An Analysis of Bo Burnham: INSIDE
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- In this video, the meaning of songs like Welcome to the Internet are explained, and many more themes are explored in this incredibly deep and symbolic new Netflix special by Bo Burnham
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#BoBurnham #Inside #VideoEssay
This video was, at its core, pure craftsmanship. The way Mr. Specialist himself specializes in creating engaging and thoughtful content through a thorough critical analysis is a true indicator of how well he understands the premise of how to manufacture a video essay that is uncomplicated and effortless to watch. Hats off to you, Mr. Specialist. Some of us are unworthy of your contribution to TH-cam!
Some would say I’m a hero, I of course would never say that, but some would
@@TuffSpecialistYT Straight facts. No pompous tail-flaring, just facts.
This comment is, some would say, a Magnum Opus. My analysis is that your absolutely masterful analysis of Mr. Specialist’s analysis of Bo’s analysis of his own diminishing mental health, the current state of society under capitalism and the internet’s effect on it is unmatched in how deep and complete it is.
@@spacemanproletariat4279 Yeah this comment is pretty okay too!
Agreed
Bo was nervous that people wouldn’t like it...but holy hell do soooo many of us love it. I’ve watched it 9 times already and it feels new each time.
The rewatch value that it has is like nothing I’ve ever experienced in a film. How can I watch something 15 times within a week and still want to watch it again?
@@TuffSpecialistYT I’ve never wanted to rewatch anything this many times before, I don’t understand why and I’m sure others are doing the same thing we are. I’ll be doing something throughout the day and think of one of the songs and start to hum it. Next thing I know I’m back watching it again
@@Zack_Raefski Same. I don’t generally rewatch stuff but every time I open Netflix and think about watching something else I think about the welcome to the Internet song and just watch the special again…
I literally rewatched it twice today
@@Mr.Rogers. And now that the music is streaming I just listen to that all the time too!
"to keep this from being 2 hours long" No give me the 2 hours. I need all the hours ♥
i said this out loud when he said that in the video
SAME
@@TuffSpecialistYT subbed
Fr feed me the content Daddy 🤣
Gotta pump those numbers up! Those are rookie numbers!
the part where he says “i’m not doing….. well..” and starts to cry and the audience starting to cheer and applaud i think is one of the deepest parts of the film. it shows how people applaud and support people talking about their struggles. it becomes a trend and instead of trying to HELP someone or try to understand their struggles, they just applaud them for talking about it. people like to feed off of each other’s struggles to make themselves seem more…”healthy” or “less broken”. it’s a beautiful part yet such a dark one of the film
(I'm late so excuse me)
I finished watching the special moments before I watched this video. the part that you're talking about, him crying, made me feel such a deep emotional connection to him, deeper than I've ever felt through a screen to anyone and that was honestly so, so weird but also good. painful, but good. him crying made me cry. and the canned laughter gave me just endless chills, it was insane. the special was insane.
@@sera1143 yes. and no problem for being late. it really does connect you to him because he’s always joked about his issues on stage and people laughed. i think sometimes he didn’t want a laugh. i think he wanted support. it made me cry as well.
That was my general line of thought when I watched this part as well, but most of a year later and having watched some particularly insightful videos on the topic, I've been shown that _the_ guiding theme of Bo's professional comedy work has been about the hyper-self-awareness of Bo and his generation. We can identify the implications of this sequence and how it connects to other people, but can we recognize how it applies to _ourselves_ ? Bo has multiple songs in Inside dedicated to his feelings of hypocrisy as a performer who points out his own flaws, but those flaws are the flaws of everyone alive right now. What was the audience meant to do? Were they supposed to get up from their seats and give him hugs? Stay silent and let there be only silence in response to that joke? Is there a right answer at all? What do we do...?
the part where he tells the audience about how he was recovering from mental health issues and was ready to perform again only to have covid make him isolate and worsen the mental state he was trying to recover was really something else. The special was really something special.
Hands up is the song he says that in, it's my favorite and makes me cry
@@RY-nd4jh you mean all eyes on me?
I dealt with something really similar right before Covid so it hits home extra hard.
I can relate to this so far. Im not a preformer but I was working on my mental health so I could finally get out again, and like Bo said, "the funniest thing happened..."
Then the "crowd" laughs, my God that was rough
i wish more people referred to it as ‘inside bo burnham’ because we really are seeing what’s inside bo burnham.
That’s a great point! I blame Netflix for putting his name in front in all the promo
I like to refer to it as "Bo Burnham's Inside". That way without context it can be read as either "Bo Burnham's special: Inside" or "Bo Burnham is Inside"
I highly suspect that the implications of being inside, both physically and mentally, will be explored greatly in whatever video comes next.
It's a play on words. We've all been trapped inside, but this movie is also about heavy - almost forced - introspection. Inside as a singular title can be both and I think that's better.
@@nunnunnunyabizzie2345 I mean, isn't that what the quarantine has done to most people? I haven't talked to one person who hasn't gone through some sort of forced introspection due to not having contact with people. It really is a brilliant use of language to name his piece of artwork.
You could even point to it being “bo burnhams insides”
He is visually separating the art from the artist and it's fucking brilliant.
He might be the GOAT after this if he wasn’t already
@@TuffSpecialistYT I definitely agree with that!
Actually, I think one of the biggest themes of this special is one that this video essay didn't touch on, which is how you can't really separate the art from the artist, because the art comes from the artist, and the struggle that comes from knowing how the art comes from the desire for attention and adoration. Like the first song about saving the world through comedy, or the song about accountability that addressed how some of his earlier stuff didn't age great.
@@TuffSpecialistYT he definitely has always been the goat
@@brynnamoran4320 this exactly bc even the parts where we see him as “robert”, its all still staged despite him acting out genuine emotion. bo and robert are both him at the end of the day, which is most obvious when he takes us back to his youtube days after “unpaid intern” by playing the part of a vlogger while going through the motions of his actual inner monologue
Loved this video! Just wanted to add that on the surface, I agree white woman's instagram seems like a more silly song. But I actually find it really powerful. From my experience watching Bo's previous work as well as interviews he's done, he seems to really value nuance and empathy when approaching subjects - especially regarding society's perception of young women (i.e. Eighth Grade). In this case, the first 3/4 of the song seem like him simply making fun of white women on instagram (in a hilarious way of course). However, in typical Bo Fashion, he introduces nuance and empathy during the verse about the woman's favorite photo of her mom who passed away- showing that nothing here is black and white. He doesn't look down on these women on instagram. He sees the human behind the seemingly shallow and performative feed. And this moment of emotional authenticity does not exist in a separate universe as the rest of the feed. They are not mutually exclusive, which is why he sandwiches it in between other frivolous posts to contrast it, but also show that these are all parts of the same human - a human with depth and complexity.
Absolutely! I made sure to say it was only “relatively” shallow and how it doesn’t “appear” to have the same amount of depth because I do believe there is a lot to take away from it. My favorite part is how the boarders of the video begin to expand as the song becomes more “human” and then shrink again as it goes back to being more superficial. I wish I could have included everything in this video but again it would be like a 3 hour video If I did that 😅
@@TuffSpecialistYT Oh totally get it! Honestly I just wanted to add my take because i've been thinking about it by myself for a while so any opportunity for me to get it out into the universe I just snatched up lol. But yea, I could talk about this special for days if given the chance, so for now will just settle for randomly commenting on all the videos that come up about it in my recommended. But again, really loved the video and how much time you clearly put into making it concise yet impactful.
Even the cinematography reflects this- when Bo reads the caption, as this "White Woman" character opens up, and ceases performing, the frame expands outward, removing the 1×1 square associated with Instagram. Then, when she begins to brag about her successes (job, boyfriend, etc) the frame comes back in, back to 1×1.
I thought it was more tragic really.
Showing how this woman was giving everything to the public. Not just her likes and tastes, but was even willing to use her own grief to gain more attention when the more conventional posts weren't working.
The framing of the shot expands too, signifying that she's being authentic when she's talking about missing her mom. But narrows back down when she starts talking about having a job and a boyfriend as she goes back to lying to her followers, since sayjng she's jobless and insecure about being single aren't... marketable for her brand.
And in the end even that didn't work.
And the end where s/he blows out the candle I think means she deletes her account.
I agree-- it's easier to understand his message when you have context from other interviews and how he feels about certain unfair standards set against women and children. Also how the internet can be a good thing, but often is negative because of those who use it to exploit others for personal gain.
inside was a beautiful representation of the part of mental illness that many don't like to talk about. it was a masterpiece. also i dig the corridor shirt
Second person to call out the corridor shirt! You’re a person of culture I see
You say "White woman instagram" is just a silly song, but it is actually fairly pivotal to one of the major themes of the special. The white woman's instagram is carefully curated to create an image of a perfect being that is both projected to the world and used to mask the insecurity and negative emotion of the user. It is performative and perfected to the same degree that Robert is shown as. It's a masterful gotcha of comedic insight. Ha Ha, these white women are so fake...oh wait.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the song! I just meant that on the surface that it doesn’t immediately appear to be as deep as a song like “funny feeling” but it definitely is!
There’s also the shift of image aspect when it starts truly describing her life and her struggle with her mother’s death before shifting back into the curated part of her life.
@@toastloop I see it as you're lead to believe her mom is dead, but in the very last line of the post she says "give dad a kiss for me" so either it's about the depression behind becoming an adult and moving out or both parents are dead (opinion)
Atlas Morse both parents are dead :/
aS a WoMaN....
Often being a woman is kind of the punchline in and of itself, and if a thing is made popular by mostly women or girls you can expect some societal counter-movement to dunk on that thing regardless of what it is.
Women like thing? Then thing must be dumb! Live, laugh, love? HAH! Clearly bad advice and I don't see why anyone ever would want to put simple, positive affirmations or reminders of nice things on their wall. Besides, everyone is doing it, are these people not able to operate and think outside of the hive? Maybe people should get some nuance and appreciate different facets about life? Women making long detailed video essays online about wellness though? Boring and cringe, why can't they just keep it simple and accessible? Maybe they should try just living their life, having a good time, and taking time to appreciate the people around them? Jesus Christ, Becky, it's not that complicated, most people have this figured out and it's fine to do what most people do so stop trying so hard to be different.
A gag about women coming from some straight guy, where there's essentially a bait and switch that instantly humanizes the person behind the stereotypical white girl instagram page and instead compells you to look at your own judgmental ass and reassess the weird headcanon you're making up entirely through baseless assumptions through their instagram feed... Was a pleasant surprise. He could have chosen to just make fun of a faceless group of women with 0 layers for having kinda cliché instagram feeds and it would still have been funny, but he went where he did and now this silly song suddenly gets a very realistic and human dimension, and is a real conversation starter about a whole lot of things that are culturally and politically relevant(as is a lot of the other material). I think people will be talking about this special for a long time.
another important symbolic theme in the special is the dissociation. as someone with a chronic dissociative disorder, scenes such as intermission glass cleaning, suicide projection, and (especially) twitch all hit me incredibly hard as that's exactly what it feels like. the intense disconnection between you and yourself/surroundings, like you're experiencing the world behind a glass pane or controlling this character in a harmless space. you don't recognize the person in the mirror, you don't recognize your parents, the world takes on a kind of terrifying familiarity that, at the same time, lacks connection. it can also fuck up memory and time frame represented in the abrupt cuts and a somewhat warped series of events (as seen by beard length) yes, dissociation is caused by trauma, but i believe that the internet exacerbates symptoms by 100% since the line between real life and unreality are blurred to the point where you're floating in limbo, which could be another reason the internet is playing the villain. i had a very tough time watching inside for the first time, all the symbolism was extremely overwhelming, but now, after watching it several times over, it is one of my favorite art ever. i am so glad someone is shedding light on dissociation because it truly is the raw form of isolation, not even having yourself to connect to. the accurate representation from someone i have admired through the entirety of my time with dissociation means the fucking world to me. god bless bo.
As someone who did my thesis on this subject, I wholeheartedly agree. It was chilling but beautiful to watch. Thanks for sharing, Adeline x
YES this is such a beautiful perspective! I also experience extreme dissociation and could tell he was really bringing it to light in this special. You made some awesome points, thank you for sharing this!
this
as someone who has dpdr YES i was trying to put it into words when i was talking to a friend but brain go brrr and i just couldnt explain it yknow? so thanks for putting it into words
i too have dpdr, and this was beautiful to read!
Inside was probably the single most influential and unique piece of media I’ve ever experienced. The way Bo masterfully manipulates each scene down to the finest detail was and element I’ve never seen before and may never see again. Inside needs to be watched and watched again by every person who comes across it. A masterpiece by the master himself.
Even to the clock flashing in the background in the kitchen. Every detail was planned.
@@brykidla YES! That's the kind of art that we're going to hear people discussing and analyzing like 50 years from now, and will certainly be one of the biggest and more deep representations of all sorts of emotional stress we've all going through during the pandemic (isolation dealing with all these deaths...). Different from the shallow movies Hollywood will release in the coming years...
I really appreciate the 2 characters perspective. One thing I thought about on my rewatch was that in the twitch streamer scene the flashlight resembled him setting up light fixtures around the room. I also believe the smile during piano play resembled how he has to put on a fake smile during performance. Which would be his tasks to complete lights and performance.
Wow I never even thought about that but it makes perfect sense! Seems so obvious now that you said it
@@TuffSpecialistYT the special has taken over about 90% of my brain lately. I hope it touches as many people as it did me.
@@TuffSpecialistYT I saw it twice and still didn't pick up on the second character. Now I have to go watch it again...
@@dazing definitely need 5 watch throughs minimum for something like this
I felt it was more of a 'creating is the only thing that brings me resemblance of happines and purpose' kinda smile, but I like your interpretation too.
If you ever make a scene-by-scene analysis of this film, I'd be 100% down to watch it. If not, that's cool. No pressure.
I think it's also important to note that Bo specializes in making comedy about performance. While Bo and Robert take on different roles in the show, he's not saying that either of them are completely real or fake. Bo and Robert are both characters. In his interview about Eight grade, he talks about how everyone is always performing and even in something as private as your diary, you can see how you perform to yourself. I think a lot of those in between shots are there to show that even in seemingly unscripted moments when he's acting like Robert, he's never not performing for the camera.
Hey, could you link the interview where he mentions this? I'm writing an analysis essay on 'Inside' and this would be quite helpful. Thanks!
To be honest, Inside was painful to watch. I both loved this and hated it. Not in a bad way, it just was so hard to see. I want to watch it again, but it legit gave me a mental breakdown. Seriously though, Bo is a pure genius.
I had to wait a week before watching it again
Same
I took a solid week off of the internet after watching. It's not the same anymore. I feel healthier watching Inside after having had a breakdown over it xD
@@stagewalker Same. I tried not to think about it again until the song came out today.
I made the mistake of watching it when I was depressed, thinking it would be a comedy special that could really lift my mood and boy was I wrong. But I did finish it knowing that I wasn’t alone - that one of my favorite creators of all time was just like me and I was just like him. Things slowly started to look up for me after that.
That frame of the "streamer Bo" flashing onto screen during that scene goes even deeper when you consider that it was done during a scene where Robert is sitting down at his laptop and then hears a plane overhead, which he acknowledges by looking up towards the corner of the room and sighing from exasperation. I have perfectionist tendencies so it just echoes this sentiment of feeling frustrated when elements outside of your control ruin an otherwise perfect take, so choosing to pick that take and edit in that frame during it would add an extra layer of Meta quality (which Burnham is no stranger to, obviously) where he is sorta acknowledging that even "Robert" is itself a character. He didn't just have these cameras setup and running all the time, he had to plan specifically for these shots of him doing "mundane" things, which itself are impacted by his desire to make the creation as a whole as precisely to what he envisioned as possible.
Also it comments on the fact that (like the ending would suggest) that this is all a performance, all this takes place on a stage, but it is a stage which he is literally trapped on... because he lives on it. The room of the special is the same one he leaves at the end of Make Happy, one where here it is reinforced further as a prison constructed by the mental health problems faced via performing. Walking out that door is about him going to be in a better state of mind, but coming back through that door at the beginning of INSIDE would thus demonstrate his return back into that instability. So of course he would think that leaving through that same door again would take him back to that better state... It doesn't, and once he realizes it is nothing more than his stage, he wants to go back to the state of self-inflicted ignorance when he could convince himself "I'll just work on this forever"
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH
And, had he not taken 5 years to improve his mental health and understand himself better - this might not have been created ~
this is so well written. you put into words what i’ve been thinking for ages lol
Thank you because I really wasn't sure what the plane overhead part meant I'm like is it a comet or asteroid and he's frustrated it's not, but that makes sense duh the sound of it overhead would mess up his take. Duhhh
he used one camera
One thing I want to see analyzed more is the aggression undertones. The knife with the “TH-camr” telling everyone to keep watching, Bo(a mix of bo and Robert??) telling everyone to get the fuck up and coming for the camera in Pray for me, Robert striking the camera when he can’t get the right word out about him not being done with the special yet… there’s an undercurrent of anger that pops up in the special and I don’t know how to quantify it. Maybe something to do with compliance? Super super super good special. Love everything about it.
Within Inside's narrative, we can say Robert's goal is to conquer inner demons by means of creating art. And the aggression is a physical manifestation of his inner struggle. Pretty straightforward. However, the violence/aggression in the music skits by Bo the character is used to draw attention to power imbalances in real life people. Whether that's race/gender (with the sock puppet) or performers/ parasocial relationships.
This aggression is contrasted heavily with the reservedness in "welcome to the internet" which, ironically enough, features the greatest power imbalance. Some say that Bo is characterizing the internet, and while that may be true for some verses, this is an abstraction of the real life villains: tech giants, silicon valley, amazon, bezos, facebook, zuckerberg, google, apple. The snake oil salesman spiel "could I interest you...?" and "it did all the things we designed it to do"; the Lennon-esque glasses reminiscent of the psuedo-hippie vibe these companies and characters like to give off. It's so perfect and calculating that they don't need physical power to have a hold over a zoomer's life.
I think in his previous special Make Happy he had some lines stating how he felt about his audience...two of those lines stating how he hates [his audience] and fears [his audience]. I'm wondering if these aggressive displays are, in some part, directed towards the audience.
@@lovelyperson9 points...
I think you mean All Eyes On Me... not "Pray for me"
It was brilliant, disturbing and truthful. I loved it. I wonder if he was aware of how revealing it would be about his mindset. I'm sure he was definately about most aspects of it but I'm not sure he was about all of it.
He’s such a genius I wouldn’t be surprised if every thing was intentional
Based on his previous work and the self-awareness displayed within this special (remember what he talks about in the ending about quitting showbiz), this was all intentional.
That's a large part of why this work is so phenomenal. The honesty he shares with us about himself allows us to sympathize and think about our own trauma. This work is therapy for us and for him for the shared trauma of the past year.
I've always wondered "what will my kids look at as a classic in art." My dad had lived through The Godfather, Eddie Van Halen, Billy Joel, Nirvana, etc. This is that moment in my life where I go yep my kids will ask what I thought when I first saw this and I'll respond it changed me as a person. Thank you Robert.
The last thing he says in the gameplay bit is "Dante, thank you for the 4 months". Dante being his "subscriber" and the name of Inferno's main character going through hell. Us as consumers of streamer content living the hell of COVID-19 together and seeking that human connection and shared experience.
Brilliant
To add on to that, in Inferno, the fourth circle of hell is for those guilty of greed. The ”4 months” seems a bit too fitting to be a coincidence
@@LazyGrain unless it took him 4 months to read and process Inferno lol
I feel like the fact that Inside being impossibly stuffed with symbolism is another detail being Omnipotence, the internet is basically an omnipotent being full of everything to ever exist run by people all over, it's vastly extensive and no man being unable to comprehend the full of it, it taking years to figure out, and like you said it would take you years to dishevel all of the symbolism in Inside, it's basically a legitimate metaphor of the internet in both itself and it's content
Performing Bo and Robert make a lot of sense!! Think back to his song “Right brain, Left brain” from his special “What.” Where he talks about making himself happy and using comedy as a coping mechanism!!!! Im speechless.
Honestly, Netflix should try and push this for Oscars next year! I think it deserves it and I think it could win!!!!! Especially the Best Original Song Category!
Absolutely, i mean a strong contender for editing, special effects, and original screenplay too imo
Is it qualified now that it's been in theaters?
They should. It already has 6 Emmy nominations currently.
Agreed
his anti-capitalism and class consciousness is also stronger than ever - which i feel mirrors the journey of a lot of young people for the last 6-7 years
also the doomerism. this anthology show movie thing is amazing at "holding a mirror to society" to use a tired cliché. i really hope everyone watches it multiple times. and that bo gets a hug.
The world is not more skewed anymore than it has ever been mate. Everyone’s echo chamber is just a lot louder today. Kinda the point of Inside as well.
@@viktorceder4985 glad somebody gets it. The echo chamber is so bad that when I was living in Tennessee I was considered a "Commie" and "Leftist snowflake" by those around me. Then I moved to Los Angeles in 2018 and people here think I'm a bigoted ignorant conservative.
I'm a moderate common sense liberal btw.
@@ryanmoody6198 Everyone thinks they're a moderate with "common sense." Moderate doesn't mean anything and neither does common sense.
Great essay man, you really went deep
I'd like to add - I think the "INSIDE" game represents the special itself - where he either cries (confessing to the camera), plays the piano (performing songs), or handles lightning (the flash light representing all the laser shows and light extravaganza)
It leaves out editing/filming though 🤷🏻♂️
Edit:
Realized the twitch streamer flashing on the footage of bo editing (prior to 'that is how the world works') can be interpreted as the twitch streamer 'playing' Bo filming himself editing, which completes the set
Sweet sweet closure 🤘🏻
This is the third comment about the flashlight representing the lighting in the special, I can’t believe I didn’t pick up on that after like 15 viewings. I’m glad you enjoyed the video!
perhaps him sitting behind a computer symbolizes editing, and the visual elements of the game could represent the filming aspect (meaning the hyper-realistic "graphics" which could indicate filming on a camera)
@@talaalshafie there's a flash of the twitch streamer/gamer when he's editing footage prior to "that is how the world works", so that's the twitch streamer 'playing' bo filming himself editing!
Its complete 😗
@@screwuppp Ahhh I completely forgot about that!! Good catch
SSRI production is a anti-depressant related joke that not many may have caught.
If I could add one thing to this, it would be that I think you glossed over an important bit in your analysis of "Welcome to the Internet".
I think you're spot on when you say the green dots appear as stars representing the vast universe of content that is the internet, but I think the color patterns that appear later in the song could potentially hold a double meaning.
The pattern strongly resembles a nebula, which are typically formed through the death of stars and also precede the formation of new stars or celestial bodies.
Considering this is the backdrop for the part of the song referring to the online generation, it's likely that it symbolizes the death of the old, pre-internet world and the birth of the new digital age.
The second interpretation of this nebulous pattern is as a representation of the synapses of the developing minds of the children that have grown up in this digital age, their neurochemistry forever altered by the influence of the internet.
Now, the part I feel you glossed over is the line "unstoppable, watchable you". This paints a pretty clear narrative in my mind. Where the earlier verse "insatiable you" clearly refers to the internet being all too thrilled at the prospect of a generation that's primed to consume all the content it can provide, the latter verse addresses the fact that the online generation are no longer just consumers, but also active, "watchable" creators of said content. They have effectively become the product to be sold, and Bo with his Netflix contract is painfully aware of that fact.
The end of the song when the two patterns converge can also be interpreted in a couple of different ways. On the one hand, the nebula interpretation could hint that this digital universe is still evolving, and that the worst may still be yet to come. Conversely, viewing the pattern as a representation of the brain's neurochemistry could suggest the merging of the human condition with the online digital space, becoming fully dependent on it like a drug.
Anyway, this comment ended up being way longer than I intended, and I still don't think I got my entire point across. I'm just glad there's a special as good as Inside to spark such interesting discussions.
P.S. Your analysis is great btw. I never even considered Bo and Robert as two separate characters until watching this video essay! It seems so obvious now, and I even caught the Fight Club reference on first viewing! Great stuff!
I love the idea that the pattern represents the brains neurochemistry, I wish I came to that conclusion myself! I appreciate all of your input, the fact that so many different things can be taken from a 4 minute song speaks volumes to how great the special is.
Have you heard Tim Minchin's 'Inflatable You'? I picked up some echoes of that song, in particular with the lyrics you mentioned. If that was an intentional reference, it opens up a whole other layer of metaphor.
th-cam.com/video/e6raVzrbqrM/w-d-xo.html
If it was anyone besides Bo I'd say you were drawing at straws, but I think you are absolutely correct in your analysis because everything you described is absolutely the subtlety that makes Bo such a genius.
@@zachcushing-murray2663 I thought I might've been reaching for a minute, myself. I only drew such a conclusion because it's Bo we're talking about.
Yes, I agree with this. Also, I think blending the two visuals together signifies there's now a lack of distinction between content creator and content consumer. The post '99 generation is now just one in the same.
Every time I see a review of ‘Inside’, I’m like; “describe it”!
This made me genuinely chuckle
I think the door is a very important symbol in this special. It almost makes it Inside feel like a refutation of Make Happy. that special ends with Bo walking through that door as the music swells and he embraces a family, suggesting that he wants to move past the life he has. But then Inside comes along. And that door is almost always there in the background. it's like a manifestation of his inability to move on. Like a manifestation of self loathing. The shot of him staring at the door in bed, light streaming through the crack. It feels like a direct allusion to the end of Make Happy, an illustration of how hard it is to leave behind the coping mechanisms we no longer want. I mean, the part in Inside where he goes through that door is hard to not see as a deliberate inversion of that scene in Make Happy.
Inside was a masterpiece. Truely
Greatest thing to come out of quarantine by far
It's been over a week since I watched it and I still can't get it out my head.
Truly
So true
Can’t get INSIDE, OUT of my head And I love it
Your video essay on this is one of the best I’ve seen out of the MANY breakdowns I’ve seen so far. Keep up the great work, I know this took a ton of time and I appreciate it
Wow thank you so much! It only took about 12 full watch throughs of the special and an hour and a half discussion with my family on a long car ride 😂 basically no time at all
I watched the show while I was completely zooted and let me tell you, it felt like an ethereal fever dream where I learned of the secrets I was never supposed to acknowledge. Honestly on some level, it felt like a black mirror episode, if that makes any sense?
Don't worry it feels like that when you're sober too
Same. Zooted is the best way to experience this special the first time. All Eyes on Me was a fucking TRIP
I really hope more people see this video! You took all my scatterbrained thoughts on this brilliant film and put them together, helping me literally understand them better. I watched Inside three times, noticing the flash of himself, or Bo as you put it, playing the game and constantly thinking "Where have I seen that?" Hope to so another analysis from you, as it was extremely well written and spoken!
Lots of people wanting to see a part 2 so who am I do deny the people! Part 2 coming soon! Thanks for your comment and I’m glad you enjoyed the video
@@TuffSpecialistYT Don't worry, you can continue doing Pokemons Randomizers once your done covering every square inch on Inside lol
@@AMJProductions clearly my Pokémon play throughs are my best content
I felt the exact same about the flash of Twitch streamer Bo! I remember watching it for the first time and that happened, and it sparked a memory but before I could analyze it, it had faded. But now, seeing this, I'm finally "remembering" that that memory was of Fight Club! Subconsciously I'd made the connection, but couldn't put it into words.
Everything about Inside is genius.
Laughed cried sobbed related on so many levels. Heart broken for him. (The mama in me)
When he said got it good now get inside
Lost it.
That funny feeling and goodbye left me in pieces.
Great take about it essentially having two characters, never thought of it like that
There was too much evidence for there not to be two characters in my opinion
This was the best Inside video I’ve watched out of the 7 or 8 I’ve found. You actually gave me the “aha!” feeling when you were talking about Bo vs Robert. Good stuff man, can’t wait for the next one
This guy: you should pause and watch the special in its entirety
Me: way ahead of you
This guy: and watch it a 2nd time
Me: kk be right back
Get those numbers up! I lost count of how many times I’ve watched it after 13 😂
I’ve been gobbling up all that I can find related to Inside and this is a FANTASTIC video. I had no idea about the fight club connection, really loved ur interpretation of the special overall
Also the escaping from the room represents a trap of him living his deepest fear and having panic attack infront of a crowd, which adds to the "better stay inside" all around vibe, because outside isn't save.
Bo Burnham is truly helping me cope with this severe anxiety and depression, that I am experiencing right now, between the isolation, aging (I'm not even old but I feel like I should feel old) and fear of the unknown, I am so overwhelmed with emotions that I cannot begin to explain them. And right now, Bo has given me what I need to escape this echo chamber of depression...
I re-watched Inside after watching this vid and one of the lines that stood out to me was during the bit where he was reacting the "unpaid intern" song where he says "im very confused because im looking at myself and i dont know what im looking at" ,and how he stops reacting because he is getting disturbed and doesn't want to look at himself anymore.
I'm beyond impressed by this special, it's an absolute masterpiece.
However, I really, really, REALLY wish Bo is okay. I was concerned through the entire length of the special, and still kind of am.
Anyways, incridible analysis though.
Bo should be well. He is definitely burnt out from working on this special as well as doing promo interviews for Promising Young Woman and probably writing songs for the Sesame Street movie.
I've been a fan of Bo Burnham for years -- Following his journey from TH-cam to live shows and this special is probably my favorite piece of work that he's done. I almost feel bad because people on TikTok are making some of his songs trends, but not really understanding the true meaning behind the songs that they're trying to make trends. This special really shows "inside Bo Burnham" and how this whole year and even years prior have made him feel. You did an amazing job on this videographic essay, hats off to you!
I've been looking for more outlooks on this special from other people but none of my friends have really watched it or felt the way I did about it. Then I found this! Thank you for helping me dissect this even more and appreciate it even more.
i love how u started the first minute of the video like how bo started the special by showing u editing and setting stuff up. great touch
9:02 search for an escape? seems like a reach, working with the lighting was a huge undertaking. so it'd go: wake up, cry, walk around/try to escape, cry, light the shot, cry, play a song.
That’s fair, I never considered the flashlight could mean the literal lights he had to deal with when producing the special. I appreciate the new perspective!
The Robert/ Bo duality is a great way to articulate the structure of the special. Looking forward to rewatching under this lens.
Looking forward to your next vid as well ❤️
I can’t stop watching it.
Aspect ratios are something to touch on. Like FaceTime with my mom is an iPhone ratio. And same with the Instagram song. It goes into the Instagram ratio
the recurring background "theme" music throughout the special is both pleasant and harrowing
This is definitely Burnhams strongest musical performance by far
It's also a leitmotif on the song welcome to the internet. I didn't catch it until my third watch
CHeck out the OST for "Tales From The Loop" on Amazon Prime. Chillingly similar.
@@gengegaming5467 YES! It is! I couldn't figure out why I had both "Welcome to the Internet" AND this "background theme" stuck in my head at the same time...until I started to hum it. Also, heavy 'carnival music' feel in both of them.
Also waiting for the discourse on this special that seems to be filmed implicitly at some sections, and explicitly at others, through the female gaze. I see it a lot in WWI and Problematic, he performs femininity and expresses growth in a way that is not patronizing and feels earnest, which feels at its core like a man who understands what the female gaze is. And it makes me wonder so much what the purpose was to film it in this way. Great video!!
i knew problematic made me think of something! I didnt catch this notion of female gaze thanks!
I love this comment, I’m actually working on an article about this. There’s a distinct lack of male gaze in this. Usually even when it’s just men on the screen, they are still often seem to be playing to the male gaze - what men want to see, what would impress male viewers. But I think there’s not a single moment in Inside where I get the feeling he’s performing masculinity for other men. OR (as you pointed out) even performing feminity for men. It does feel extremely earnest and real. The way he moves his body even, during 30. I don’t know if I’m articulating thst right it’s a hard thing to put my finger on
@@crycrywolf yes yes exactly!! I think it was a distinct choice and it’s a great example of the elusive and often misunderstood female gaze. It’s non-patronizing understanding of oneself, it’s femininity that may be performative but doesn’t feel like it’s being done cheaply or to demean women. Femininity is celebratory here and while satirical it is not done derogatorily. Bo satirizes moreso the cultural phenomenon itself that women are frequently part of (in WWI specifically). It’s genius and he always shows me time and time again why he’s been my favorite comedian for a decade.
@@crycrywolf absolutely during thirty the way he moves and dances
Hey, great video and i really enjoyed it! i read somewhere that when Bo (or Robert) looks to the side of the frame it symbolizes that hes trapped. Stuck inside the frame making the special. Just wanted to share id love to see part 2!
Wow I’m gonna have to look for that when I watch it again! Thanks for watching!
since inside's release ive been watching every video essay that comes out (no im not obsessed wym) and this is one of the more interesting ones!!
i will be rewatching this special with your point in the separation of artist, art and person in mind, thank you for the vid!
Thank you for the comment! I’m glad you enjoyed the video
Would you say in the same way robert created bo to voice what bo cant, do you think bo made the socko character to voice what bo cant?
Wow thats an amazing point, I think you're on to something! I really like that interpretation
And Bo has full dominating control over Socko...control over that part of his mind, perhaps?
hmm... what if Socko is actually Robert's psyche seeping into Bo's space, intentionally or unintentionally? And then Bo re-asserting his dominance over it?
I initially saw Bo sitting at his computer and rewatching White Woman’s Instagram as a joke like him saying “did I really just make this?” Just further proves that this thing is masquerading as a “comedy” special
i find the song that funny feeling really interesting. The fact that he starts with saying "i can't really play the guitar very well, or sing" makes me think that maybe robert is singing that, he's just completely honest, not performative/funny
One detail I admire about that song is how the camera is moving towards him until he mentions dissociation, and as soon as he does it begins moving back outward again.
@@anndroid5147 oooh yes i hadn’t noticed that. inside is a masterpiece
@@anndroid5147 :O WOAH didn't notice this!!!
also like the trees in the background and the light making it look like a campfire makes him kind of look like the chad who “can’t play the guitar” but does rlly well for attention at parties or social gatherings
You struck a real chord with the 2 characters thing. I like to think that the final scene is of Robert stuck on the outside in the public eye while Bo now seemingly takes control of Roberts life. The final song where Bo says how he would like to see "you" perform when no ones laughing and hands up it sounds like its a battle between the two as some of the lines are almost call backs to funny feeling. So the got it good now get inside now sounds like Robert is telling Bo to stop trying to reenter the public eye. But this horrible disassociation is giving Bo more control over Robert.
A very well produced video, never thought of Bo and Robert being different characters, and that the internet was playing as a villain. Thank you.
Thanks for the starter analysis! I absolutely loved Inside. As I described it to my friends, it was like watching a mental breakdown, vivid dreams, and night terrors all in one. But it was also incredibly relatable as I felt like my emotions and struggles were playing before me. I definitely will go back and watch it on repeat.
Side note: I'm so glad he created the song Shit, so now I can vibe while it feels like the world is crashing around me XD
this is the best video essay i have watched on bo's inside special. very entertaining and so good. i think u said everything perfectly. i cant wait until u make the next video essay on inside. great content dude!
i love how the general consensus about 'inside' is that it's amazing and we're all deeply worried about bo
The special was truly an experience I couldn't forget even if I wanted to...It opened my eyes up to things I was always aware of, but couldn't explain to others. I sorely underestimated this man's talents.
I can't get enough of internet addiction analysis. Joking aside, great video Tuff. This and the Chris Smoove video were top notch. Keep up the good work.
This is such a thorough, well thought out analysis. Burnham is an absolute genius and this is a masterpiece. I'm so glad we get to live in the same time as such a creative person.
_ok, loved the video, but why is literally everybody talking about this movie doing the same style of intro?_
I know! It's annoying and it kinda diminishes the meaning behind "Inside". I'm afraid we are going to see A LOT of videos and content in general using this tone from now on (the downside of inspiration, I guess).
Because we’re all lazy and it’s really easy to do 😂😂 Bo Burnham put in all the creative work I just copied him cause I thought it would look cool 😎
inside is a deconstruction of creating content without revealing your true self. Bo breaks down the final wall between artists and their audience = the artistic process and the vulnerability that comes without the fully polished product being the only interface between you and others. Bo is saying being your authentic self, flaws and all, is more important that portraying fake perfection. Showing a slow arrival to the mic, with equipment in the frame, is an attempt by a creator to reach out beyond the veil of slick fully produced videos and open up to us the audience warts and all. I appreciate the act of letting your guard down and being vulnerable - hope you can find the happiness you want
17:21 *overanalyzing
I get what you’re saying but lemme ask you a question. Does everyone have to scream every opinion that pops in their head.... alll at the same time. And can anyone... just any... one just anyone person.. just .. shut the fuck up for... an hour
No joke, you are gunna take off. This video was so awesome and well thought out/put together from your opening mimicking the special and all the nuance when explaining the concepts in an easy to digest manner. Please keep making content like this, I really valued your analysis.
Amazing video! I love to hear from people who appreciate Bo’s work as much as I do. Loved your thoughts about the two different characters.
I love the discussions! I could talk about INSIDE for hours, I’m glad you enjoyed the content!
This was one of the best analyses I've seen for the special. And you ended on the song and the verse that absolutely gutted me.
I feel like we weren’t supposed to watch Inside. It feels like something you’d find hidden in Bo’s house.
there's a lot videos about inside floating around youtube, and man, yours is the only one that's really a good and meaningful look into it.
Best bo burnham: INSIDE related video so far. The analysis was so intricate and well explained. I'm looking forward to part 2.
This is the first video of yours which I have seen, and it was incredible. You presented everything so eloquently and entertainingly. Your editing was perfect. I would love to see more videos like this. Great work!
Thank you for this, this is a really good analysis. I have my theory for the scene where he steps outside at the end. I am not sure I am going to explain it well, but here it goes: I think Bo feels like any time he goes outside, he has to play a character, he has to put on a show and cannot be himself. It also goes with being a perfectionist: when you want to be loved by everyone, you are hyper-aware of everything you do, you analyze everything you do. Doing that feels like everyone is looking at you, at your every move, but in the end, this spotlight is only fueled by your own mind. All of that makes you feel extremely exposed. This also can anxiety: the feeling that everyone is watching you every move and that you can't just be. I guess being in the public eye also brings that, everybody is always expecting him to '' perform ''. So, for me, Bo wants to go outside, he knows he would benefit from it, but anytime he does, he feels like he has to put on a show, be perfect, he is too exposed. This can be seen as a performer thing, but it can also be mundane things, he could have developed a false self that he has to maintain. It is deeply uncomfortable and he just wants to go inside: The real world is way too scary. This confirms to him that the only place he feels safe is inside (and to some extent, the internet, where he can access everything without having to face the real world). For me, this is kind of a representation of his non-rational, emotional brain. This thing has soooo many layers, but it also has a clear link with panic attacks he had on stage, where he wanted to just run home and hide, but was stuck on stage.
I think you nailed it. Was thinking similar
My favorite analysis so far! I especially love the Bo/Robert interpretation, never thought of it like that...
I came back to see how this video was doing and it’s doing amazing!! In under a week you went from 70 subs to over 1k, and from hundreds of views to hundreds of thousands!! You deserve this!! (:
Great video. Hit a lot of the thoughts that I had about the special. Going to watch it for a third time after work.
This is the best analysis of Inside on the internet already. I have been talking for over a year about these things. Thank you, no one else just took Bo literally. I believe that Inside occupies the same cultural niche as Sound of Silence. A desperate plea for help, wrapped in candy coating to make it palatable. He tried to communicate his fears with Eight Grade, but it was too deeply uncomfortable to watch. With Inside he made something with sticking power, to communicate the danger he sees in children spending their lives on the internet.
I can't believe this is your first video of this type on your channel. This is so well done, and you have a knack at dissecting films. Looking forward to whatever you create next!
This is the first time I actually listened to the advice to "go watch it before this video" and thank god i did. This is a fantastic video, and like you said it seems to only scratch the surface of what is behind this work of art. I really hope you expand on this in a second video, ill be looking forward to it.
Also love the corridor shirt. Ive got that exact one haha
Inside is the only thing that I’ve ever seen that describe the feeling of world doom I have been feeling. Masterpiece.
Inside was my first real extended exposure to Bo and I am completely blown away. This dude's talent is undeniable and this special is something truly (for lack of a better word) special.
Oh my goodness bro, you said everything I wanted to say, this man made a piece of history. Idk how he does it, a deeper meaning found in some of his songs are profound.
Love this video.
I also googled derealization from the song and too hated what I found. One of the symptoms is feeling disconnected from loved ones and friends, almost as being sperated by a glass wall. And idk if anyone remembers after intermission he's shown cleaning a glass wall. I mean, it's just brilliant. I'm so happy that there are other people who love this piece of art. Truly inspiring.
When he said "If you haven't seen it yet..." I still paused to go watch Inside again.
I can't stop watching it.
the best analysis ive seen so far. cant wait to watch this video blow up.
This is an excellent video. I love so much about this special. Its really amazing how so much meaning is packed into each shot.
Bo's criticisms of the internet and reactions to his own special seem ironic that we are all watching, criticizing it on the internet.
Subscribing and hitting that bell with the hope I get notified for another analysis of Inside. The special is absolutely incredible, and this video is a work of art.
I wrote my thesis on Derealisation. The way he spoke about it, and even silently showed that it was loitering in the background, was wonderful but also very sad to experience. Beautiful work.
dont forget the 3rd character, us, so many directors and camera ops treat themselves at another character interacting with everyone scene
The scene where he bangs on the door to get back in is a parallel to The Truman Show. I recommend watching it and I don’t want to give away spoilers. Also after watching Inside I deactivated Facebook, and deleted Tiktok and Instagram. I stick to TH-cam and Snapchat but I will admit I’m addicted. I love shows that make me think and this special did that which is why I love it.
I suspect that none of the footage isn’t deliberate performance, especially the “behind the scenes” portions. Not that that reduces the brilliance of his direction. You’d be hard pressed to find a perfectionist satisfied with something that wasn’t completely part of their design. He parodies a motivational speech with the digital world monologue, and is very clever at creating vulnerable intimate scenes (pillowtalk), but I am skeptical that even the most mundane scenes are precisely coordinated rather than impromptu.
All those times Bo called out the lighting people, who knew he could back it up?
Everyone. He started by being his own writer/lighting guy/film crew on TH-cam.
Bo is insanely talented.
I also like how as the Internet grows faster and more full, and the song begins to get more intense we are slowly pulled closer and closer. It gets more sporadic, multiple cameras are used for quick cuts and we are just getting sucked in. The camera begins to pull away as Bo drops what is possibly the best maniacal villain laugh I have ever heard; we try to pull away as he laughs, but there is no escape now and he knows it. Good stuffs
Just gotta say, the fact that your editing is flawless is amazing and your essay is so fucking awsome. Thank you for making this.
Edit: Also love the corridor hoodie!
I was hoping someone would notice! Corridor is goated
damn, i was surprised about the number of views this video had. It’s very well done and even though it came out recently your work deserves hundreds of thousands if not millions of views.
Considering I only average about 50 views a video and only 3 videos have ever broken 1000 views, this has far surpassed any expectations I could have had! A million views would be pretty cool though not gonna lie 😅
This is the best analysis I’ve seen! Well-done!
This video kept my interest and conveyed its point SO well, good job
Personally ii would describe his new special as psychological horror. Even though there are clear moments of his performances and his normal 'Robert' side being separate, to me the fact that ii can't tell the difference between a moment he left his camera on or might've forgotten to cut a scene really feels invasive in a pure way.
Is his quick cut a way to showcase how abruptly we go from carefully crafted scenes to real life all the time, or is it as way to continuously cause unsettling feelings since most of us saw the total length and sat down to 'enjoy' it?
The heavy changes in mood, tone, editing, and themes from one moment to another feel like they're taking away our own sense of control over what we chose to focus on at any given moment. It's like when you were a kid and trying to watch tv, but someone else keeps changing the channel without any real sense of why or when it will change.
Leaning into that psychological horror theme even more, the way the split between bits or themes or performance or found footage or characters or songs or silence happens seems even more to indicate that we aren't in control, even when we think we are. Bringing in your comparison to scroll through twitter or the lyrics in Bo's "white woman's instagram" it even more showcases that we can't truly control what comes to us online. Maybe you wanted to follow a specific account somewhere to feel 'safe' or 'take a break' from the rest of the world, but even this carefully curated account will eventually break face and you'll be curb stomped into the pavement with the reality of the world once more.
Now ii really see why you'd want to make more than one video on his special. Just trying to make one point ends up spiraling because of just how much there is to say.
Of all the essays about INSIDE I’ve seen, this is the absolute best of the lot. Hands down.
I'm so thankful to know someone else feels the same about this special, it deeply impacted me and I cannot stop watching it.