What Is The Thing? | The Evolution of Science Fiction
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.ย. 2024
- If you’ve heard of HP Lovecraft then you might know about his novella, At the Mountains of Madness. It tells the story of a group of scientists on an expedition in Antarctica, where they discover the remnants of something ancient, and incomprehensible, something not of this earth.
HP Lovecrat’s story went on to inspire many works of science fiction, including John Campbell’s “Who Goes There?”, a science fiction horror story about an isolated group of scientists in Antarctica who discover a buried alien spaceship. “Who Goes there?” itself went on to inspire several adaptations, 1951’s The Thing From Another World directed by Christian Nyby and produced by Howard Hawks. 1982’s The Thing, directed by John Carpenter, this is without a doubt the most famous adaptation of this story, and the most famous version of the story in general.
Peter Watt’s story however has a take on the story that is different from all the others, It takes place entirely from the perspective of the lifeform itself. Throughout the story you view the world through its alien mind, you listen to its alien thoughts.
Stories and their interpretations are born out of the times we live in. The particular society or culture at any given time is going to affect how the same stories are presented. You can trace this story all the way back to Lovecraft and each time that it is presented a unique element is added. This is what we will explore in this video. What Does The Thing Represent? What is the thing? What is each version of this story trying to say and how are they different from each other? In this video we will explore how shifting societal fears such as paranoia, fear of the unknown, identity, and empathy shape the themes and interpretations of the story over time.
👽 Please consider supporting this channel on Patreon: / ideasoficeandfire
or PAYPAL - paypal.me/Quin...
🎨 Art: docs.google.co...
Thumbnail: www.artstation...
🎵 Music by Jamez Dahl:
• Strange Aeons || Dark ... / @jamezdahlmusic
📚 Get These Books! Affiliate link*
Blindsight by Peter Watts: amzn.to/3zkTFtG
Beyond the Rift (The Things) by Peter Watts amzn.to/4dcaSTY
At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft amzn.to/4e7oilI
Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell amzn.to/3B1yflM
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman amzn.to/4goIj8J
Barry Glassner “The Culture of Fear” amzn.to/3ZoLMOw
The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 amzn.to/3B2ZKf1
Worst Journey in the World Paperback by Apsley Cherry-Garrard amzn.to/3zlB2FY
Strangers in the Land: Patterns of American Nativism, 1860-1925 by John Higham(aka Higman lol) amzn.to/3ZmXEkd
H.P. :Lovecraft Beyond Arkham by Leslie S. Klinger amzn.to/4elCgQv
Quinn's Discord: / discord
FOLLOW QUINN ON TWITTER: Twitter: / ideasofice_fire
I NOW HAVE A SUBREDDIT: / ideasoficeandfire
Quinn's New Graphic Novel: www.quinnhowar...
Buy Quinn's Comic Books: www.quinnhowar...
Quinn's Website: www.quinnhowar...
Like me on Facebook!: / ioiaf
🎥 Mentioned Videos:
At the Mountains of Madness Podcast: • Ancient Astronauts and...
Mountains of Mandess Video: • HP Lovecraft: The Ulti...
🎬 Other Playlist
Three-Body Playlist: • Three Body Problem
H.P. Lovecraft Playlist: • LOVECRAFT
Hyperion Playlist: • Hyperion
Dune Playlist: • Dune Lore Explained
Foundation Playlist: • Isaac Asimov
Feel free to leave a comment like and subscribe! Thanks For Watching!
![PURPEECH - นี่ฉันเองคนที่... (It's me) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NuhHd0hOOg8/mqdefault.jpg)
"The creature... Doesn't see itself as malevolent, in its eyes it was on a noble mission. Almost a religious pilgrimage throughout the universe, In its eyes it was helping!"
Fascinating *Reloads flame thrower*
Cool beans … now get away from her you bish!
Crazy how you just did the same thing as the creature
I feel the same every time an ideologue starts preaching.
@@victorpedrosoceolin3919 I'll never apologize for being a human exceptionalist.
@@victorpedrosoceolin3919yes someone who purposely used a flamethrower does not view themselves as malevolent. It’s hard to say what the creatures stance of self-preservation is since I haven’t read the book or know the creature well beyond saying it values its existence however it defines that, but by all human standards protecting oneself from an entity that distinctly and wholly wishes to end your individual existence is wholly acceptable. Just because the creature has a unique perspective that causes you to question doesn’t mean it’s acceptable.
respect to Quinn for flying to antarctica to make this video
Nah, he just came up to Hyder.
@Quinn - Lovecraft wasnt xenophobic. +
Oh and please dont notice its just the same room with blue light and false snow XD
Never knew The Thing was originally inspired by a Lovecraft story, but it absolutely makes sense!
I don't really think it was.
The similarities are quite superficial, and the stories are very different in their focus.
@@alanpennie8013 Agreed. I've seen both the 1950s version, where the "Thing" was said to be of vegetable origin, and the Carpenter version where I originally thought it was inspired by another great 1950s sci-fi flick "The Blob".
@alanpennie8013 I think it's a trickle down effect. If you watch the entire video and follow the books backwards in time towards the original (Lovecraftian) source, you see the roots. The paranoia, the indescribable monster/evil, the setting, etc.
I don't think The Shoggoth is in any way the focus of ATMOM.
It's just a creepy thing the explorers encounter.
The narrator of ATMOM develops a surprising empathy towards The Elder Things, considering that they killed a number of members of the expedition.
They had very similar artistic and scientific motivations to humans, which makes them feel akin despite their decidedly weird physiology.
Love how you trace the basic ideas through their successive iterations. It makes one appreciate both literature and history more fully.
Agree, it is an extremely well read analysis and not often an angle I see on TH-cam. Best video yet imo.
Yesss!
The other guy in the story about Robert Scott's expedition is Amundsen, who was experienced and planned his expedition very well. Scott rushing to beat Amundsen took many unnecessary risks and cut corners. And he knew well that Antarctica is inhospitable and dangerous place. Well, play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Yeah, Ahmundsen lived with Inuit people for some time and adopted their clothing, use of dogs as both a means to pull sleds and as a food source (yes, he slaughtered and ate some of his dogs.) He also planned well and the result was success. Just goes to show, every hour spent planning and preparing pays off. I pity the Scott party, but they just weren't prepared.
Huh, I thought he only got hasty after he heard that Amundsen abandoned his try at the North Pole and had started sailing south. It's been a while since I read up on this, however.
In the blood test scene of the 1982 movie, there's a split-second shot where the character about to be outed as a thing has an extremely human look of resignation on it's face; as a biology major I've always been very fascinated by this movie, but noticing this moment was the one time it actually managed to scare me.
It’s Palmer too, the implied burnout stoner dude who was talking about “Chariots of the Gods” earlier. Was the irony of that earlier statement and/or his meat-suit’s general demeanor a factor in Windows-Thing’s reaction? Does it go that deep with the change of biological regalia or is the creature in total autonomy? If Norris’s heart condition carried over, do other psychological aspects carry over?
The fact that no one really tries to just communicate amicably with the creatures means we’ll never know and is a part of the mystery aspect, & a big reason this film still captivates today. In my lifetime it’s pretty much broken out of cult status into certified classic.
Sorry to be that guy but I think you mixed up Windows(radio operator with the big hair and sunglasses) with Palmer(pot smoking denim vest wearing mechanic).
"This is bull$#% Mac. They're DEAD Mac!"
-The Thing (in disguise as Palmer)
Pretty cool
@@ASSLEVANIAI don’t think I can find a reason to be diplomatic with such an entity. As a human I have no use for it, and therefore it becomes charcoal.
The fact that in The Thing's eyes that he was helping makes him even more dangerous and horrific.
Love how it refers to assimilation as communion
This is actually canon to the Carpenter version if you can believe it. In the comics and novels that extended the story, we get some parts of the Thing's point of view, and the thing's weirdly smart.
@@wayfarerzen3393 Not a surprise, it was putting together a ship in the movie
and there’s no shortage of analogues to this in our known human history. Many of our darkest chapters were brought about by people believing they were doing the right thing, serving the greater good, helping or saving the less civilized and enlightened….etc
New story the thing meets the qu from all tomorrow's
I argue also that 'The Things' show how an overwhelming personality can't understand how others don't want to be part of it.
The Thing's "communion" is just everyone's else all consuming wave.
I feel this is pointed out by how it looks at our focus the "ever searching spot light" as a scary element to it.
Would also like to add that in that story the Thing has its own version of panic & division in itself just like ourselves. When it's in crisis it has a very difficult time holding itself together, & no control over its off shots that have panicked & separated.
"The Things" also most certainly takes the cake for most bone-chilling final line in any short story I've read in quite a while.
And the most tragic one.
But paradoxically - the most uplifting too.
I came here just to post this 😛
I like how in "the things" it refers to the assimilation process as "communion"
The fact the thing learned the concept of that particular word not long ago, the connotations behind, and agreed that that was the new definition it would then use to describe assimilating. Absolutely sickening. Praise to the author for making me want to throw up that much.
Agreed. It feels like a controversial "mis-use" of a very emotive word, but honestly I can't think of a word that better describes what the Thing ultimately does.
"The Thing" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" are sorta in the minority of alien invasion stories, in one respect: The humans have no chance to win, and defeat the invader. The invader gets here, before the humans are really aware of it, and once that happens, it's essentially game over. They are both "don't even bother resisting" type stories.
Thats the essence of Lovecraftian horror. There is no escape, just desperate hope that it wont reach you.
A.k.a. the most realistic scenario. In reality if we ever come across a more advanced civilization than ours, we better hope beyond hope that their intentions are not hostile, because frankly we are to them as bugs are to us. That's just if they are on the type 2 scale, if they are type 3 or higher, we would be more like bacteria to them. Their technology would look more like magic than actual technology that we know of. Objects that look like sculptures made of glass or stone but can do things like generate force fields or open portals to other places, dimensions, or even other realities. Technology built on the atomic or subatomic level that we could never understand at our level.
It is a bit anticlimactic in that by the time you find out it's too late. No typical Hollywood pitched battle type stuff. They are a disease of sorts. By the time you figure things out, you are probably screwed.
Sounds like the mass migration Jews push on America.
Space herpes
I've never clicked one of your videos faster. I can't get enough of this story.
The creature seeing itself as helpful-especially on religious pilgrimage-gives it an interesting colonization subtext.
Thanks man. I've been waiting for your newest upload for ages.
Praying for the next part of The Mystery of The Architects & The Horror of Un-Space
🙏
Yeah, personally I am more interested in that than this, only because I have watched the Carpenter version so, so many times with my father. Only timeI have even heard of the Unspace is that one video here... And I need moar
"HP Lovecraft was a disturbed and strange man."
-Quinn 2024
No lie detected.
HP Lovecraft himself would probably agree.
the dangers of human curiosity being a theme in lovecraftian horror is an absolutely amazing plot device and one of my favorites, reminds me of this quote from Bloodborne where the church discovers old one blood and immediately starts using it to heal people(which spoiler alert, is obviously a bad idea)and this like intellectual leader who's very educated and is all about learning and planning things through before taking action, says something like "we are born by the blood, made men by the blood, undone by the blood, fear the old blood, our eyes are yet to open"
Which is why i never got why people want aliens to reach out. its to dangerous, call it fear of the unknown or xenophobia but that type of thinking just might help us.
@@jmgonzales7701I saw your same reply in the other comment section but I still agree because what if they have the same mindest with us
Hail kos, or some say Kosm
If I recall correctly, Who Goes There is set in the Arctic, not Antarctica. So is The Thing from Another World.
Trivia: The 1951 movie was originally titled The Thing, but the "from Another World" was added because there was a new dance craze in 1951 called The Thing and the studio didn't want there to be any audience confusion or copyright issues.
Peter Watts' short story may well be the single best piece of fanfiction ever.
@@benthomason3307
I'm not sure Campbell's alien (faithfully adapted by the 1982 movie) makes sense, so I'm down for a little revisionism.
John C. Wright’s “Awake In The Night Land”(based on William Hope Hodgeson’s amazing & flawed ‘Night Land’ novella) takes that cake for me. But they’re both up there for me.
The Thing is kind of a bastard. No means no, D-bag. I don't care about your alien colonialism, you can't just force yourself and beliefs on others. Maybe i'm naïve but it's a pretty black and white scenario.
It's fascinating to see the story from the aliens perspective but just because it's explaining why it needs to force itself on me and "make me better" doesn't make me sympathize with it at all. Screw The Thing, it needs to learn some civility itself.
@@ASSLEVANIA "Awake in the Night Land" and "The Things" are BOTH BRILLIANT!!
I really wish that Greg Bears "City at the End of Time" which is Night Land inspired, would have been better.
One thing I really enjoyed about reading "Things" was that, through the perspective of the alien, it's existence might not be incompatible due to its physiological or psychological differences, but its similarities to humanity on matters of expedition and colonization. Whether this was due to an already missionary-like ideology of the alien before the crash landing on earth, or slowly mutated into something else as a direct result of "communion" with humans and life on earth, by the end of the story it's clear the Thing is merely an infinitely more capable lifeform of carrying out intentions nearly identical to human beings. Its choice words in describing how it will achieve this goal at the very end are particularly chilling and resonant.
What's equally chilling is that, from the perspective of "Things," both parties are clearly capable of communication and completely forego any attempt at true "communion." The Thing has absorbed multiple humans at a certain point in the story, and even comes to some kind of understanding on how they differ in function from itself. Despite being fully capable of perfectly mimicking human behavior, including speech, it makes no effort to communicate through human methods which it justifies by the threat of violence it has suffered (attempting to "commune" only through its own methods.) Meanwhile, from the perspective of Carpenter's film, the grotesque first appearance of the alien and the threat of it spreading uncontrollably across all life completely overrides any attempt to communicate neutrally with the alien, despite the fact they're all aware of an imposter amongst them that is capable of speech. Both parties came to understand one another through wildly different methods, but neither was really seeking any resolution but the subjugation/destruction of the other. For me, this was the neat bow that tied together the idea of incompatibility by near identical intentions. The differences describe the already obvious fact that The Thing is more capable than humanity in that department, and will always win out in a contest hinged on said intent.
Whereas "Who Goes There" is a triumphant framing of humanity as the more capable, "The Thing" and "Things" are the more honest assessments. While the former states there is something inherent to humanity that could overcome such a threat, the latter two convey a fearful speculation that a drastic and radically new approach for humanity would have to emerge if we were to overcome identical intentions from something infinitely more capable of them. A lesson ironically packaged in a story about humans being assimilated into a new alien lifeform. Love it!
Great video, looking forward to the next one!
I have nothing to add, just wanted to say how well thought out this comment is. Good stuff
Leaves me wondering how these stories (“The Thing” and “The Things”) would have been received had they been published when colonialism was at its height.
@FreemanicParacusia
Given Quinn's theme about each story being a product of the times they were written, it's hard to speculate what the story would resemble in that era, let alone how it would be received if it retained its structure.
It did remind me that every single party in the story was treating the other as some kind of acquisition. The Norwegians dug it out of the ice, took pictures of themselves in front of it, likely dissected it and its ship. Even the American team, after several violent incidents and the encounter in the kennel intended to preserve the remains, claiming it was "going to win someone the Nobel Prize" and "the find of the century." Even the Thing is too preoccupied with its desire for assimilation. Neither sees the other as an intelligent life form worthy of equal consideration, just a "thing," fittingly enough.
@@WiggidyWack Wonder how the scene with MacReady’s test would have gone down if MacReady (while still brandishing the flamethrower) had taken the approach of, “We’re gonna find out who’s the Thing… but let me make this perfectly clear - when we expose you, we WILL NOT harm you, unless you attempt to shapeshift again or to harm anyone else in this room. You’re capable of copying us, you’re capable of controlling us. On some level, you HAVE to be capable of understanding us. Let’s talk.”
I had this great compilation from the Sci-Fi Bookclub of short stories and novellas that inspired movies. It included this, Buck Rogers, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and a bunch of others.
Wow. The feeling of getting to sit down and relax at the end of the day and then see that Quinn released a 50 min treat. Thanks Quinn! :)
Welcome back, Quinn! Missed you man!
Quinn! Your analyses are not only well-researched and spot-on, but you also integrate disparate and not-well-known works. Lovely video essay!
Blindsight is glorious. I remember reading it posted on the author's website.
Thank you! I find listening to your narratives at the end of my day very enjoyable. I appreciate how you skillfully frame and analyse different works and their concepts. Your voice is calming as you offer top level content. Brilliant!
Quinn, I've been subbed for years and I've got to say I think this is one of your best videos!
Not just the subject material but the presentation and the visuals are on point!
I would love to see more long form, detailed sci-fi breakdowns like this!
Keep up the great work sir!
I notice that despite your winter wear and frost, I don't see any fogged breath. Thing confirmed.
I love listening to these videos. My work is welding in ethanol and waste treatment plants and the creepy and lovecraftian ideas are perfect with the backdrop of endless piping and forgotten systems deep in concrete pits
Cosmic horror always lays the foundation for the 'most' extreme varieties of terror. It's expansive and lingers at the edge of understanding. At the same time there's this parallel disregard for lesser sentients that makes it even more horrific. People like to think they matter and will layer personal achievements with various societal constructs for status. All of it meaningless when something incomprehensible swims up and takes a bite. I find Cosmic Horror to be most relatable with people who understand security and paranoia 'should' walk hand in hand. It's hard wired into our survival and stands as a warning 'ignore at your peril.' Like a Saturday at the theater and people shouting at the screen "Don't go in there!" And aren't they always correct to think so? It's fundamental...this never ending search for threats that makes horror so successful.
When I was a child the 51 versions of The Thing & The Day The Earth Stood Still were absolutely my favorite movies.
Quinn, I just wanted to say thank you and make known my appreciation for you and the gift you give us all in this channel. I go through periods when I read a lot, as well as when I hardly read at all, but your channel is always pushing my interests farther into territories I never expected to find myself, and I couldn’t be happier about it! I could probably ascribe most of my knowledge and interest of horror and sci-fi solely to Quinn’s Ideas. So, hell yeah, brother, you’re a diamond in the YT rough.
I could actually listen to you narrate anything and feel comfortable 😭 you just have this quality that reminds me so much of my grandfather teaching me about things as a kid. Thank you for that 🎉
I’m a HUGE horror and sci-fi fan, and you’ve actually introduced me to works that I wasn’t even aware of. I’m heading off on a 2 week off-road motorcycle adventure and all the audiobooks I’ll be listening to are things you’ve suggested, mainly because I’ve always been interested in the same topics but not been aware of all the works. Appreciate you man.
One of the best channels out there, and in my opinion the best Sci-Fi channel on youtube! That intro is never going to not make me ready for a new universe to dive into. Never stop Quinn!
*Spelling
Related, The Things is very good.
Thank you for the new upload, I have almost exhausted your upload library! Love your videos
Another great breakdown. I love the attempt to draw multiple version of the same story into a developing narrative that reflect contemporary thought of which they were written. REALLYYYY hope Del Toro can make his version of "At the Mountain of Madness" before he retires. The Thing is my top 3 horror films period. Use to joke about Macready's hat growing bigger in the film.
Quinn, I've always thought that The Thing was the way to explain the actions of the Engineers in the Alien franchise. They seed the universe with their DNA in an eons-long plan to propagate throughout space, bc there are only a few Juggernauts due to the curvature drive limitations from 3-Body. Unfortunately, they run into The Thing and realize that they need to wipe out their seeded worlds, creating a Dark Domain, lest their progeny eventually develop FTL travel and allow The Thing to spread. They deploy the xenomorphs their seeded worlds. Xenomorphs aren't capable of developing FTL travel nor can they be assimilated due to their acidic blood. How do the Predators fit in? I haven't worked that out quite yet.
Love your videos!
nothing captures Lovecraftian horror in cinema like 1982 the thing. Masterful. Great video, you've done your research.
The script treatment for the never-greenlit Del Toro version of Mountains of Madness is really interesting, as it stylistically/thematically reconnects that story to the 80s version of The Thing, in a kind of cosmic horror ‘full circle.’ It would be an excellent ‘changeling’ horror flick with a few action scenes in the snow. The script is available online, check it out!
I note that an SCP Foundation story could be about an entity that inspire authors to write new versions of the same basic story to keep the story in the the human psyche.
Incredible timing! I just rewatched The Thing (1982) and it reminded me of your video on Blindsight. The grand mystery about how the thing may be Intelligent but not conscious made me think of the scramblers, which made me rewatch your video. And lo and behold, here you are drawing a direct line to Peter Watts. I didn’t know he wrote a short on The Thing.
Incredible content as always, Quinn!
There’s a fan fiction where the story takes place from the perspective of the monster and we find out its motives.
TLDR: The monster is an alien ambassador attempting to communicate with the sentient life of earth. The thing throughout the story explains how all life forms from its species and it absorbing others is it attempting to communicate via “soul” bonding.
To its own confusion the sentient life on earth never attempt to communicate the “natural way” all sentient life does so it attempts to communicate. It describes it as an extremely pleasurable experience as two beings truly bond together in complete harmony.
It’s aggressive action throughout the movie it describes as unconscious self defense while still trying to attempt communication.
Near the end of the story it finally turns inward and begins looking through its newly collected “data” and discovers that the sentient life on Earth isn’t ignoring it. The life on earth is deformed, lacking anything resembling a soul and lacking the ability to communicate.
It begins searching the biological system of earth life and discovers a “tumor”. It begins to become sick at the notion that its has been assimilating a disease.
It later becomes evident to the thing that this tumor(brain) controls these creatures and has developed a (multi personality disorder)personality all of its own.
It then realizes the horrid truth that it has been “killing” these creatures. It then realizes that life on this planet is sick and twisted, like a deformed child born only to die alone and cold, never knowing anything other than itself forced to remain silent for all eternity.
It decides near the end of the movie that it will consume all life on earth to save its life as a hive mind.
It full understands that people see it as a monster and that they are completely unaware of what is wrong with themselves.
“To save them, I will have to rape them into salvation.”
It is incredible to me that a movie that came out 4 decades ago is still being discussed with such fervor. I for one love this movie. It's in my top 5.
So glad for a new upload! Was clamouring for one for awhile! Keep up the great work!
Curious thing was how Lovecraft's depiction of the Elder Things changes as the characters learn about the shoggoths. They become the real horror, and the Elder Things are seen as sympathetic by contrast.
Ok. this channel is utterly amazing
Another great video essay. I got hooked on your channel back when GoT was on TV and always appreciated your content Quinn. Keep 'em coming.
“At the Mountains of Madness” is one of my favorite stories. Something about ancient, lost civilizations buried in the Antarctic fascinates me.
I had NO idea that Peter Watts wrote a story about The Thing. I just read it and it is superb. Love this channel for all the amazing stories it has introduced me to.
Speaking of Watts, I’d love a video on The Freeze Frame Revolution and its associated books/stories. Another amazing concept from one of the best sci-fi writers around today.
Dude, you rule. This is so good.
Peter Watts is an unsung genius! Thanks for posting this!
likely a communist.
if not an actual russian/ chinese societal espionage agent
Great video! I loved the comparisons between these adaptations and how they contrasted against world history/ideas at the time
why haven't this channel already a million sub?
This is one of the fiction analysis channel on TH-cam
An excellent analysis with excellent production! Were lucky to have you
I think there are two types of readers: those who grasp the overall story and theme and understand the work for its concept, and those who focus on the style, dialogue, diction and sometimes can’t delve into a story because of those elements being off in some way. I think you are the former and I’m definitely the latter. I bought blindsight, I really wanted like it, and I was so unimpressed and turned off lmao I felt like there was something wrong with me. He’s just not my style. But I still want to try Echoplaxia (sp?). My favorite Lovecraft story is the nameless city. It’s just some dude in a cave but it’s awesome
On the topic of if a Thing duplicate knows it's a Thing, this came up in the original novel. When they figure out a test to determine if someone is a Thing (kind of like McReady in the movie), they line everyone up to test them, and in the end manage to discover and kill several Thing-duplicates. The crazy part afterwards that gets them talking is that this whole process was done one by one, meaning each time a Thing was discovered, all the other Things in the room just watched and let it get killed, and then marched right up to take their turn too, as if they had nothing to worry about. So yes, in the book the characters were speculating that the impersonation was so absolutely perfect that even the Thing itself didn't know it was a copy until it was actually threatened or forced out.
I'm surprised that Quinn didn't mention "Frozen Hell", which was the original version John Campbell's "Who goes there?" It adds 45 pages to the Novella which adds a bit more to the story. Still this was a excellent deep dive into the lore and backstory and history that the Novella and movie was based on. Well done Quinn. As always your introspection was spot on.
Quinn's talents continue to expand, this video was incredible.
So great when you're back! Wish you could post more often
Thanks for making this video Quinn, always love swinging by for your content. Keep up the great work!
Love this man's content and his knowledge. His understanding and description of stories are top shelf. 💯
You did a fantastic job of objectively describing the early 20th century Authoritarian movements without implying your favor for either one.
Most people can't do that.
Thanks for this!! I’ve been waiting for this episode ❤
I also believe, an influential aspect of John Carpenter's movie was the blood test. With the 80's introducing AIDS or someone being HIV+, it dealt with the paranoia of a person being abnormal compared to the rest of society...
Hell yes, new Quinn, and on one of my favorites! Also, the Algorhythm notices you!
Man that rundown of the true story of the Scott expedition is just brutal. And to think after going all those hundred of miles the last survivors died just 11 miles from help 😢
Don't forget H.P. Lovecraft's mom and dad were both crazy. Lovecraft was basically raised by his grandfather.
A lot of kids today, who were raised by their grandparents rather than their parents due to their parent's instability can understand Lovecraft's artistic expression of helplessness and horror.
Perfect way to explain the back story. Amazing!
This is a great video essay! I didn't know about the short story. Quinn, you're doing a great job digging into SF and giving me more material read and ideas on the novel I'm working on. Thanks again!
I LOVE the narration. And the analysis of course but the narration just nails it with the music and editing… so well done.
I will never understand the hate and disrespect shown for the 2011 The Thing. I thought it was a superb film, not quite as good as the original, but definitely effective, extremely underrated, and a very worthy prequel.
I absolutely love The Thing as some sort apex evolution of life. Also love the alien life form from Slither. It's a silly movie, but the concept behind the creature is so grimdark, conquered countless of planets and convert everything into one giant planet of meat.
That film could pretty much be a spiritual successor to “Night of the Creeps” from 1986. Very similar creatures, except Slither takes the effects and hive-mind aspect a bit farther. Night of the Creeps is such a wonderful love letter to alien films from the 50’s in a glorious 80’s package. Check it out if you have any interest.
I wish I could give more than one "like". This video is fascinating and also revealing. Well documented, well scripted and perfectly performed.
except for the nonsense political views, fawning over socialism and calling fascism "right wing" (National SOCIALISM, understand?)....other than that junk, it's a good video!
Wonderful, thoughtful, and thought-provoking video, Quinn. Thank you for all of your research and effort!
This was possibly your best edited and documented video so far. Keep up the good work!
My friend, l think this is one of your deepest and most brilliant videos yet. Truly outstanding!
I don't really get the bad rep The Thing from 2011 got back then. I thought it was properly scary.
What a treat to listen to this while I play World of Warcraft
Like others have mentioned, this is one of your best videos yet. Very well done.
Quinn needs a raise.
This take really blew my mind. I'd always wondered why such an obviously sentient intelligent being would go on what seems like a mindless killing spree, if only to survive. My first thought would have been that it reacted to being attacked by people
I'd argue that Lovecraft's greatest fear was not the unknown ...but actually knowing the unknown and not being able to handle it.
I know you've read Adrian Tchaikovsky, but his book "Children on Ruin" has an intelligent micro-organism that destroys other life in order to study and assimilate it. Similarly, I'd highly recommend watching the low budget Canadian movie "Black Mountain Side". It is essentially the same setting, but with a very different take!
It really is a great shame that the “At the Mountains of Madness” movie by Del Toro keeps getting shelved. There was a preview for an Anime take on it, forget what that was called though.
I've watched your videos for many years and I'm so happy it took off as much as it did. Your videos and knowledge are always fun to watch and learn.
One hell of a dialog Quinn!!! Always a mental treat to listen and ponder!! Take Care Out Here!!!!
H P Lovecraft influence in much what we see and read today goes so much deeper then we think and honestly The Thing is a testament to that. Given how the social environment changes every day each story is a product of the situation then and will continue like that in the future, and also judging them for the underlying message.
One of your best. Great work.
That was one hell of an interesting video man!!! Awesome crash course on some history in here, in a way that isn’t boring like history class!
The 1950 movie has my favorite quote. They just used fire to try and get the ship out and accidently blew it up. They hadn't been able to get through to their military command for orders. Later the command eventually comes through. They say to use fire. The reporter says 'that's what I love about the military. Always predictable', before telling the lead that he was off the hook for blowing up the ship 😂
What a fantastic exploration of an excellent set of related stories! It's been a while since I've seen a video of this caliber on TH-cam.
I read The Things in college, and while it draws conclusions that differ from the common interpretation of the ambiguity of The Thing, I think it's the *best* take, and makes an already incredible movie so much better still.
The Thing(1982)is one of my favorite movies. That was amazing! Thank for your work!Always amazing videos!
A very well thought out deep dive. Thank you, sir!
An audio version of “At the Mountains of Madness” that I enjoyed is by The Exploring Series channel on YT.
I love how the thing is. Just incomprehensibly familiar. It is your neighbor Aunt not your neighbor at the same time
Awesome video!! Love this kind of stuff, thanks for making it Quinn!!
Missed your videos in the last couple months ❤️
Keep up the good work man
Lots of love from Iran
It's awesome that you tackled a more horror themed SF story this time. Love it. Props on the theming of the video too. You're on fire buddy
The new Thing prequel is the reason I saw the John Carpenter one, it''s value is pointing people to the better movie.
I always love your videos, Quinn. Thanks for all your work!