A Lesson from Head: video essay

This is a video essay about a series of revelations I experienced while and after watching The Monkees movie Head. All clips are used under fair use/criticism.
Head (Bob Rafelson, 1968)
Monkees Blow Their Minds (David Winters, 1968)
Archive photographs

[@patrickmcmanus5373]

Great movie.

[@benwoodiwiss]

Amen 🙌

[@obsoletebutneat]

"Do you mean to tell me you don't see the connection between government and laughing at people?"

[@benwoodiwiss]

🤣 I was 50/50 on whether to go with that line or the line I ended up going with

[@jasonblalock4429]

It's interesting you took away such a positive message. I find this to be a very tragic film, in its own way. To me, it's about The Monkees discovering that it's impossible to stop being The Monkees. They live in a world of pure unreality. It's not merely that life is an illusion, but *they* are illusion and therefore inseparable from it. Enlightenment/escape is impossible for the unreal.
Which is not to shut down your interpretation, of course. One of the fun things about Head is that I doubt any two people ever see it the same way. From what I understand, even the Monkees themselves disagreed over its actual meaning (if any).

[@benwoodiwiss]

I love this reading of it - can totally see this being the case 🔥

[@CollinGerberding]

I never saw the movie though I was a fan of the TV show. However, it was the first thing my mond went to from the title, so I cliked.
And now I'm subscribed. so that's fun.

[@benwoodiwiss]

This is a rollercoaster, I love it 🔥🙌

[@CollinGerberding]

@@benwoodiwiss generally, there are fewer typos, but I like to include a few so you feel like this comment is left by an authentic human...
(or I forgot to proofread again, so it goes)

[@Idontexist10]

you pick such interesting films for your video essays, i really loved the “Lonesome Cowboys” video, thank you, keep going

[@benwoodiwiss]

Oh wow, thank you so much, and really pleased you like them 🙌🔥

[@EnchantedEssays]

I adore this film! I must revisit it! Great video. Instantly subbed!

[@benwoodiwiss]

Thanks so much! 🙌 Everyone should revisit this film every now and then 🔥

[@espressosoup]

Man I hope this channel gets bigger! I'd share it, but I don't have any friends 😅

[@benwoodiwiss]

Oh dude, thank you so much - and I appreciate the sentiment 🙌

[@CollinGerberding]

7:00
I would like the hear the Magnolia story, please.

[@benwoodiwiss]

Okay, no promises - I'm already working on a different one at the moment 🙌

[@aubreywoodiwiss1152]

Would have been wild if Charles Manson got in

[@benwoodiwiss]

😆

[@branagain]

I liked the Monkees musical group and TV show, but the movie was a big disappointment.

[@benwoodiwiss]

But that makes sense when you think how they were trying to do something *so* different