I always thought of myself as a shy introvert, until I did a college semester abroad (Madagascar, Africa). Then...not sure if it was the excitement of new surroundings, different culture, the need to learn and practice new languages (French and Malagasy), but I morphed into a extroverted, outgoing, life of the party social butterfly!! I loved being in a completely new world where there was no expectations of me and it opened me up. But I was still shocked at how my personality just felt different overseas. When i returned to the US, I tried holding on to some of that "extroverted-ness" but I kinda went back to being introverted again. Environment does have an impact on us.
We take different roles in differnet contexts. When the folks in my LARPING group first heard from my SO that I tend to be quiet and listen more than talk, those folks who knew me for years burst out laughing. They had never experienced me that way. But my life partner for two years had....
The girls they got on there are just not it, Jared left because of the direction it was going I believe, and not just dogging on the girls, there are plenty of awesome female youtubers just not the ones at wisecrack
I always watch these philosophical videos twice in a row to understand them. On the first watch, I start to understand the framing of the idea, and during the second watch, I fill in the gaps in my understanding.
Man, am I glad you are on youtube, I get genuinely excited when a video of yours pops up in the recommendation feed, reminds me the old days of youtube.
I think people could also dislike these movies because not everyone is in the profile curating game and there is no wish to be part of it. I never had Facebook or pictures of myself posted online and I only engaged online from anonymous accounts. I am not sure how much autism might have played into this. Refusing to play the game may be seen in the eyes of a profile curator as actually taking a side in this game, so this social technology becomes harmful because it is poisoning the well in social interactions as it puts into question your intentions. Everything has a hint of the "non-cool group" once you refuse to engage in the curation yourself. It may be right that there is no "true self" deep inside, but the cure for this harmful force remains the cliche adage "Just be yourself."
Ironically the most rebellious and revolutionary thing that anyone can do is just to be yourself, "normal" instead of being against any social tendency, construction or rules, trying to be unique or eternally molding yourself to be against of any tendency.
That's good advice as long as it also accepts that "normal" is subjective. Some people's normal is weird for most. Deliberately trying to be weird sounds exhausting and annoying, but people being odd without too much artifice, in a way that brings them happiness, makes the world a better place, in my estimation.
I think that some people are just naturally oppositional, and we need some of those people around for society to flourish. "Dial it down a bit" might still be good advice, but it would be sad to lose that entirely.
Yeah, Shrek was about how Shrek and Fiona decided to be normal and fit into society’s standards. Shrek notoriously lives in a 2 bedroom hovel in Duloc.
Being authentic and being normal are not the same thing. Normal is litteraly conformity, if your authentic self is comfortable with these norms good on you, but recognizing other people's right to authenticity whether it falls into norms or not, is the true revolutionary/rebelious spirit. Prioritizing normality over authenticity is not revolutionary or rebellious at all.
I'm just wondering if this shift to a new social structure is so distasteful to me because there's something wrong with it or am I just getting old? lol. Anyways fantastic video, thanks!
I prefer the metaphor of the rose over the onion or the peach, where the identity is formed out of the combination of progressively revealed layers overlapping (and obscuring) each other.
I always thought of myself as a shy introvert, until I did a college semester abroad (Madagascar, Africa). Then...not sure if it was the excitement of new surroundings, different culture, the need to learn and practice new languages (French and Malagasy), but I morphed into a extroverted, outgoing, life of the party social butterfly!! I loved being in a completely new world where there was no expectations of me and it opened me up. But I was still shocked at how my personality just felt different overseas. When i returned to the US, I tried holding on to some of that "extroverted-ness" but I kinda went back to being introverted again. Environment does have an impact on us.
Very interesting framing. The way I had heard this social shift was from the point of view of “Idols” rather than identity, but I think both frames converge quite nicely. To summarize the idols frame: Idols from the first era were role models (all emphasis on duty), Idols from the second era were rebels (all emphasis on authenticity), and idols from the current era are activists (all emphasis in fighting for the cause). I do think though, that realistically there’s way more than 3 eras and the eras overlap, but I do see how it is easier to start the discussion this way. Great video!
I have now watched this video. I found it interesting but some things you say don't sit well with me. Your arguments are well-constructed so it will be an enjoyable challenge to interrogate your points and get to the bottom of why I disagree. I'll really get a chance to progress my understanding of myself. Thanks.
This brought to mind the story of Diogenes, who very much was an authentic person in the context in which he lived...until it became clear that it was indeed his ROLE to be that person. The story of him encountering Alexander the Great embodies this.
Social curation has been with us way before social media, the concept of honor, reputation, and saving face were alway very strong social forces in opposition to the authentic individual, there was and there's still blood spilled to protect curated group and individual self-images, and you can see that intense pressure still existing in its old-school form in non-western/traditional/communal societies as well as all the damage it causes.
I'll save you the 17 minutes. Ot all comes down to money. They want everyone's money and they don't want to miss out on getting your money, either. Whatever platitudes or representation they push forward, keep in mind that it isn't altruistic. Its self serving and always about more money.
17 minutes exploring how humans have historically and now contemporarily construct their identity, and the effect this has had on cinema throughout the years, is hardly summed up by saying "it all comes down to money."
Great video, thanks Jared and Professor Moeller. I wonder what this theory would look like when analysing movies such as Star Wards, Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, where we clearly see Campbell's hero's journey. Also interested both of you if you have delved into Gilles Deleuze concept of the "dividual" which eerily matches at least one way in which recommendation system define us and shape or try to shape our behavior, separating individuals into various aspects that can get stuff sold to and are triggered by different situations. Thanks again, this kind of content is required if we want people to reflect critically
Ya, I fully blame social media for this trend. Make something look attractive and then pander to the lowest denominator in hopes that you do not disappoint
Another example of Profilicity is in customer segmentation or "personas" in the corporate world. Businesses are too large to know their customer personally, so they need shorthand buckets to know how to relate to people on the other end of the phone or screen. Pine and Gilmore attempt to explain and improve on this in their books Experience Economy and Mass Customization. Cheers!
Wouldn't this theory also work when applying it to those making media. Rather than caring about the story they care about how they are perceived by creating the media, which is the argument that the "media is tainted by ideological hacks".
Never looked at it this way.... still falls into the same problem, movies that care about the message more then be a good movie. Yet another factor of the world I just can not get up the energy to care about.
ive always pondered on the idea of identity and what it means. even going far as to play with thoughts of free will even being a thing or not. i concluded that people put too much importance on identity and their need for it. after all focusing and consuming on any one thing is harmful.
My issue with Moeller is that "don't take your role in society seriously- it's all a game, the self is an illusion" too easily lets society off for forcing people in to roles against their will that they then have to work extra hard to live with. It too easily supports the status quo, whatever that is and however compatible it is with human flourishing. I agree with him that the authentic self is somewhat an illusion and personal identity is extremely contextual. I agree with him that finding peace with a role in society that is attainable to you can be one of many useful strategies for an individual to find some degree of meaning, contentment or happiness. I've found comfort in that myself as disability has backed me in to a corner in terms of the identities available to me. It's all fine at an individual level. But when we're thinking in terms of progressing society as whole, I think it's a dangerous idea to have at the front of mind. I don't think that we should deliberately seek to build societies that rely on individuals squeezing themselves in to roles that require great effort for them to accept. There isn't one authentic self for any of us, but still the comfortable range of self-expression does vary between individuals. Personal identity is genetic to at least some extent. And not all aspects of self identity that are a reaction between genetics and experience are easily malleable either. I am never going to be comfortable in a role requiring repetitive work, for example, or that requires me to be consistently outgoing and socially switched on, or to be an uncritical yes man. "Chill out about identity" is a good coping strategy to deal with societies that do not offer options for self expression within our natural range. Or to stop worrying so much about exactly where in our personal range of identities we land at any time. It's useful in that context, but that doesn't mean that it's desirable for everyone to be expending energy doing that work. Better to change the context if possible. I'd much rather live in a society where the people around me weren't pretending too hard, if that makes sense. Of course we're all performing, but it would be nice if we were giving a performance we also enjoy as much as possible.
I think one can be forced to play a game (eg. in school sports), without losing sight that it is a game made of arbitrary rules. And the issue addressed in the quote, is about maintaining awareness that these rules by which you play are not 'reality' but are themselves a position you perform within the confines of the game (with the willingness of your participation in the game being only secondary to understanding you are 'playing' it).
@@cl114c0777498d I find it hard to parse exactly what you're saying, and if you felt like elaborating I'd be interested to hear it. To try to come towards you, my point is that if the game you were playing required you to punch a child in the face in order to score points, it seems like a more urgent project to change the rules of the game than to figure out how to mentally adapt to them. Our roles in society _are_ reality, surely? It _isn't_ a game- the analogy doesn't quite work. Our roles have real implications on our ability to for example feed our children, or to express some core aspect of our selves, such as intelligence or caring. Our selves are also not entirely illusory- we are malleable and adaptable, but equally there are people who _are_ intelligent, or naturally artistic, or kind. "Don't worry that you're forced to be a housewife despite being smart enough to be a physicist- it's all a game" is neither comforting nor helpful. From my point of view much of the best of human history has been a result of people changing the rules of the game. This feels like a philosophy that's too divorced from my experience of being human to be particularly useful. Does that make sense?
I was really into this, up until it's conclusion. Profilicity is shallow and is making us collectively depressed, and real authenticity can be achieved or at least approached.
This is a profound video. I noticed this watching movies as I grew up, and I feel as a millennial such a fixation on authenticity burned into my psyche. Now its picking the right enemies for sufficient validation to survive, which forces a polarization of ideas and a lack of originality in how we question social structures. It seems like there's always a new way the pursuit of identity changes... and always towards whatever s more profitable. Identities, even performative political/social justice/anti-social justice ones all have different product lines associated with them, and they all make reams of money for social media. Capitalism seems to be the grand homogenizer.
"Profilicity" - thank you for providing me with the term to succinctly describe what I absolutely hate about our current era and why. Authenticity is very important to me, and to how I connect with others (esp. as a neurodivergent person) and I feel like I'm traipsing through the jungle, having to wield a machete to cut through all the virtue signaling and other fake BS people are constantly projecting as their curated selves, so that I may hope to connect with the real core person under the projection - complete with all the messiness of their humanity.
While you give a balanced and objective analysis on many issues, the Wisecrack team is diving head first into one side of the culture wars. Keep up with the good work Jared 💪🏼
Authenticity, individuality, originality, identity is nice. What if humans are just organic automatons Clockwork Orange winded spring clock mechanical mechanism. Biggest joy in life is move from point A to point B. All walk and all play makes a Jack joyful boy. "Supertoys Last All Summer Long" is a science fiction short story by Brian Aldiss, rewritten by S. Kubrick directed AI movie by Steven Spielberg. German verb spielen to play. The conjugation of spielenBERG. (*batteries not included) is a 1987 American science fiction comedy-drama executive producer Steven Spielberg.
Wow so glad I found this channel, even if its a little late! I unsubscribed from Wisecrack right around the time Jared left and it clearly shows why. Jared is a human that has human reactions to events and entertainment. Wisecrack spewed whatever view paid them most to parrot. This video in particular I think shows where Wisecrack went off the rails. They care more about their persona than making quality videos that show a nuanced human reaction.
This argument fails to recognize the storytelling failings in recent Hollywood movies. This model of human identity doesn’t justify telling stories with no character development for fear of your curated protagonist appearing weak.
Without having even started this video, I can tell you that it is probably not an argument for not telling stories but an interrogation of how storytelling has changed in Hollywood to suit modern times, for better or worse. I think you’re looking for “my side=right” arguments in the wrong place. To discuss the philosophy of any time period be it through the study of their textbooks or art, is to acknowledge the gray that exists in the interpretation and telling of the story.
You should also do a breakdown of all of co-opted ideals and phrases that the black community creates that has meaning to us specifically and is then taken, misinterpreted, and then repurposed for a completely different narrative, i.e. woke
To what degree are these different frameworks (identity technologies) in conversation with one another within a person at the same time? Every framework mentioned here seems like something I fit into, or perhaps they describe non-exclusive ways of thinking about myself. I fit into roles (husband, father, etc.), I quest for authenticity, and commitment to bigger ideals (advocacy, etc.) has always been a big part of what I think about myself. Sometimes those frameworks come into conflict (can I commit to a particular political goal if doing so would make me a less involved dad?). Perhaps all of these frameworks have always existed and strain against one another, and certain frameworks just rise to prominence in shared culture in waves over time. I dunno. I don't typically think about stuff like this. I feel like I could ask a million questions, but it would take years of dedicated study to get a remotely justified answer for any of them.
Is there a correlation between neoliberal idea of each person being an individual entrepreneurial entity, selling themselves on a job market to achieve individual success in competition with everyone else, and this need for branding and marketing themselves? If everyone is a commodity on a job market, it makes perfect sense for people to build elaborate marketing and branding strategies to signal success, both professionally and personally. Also, since olden times, professional success has been equated with moral virtue, while failure with moral failing. So people find logical this idea in reverse- signaling moral virtue and political correctness to indicate financial success or strong possibility of one in the future. What do you think?
I think it's a mistake to assume anything going on today is particularly new. The only thing new is the actual set of values being expressed. But if you look back through the history of Hollywood, and pop culture in general, you can find a long, banal history of mediocre entertainment trying to add value by passing itself off as a moral guide. The only difference I see is that the old westerns that hamhandedly espoused the values of the '50s were, in fact, espousing the "traditional" values of the '50s. I remember, as a kid back in the 80s, reading old Tarzan books from the early 20th century , and coming across a segment in which the story came to a grinding halt so that Edgar Rice Burroughs could explain what a perversely dysfunctional society would inevitably arise should the natural order of men dominating women be somehow reversed. Mr. Burroughs clearly had an ax to grind about it, but it was disturbing and off-putting enough for me to stop reading the series. Modern pop culture has become much cleverer in how they deliver their value messages, especially when they're traditional, conservative values. No one really thinks much about the subtext of Die Hard, in which the "obsolete" husband who's no longer the breadwinner nevertheless proves his essential value in the family, not as a loving father and homemaker, but as a violent defender. It's so natural to the story, you might not even consider it as a push-back against the notion of the "house-husband." Media is full of this kind of messaging, whether it's even aware of it or not. And it's also full of subtle (and not so subtle) subversions of this kind of traditional messaging. This may be why queer artists often do so well in mainstream media. If subversion is subtle enough, it can speak to the notion of authenticity. Shrek may not have a queer dimension, but Mulan definitely does. Whatever her motives, Mulan's rejection of gender norms creates a direct connection between queerness and authenticity, bridging the gap between people with alternative genders or sexualities, and anyone who feels stifled by the reductive roles society forces on them. What strikes me about the current "Woke" language in Hollywood is that it's no more or less sincere than any other blatant, on-the-nose language to pander to an audience. It's just that some of the audience, the part that's used to being pandered to, is disoriented and put off that the media isn't specifically for them anymore. And what's worse, the media in question is spelling this out in no uncertain terms. And I have to agree that this doesn't make for the best art. There's nothing more tiresome than a story practically breaking the fourth wall to explain what side it's on in the political debate. Great art doesn't have to explain. The meaning is embedded in the text. Even back in Jane Austen's day, she made fun of books that were meant to be instructions for the moral betterment of young women. Her own work needed not explain what was morally correct. The stories demonstrated it without having to point to it. But they can't all be Jane Austen. The hardest, most important part of art is to convey its underlying meaning. So to me, what's called 'virtue signaling,' and held up as the downfall of entertainment is just the new version of the same old problem: it's not all gonna be Shakespeare. Some writers are better than others at conveying what their story means without having to explain directly. Some aren't particularly good at even articulating what they mean. Some don't have much to say other than "fight scenes are cool," or whatever. It would be absurd to suggest Edgar Rice Burroughs wasn't sincere in his weird rantings, that he was cynically pandering to the pressures of the pro-patriarch audience. Even today, the Jack Reacher books, which the author himself calls pandering to his particular audience, clearly aren't insincere. To me, the bad-faith position is to dismiss any moral standpoint you don't agree with as insincere. And just because it's written badly doesn't prove its insincerity. That's a fundamentally disingenuous argument.
This seems like great knowledge, but I think it misses the point that we’ve always curated our identities, we’re just exposed to more, and more extreme views that arise as reactions to loss of hope. Hippies were very much a curated identity. Princess Leia was a classic example of early feminist rebellion. Ripley or Sarah Connor as basically a male characters. Eowyn saying “i am no man”. For every Rey saying “stop holding my hand” is a classic Kylo being a macho leader. Ghost Busters was still an all SNL cast like the original. And it didn’t erase the original. The new ones with the kids aren’t much better but don’t get the same flack. The real issue is we have all this knowledge but poor leadership and wisdom to make sense of it. People also lack context even though there’s no better time in the world to have access to it.
I think they should stop it being the focus like specific effects. I can't remember who said it, but when you treat the special effects as if they aren't important, you focus on the parts of the story that actually are even if the special effects are now no longer taking up the majority of the scene space wise or by time. I think Kipo and the age of the wonderbeast did this right. Its there, but it doesn't make it a pivotal part of the story or shove it in your face.
It seem to me , when you interrupt with someone you give up a piece of yourself. If you interact with more than one person give up even bigger piece of yourself. If you interact with a crowd of people you give yourself up to all become a simple brand
Now i see why you parted ways with wisecrack. No shade on them. Still love those guys but you have a much less predictable and nuanced point of view. I like being able to say, i never thought about it that way. Thats how discourse is born
I felt this was a little too esoteric and the premise is a bit flawed...if woke media is a reflection of us then why was this only ever popular with a very small group of people. Movies such as ghostbusters show that people don't connect with the movie as a route to social approval It's just bad and cheap art...whereas a movie like Oppenheimer has complex dimensional characters. And it's not about a lack of money, the rings of power was uber expensive but uber poorly received
Those are very surface level opinions that ignore the production of your examples. The all female Ghostbusters was created first because of decades of the original cast refusing to do another movie, notably Bill Murry and his feud with Harold Ramis. And second by the Director who after getting a green light on his pitch received total creative control and made himself the writer. Which is incredibly important because that director not only copied the original Ghostbusters like the failed sequel had previously. But also refused to write the script for the all female movie and relied entirely on ad-libbing. The 2016 Ghostbusters was made by an incompetent who STARTED as fight with the internet a month prior to its release because upper management likely saw the poor quality as the director needed to save his ass. That's why there was this marketing attempt to get women into the cinema to "combat the sexism internet trolls". It wasn't a woke culture war, it was a dude trying to save his career because he screwed up and the studio wanted to claw back cash. A "Culture war" was a means to attempt it. Rings of Power is infamous for being made by an inexperienced studio who had enough money to prove that wealth trumps ability. Rings of power was hobbled by an inability of execution. It relied on tropes and spectacle to hide its lack of narrative skill. It just so happens that the tropes used were to pander to an audience using themes you call woke. However it was never the "wokeness" that brought 'Rings of power' or 'Ghostbusters' down. they were both failures of (Edit: the lack of) skilled labor and management. It was the greed for fame and moving personal careers upward that lead to the two under cooked media you like to use as straw men for "wokeness". Ironic that you mention Oppenheimer as the great success when Barbie came out the same week and saw much greater success than Oppenheimer. Its like you intentionally ignore the movie that women watched and voted with their money to make more successful than your example. All because its existence is a danger to your ideas of 'wokeness being bad'.
@@willichtenstein7071the fact that these movies were marketed on the basis of them being "female movies" like ghostbusters and had crap production is my entire point. The fact that Hollywood thinks they can give you a lower grade copy of the original and slap "women powerby Mary Sue" on it is the issue with pandering to the left...because its pandering...its not layered art. They're dressing a pig in lipstick. I'm not ignoring the production I think they have given a 1 dimensional art piece to the viewer. I didn't miss that Barbie did very well. In part because I think it may have a feminist message but it does have a mote complex background message that can actually be reflective of feminism in terms of how restrictive feminism can be...its not a pure feminist fantasy e.g. Ken is just Ken he is an accessory to Barbie and not his own entity much like modern feminism doesn't take a true holistic view if equality of the sexes
@@willichtenstein7071 a very intelligent & nuanced analysis, which is the exact opposite of using a word like "woke" (even south park called that lazy).
@@warbler1984 the point is that ghostbusters 2016 didn't fail because of woke marketing or because of female mary sues or whatever. this guy JUST spelled out that incompetence & greed were the culprits & to shrug that off & instead blame it all on pandering is not only dishonest but crude & superficial as well. you criticize the movie as "not layered art," but that argument lacks depth all the same...
@davidletarte214 your saying that the movie was made by an incompetent fool but then somehow think its an invalid criticism to say that the art is not layered?? My argument is that his pandering is a result of poor ability and interest in telling a good story...the pandering is just a gimmick to disguise his incompetence Ghostbusters was bad in a similar way that Ayn Rands Atlas Shrugged is bad...all the characters are like an embodiment of an ideology they're 1 dimensional strawmen...whether it be Rands objectivism or Ghostbusters women power And let's stop pretending there isn't a reasonable interpretation of what woke could mean...its a constellation of left wing ideals that primarily promote modern critical theory ideas
with all the love in the world, as a progressive leftist, look at how libs responded to war in Ukraine and the horrors in Gaza (bloodthirsty and giggling all the way)... people who defend the status quo can be found across the board and the status quo loves a cult mentality.
Honestly I kinda of miss old school entertainment because in film 🎥 and TV they at least took creative risks. Now these days everything is decided by a committee or AI
I always thought of myself as a shy introvert, until I did a college semester abroad (Madagascar, Africa). Then...not sure if it was the excitement of new surroundings, different culture, the need to learn and practice new languages (French and Malagasy), but I morphed into a extroverted, outgoing, life of the party social butterfly!! I loved being in a completely new world where there was no expectations of me and it opened me up. But I was still shocked at how my personality just felt different overseas. When i returned to the US, I tried holding on to some of that "extroverted-ness" but I kinda went back to being introverted again. Environment does have an impact on us.
We take different roles in differnet contexts.
When the folks in my LARPING group first heard from my SO that I tend to be quiet and listen more than talk, those folks who knew me for years burst out laughing. They had never experienced me that way.
But my life partner for two years had....
Someone should study the correlation between being ginger and majoring in Philosophy
Lolll theory underground felt that
The pain threshold is probably somehow a factor
When you don’t have a soul you ponder what a soul is.
@@R2-DPOO goddamn LOL
@@laurocoman jk
Dammit Jared, stop being so smart! 😇 one of your best vids yet
I miss you on Wisecrack. It's not the same over there anymore.
It's mainly the humor it has now. It's cringe to watch, but still has good points.
Michael seems alright, good delivery at least. Interesting topics on both channels.
I like the takeaways Jared provides in the wrap up more though
This video felt more like Wisecrack than current Wisecrack
“Feminism good, capitalism bad, am I right guys” Current WiseCracks
The girls they got on there are just not it, Jared left because of the direction it was going I believe, and not just dogging on the girls, there are plenty of awesome female youtubers just not the ones at wisecrack
I always watch these philosophical videos twice in a row to understand them. On the first watch, I start to understand the framing of the idea, and during the second watch, I fill in the gaps in my understanding.
“You are what you do, not what you want to do.”
Bro who else thought Jared and the professor were the same guy at different stages of their lives 🤣 🤣 🤣
Carefreewandering and Jared together??? That is the best combo ever!
"Morallity is the hero of identity". Loved it
The majority of films I watch nowadays are older films.
Man, am I glad you are on youtube, I get genuinely excited when a video of yours pops up in the recommendation feed, reminds me the old days of youtube.
I think people could also dislike these movies because not everyone is in the profile curating game and there is no wish to be part of it. I never had Facebook or pictures of myself posted online and I only engaged online from anonymous accounts. I am not sure how much autism might have played into this. Refusing to play the game may be seen in the eyes of a profile curator as actually taking a side in this game, so this social technology becomes harmful because it is poisoning the well in social interactions as it puts into question your intentions. Everything has a hint of the "non-cool group" once you refuse to engage in the curation yourself. It may be right that there is no "true self" deep inside, but the cure for this harmful force remains the cliche adage "Just be yourself."
well said man.
@@TragicTumble thanks
Amen!
autism also known as the original rebel.
@@Nerd44442 I don't know what you are referencing
Ironically the most rebellious and revolutionary thing that anyone can do is just to be yourself, "normal" instead of being against any social tendency, construction or rules, trying to be unique or eternally molding yourself to be against of any tendency.
That's good advice as long as it also accepts that "normal" is subjective. Some people's normal is weird for most. Deliberately trying to be weird sounds exhausting and annoying, but people being odd without too much artifice, in a way that brings them happiness, makes the world a better place, in my estimation.
I think that some people are just naturally oppositional, and we need some of those people around for society to flourish. "Dial it down a bit" might still be good advice, but it would be sad to lose that entirely.
Yeah, Shrek was about how Shrek and Fiona decided to be normal and fit into society’s standards. Shrek notoriously lives in a 2 bedroom hovel in Duloc.
Being authentic and being normal are not the same thing. Normal is litteraly conformity, if your authentic self is comfortable with these norms good on you, but recognizing other people's right to authenticity whether it falls into norms or not, is the true revolutionary/rebelious spirit. Prioritizing normality over authenticity is not revolutionary or rebellious at all.
Until that becomes the norm.
Yay, the world and the self is all Marketing now....
I hate marketing.
Marketing is nothing new
Jared remember when you said.
any idea or frame of thinking, when taken to an extreme will create a monster.
Thanks. The insights here helped calm an increasingly hysterical heart.
I'm just wondering if this shift to a new social structure is so distasteful to me because there's something wrong with it or am I just getting old? lol. Anyways fantastic video, thanks!
I prefer the metaphor of the rose over the onion or the peach, where the identity is formed out of the combination of progressively revealed layers overlapping (and obscuring) each other.
I always thought of myself as a shy introvert, until I did a college semester abroad (Madagascar, Africa). Then...not sure if it was the excitement of new surroundings, different culture, the need to learn and practice new languages (French and Malagasy), but I morphed into a extroverted, outgoing, life of the party social butterfly!! I loved being in a completely new world where there was no expectations of me and it opened me up. But I was still shocked at how my personality just felt different overseas. When i returned to the US, I tried holding on to some of that "extroverted-ness" but I kinda went back to being introverted again. Environment does have an impact on us.
I love the phrase "HR approved buzz words" 13:00
9:09 there was an episode of Doug with a similar message. Didn't know as a child I was getting such deep lessons.
Very interesting framing. The way I had heard this social shift was from the point of view of “Idols” rather than identity, but I think both frames converge quite nicely. To summarize the idols frame:
Idols from the first era were role models (all emphasis on duty), Idols from the second era were rebels (all emphasis on authenticity), and idols from the current era are activists (all emphasis in fighting for the cause).
I do think though, that realistically there’s way more than 3 eras and the eras overlap, but I do see how it is easier to start the discussion this way.
Great video!
Dang, South Park still has it. It feels like The Orvile episode where stocks determined if you get live.
Is the Orville still good? I watched the first two seasons but never kept up.
This feels like it's in dialog with or in critique of Wisecracks latest video.
Damn, South Park has been on top of this from jump.
I'm at 1:30 and ready to hear the term "profilicity" Let's gooooooo
I have now watched this video. I found it interesting but some things you say don't sit well with me. Your arguments are well-constructed so it will be an enjoyable challenge to interrogate your points and get to the bottom of why I disagree. I'll really get a chance to progress my understanding of myself. Thanks.
You gonna tell us what you disagree with?
This brought to mind the story of Diogenes, who very much was an authentic person in the context in which he lived...until it became clear that it was indeed his ROLE to be that person. The story of him encountering Alexander the Great embodies this.
I loved this. A very clear and easy to follow rounding up of everything that's been happening
Sincerity and originality are due for a comeback
loved this excellent analysis video. I'm curious at to why the word "suicide" is censored though.
Most likely because TH-cam would demonetize the video otherwise
Need more stuff like this online
Social curation has been with us way before social media, the concept of honor, reputation, and saving face were alway very strong social forces in opposition to the authentic individual, there was and there's still blood spilled to protect curated group and individual self-images, and you can see that intense pressure still existing in its old-school form in non-western/traditional/communal societies as well as all the damage it causes.
"somehow Palpatine returned" no, I am pretty sure movies are being written by hacks. I have read better fan fiction than those new star wars movies.
forever thankful I was reintroduced to you after you left wisecrack dude keep it up
You might find "Fictional Futures and the Conspicuously Young" by DFW interesting too
I'll save you the 17 minutes. Ot all comes down to money. They want everyone's money and they don't want to miss out on getting your money, either. Whatever platitudes or representation they push forward, keep in mind that it isn't altruistic. Its self serving and always about more money.
Absolutely, identities and role medels became yet another product to sell an consume.
17 minutes exploring how humans have historically and now contemporarily construct their identity, and the effect this has had on cinema throughout the years, is hardly summed up by saying "it all comes down to money."
Great video, thanks Jared and Professor Moeller. I wonder what this theory would look like when analysing movies such as Star Wards, Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, where we clearly see Campbell's hero's journey. Also interested both of you if you have delved into Gilles Deleuze concept of the "dividual" which eerily matches at least one way in which recommendation system define us and shape or try to shape our behavior, separating individuals into various aspects that can get stuff sold to and are triggered by different situations. Thanks again, this kind of content is required if we want people to reflect critically
Amazing video!! I really enjoy them. I think that they go a little bit deeper than the face value critics overspread in youtube.
OMG! The multiverse mash up I always dreamt about!
Ya, I fully blame social media for this trend. Make something look attractive and then pander to the lowest denominator in hopes that you do not disappoint
Another example of Profilicity is in customer segmentation or "personas" in the corporate world. Businesses are too large to know their customer personally, so they need shorthand buckets to know how to relate to people on the other end of the phone or screen. Pine and Gilmore attempt to explain and improve on this in their books Experience Economy and Mass Customization. Cheers!
Wouldn't this theory also work when applying it to those making media. Rather than caring about the story they care about how they are perceived by creating the media, which is the argument that the "media is tainted by ideological hacks".
2 videoes in, you've got a new sub.
Congratulations. 👍🏿
FINALLY a reasonable take on the woke issue!!
Never looked at it this way.... still falls into the same problem, movies that care about the message more then be a good movie. Yet another factor of the world I just can not get up the energy to care about.
What a good video! Thank you so much for this content 🙏
ive always pondered on the idea of identity and what it means. even going far as to play with thoughts of free will even being a thing or not. i concluded that people put too much importance on identity and their need for it. after all focusing and consuming on any one thing is harmful.
Blessed youtube crossover
My issue with Moeller is that "don't take your role in society seriously- it's all a game, the self is an illusion" too easily lets society off for forcing people in to roles against their will that they then have to work extra hard to live with. It too easily supports the status quo, whatever that is and however compatible it is with human flourishing.
I agree with him that the authentic self is somewhat an illusion and personal identity is extremely contextual.
I agree with him that finding peace with a role in society that is attainable to you can be one of many useful strategies for an individual to find some degree of meaning, contentment or happiness. I've found comfort in that myself as disability has backed me in to a corner in terms of the identities available to me.
It's all fine at an individual level. But when we're thinking in terms of progressing society as whole, I think it's a dangerous idea to have at the front of mind. I don't think that we should deliberately seek to build societies that rely on individuals squeezing themselves in to roles that require great effort for them to accept.
There isn't one authentic self for any of us, but still the comfortable range of self-expression does vary between individuals. Personal identity is genetic to at least some extent. And not all aspects of self identity that are a reaction between genetics and experience are easily malleable either. I am never going to be comfortable in a role requiring repetitive work, for example, or that requires me to be consistently outgoing and socially switched on, or to be an uncritical yes man.
"Chill out about identity" is a good coping strategy to deal with societies that do not offer options for self expression within our natural range. Or to stop worrying so much about exactly where in our personal range of identities we land at any time.
It's useful in that context, but that doesn't mean that it's desirable for everyone to be expending energy doing that work. Better to change the context if possible. I'd much rather live in a society where the people around me weren't pretending too hard, if that makes sense. Of course we're all performing, but it would be nice if we were giving a performance we also enjoy as much as possible.
I think one can be forced to play a game (eg. in school sports), without losing sight that it is a game made of arbitrary rules. And the issue addressed in the quote, is about maintaining awareness that these rules by which you play are not 'reality' but are themselves a position you perform within the confines of the game (with the willingness of your participation in the game being only secondary to understanding you are 'playing' it).
@@cl114c0777498d I find it hard to parse exactly what you're saying, and if you felt like elaborating I'd be interested to hear it.
To try to come towards you, my point is that if the game you were playing required you to punch a child in the face in order to score points, it seems like a more urgent project to change the rules of the game than to figure out how to mentally adapt to them.
Our roles in society _are_ reality, surely? It _isn't_ a game- the analogy doesn't quite work. Our roles have real implications on our ability to for example feed our children, or to express some core aspect of our selves, such as intelligence or caring. Our selves are also not entirely illusory- we are malleable and adaptable, but equally there are people who _are_ intelligent, or naturally artistic, or kind. "Don't worry that you're forced to be a housewife despite being smart enough to be a physicist- it's all a game" is neither comforting nor helpful.
From my point of view much of the best of human history has been a result of people changing the rules of the game.
This feels like a philosophy that's too divorced from my experience of being human to be particularly useful. Does that make sense?
Your videos are a breath of fresh air.
Thanks to you I'm in love with South Park 🙏
Moller's whole prolificity angle is just an attempt to rebrand the age-old object-subject binary paradox.
I was really into this, up until it's conclusion. Profilicity is shallow and is making us collectively depressed, and real authenticity can be achieved or at least approached.
This is a profound video. I noticed this watching movies as I grew up, and I feel as a millennial such a fixation on authenticity burned into my psyche. Now its picking the right enemies for sufficient validation to survive, which forces a polarization of ideas and a lack of originality in how we question social structures. It seems like there's always a new way the pursuit of identity changes... and always towards whatever s more profitable. Identities, even performative political/social justice/anti-social justice ones all have different product lines associated with them, and they all make reams of money for social media. Capitalism seems to be the grand homogenizer.
i feel like if i close my eyes im listening to a new episode of wisecrack where Jared never left.
"Profilicity" - thank you for providing me with the term to succinctly describe what I absolutely hate about our current era and why.
Authenticity is very important to me, and to how I connect with others (esp. as a neurodivergent person) and I feel like I'm traipsing through the jungle, having to wield a machete to cut through all the virtue signaling and other fake BS people are constantly projecting as their curated selves, so that I may hope to connect with the real core person under the projection - complete with all the messiness of their humanity.
While you give a balanced and objective analysis on many issues, the Wisecrack team is diving head first into one side of the culture wars. Keep up with the good work Jared 💪🏼
"in the heat of battle he never misses"
You AND Hans?! Awww...thank you
Love content that lightens my POV
Another One! DJ Jared 💪🏿
Authenticity, individuality, originality, identity is nice. What if humans are just organic automatons Clockwork Orange winded spring clock mechanical mechanism. Biggest joy in life is move from point A to point B. All walk and all play makes a Jack joyful boy.
"Supertoys Last All Summer Long" is a science fiction short story by Brian Aldiss, rewritten by S. Kubrick directed AI movie by Steven Spielberg.
German verb spielen to play. The conjugation of spielenBERG.
(*batteries not included) is a 1987 American science fiction comedy-drama executive producer Steven Spielberg.
15:42 I like to pretend not to pretend. I pretend that I don't care, yet, I'm here.
Algorithm brought me here-could’ve been all the gun videos I’ve been watching, could’ve been Philosophy Tube, not sure
Wow so glad I found this channel, even if its a little late! I unsubscribed from Wisecrack right around the time Jared left and it clearly shows why. Jared is a human that has human reactions to events and entertainment. Wisecrack spewed whatever view paid them most to parrot. This video in particular I think shows where Wisecrack went off the rails. They care more about their persona than making quality videos that show a nuanced human reaction.
This argument fails to recognize the storytelling failings in recent Hollywood movies. This model of human identity doesn’t justify telling stories with no character development for fear of your curated protagonist appearing weak.
It also has no connection to it. Those movies have existed long before that. Case and point 2:48
Without having even started this video, I can tell you that it is probably not an argument for not telling stories but an interrogation of how storytelling has changed in Hollywood to suit modern times, for better or worse. I think you’re looking for “my side=right” arguments in the wrong place. To discuss the philosophy of any time period be it through the study of their textbooks or art, is to acknowledge the gray that exists in the interpretation and telling of the story.
Sooooo good!
Definitely read Moeller's book
I guess my stock price is zero, because I don't have a profile.
Dr Moeller is amazing and insightful
As well as Status and Culture by David Marx
You should also do a breakdown of all of co-opted ideals and phrases that the black community creates that has meaning to us specifically and is then taken, misinterpreted, and then repurposed for a completely different narrative, i.e. woke
Now that's a step up
To what degree are these different frameworks (identity technologies) in conversation with one another within a person at the same time? Every framework mentioned here seems like something I fit into, or perhaps they describe non-exclusive ways of thinking about myself. I fit into roles (husband, father, etc.), I quest for authenticity, and commitment to bigger ideals (advocacy, etc.) has always been a big part of what I think about myself. Sometimes those frameworks come into conflict (can I commit to a particular political goal if doing so would make me a less involved dad?). Perhaps all of these frameworks have always existed and strain against one another, and certain frameworks just rise to prominence in shared culture in waves over time.
I dunno. I don't typically think about stuff like this. I feel like I could ask a million questions, but it would take years of dedicated study to get a remotely justified answer for any of them.
Is there a correlation between neoliberal idea of each person being an individual entrepreneurial entity, selling themselves on a job market to achieve individual success in competition with everyone else, and this need for branding and marketing themselves? If everyone is a commodity on a job market, it makes perfect sense for people to build elaborate marketing and branding strategies to signal success, both professionally and personally. Also, since olden times, professional success has been equated with moral virtue, while failure with moral failing. So people find logical this idea in reverse- signaling moral virtue and political correctness to indicate financial success or strong possibility of one in the future. What do you think?
Wow this was fantastic. I took notes! 😂
Thank you
12:00 what does it mean if i watch jared
I think it's a mistake to assume anything going on today is particularly new. The only thing new is the actual set of values being expressed. But if you look back through the history of Hollywood, and pop culture in general, you can find a long, banal history of mediocre entertainment trying to add value by passing itself off as a moral guide. The only difference I see is that the old westerns that hamhandedly espoused the values of the '50s were, in fact, espousing the "traditional" values of the '50s. I remember, as a kid back in the 80s, reading old Tarzan books from the early 20th century , and coming across a segment in which the story came to a grinding halt so that Edgar Rice Burroughs could explain what a perversely dysfunctional society would inevitably arise should the natural order of men dominating women be somehow reversed. Mr. Burroughs clearly had an ax to grind about it, but it was disturbing and off-putting enough for me to stop reading the series.
Modern pop culture has become much cleverer in how they deliver their value messages, especially when they're traditional, conservative values. No one really thinks much about the subtext of Die Hard, in which the "obsolete" husband who's no longer the breadwinner nevertheless proves his essential value in the family, not as a loving father and homemaker, but as a violent defender. It's so natural to the story, you might not even consider it as a push-back against the notion of the "house-husband." Media is full of this kind of messaging, whether it's even aware of it or not. And it's also full of subtle (and not so subtle) subversions of this kind of traditional messaging. This may be why queer artists often do so well in mainstream media. If subversion is subtle enough, it can speak to the notion of authenticity. Shrek may not have a queer dimension, but Mulan definitely does. Whatever her motives, Mulan's rejection of gender norms creates a direct connection between queerness and authenticity, bridging the gap between people with alternative genders or sexualities, and anyone who feels stifled by the reductive roles society forces on them.
What strikes me about the current "Woke" language in Hollywood is that it's no more or less sincere than any other blatant, on-the-nose language to pander to an audience. It's just that some of the audience, the part that's used to being pandered to, is disoriented and put off that the media isn't specifically for them anymore. And what's worse, the media in question is spelling this out in no uncertain terms. And I have to agree that this doesn't make for the best art. There's nothing more tiresome than a story practically breaking the fourth wall to explain what side it's on in the political debate. Great art doesn't have to explain. The meaning is embedded in the text. Even back in Jane Austen's day, she made fun of books that were meant to be instructions for the moral betterment of young women. Her own work needed not explain what was morally correct. The stories demonstrated it without having to point to it.
But they can't all be Jane Austen. The hardest, most important part of art is to convey its underlying meaning. So to me, what's called 'virtue signaling,' and held up as the downfall of entertainment is just the new version of the same old problem: it's not all gonna be Shakespeare. Some writers are better than others at conveying what their story means without having to explain directly. Some aren't particularly good at even articulating what they mean. Some don't have much to say other than "fight scenes are cool," or whatever.
It would be absurd to suggest Edgar Rice Burroughs wasn't sincere in his weird rantings, that he was cynically pandering to the pressures of the pro-patriarch audience. Even today, the Jack Reacher books, which the author himself calls pandering to his particular audience, clearly aren't insincere. To me, the bad-faith position is to dismiss any moral standpoint you don't agree with as insincere. And just because it's written badly doesn't prove its insincerity. That's a fundamentally disingenuous argument.
I am still not sure a majority of people who throw the word woke around actually know what it actually meAnd
Especially these guys.
If possible, can you do something on cyberpunk 2077? Just finished the game looks like something youd be into.
This seems like great knowledge, but I think it misses the point that we’ve always curated our identities, we’re just exposed to more, and more extreme views that arise as reactions to loss of hope.
Hippies were very much a curated identity. Princess Leia was a classic example of early feminist rebellion. Ripley or Sarah Connor as basically a male characters. Eowyn saying “i am no man”.
For every Rey saying “stop holding my hand” is a classic Kylo being a macho leader.
Ghost Busters was still an all SNL cast like the original. And it didn’t erase the original. The new ones with the kids aren’t much better but don’t get the same flack.
The real issue is we have all this knowledge but poor leadership and wisdom to make sense of it. People also lack context even though there’s no better time in the world to have access to it.
You don't have to agree with the messages in films to enjoy them.
can't stop saking my band to be more "authentic" and they never quite get it - i juste realized it's cause i'm the only one above 30 lmao
I think they should stop it being the focus like specific effects.
I can't remember who said it, but when you treat the special effects as if they aren't important, you focus on the parts of the story that actually are even if the special effects are now no longer taking up the majority of the scene space wise or by time.
I think Kipo and the age of the wonderbeast did this right.
Its there, but it doesn't make it a pivotal part of the story or shove it in your face.
It seem to me , when you interrupt with someone you give up a piece of yourself.
If you interact with more than one person give up even bigger piece of yourself.
If you interact with a crowd of people you give yourself up to all become a simple brand
Have u ever heard about.... Sardar udham.... Movie 2021....???
is there a full conversation posted somewhere?
ah, ko fi , new cryptic service, thanks!
♥
What SouthPark episode is that clip form at time stamp 9:28?
This is a great video
Now i see why you parted ways with wisecrack. No shade on them. Still love those guys but you have a much less predictable and nuanced point of view.
I like being able to say, i never thought about it that way.
Thats how discourse is born
Change market
I thought the thumbnail had one of those age filters of you lol
great video
where did you interview carefreewandering?
I felt this was a little too esoteric and the premise is a bit flawed...if woke media is a reflection of us then why was this only ever popular with a very small group of people.
Movies such as ghostbusters show that people don't connect with the movie as a route to social approval
It's just bad and cheap art...whereas a movie like Oppenheimer has complex dimensional characters. And it's not about a lack of money, the rings of power was uber expensive but uber poorly received
Those are very surface level opinions that ignore the production of your examples. The all female Ghostbusters was created first because of decades of the original cast refusing to do another movie, notably Bill Murry and his feud with Harold Ramis. And second by the Director who after getting a green light on his pitch received total creative control and made himself the writer. Which is incredibly important because that director not only copied the original Ghostbusters like the failed sequel had previously. But also refused to write the script for the all female movie and relied entirely on ad-libbing. The 2016 Ghostbusters was made by an incompetent who STARTED as fight with the internet a month prior to its release because upper management likely saw the poor quality as the director needed to save his ass. That's why there was this marketing attempt to get women into the cinema to "combat the sexism internet trolls". It wasn't a woke culture war, it was a dude trying to save his career because he screwed up and the studio wanted to claw back cash. A "Culture war" was a means to attempt it.
Rings of Power is infamous for being made by an inexperienced studio who had enough money to prove that wealth trumps ability. Rings of power was hobbled by an inability of execution. It relied on tropes and spectacle to hide its lack of narrative skill. It just so happens that the tropes used were to pander to an audience using themes you call woke. However it was never the "wokeness" that brought 'Rings of power' or 'Ghostbusters' down. they were both failures of (Edit: the lack of) skilled labor and management. It was the greed for fame and moving personal careers upward that lead to the two under cooked media you like to use as straw men for "wokeness".
Ironic that you mention Oppenheimer as the great success when Barbie came out the same week and saw much greater success than Oppenheimer. Its like you intentionally ignore the movie that women watched and voted with their money to make more successful than your example. All because its existence is a danger to your ideas of 'wokeness being bad'.
@@willichtenstein7071the fact that these movies were marketed on the basis of them being "female movies" like ghostbusters and had crap production is my entire point. The fact that Hollywood thinks they can give you a lower grade copy of the original and slap "women powerby Mary Sue" on it is the issue with pandering to the left...because its pandering...its not layered art. They're dressing a pig in lipstick. I'm not ignoring the production I think they have given a 1 dimensional art piece to the viewer.
I didn't miss that Barbie did very well. In part because I think it may have a feminist message but it does have a mote complex background message that can actually be reflective of feminism in terms of how restrictive feminism can be...its not a pure feminist fantasy e.g. Ken is just Ken he is an accessory to Barbie and not his own entity much like modern feminism doesn't take a true holistic view if equality of the sexes
@@willichtenstein7071 a very intelligent & nuanced analysis, which is the exact opposite of using a word like "woke" (even south park called that lazy).
@@warbler1984 the point is that ghostbusters 2016 didn't fail because of woke marketing or because of female mary sues or whatever. this guy JUST spelled out that incompetence & greed were the culprits & to shrug that off & instead blame it all on pandering is not only dishonest but crude & superficial as well. you criticize the movie as "not layered art," but that argument lacks depth all the same...
@davidletarte214 your saying that the movie was made by an incompetent fool but then somehow think its an invalid criticism to say that the art is not layered?? My argument is that his pandering is a result of poor ability and interest in telling a good story...the pandering is just a gimmick to disguise his incompetence
Ghostbusters was bad in a similar way that Ayn Rands Atlas Shrugged is bad...all the characters are like an embodiment of an ideology they're 1 dimensional strawmen...whether it be Rands objectivism or Ghostbusters women power
And let's stop pretending there isn't a reasonable interpretation of what woke could mean...its a constellation of left wing ideals that primarily promote modern critical theory ideas
Jared, look at the right rn. Only people over there is almost like a cult if you asked me😅
with all the love in the world, as a progressive leftist, look at how libs responded to war in Ukraine and the horrors in Gaza (bloodthirsty and giggling all the way)... people who defend the status quo can be found across the board and the status quo loves a cult mentality.
Both sides look like a cult, there are extremists in both
Honestly I kinda of miss old school entertainment because in film 🎥 and TV they at least took creative risks. Now these days everything is decided by a committee or AI
Absolutely brilliant video