is his IN; his invitation; his interjection. How could anyone give up having such a thing for life? It's almost as though he has to advertise the phenomena as a malady in order to kill two birds with one stone by both laying the foundation for a sales pitch for his patented satirical salve as a cure for the phenomena while simultaneously convincing himself of the idea so giving up working on Inside for life is easier. "Inside steel armor for life? Try my satirical salve!" But who's to say Bo isn't working on Inside right now except for Bo himself? All he needs is a number 2.
At the risk of adding to the echo chamber of praise, this video is truly an achievement. 'Inside' has been analyzed to death with exactly the sort of low-effort "first reaction" energy that's criticized both here and in Burnham's work, yet you managed to navigate a path to an understanding that so many others barely skimmed the surface of. Unbelievably well done. Or, I should say yes, I'm fucking happy.
I usually avoid analysis of Inside because I enjoyed interpreting it on my own but I am glad I said 'screw it' and watched this, it's been almost a year since the release anyway. Great video!
I am close to the end of this video, just wanted to comment my appreciation for this. I can't articulate anything I feel (kind of like Bo alluded to, it's hard to make a commentary on the internet, and I suppose i find it hard to comment on a commentary on a commentary of the internet) other than saying the generic 'this is really well-edited and really enjoyable and clearly well-researched and you should have more subscribers'- which is still all true. This is what I would class as compelling media, a compelling analysis, and more so- a convincing analysis. I almost felt myself nodding along to every point you made, fully immersed (even with the mentioned short attention span), as if all these complex and subtle points were just at the back of my mind but I couldn't put the thoughts into words. Everything about this spurs my interest to watch more of your videos. Amazing video, all those clips were worth it- there was a sense of lineage around every topic you unearthed and it all tied together so well. Thank you for being a creative content creator, in my opinion your channel is that kind of thing Bo was talking about, in terms of the few 'good' (is that too simplified?) creators.
The depth... the amazing depth you dove for this video is truly inspiring. Love Bo and in turn now I love you after watching this. Very very well done my friend.
This is easily in the top 2 of all essays on Inside that have been made, and by far the top when it comes to polish and editing, so congrats for putting out such a great piece that obviously took labour and love and thank you for sharing it with us. I wanted to add a piece of commentary on the last scene of Inside, which you interpret as 'genuine' - I think it is meant to look like it is, but isn't, a perfect depiction of exactly the nightmarish utopia Bo described with real life being a theatrical stage. Here he is shown looking at his own pain over-acted under a spotlight and projected literally for the world to see, and smiling. So in a way it's representing exactly what you say but in that dishonest way that ends up being more honest. And it also looks like all of us, re-reading a post or looking at a selfie right after we've hit send, and we see that it works and smile before the likes start flooding in. It's relatable and chilling at the same time.
I agree with you- and I feel like it’s maybe a reference to Citizen Kane (namely the now meme’d to death scene of him clapping). Kane is in the opera house, watching the woman who he cheated on his previous wife with utterly fail at singing an aria. He’s paid for the opera house to be built, he’s commissioned this piece, and he’s forced this woman to take on the role of ‘high-class performer’ so that he can conjure up a the thin veneer of acceptability for his scandalous relationship in the public eye. And it’s failing. He knows it’s a terrible performance, a reflection of his own failure, but he stands up and claps despite that. We see Kane’s ego, embarrassment, hubris all collapse in on one another. He’s performing the expected reaction, those around him know he’s performing, and they perform along with him by clapping for longer than they would have otherwise. The way the lighting is, and the way the camera focuses on Kane, eliminating the rest of the audience behind him reminds me of how the scene in Inside is set up. It also goes along with what you said- Kane is trying to will a constructed narrative of what he wants people to think of him (and what he wants to think of himself) into life, and he’s failing, just as we all do. Self-conscious and self-absorbed at the same time. In general I think there are more than a few thematic/ideological/artistic parallels between Inside and Citizen Kane, but lord knows that I’m not articulate enough to express them.
@@lanaangelbreeze there is one that i think is just as good as this essay for different reasons called Bo Burnham vs. Jeff Bezos by CJ the X, it covers Inside as well as the hellish vortex of social media performance in a really insightful, engaging way :)
This is a brilliantly insightful analysis of one of the greatest talents I’ve seen emerge in my lifetime. I love the fact he’s a decade younger than me 😂
Josh, this was the best analysis of Inside I've seen yet. I wish I had half of your knowledge in analyzing media and understanding what Bo was saying with a particular part.
That one line at the end, summing up Bo's point: "It' what we reveal by the way we choose to present it", is so damn interesting an enlightening to me. Also, of course, what an amazing video about a truly special... special. Wonderful work!
This was the only video I saw that made justice to Inside. And you actually went beyond. Hats off to you, bravo. Loved Inside, loved to think about it, loved your video, will love to think even more about it.
Another possible reading of the end of Inside might say that Bo is offering a bit of hope. "Yes, this has been an absolutely brutal ride, yes it's taken a lot of effort to get here..." But he also spends so much time in his other work thinking and wondering about the nature of art and whether art still exists that it doesn't seem like too much of a stretch to tack on "...but this is something that I made. This is something that I'm proud of." I don't see it as him being consumed by the very thing he's fighting against, because we get enough of that with the other scenes that show him watching himself on the screen. I'd argue that there's a character arc that's taken place for this version of Bo, and it's one that allows him to find some contentment and pleasure in creation. Not creations in the past tense, but in the action of creation. The version of Inside that he's watching is one that hasn't been seen by anyone yet. It's just his. He's still in the creation process, so close to living in the present moment, offset by a single screen with a single, recently filmed video. And he's pleased. And that doesn't seem like a bad thing. Thank you very much for making this video. It's such a worthwhile exploration of this show, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Thanks for this wonderful Deep Dive. I watched the special a couple days ago and have really enjoyed soaking it in and your review is the perfect way to take another look at it. Thank you!
27:40 about how you live life as an onlooker, of yourself. that really got me. ive lived with depresion for 16 years or so but never thought of it that way. and it was sadly to easy to comprehend
59:20 Such an excellent, important point here by Bo!! This is why I really love his mind! I refuse to put my whole life on the internet. I got sucked into doing it for a while in the early 2000s while I attended college, but then I just got sick of it. Sick of not getting the validation I craved from others, realizing it was all pointless, and the only real meaning is what you do in your real life and your real connections w/people in the present, so I barely post on any social media anymore and don't want to waste time on it. I was born in 1985 so yes I remember life before the internet consumed us all and I hate that small kids are being given access to this when they can't even comprehend what they're seeing and doing and will be targeted in bad ways. It's bad for kids, and their use of it and smart phones should be severely limited or banned until they're at least 16-18. People need to know how to do things in the real world still before there was the internet, yet our society is pushing us further and further into it. I resist it and am working to start my own homestead where I grow my own food in a rural setting b/c cities are poisoning us and making our society worse. We're not meant to live in cities or become transhuman w/all of our own personal data online hooked up into "the cloud" so that we're just easier to manipulate and control by evil elites.
So many people articulate their views of Bo's work slightly differently, especially Inside, that it just proves how amazing the special really is. I love watching people analyze it though as a full piece of art. Its easy to see how each song/part or skit means something, but to find the overall meaning as a whole is another thing. I love how you put his interviews in to show his thoughts as well, it takes it to a new level.
Wow. This video impacted me equally as much as the special itself. Truly a masterpiece of social commentary backed with undeniable proof. And yet even commenting I feel like I’m a victim of the same cycle you and Bo expose. Bravo.
i was gonna watch a bit of this and slap it into my watch later playlist but goDDAMN did this man do his research. i was enthralled by the way you smoothly stitched together so many clips from various performances and interviews. super thought-provoking, beautifully made. bravo
This should be the first analysis recommendation when searching for Inside. I keep coming back to it even now because of how well it's done. Cheers for this.
You've done it again my friend! Your content is consistently the best in the game. Thank you for all the education and inspiration to level up our own content!
In the part where you said "dissociating himself from himself," I felt that. That explains something I've been trying to explain as long as I've become obsessed with notifications, comments, and likes on social media. I constantly go through my story or my Instagram feed or my TikTok page and delete videos or pictures or statements that aren't "good enough" that I feel like more of a member of my own audience than anyone who follows me might be. I don't recognize myself sometimes.
Bravo! I’ve been actively avoiding watching “reaction” videos to Inside for obvious reasons. Glad I broke my rule for this it helped me actualize the feelings and realizations Inside forced me to confront. I hope you’re happy.
34:25 kinda creapy how me keeps on referencing a "meta virtual reality world" being such a scary thing and years later, litrally and figurativly it has been created by one of the biggest social media ever, facebook... wait... no... sorry, "Meta". I truly love bo burnham and all the things that he has done and all the truth he has relealed about metal health and the internet and much more and through this video essay I can see that my love is clearly shared. I have watched many inside video essays, while procrasinating doing work, but this is BY FAR my favourite, mainly because it is greatly about the context of Bo's performances rather than just the performace itself. Great job, hope you have an amazing day!
This video made Inside make so much more sense to me. I'm never good at analysing deeper things like this so I turn to videos that do that for me, and this one did such a good job. Keep up the good work dude!
This video took me 6 months to make and due to TH-cam's copyright laws I never made a dime off it. If you enjoyed this video and want to support the channel, consider joining my Patreon :) www.patreon.com/comedywithouterrors
I got an ad at 59:09 and i dont think anything will convince me to spend less time on my phone than this. Having all my thoughts and understandings about the internet that I couldnt put into words just be said in such a perfect way really made me understand just how much the internet has wormed its way into almost every facet of my life. Even now im worried that if I type a comment too long that people wont take the time to read it because I wouldnt do the same. This made me reflect like nothing else, thank you
I read your comment but I read too many comments, so don’t count me. Will be back to update you on whether your epiphany was contagious or not after 59:09
Wonderful video.
wonderful comment coner eat pant
So true Mr. Streamer
Hey Connor
Hi connor. Good to see you here.
ayee connor fancy seeing you here
The way I see Bo Burnham is...he is to comedy what Penn and Teller are to magic. Penn and Teller are notorious for revealing the secrets behind very famous magic tricks and then using that peek behind the curtain to subvert your expectations even further. Bo does a very similar thing. By pointing out how staged everything is, it actually makes his show more impressive. Like realising at the beginning of What. He was wearing 3 pairs of pants, had two pocketfuls of glitter and a *mouthful of water* before the show even starts!
Yet at the same time Inside is very different because there's an artifice to all of the "behind the scenes" moments. The camera is always placed with intention and Bo is clearly aware that he's performing something that is intended to not appear to be a performance.
@@droughdough even down to the tiniest detail. Like how during the song Sexting, the air conditioner is set to 69 degrees.
@@jdprettynails nice
There's a related concept in theatre, and by extension cinema, called Brechtian style. The idea is basically to keep the audience detached - aware of the artificiality, or uncomfortable, or even bored - enough that they can't fully immerse into the fakery and are forced to remain on some level intellectually and critically engaged.
This is a really great analogy!
“We are all doomed to perform, and we’re doomed to enjoy the performance.” Incredible video, I’m honestly speechless.
666 likes
@@pogies667 now babyyyyyy
669 nice
@@noodle67 670😈
Damm dude, you not only have great insights about comedy , you also possess supernatural powers of editing. They transactions were so smooth, one hour vedio felt like 15 minutes.
They transactions 💀
i didn't even realize it was an hour till i read your comment.....
I read your comment after I posted mine? WTAF! lol right!
I agree. But I was watching it at 4x
Yeah this is truly crazy amazing
It isn't rare to have a piece of media change your life, and Inside did that for me, and a lot of people. This is probably because it and so many pieces of art exist as a kind of amorphous, emotional miasma that bores deep into your feelings and the lizard part of your brain.
But I think it's a lot rarer for a piece of media analysis to do so, because so often it's offering staid regurgitations of the literal aspects of the work, or worse, pith for the sake of pith. Not in this case. What you've achieved here is nothing short of extraordinary. I think you gave a lexicon and structure to something that was previously an amorphous, deeply emotional experience, giving crucial context that's invariably missed when you're suffering an existential crisis you can't give form to when first watching Inside. With that lexicon and structure, it's providing not just a path for self reflection and an understanding of the issues that Burnham has grappled with for a decade and a half, but even, potentially, a way forward that even Burnham isn't necessarily capable of offering, being as stuck in it as any of us.
Josh, your other stuff has been excellent, but it's mostly provided useful and interesting and entertaining ways to analyze comedy and think harder about why we're reacting the way we do to things which entertain us and make us thing, the quality of which was, prior to today, enough to merely put you in the top echelon of TH-camrs I know of. This is on an entirely other level, and I think is, beyond being one of the best bits of media analysis I've ever seen, is a sterling example of why media analysis exists in the first place, to provide form to the emotional swirl that so many of the best works exist as. Thank you for creating this.
I may get this comment framed and hang it on my wall haha. Genuinely thanks :)
so wholesome, might have to do a reaction video to this reaction comment to this reaction comment to this reaction video
I was coming down to the comment section to effectively say the same thing, but this comment said it much more beautifully. You deserve all the good things that are bound to come your way from making such high quality content, I look forward to whatever you put out in the future.
@@ComedyWithoutErrors this video feels more like a documentary than a video essay. It's edited superbly, the subject is very insightful, and the language used/tone of voice are engaging.
This is the kind of TH-cam video I'd be okay with showing friends on the TV, and that's something I've only done with ~15 minute videos.
completely agree
Basically Bo is a master at 2nd level irony. The usage of irony to return to sincerity, ironically being more sincere than one could be without it.
Inside inspired me to quit most social media sites. But now I’m becoming aware how impossible it is to connect with people and create relationships without it. There’s no phone books to reconnect with someone and if you call them you’re crazy for wanting to hear their voice and get to know them.
Get new friends
@@Francesco-cj3oi Thank you.
4:50 This is what is crazy about actors, stand up comedians, and all that do acts on stage for hours. They are reading all of that in their head and not only all of that is happening in their head they are performing it perfectly on time and its just all continuous, no need to stop and look at a script like in a movie or anything its really quite impressive.
I love how he's gotten more theatrical. His film experience is really fleshing out who he is.
This video essay on INSIDE effectively gave that eery, existential yet controlling atmosphere in INSIDE, and the in-depth level of analysis reached parts of the special i wouldnt even think about analysing. This is seriously so cool.
This is the video essay I was waiting for. Thank you for making this.
This was insanely good. It blows my mind how effectively video essays can organize thoughts while also leaving room for the viewer to think about it. It connected and explained the thoughts I had about the special while also helping me think about it even more. It’s just so cool. I loved this.
Duuude…I saw a bunch of comments about how well edited this was but it really hit me at 9:10 when there’s a shot from 2001: A Space Odyssey and then it cuts to an interview and there’s a 2001 poster on the wall behind Bo
That was actually such a great edit!
I cannot express how happy I am that this video exist. I have watched every interview and listened to every podcast Bo has done since his career started. Having all that context in my head while watching inside took it from a masterpiece to an indescribable work of art.
I cannot believe I slept on this young man's genius for so long. I knew about him for years but just saw him as edgy and nihilistic. In my defence, Inside is probably one of the most important works of art in our generation and it puts his previous work into focus/context. In hindsight, you can see all the seeds of a modern performative genius were planted from the very start.
Bo and Enya actually have much in common, especially in regards to his special Inside. What many people don't know about Enya is that she does the vast majority of music herself. She plays virtually all the instruments herself, occasionally getting assistance on the keyboard from her producer. She doesn't really have band members. She doesn't have an orchestra that follows her around. She's created the majority of her music out of a shed that was converted into a sound studio in the backyard of her close friends and producers home. Just like Bo, Enya is very unique.
When Bo dropped “Inside” I heard some pretty well known “podcast comedians.” Talk about how they couldn’t finish or try and diminish how ground breaking it is. It’s like they all knew that they will
Never be able to match that creatively and couldn’t stand it. I have a feeling a lot of big name comedians were hit with the reality of the fact that Bo is just smarter and more clever than all of them.
he's bo yo, hes the greatest rapper ever and he'll weather your weather whether you think youre better you're not
That's disappointing, which ones in particular didn't like it?
@@randalllopez9707 dont need a sweater, hes hot, hes a real g shawty that'll really find your what now
I think the same thing. I hate celebrity culture, but Bo is someone I actually feel like I can see which parts I relate to and which I don’t and admire his accomplishments. I think Bo does this for a lot of people and this fact makes people uncomfortable. Others I think feel a jealously. And then there are the people who don’t quite get it. They think Bo is being condescending to be malicious, whereas I and many others believe that he acts condescending in order to make statements about society. Statements that make people, especially privileged people, uncomfortable.
This is a 2 year old comment but I'm curious too which comedians were saying that, wondering if some of the ones I listen to think that way.
I feel that your points are even more validated after I watched the Inside Outtakes. They are really just another look at Bo, not the performer, but the creator. The puppeteer behind inside. It is the extension of Inside, or the things that we only got a glimpse of in the actually special, but now have a full view of. Really amazing special, life changing stuff for me.
Holy shit that was dark. Dude it's 3 am and now I'm scared to get outta my bed and go to the bathroom, i only felt like this when i watched a horror film this is truly psychological horror and it's scarier than regular ghost horror films. I cannot explain in words how grateful i am for this video. I didn't know how to put my feelings in words after i watched inside. This is exactly how i felt. Thank you for showing the geniusness of bo and thank you for being a genius yourself. Mad respect.
One of my favourite descriptions of inside is "the funniest musical psychological horror movie I've ever seen"
Not me scrolling through comments at 3 am
Duude, what you have created is sooo powerful. You obviously understand comedy and Bo Burnham himself really good. I felt like the last 10 minutes were like impossibly uncomfortable and somewhat dwelling to watch. Even having seen Inside multiple times and watching his Videos on TH-cam, listening to his music, you made me feel another 10.000 times more insecure when you played Welcome to the Internet in the end. Your putting in the work and the hours into researching and explaining all these details really made a difference for me to listen to something, I thought I couldn't be impressed or shocked by anymore. You proved me wrong. Thanks for sharing this art piece of a video!
so smart. this video explained to me more about the scenes I was the most confused about. it makes me appreciate the special even more. i hate to say but when i initially saw the special, I felt connected to seeing him as a performer and an editor/creator, that I completely forgot that he was also the bigger, truer Bo, the writer. good video!
This level of introspection is what I needed. Thank you.
I'm not one to comment, but this is genuinely one of the most interesting, compelling and insightful video essays I have ever seen, you somehow managed to put so many interesting points in this video on a topic that has been talked about SO much these past months. The editing and the way you progress the points is just incredible. Genuinely great job on the video.
This is exactly what I needed. Thank you!
This is a spectacular video essay that very well encapsulates the eerie disturbing existentialism from the special.
Also I love that addition of Gustavo Santaolalla's music at the end there
been watching alot of these INSIDE analysis videos lately, this is by far the best I've seen so far
NGL I expected this to be a creatively named bootleg
I can't speak highly enough about this video essay, it's absolutely flawless. I'm writing about it as an example of Cultural Analysis for a college popular culture class, so I just want to say thank your for this.
Astounding! I was super engaged the whole way through and I think everything yourself and Bo are saying is so powerful. Honestly the production value on your videos is superb you are truest underrated.
Brilliant shit man. Bravo. I do wish you’d included the line from Make Happy: “What do we want more than to lie in our bed at the end of the day and watch our life as a satisfied audience member?” I think about that one all the time and this video has given me a new context and breadth to consider it. Thanks for making a great video. Cheers.
i feel like this should be shown to everyone that uses the internet.
Didn't expect to sit through the whole video, but thought I'd start watching, since I've watched what feels like every interview you showed throughout this video. Bo will be talked about for generations I think. His art will be taught in schools.
to that last part idk just like youtube the real world isnt too fond of good art with real meaning anymore
@@deathstramy7272 True, and we're at the point where they're so much happening no one can ever again take in 10% of the content in the world now.
the use of present tense at 9:24 is PERFECT
I havent watched a whole lot of retrospectives on Inside but Im glad I clicked on this. Fantastic insite and I cant tell you how much it meant to me that you included Douglas Rushkoffs talks, books and perspective in his works. Since watching Inside, I have read Throwing Rocks at the Google bus, Present Shock, and also Team Human. Hes a wonderful author and has had influenced Burnham in ways that you just wont see without reading his books. Ive become an absolute fan of his that probably wouldnt have happened without Bo. He even said in the interview with Rushkoff that he *wanted* to call 8th Grade- "Present Shock" (which btw out of the 3 I've read I'd recommend most) It was a joy watching this. A lot of creators had retrospectives on Inside up within a month or even a freakin' week after the movie was out (gotta get those clicks while theyre hot right?) I just appreciate the time and effort you so clearly put into this. Thank you
Dude, I’ve watched a LOT of Burnham/Inside study videos, and I think this was the most spot on. Great job! Seriously. Good stuff.
In my opinion this is essential watching after seeing the special. Thank you for making this.
Beautiful, genuinely made me think about how I project myself on the internet. Thanks
I love the use of the Social Network score when discussing the allure of the internet and the Welcome to the Internet song, that score is haunting but feels oddly enticing simultaneously. It has also become the soundtrack that (for me) best exemplifies the intriguing and horrifying nature of social media.
Comfortably one of the best essays I've ever seen on this site, and an absolutely incredible achievement in criticism and editing on your part mate. So many genius nuggets of editing where your choice of shot elevated your entire point without a word. Thanks so much for all your work to craft this phenomenal video I'm sure I'll come back to many times, and continue to take so much from - not just about Inside, or even art in general, but about performance, technology, social media, and the danger of how they all intertwine in our personal lives. Cheers man
i can't believe how little views this has. this is top tier stuff and a wonderful analysis of the special.
everyone has been annoyed at the idea of meaningless "critiques" of inside that are basically just summaries with a score attached at the end like we're used to with most media analysis on youtube but honestly most of what i've seen tackling this special has been very thoughtful and very personalized. people walk away with different ideas and it's been interesting seeing the similarities and differences of what people have said about it along with comparisons of my own takeaways. maybe the algorithm has figured me out well enough to not even waste its time putting someone like Chris Stuckman (i'm sure he's a nice guy but my god are his "reviews" literally a waste of time and breathe) in my recommended.
i find as a 20 something surrounded by peers who were raised by the internet when i, myself, was not allowed nor had access to the internet growing up that i'm a little more resilient to the dangers of the internet while also feeling a bit isolated from my peers. that isolation one feels on the internet extends now to people not as inundated because the internet has its own culture. my boyfriend who is the same age as me will make references to popular things on the internet back when we were teenagers that i have no knowledge of because i wasn't there to experience it. even now, because of my resistance to the internet- i don't really watch twitch i don't have twitter (though i did download it for a time only to delete it when it overwhelmed me and i realized how its functions were designed so purposefully to negatively impact my mental health- its true goal being addiction) i definitely don't have tik tok- i sill notice that even only having youtube and instagram, i'm still very addicted to my phone.
i am on youtube and instagram for a lot longer than i should be and i can only look in horror at my more social media adept peers. or even my boyfriend who grew up on his computer and still spends a lot of time on his computer and browses things like youtube and reddit and has an extensive and long history with his steam account lol despite not really using his phone very much. (i didn't get my first laptop until halfway through college and didn't get steam until this year)
i feel like there is a class divide that can be observed through how the internet has impacted certain people. Bo and my boyfriend have that suburban take, where they had all the tools from a young age with little supervision and went off the rails with it where people like me who grew up poor slowly integrated the internet into their lives. for us, i think it's more likely to see a social media app addiction with things like facebook, instagram, tik tok, youtube, etc. where those who had at it all from the go really got sucked in. i used to feel a little envious of people like Bo and those early influencers for being able to strike gold and be creative for a living and now i see how taxing it all is and how i would feel pretty similarly to Bo and despise an audience and a spotlight. i suppose i feel lucky in that regard.
and that relationship just on youtube and twitch of creators who feel burdened to create is something i'm becoming more aware of as time goes on and can be incredibly uncomfortable to witness in real time. it's uncanny and creepy watching people i enjoy struggle through a video. i've been watching a lot of pokemon gaming videos over time as a nice thing to put on in the background and as time has gone on i've been watching in real time these people getting burnt out and putting out a video they didn't want to do and aren't proud of and it's difficult to watch.
i think long form video essayists are in the best position because in this small circle of creators, there is an understanding between the creator and the audience that the videos will be random and not on a timely schedule. of course, there are problems there's always an upside and a downside but that's where i see the least cynicism and burn out.
i've rambled on here but i appreciate Inside and Bo's ability to make me think about and make me discuss these ongoing thoughts and experiences that we're all living through right now. and i appreciate videos like these that give me new ways to look at these topics and a place to host my thoughts written
By far the best and most smooth video essay I have ever had the pleasure of watching!! Great job!
You know a video is good when it makes you have an existential crisis
This is one of the best videos I've watched on this platform. Thank you.
50:27 Jeez, you made me jump out of my seat. Great setup to a creepy segment.
This is an absolute banger of a piece, mate. Good job.
This was THE BEST analysis of Bo’s work. Awesome work.
This is the best video essay I've seen on Inside. You didn't really say what could Bo be meaning, or what ifs. you showed context, and the reality of all these situations with Bo and the real world. Incredible work, sir.
This is absolutely incredible, and will be cited in my PhD thesis. Thank you!
thesis about bo burnham sounds so awesome
Please post your thesis somewhere when you're done. I'd love to read it!
for ages i've wanted to do a video essay on his specials, but decided against it because i felt that i could honor the inspiration his creativity has granted me better by making original content rather than talking about his. BUT you have changed my mind about that. this is a transformative essay that brings true new insight into the way that i view this special. i've been a fan since his youtube days and yet you managed to open my eyes to certain things i hadn't considered. this is one of the best video essays on the site. well done
What's even worse than the situation of the internet Bo describes in his interviews, is that he is often dead serious but people just laugh about it as if it's a joke. (e.g. 57:17)
Him calling people on his phone "these stupid fucking people" is definetly a joke, I don't see what else you would mean
I wasn't going to watch this one at first because there have already been so many video essays on this, but this video is very good and unique. Great job! I hope you continue making video essays on comedy.
Incredible video, you met Bo where (at least to me) he was at, not acting like it was simpler or more complex than it was, and I loved all your background references, the blade runner scene was especially cool to me, as that scene and Inside are roommates in my head.
amazing video. probably the best video essay i've seen on bo burnham
As someone with extreme social anxiety, the final part of Make Happy was really moving AND difficult to watch, and hearing him talk about his stage persona afterwards - it struck a chord as I often felt I portrayed a different person in large groups of people at work than I was in real life with friends I was close to
I don't usually write comments about the things I watch, even if I enjoyed them. However it would be a crime not to comment on this masterpiece you created. I can just imagine how much time and energy it took you to create this but be assured that it was absolutely worth it. It's, by far, the best video-essay that I have ever seen. Thank you very much and do know that you did something amazing. You helped me understand why I was so amazed by INSIDE. I was sure that it was an astounding work of art and something absolutely extraordinary, but I could not explain why. And thankfully you explained it perfectly in this video.
I hope that a lot of people see this because it surely allows us as viewers to reflect more deeply and to see a lot of aspects of reality in a clearer way.
Btw, I had a lot of goosebumps watching this. You're an amazing editor, congratulations. Also I'm very glad to see so many other persons praising your work, because it totally deserves it.
Wa sgoing to write a comment, but when I read this, I realized it was going to be exactly the same! I add up to the feelings you had with Bo and this video. Great works of art! From Argentina, my greetings!
24:00 Such an insightful thing to do... I love Bo Burnham's mind and this video so far has indeed been edited very well as others have said, and it's a very meaningful dialogue for us all to think about.
Totally agree with you on that! Eighth Grade introduced me to his genius, and I've been down the rabbit hole ever since haha
This was excellent and very enjoyable to watch. It’s always great to reflect on his past work and see how it all joins together. Thank you!
Yeah this is it. This is the best video i've watched in a long time if not ever. I'm just speechless. I was speechless after watching "Inside" and now i'm even more speechless.
Lovely video. It’s obviously after the outtakes came out. But I feel like the light and blinds and airplane are the metaphor and I’d never thought of it until this vid. We see what Bo let’s us see. And the blinds are to control the amount of light he lets in. I love that analogy and it resonates deeply. Thanks!
Daaaaaaaaaaamn! You unfolded so so so so so much stuff to me! Such a deep and hardworking super analysis video! Well done ! Hope your are happy !
This was exceptionally well thought out and put together. I suspect humanity will be pulling apart Inside for years to come. It’s like OK Computer for Millenials.
That said, Bo’s quote about trying to contact Enya by attaching a letter to a salmon still has me in stitches…
In this moment I've come to understand the line "Now your inside's out," as multiple lines in a state of superposition. Bo is, in a sense, both talking to himself about his Inside and to his contemporaries about what, for all intensive purposes, is their respective Insides either created before or simultaneously in isolate circumstances devoid of influence from Bo while also, simultaneously, talking to specific members of his audience who, in the future, have walked away from experiencing Bo Burnham's Inside inspired to make their own Inside and saw such projects to completion before having to return to life again. At this moment Bo is likely secretly unsure if he's going to ever let himself finish to begin with. What if Bo immediately begins working on Inside 2 but, to him, he's never stopped working on Inside? Inside is his IN; his invitation; his interjection. How could anyone give up having such a thing for life? It's almost as though he has to advertise the phenomena as a malady in order to kill two birds with one stone by both laying the foundation for a sales pitch for his patented satirical salve as a cure for the phenomena while simultaneously convincing himself of the idea so giving up working on Inside for life is easier.
"Inside steel armor for life? Try my satirical salve!"
But who's to say Bo isn't working on Inside right now except for Bo himself? All he needs is a number 2.
At the risk of adding to the echo chamber of praise, this video is truly an achievement. 'Inside' has been analyzed to death with exactly the sort of low-effort "first reaction" energy that's criticized both here and in Burnham's work, yet you managed to navigate a path to an understanding that so many others barely skimmed the surface of. Unbelievably well done. Or, I should say yes, I'm fucking happy.
I usually avoid analysis of Inside because I enjoyed interpreting it on my own but I am glad I said 'screw it' and watched this, it's been almost a year since the release anyway. Great video!
I am close to the end of this video, just wanted to comment my appreciation for this.
I can't articulate anything I feel (kind of like Bo alluded to, it's hard to make a commentary on the internet, and I suppose i find it hard to comment on a commentary on a commentary of the internet)
other than saying the generic 'this is really well-edited and really enjoyable and clearly well-researched and you should have more subscribers'- which is still all true.
This is what I would class as compelling media, a compelling analysis, and more so- a convincing analysis. I almost felt myself nodding along to every point you made, fully immersed (even with the mentioned short attention span), as if all these complex and subtle points were just at the back of my mind but I couldn't put the thoughts into words. Everything about this spurs my interest to watch more of your videos.
Amazing video, all those clips were worth it- there was a sense of lineage around every topic you unearthed and it all tied together so well. Thank you for being a creative content creator, in my opinion your channel is that kind of thing Bo was talking about, in terms of the few 'good' (is that too simplified?) creators.
This was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for the immense amount of effort that went into it.
The depth... the amazing depth you dove for this video is truly inspiring. Love Bo and in turn now I love you after watching this. Very very well done my friend.
This is easily in the top 2 of all essays on Inside that have been made, and by far the top when it comes to polish and editing, so congrats for putting out such a great piece that obviously took labour and love and thank you for sharing it with us.
I wanted to add a piece of commentary on the last scene of Inside, which you interpret as 'genuine' - I think it is meant to look like it is, but isn't, a perfect depiction of exactly the nightmarish utopia Bo described with real life being a theatrical stage. Here he is shown looking at his own pain over-acted under a spotlight and projected literally for the world to see, and smiling. So in a way it's representing exactly what you say but in that dishonest way that ends up being more honest. And it also looks like all of us, re-reading a post or looking at a selfie right after we've hit send, and we see that it works and smile before the likes start flooding in. It's relatable and chilling at the same time.
what other essays do you recommend?
I agree with you- and I feel like it’s maybe a reference to Citizen Kane (namely the now meme’d to death scene of him clapping). Kane is in the opera house, watching the woman who he cheated on his previous wife with utterly fail at singing an aria. He’s paid for the opera house to be built, he’s commissioned this piece, and he’s forced this woman to take on the role of ‘high-class performer’ so that he can conjure up a the thin veneer of acceptability for his scandalous relationship in the public eye. And it’s failing. He knows it’s a terrible performance, a reflection of his own failure, but he stands up and claps despite that. We see Kane’s ego, embarrassment, hubris all collapse in on one another. He’s performing the expected reaction, those around him know he’s performing, and they perform along with him by clapping for longer than they would have otherwise. The way the lighting is, and the way the camera focuses on Kane, eliminating the rest of the audience behind him reminds me of how the scene in Inside is set up.
It also goes along with what you said- Kane is trying to will a constructed narrative of what he wants people to think of him (and what he wants to think of himself) into life, and he’s failing, just as we all do. Self-conscious and self-absorbed at the same time.
In general I think there are more than a few thematic/ideological/artistic parallels between Inside and Citizen Kane, but lord knows that I’m not articulate enough to express them.
@@lanaangelbreeze there is one that i think is just as good as this essay for different reasons called Bo Burnham vs. Jeff Bezos by CJ the X, it covers Inside as well as the hellish vortex of social media performance in a really insightful, engaging way :)
This documentary is its own piece of art.
This is a brilliantly insightful analysis of one of the greatest talents I’ve seen emerge in my lifetime.
I love the fact he’s a decade younger than me 😂
An incredibly insightful video. I really loved Inside, and this video made me appreciate it even more.
Loved that "whoa there" from the mighty boosh. (=
Excellent video, despite me watching it on youtube music, i now wish to toss away the internet but as you mentioned, I cannot
Josh, this was the best analysis of Inside I've seen yet. I wish I had half of your knowledge in analyzing media and understanding what Bo was saying with a particular part.
That one line at the end, summing up Bo's point: "It' what we reveal by the way we choose to present it", is so damn interesting an enlightening to me.
Also, of course, what an amazing video about a truly special... special. Wonderful work!
This was the only video I saw that made justice to Inside. And you actually went beyond. Hats off to you, bravo. Loved Inside, loved to think about it, loved your video, will love to think even more about it.
Another possible reading of the end of Inside might say that Bo is offering a bit of hope. "Yes, this has been an absolutely brutal ride, yes it's taken a lot of effort to get here..." But he also spends so much time in his other work thinking and wondering about the nature of art and whether art still exists that it doesn't seem like too much of a stretch to tack on "...but this is something that I made. This is something that I'm proud of."
I don't see it as him being consumed by the very thing he's fighting against, because we get enough of that with the other scenes that show him watching himself on the screen. I'd argue that there's a character arc that's taken place for this version of Bo, and it's one that allows him to find some contentment and pleasure in creation. Not creations in the past tense, but in the action of creation. The version of Inside that he's watching is one that hasn't been seen by anyone yet. It's just his. He's still in the creation process, so close to living in the present moment, offset by a single screen with a single, recently filmed video. And he's pleased. And that doesn't seem like a bad thing.
Thank you very much for making this video. It's such a worthwhile exploration of this show, and I enjoyed it a lot.
The only analysis on Inside that has any actual insight
1 hour worth of quality documentary content on my favourite comedian?
Bless this channel 🙏
Thanks for this wonderful Deep Dive. I watched the special a couple days ago and have really enjoyed soaking it in and your review is the perfect way to take another look at it. Thank you!
dude holy shit this video is so good.
your touch with music at certain spots really added to it. props!!!
27:40 about how you live life as an onlooker, of yourself. that really got me. ive lived with depresion for 16 years or so but never thought of it that way. and it was sadly to easy to comprehend
59:20 Such an excellent, important point here by Bo!! This is why I really love his mind! I refuse to put my whole life on the internet. I got sucked into doing it for a while in the early 2000s while I attended college, but then I just got sick of it. Sick of not getting the validation I craved from others, realizing it was all pointless, and the only real meaning is what you do in your real life and your real connections w/people in the present, so I barely post on any social media anymore and don't want to waste time on it. I was born in 1985 so yes I remember life before the internet consumed us all and I hate that small kids are being given access to this when they can't even comprehend what they're seeing and doing and will be targeted in bad ways. It's bad for kids, and their use of it and smart phones should be severely limited or banned until they're at least 16-18. People need to know how to do things in the real world still before there was the internet, yet our society is pushing us further and further into it. I resist it and am working to start my own homestead where I grow my own food in a rural setting b/c cities are poisoning us and making our society worse. We're not meant to live in cities or become transhuman w/all of our own personal data online hooked up into "the cloud" so that we're just easier to manipulate and control by evil elites.
So many people articulate their views of Bo's work slightly differently, especially Inside, that it just proves how amazing the special really is. I love watching people analyze it though as a full piece of art. Its easy to see how each song/part or skit means something, but to find the overall meaning as a whole is another thing. I love how you put his interviews in to show his thoughts as well, it takes it to a new level.
I can’t say how much I enjoyed and I want more people to see this
Wow. This video impacted me equally as much as the special itself. Truly a masterpiece of social commentary backed with undeniable proof. And yet even commenting I feel like I’m a victim of the same cycle you and Bo expose.
Bravo.
i was gonna watch a bit of this and slap it into my watch later playlist but goDDAMN did this man do his research. i was enthralled by the way you smoothly stitched together so many clips from various performances and interviews. super thought-provoking, beautifully made. bravo
This should be the first analysis recommendation when searching for Inside. I keep coming back to it even now because of how well it's done. Cheers for this.
btw this should be one of the first five in gems of youtube FUTURE ME
You've done it again my friend! Your content is consistently the best in the game. Thank you for all the education and inspiration to level up our own content!
In the part where you said "dissociating himself from himself," I felt that. That explains something I've been trying to explain as long as I've become obsessed with notifications, comments, and likes on social media. I constantly go through my story or my Instagram feed or my TikTok page and delete videos or pictures or statements that aren't "good enough" that I feel like more of a member of my own audience than anyone who follows me might be. I don't recognize myself sometimes.
I was actually holding my breath waiting for that "I think you should leave" clip lol
Bravo! I’ve been actively avoiding watching “reaction” videos to Inside for obvious reasons. Glad I broke my rule for this it helped me actualize the feelings and realizations Inside forced me to confront. I hope you’re happy.
34:25 kinda creapy how me keeps on referencing a "meta virtual reality world" being such a scary thing and years later, litrally and figurativly it has been created by one of the biggest social media ever, facebook... wait... no... sorry, "Meta". I truly love bo burnham and all the things that he has done and all the truth he has relealed about metal health and the internet and much more and through this video essay I can see that my love is clearly shared. I have watched many inside video essays, while procrasinating doing work, but this is BY FAR my favourite, mainly because it is greatly about the context of Bo's performances rather than just the performace itself. Great job, hope you have an amazing day!
Overall watched the whole thing-it is a masterpiece. Masterful editing. Masterful descriptions. Well done, Josh Kingsford! Bravo
insanely well made video. thanks
This video made Inside make so much more sense to me. I'm never good at analysing deeper things like this so I turn to videos that do that for me, and this one did such a good job. Keep up the good work dude!
This analysis was created and perfected as artfully as its subject matter. Bravo. You made something truly incredible and I hope you feel proud!