Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs and Bataille's Accursed Share

[@SeaofFog]

KZbin really compresses dark videos but I still enjoyed researching and making this one! Bataille’s philosophy is utterly bizarre but so perfect for this game. If you want to see more videos like this I hope you’ll subscribe!

[@gofinholibros1546]

I Don't a English man, but, men I swear gonna learn trough this video and try to understand. Amnesia is awesome

[@pedrodeoliveirafreitasloub8883]

Can you please explain to me if the end of the game with Mandus sacrifice was good or not. I am kind of lost but the video is amazing !!

[@mikhailschipani2018]

Wish I found ya sooner, hope your doing well

[@technomad112]

Finally, a good analysis of second Amnesia. Analysed not through marxist perspective. Suprisingly, most popular analysises of second Amnesia are made through this red perspective. Maybe it shows a good picture for regular marxist narrative about how capitalism is bad but it lacks of depth and doesn't give answer for several questions.

[@meadowsin]

I don’t know if you are still active here, but as someone with a deep and everlasting love for Bataille’s works, this video is how I will share parts of Bataille’s works to people less aware, and hope to let people understand my own thought better. Thank you.

[@san.r.9139]

Does the lead character's name (Oswald Mandus) remind anyone else of that Percy Bysshe Shelley poem "Ozymandias"? "I met a traveller from an antique land, Who said-“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand, Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed; And on the pedestal, these words appear: My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

[@SeaofFog]

Personally in my top 3 poems of all time, good catch!

[@san.r.9139]

@@SeaofFog Oh wow, the creator replied! Thank you, and I love your videos!

[@ozymandiasramesses1773]

Yes.

[@werewolfarecool2]

I remember an interview with devs from The Chinese Room confirming it. Don’t remember the article in question unfortunately.

[@Medicalguy]

This is the analysis that this game needed. I remember hating it when it came out because it wasn't like Dark Descent. Now, replaying it as an adult, I have picked up all kinds of minute details and subtext that is just so incredibly well thought out.

[@Skarrier]

Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs. 20% videogame, 80% phylosophical experience.

[@skootable6578]

phenomenal

[@georgiabevard7061]

This was excellent, thank you!

[@hecklinghecker4971]

I cannot believe I haven't yet commented on this video, though it is 2 years old, I am amazed by this video it is truly great, I've watched it on different occasions because I think so often about a machine for pigs it is my favorite amnesia title by far and constantly captures my mind, I think of all the video essays I've seen on the game this one is undeniably the best in terms of what you have to say, I truly thank you for exposing me to ideas such as this and viewing the game through a different lens, I really cannot understand how much I love this video and how truly amazing it is thank you so much if you ever do read this❤

[@SeaofFog]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@kseniav586]

This is great, absolutely loved the analysis. Batailles was completely bonkers but so was the game. Everything made sense in a weird sort of way.

[@benandrew9852]

I keep coming back to this video months later because I think it's one of the best video game / phil essay crossovers I've ever watched. Stellar shit.

[@SeaofFog]

Thanks so much! I hope to have some new videos soon.

[@evelynminer8568]

I loved this video! As someone who hasn't actually played the game I could've done with a bit more detailed of a plot summary, but this thinker who I'd never heard of's ideas were so interesting and the connections so deep.

[@SeaofFog]

Thanks for the comment! It’s hard to balance plot summary and analysis without the video becoming too long, but this is something I’m always thinking about and will try to work on in future videos.

[@rosealicia1782]

That was a very interesting take on Amnesia a Machine for pigs. I enjoy philosophy and love reading others thoughts and ideas. I'll definitely take a deeper look into Bataille's works. Really, its always a pleasure to see philosophy ingrained into videogames. My favorite example being Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism in Bioshock.

[@SeaofFog]

Thanks, examining how philosophy and ideology come out in media is my aim on this channel!

[@friendlycat2617]

You've made me interested in both Amnesia and Bataille, so you've done a great job! I had previously thought of Amnesia as 'that game that Let's Players' screamed at'. And I only knew of Bataille by name. I happened to see your video in r/philosophy and I'm very glad I did! Great work!

[@corrupted6683]

This may be the best video I watched this year so long.

[@dethkon]

Amazing. Breathtaking video.

[@fireball-yj8fl]

I know you uploaded this 2 years ago, but recently I've been getting into the works of bataille and this has been a great introduction to send to people to get a synopsis of his beliefs along with just being a great video using the game as an allegory.

[@williamlayton4038]

Hope to see more content from you going forward. I had no idea that Machine for Pigs and Cruelty Squad explored the same themes in such an overlapping way while being set in completely different time periods.

[@nemtudom5074]

Damn. This is a good essay!

[@johnrash496]

This deserves so much more recognition!!!!

[@locksh]

Interesting stuff man. Is it just me or does the text from the game that you quote even reminiscent of Bataille? Particularly mentioning eggs and the sun, and the literary style in general as well.

[@SeaofFog]

I completely agree, it feels like the devs must have read Bataille haha.

[@antivalidisme5669]

This piece of work deserves so many more views in my humble opinion. Brilliant. A Machine for pigs' writing is incredible. I found the game so disturbing that I only finished it three days ago, though I launched it for the first time years ago. To be frank I've never read Bataille's work, only some extracts and commenting- yep quite lame for a French guy 0 excuse- but I can tell you I will never see Egyptian's mythology the same way. Take care, so glad I discovered your chan after I finished the game!

[@SeaofFog]

Thanks so much!

[@MattCiccarelli]

Fantastic, fantastic video, surely one of the best video essays on gaming/philosophy I've seen recently!

[@SeaofFog]

Thank you so much!

[@gofinholibros1546]

Need more of this!! Mateo, Do you share other videos like this? I gratefully appreciated

[@slugstart]

Hopefully, you're still alive and well. Very interesting video to say the least, I would have never made this connection. Thanks for making this video, I've only had a small introduction of Bataille and want to come this once I've read more of his work.

[@scirrhia_kruden]

An incredible analysis, wonderfully produced. Very impressive!

[@papichulo4171]

Here from Infrared, great video 👍

[@Stupidiusity]

That was absolutely incredible! Great analysis, makes me want to read Bataille's work AND play Amnesia.

[@evanjack958]

Great video! I think you could have contrasted Land’s work on Bataille with this game as well. Especially the anti-humanism of Land’s interpretation of Nietzsche and Bataille.

[@SeaofFog]

Good call! I haven’t read Land yet but I’ve been meaning to.

[@franlovelsimic8421]

Now that's a crossover I didn't know I needed. Makes complete sense too! If it weren't for Deathspell Omega, the French avant-garde black metal icons, I would've probably went a year or two more before stumbling upon Bataille. As it turns out, Plebeian Grandstand, another French avant-garde black metal band, is highly influenced by Bataille, to a point of naming one of their songs "Part Maudite". It's on the Rien Ne Suffit album which I absolutely recommend if you're feeling brave. And ofc DSO's Furnaces Of Paligensia. I feel both of these albums perfectly capture Bataille's main ideas. Also, what do you think would be the best place to start with his work? Would really appreciate some form of direction (am lazy haha). In any case, amazing video and I hope you're not taking a permanent break, this platform needs more stuff like this! Cheers.

[@bloodsonnet]

I don’t understand bataille, but I like the idea of understanding him. Great video btw!

[@buccob]

Awesome video. I never played AMFP but I did played The Dark Descent a lot... and I love SOMA as well.. This video made me realize that I never played the game due to critical reviews that might have been unfounded or misunderstood.

[@SeaofFog]

SOMA might just be the most philosophical game in existence.

[@buccob]

@@SeaofFog yes I adore that game please make a video like this one about SOMA!

[@gofinholibros1546]

@@SeaofFog I never played SOMA, but go ahead with a video!!!

[@rosealicia1782]

4:09 Feels like a similar experience I had playing Kitty Horrorshow's game, Anatomy.

[@joshuaweston6531]

This is THE best analysis video I've seen of this game. Very intriguing and well explained! Seriously, every other video just wants to say how it's not as good as The Dark Descent...finally, someone who appreciates it!

[@wafflepoet5437]

Fucking beautiful work and absolutely *superlative* reading of Bataille!

[@ocean2170]

Amazing video, very well put. Ive never played A Machine for Pigs but this is certainly convincing me to give it a try. I happened across this video in searching about Bataille's Accursed Share because another game that came out recently called "Cruelty Squad" uses it as literary inspiration too. Check that out if anyone sees this comment and you're interested, fantastic game.

[@uniinvolved]

fantastic

[@aprilborn199x]

I love your view on this. I feel like with yours and the other analysis videos I've seen I've gained a better understanding of the narrative. ❤

[@CultistOfNimrod]

This is truly an amazing analysis, great work!

[@mikhailschipani2018]

So I suppose I should of played this game back on the day when I had time to do things like that

[@hanwenlinda864]

I read Bataille but never connected this game to his works….awesome essay dude

[@awesomeguy0209]

Great video mate. You're exceptionally creative.

[@6voxra173]

great vid on bataille even though I've never played the second amnesia, very cool

[@gofinholibros1546]

Almost the 1000 sub Big hug from Colombia, such amazing video

[@ChrisMathers3501]

I finally played A Machine For Pigs. Now all I really want to see is Oswald Mandus get in a fight with Bioshock's Andrew Ryan.

[@buboclan]

great content, underrated channel!

[@MultiKillerjoe]

You know i thought this was least scariest till the new amnesia came out now i can enjoy this one.

[@ricardosalinas6005]

great video! never thought about amnesia as an art piece, i was too young, stupid and hateful of horror stuff when it launched lol. made me want to finally go play it

[@SeaofFog]

Great to hear, hope you enjoy!

[@sthlng2180]

How come you don't have more subscribers? Well, at least there's a chance you will see this then Beautifully crafted video. I usually avoid game essays or retrospectvies until I play said game myself, but since I had A:TMP spoiler for me long ago and needed something in the background, oh well. Not to call myself stupid but usually a lot of themes like this one tend to fly over my head. But now, with the knowledge of the underlying substance and the inspiration it takes from these books, (which I also really want to read now), I can't wait to play the game and appreciate it to the full extent. I'll definitely share this one around, you got yourself a new sub.

[@jacobhenderson7699]

Incredible content. Keep it up

[@FungiiDraws]

OBSESSED with this video, watched it 3 times in a row

[@admiralabnormal944]

Fantastic video, instant subscribe.

[@lambda113]

brilliant video

[@mr.x6313]

Moral of the story: the Aztecs were sick bastards.

[@absencespodcast]

Wonderfully done!

[@SeaofFog]

Thank you!

[@Jesseraniba]

brainstorming analysis , gj king

[@admiralabnormal944]

I always assumed the was just about capitalism but always felt like I was missing something. With what you said in mind I'm gonna go replay the game soon.

[@Gelld]

Brilliant.

[@leftunity8627]

This was incredible 😍

[@lacephalous4672]

Amazing.

[@mattmedrala1947]

I'd like to see more works analyze the Justine entry as a story that works in conjunction with Pigs' themes. I've always considered it to be an even more overlooked entry than Pigs, which is a shame because its literary inspiration of de Sade is something which intertwines really well with Pigs' incredibly bleak view of class warfare and imperialism. The Amnesia games benefit from emphasizing the horrors of the past...which is partly why I feel Rebirth squandered its great potential by focusing too much on its 'alien' world to the point that it obscures the actions of 1930s colonial societies.

[@SeaofFog]

I didn’t know about the connection to de Sade, thank you!

[@mattmedrala1947]

@@SeaofFog Justine Florbelle is named for two of de Sade's works: the titular heroine of 'Justine', a young girl who gets tortured by all manner of corrupt authority figures, and an unfinished and destroyed manuscript called 'Les Journees de Florbelle'. I think this literary connection helps give a little more context into exactly what is happening in that game's story.

[@ZombieDragQueen]

Alternative soundtrack for the game: Coil's album "Scatology".

[@picaweltschmerz6357]

Your work deserves more views. Brilliantly done!

[@robber233]

the sun is rotten releasing excrement... (remembers the loathsome dung eater) so that explains the sun on his armor.

[@tubeman5987]

12:29. on a hot day: there really is a lot of sun shit today

[@ldar831]

Really great vid, linked it on a Bataille group on facebook, it needs to be seen. Will you make a vid on Sunless Sea ? There is some great material in there

[@SeaofFog]

Been meaning to play that one, thanks for the suggestion.

[@ldar831]

@@SeaofFog mechanics can be a bit poor sadly but the litterary and philosophical value can make up for it (i recommand also looking into its parent game "fallen London", set in the same universe, it is trully enormous in size, but there are a few wikis here and there that might give you enough info on the background and more esoteric parts)

[@938oooo]

I love this game

[@938oooo]

Damn this was deep

[@talabackland8127]

Is that Toby Longworth? So weird hearing his voice on something not warhammer related

[@bloopperi4436]

amazing video, I came here from the red flood discord (red flood is a hearts of iron mod that has bataille as a central character) by the way, are you planning on making any more videos in the future? :)

[@SeaofFog]

Yes, I am currently working on a large video that has required a lot of research!

[@bloopperi4436]

@@SeaofFog nice dude that's great to hear since I just discovered your channel :D

[@PulsatingShadow]

Now do a video on Nick Land.

[@mystic1852]

I'm from Reddit.

[@yibabel]

Who's here from infrared☀️🦍

[@SeaofFog]

That was a fun stream!

[@xMorogothx]

CONSOOOOOM