Bo Burnham and the Trap of Parasocial Self-Awareness | 'INSIDE' Movie Review (video essay)

[@AnuskaDhar]

hi lovely people!! 💞💞 i'm so blown away by all your support and extremely thoughtful comments (and an extra thank you to all the people who've subscribed as well! 🥺❤️). i wish i could respond to all of you, but now that the video has gotten so many eyes on it, reading some of the more negative comments has taken a bit of a toll on my mental health (constructive criticism is ofc always welcome!! but the ones i'm speaking of here are just flat out mean lol). again, those are far and few between as the majority have been so extremely kind and encouraging, and i wish those negative ones wouldn't affect me so much, but alas i am human! but just know i appreciate the amazing discussion happening here (it's all i could ever want as a bo burnham fan haha) as well as all the love you've shown for the vid and i can't wait to get working on some more video essays for y'all 🥰

[@uzih]

Make what you love! And don't read the comments! Even the best case is they will make you feel good and you will want to please your audience. Express don't impress!

[@mark_makes]

@@uzih well said. And great video 💯

[@krudmonger]

I'm sorry that you got tossed into the maw of The KZbin Algorithm, though also congrats. As for the negativity, just remember that literally every single successful video on this platform has negative comments and dislikes, simply because there are people out there who that is how they've chosen to spend their time. I've seen puppy adoption/rescue videos that had mean comments. How can someone be mean to a puppy? I mean really. Anyway. As others have suggested, ignore the comments, even the good ones.

[@Klay_Dubya]

You did a fantastic job and this was really well worded!~

[@Tr0ttingF0x]

I almost never comment, but I had to for this one. Fantastic video. Especially for a first time essay. Stay safe out here.

[@HarrisonEast]

His target audience (intentional or otherwise) is a generation of increasingly self-aware individuals. Some are more self-aware than others but thanks to the digital world we've grown up in, Millenials and GenZ learn to observe themselves in comparison to the world around them, instead of the world itself, from a very young age. I honestly think he is a pioneer for new-age thinking and those that can relate to his content should seek comfort in the fact that you're clearly not alone.

[@eall1652]

To put this in perspective, when Gen X was younger, it was extremely common for people to argue that Gen X was distinct specifically for the reasons you are attributing to Millennials and Gen Z. Unlike previous generations, they were supposed to be more self-aware of themselves in the context of media representations. It was part of the package of stereotyping Gen X'ers as being prone to layers of self-aware irony.

[@AnuskaDhar]

what an insightful comment, thanks for sharing! i totally agree that it just seems we're getting more self-aware with each generation and while those levels of consciousness can be overwhelming at times, i like the reminder that at least we're all in it together!

[@doofyoofy6805]

4

[@doofyoofy6805]

5

[@HarrisonEast]

​@@AnuskaDhar I really think a sense of comradare is important if we're going to move forward in this digital space. As negativity becomes increasingly easier to see, compared to positivity (online) - we need to shift the perspective from being individuals online, to a community. Put emphasis on the importance of focusing on the positive, like-minded people that you share this world with ❤️

[@MadisonLa369]

“Burnham’s self awareness does not relieve him of his pain” thank you for that quote. This really ties in with sharing info graphics on ig and online and feeling like people knowing about stuff isn’t the solution. It makes a lot of sense why there’s information fatigue. Knowing something doesn’t change the situation and it may even be worse to know about something bad that you won’t take action to improve on.

[@justinallen2408]

Or simply can't take action because you need more than one to do so

[@dahveedb7550]

So true man! I feel bad for the people that live like that

[@razikboston3414]

He even says something along the lines of self-awareness doesn't make you less of an asshole in his special (when he was reacting to the reaction to his reaction...part)

[@KaraokeDeepCuts]

Yeah my self awareness is often very frustrating lol

[@soliddragon5571]

You're right, just knowing is not the solution, but identifying and learning about the problem are the first steps towards solving it

[@gabyrivera1731]

I liked that part in his white woman's instagram skit where the camera widens outs as the veneer of shallow stereotype falls away and the character is humanized, only to return to the portrait orientation and break the tension.

[@cdsackett]

The part where her mom died?

[@verymud578]

@@cdsackett yes

[@aryn800]

I agree. I also think that it's a great representation of scrolling through social media. You'll see a bunch of random, shallow posts, but there's the occasional novel of a post that pulls you in a little deeper.

[@amypatterson7395]

I still haven’t seen how it plays in the special, since I accidentally started watching in the middle, but I’ve heard the song and that part (as someone whose mother died while I was young) really caught me off guard and very suddenly made me start crying in my boyfriend’s car. Bo is very talented and thoughtful and insightful, and I really hope he takes care of himself and his mental health.

[@raelynng1795]

A GOAT CHEESE SALAD

[@Virgil300]

I’m not gonna lie his Netflix special is very good and hands down recommend but it shook and startled me to my very core when you start seeing the moment when he just changes

[@AnuskaDhar]

omg for sure, i'm such a bo burnham fan, and this show was definitely a wild ride in so many ways haha

[@Virgil300]

@@AnuskaDhar oh definitely I didn’t get into him until his stand up what. But everything he performs is not just edgy or relatable but it’s also telling something about himself that’s why this one was so shocking. But again loved it, great, hope that mans ok though with everything lifting lol.

[@AnuskaDhar]

same! i feel like people would share his youtube videos way back when, but "what" was the show that really introduced me to him because i was a bit older and actually could appreciate his stuff more. i totally agree, he's so vulnerable especially in this one! and ofc, can only hope the best for everyone transitioning into a post-covid world lol

[@calebwilliams586]

Yea I watched it expecting a generic comedy special and by the end I felt like I got tricked into watching Schindler's List.

[@samanthapurdy2053]

That stuff really got to me. It broke my heart. You can see the pain inside of him and his much he's been suffering and fighting his own mind.

[@CeruleanTrafficlight]

Maybe the most harrowing thing about Inside is, while some aspects of it were explicitly shaped by the pandemic, I feel like most of it would have resonated just as hard with me had it been created and released beforehand. Bo's self-imposed confinement and expressions of socially-reinforced isolation, or at least disconnection, have been issues for some for years now, and the literal confinement of most people ''inside'' during the lockdowns has only given the special a broader, topical appeal to the very content machine Bo villianizes in "Welcome to the Internet". I think it's really interesting how the pandemic propelled the messages of Inside from what may once have been a niche into the public consciousness. I just had that thought and wanted to get it out even though it isn't the focus of this essay, because this one has me thinking. Well done!

[@VanNessy97]

I actually danced to Welcome to the Internet

[@GraceT]

Same- I was agoraphobic before the pandemic, and the only thing the pandemic did was give me an excuse for why to stay inside.

[@AnuskaDhar]

wow what a thoughtful comment, thank you for sharing!! and YES to all of what you're saying here, i was just talking to a friend the other day about how i felt like a lot of the written reviews by big publications on the special focused heavily on the quarantine/pandemic aspect of it, and while yes that was a large part of it bc it was perhaps the impetus or context that it was created in, there were so many topics/problems it explored that were just as relevant before and will continue to be after the pandemic! that's actually one of the reasons why i wanted to write a review of my own - i wanted to start a conversation that included a couple of those other aspects, so i'm glad to know other people were thinking the same thing! :)

[@poopsnatcher]

for real! at surface level the film presents the events as taking place over quarantine, but its speaking more on the entire generations of people growing up with the real world acting as a stage for the digital space. this aspect needs to be talked about more😩

[@carlybun231]

I agree absolutely. I've been traveling for work for three years now and the internet has been my only social lifeline. The isolation I used to feel suddenly became commonplace during the pandemic and ironically I was able to socialize with my friends (via the internet) more than ever before. I think this is part of the reason why this special struck so deep for me. COVID only brought these feelings out of the niche it was and made it more relatable for the majority of people.

[@hellopeople1013]

The ending of him on the spotlight locked out is the perfect visual of agoraphobia

[@AnuskaDhar]

ooooh yes the image is so powerful!

[@lukesousa9986]

Fun fact: Was an omage to an Andy Kaufmann bit

[@mscoolchik]

the bit where he says he's not well and breaks into tears is startling and uncomfortable at first, but as the zoom starts, you can see the way his shoulders are heaving almost dramatically, and it took me a second watch to realize that he's crying exactly the way he does in the video game section. really made me realize just how performative it was. even towards the end, the part where he keeps getting choked up trying to talk about finishing the special is also extremely performative. like how easy would it have been to just cut around the parts of him getting truly emotional? how much of it was an act, and how much was real, and how did he decide to include what was actually real, retroactively making it a performance for us to consume?

[@a.carneirozhu8104]

right?? and that part where he keeps re-shooting the same line of dialogue and freaking out, is that in the script? or is it authentic? does it matter? also really adored that part in the first song where he's writing the lyrics while singing them, seemed like foreshadowing for the ever-increasing intimacy of the whole special.

[@Rosiewithlove]

The irony is never ending in the special. The whole time he talks about how everything about him has been fake to please his audience, everything is scripted and estimated to adhere to the capitalist goal of making money of f of mass consumerism.... but all the emotional parts in the special could very well have been scripted. It’s like now the entertainment industry is aware that people are aware and they are now just feeding off of it exactly like they used to feed on us before.... through money and respectability !

[@erinpeterson3202]

see the thing is that unstaged is not necessarily the same thing as authentic. i think the special is anything but unstaged, but i do think its incredibly authentic

[@4dultw1thj0b]

I don't think it really is an "either/or". When you experience the kind of disassociation Bo shows in this special, even the most genuine despair can feel fake and abstract and removed from yourself. Especially as a performer or any kind of creative person, the line gets really blurry when you're constantly mining emotions for inspiration. And I think Inside is all about that, those layers of alienation and numbness.

[@soph.b6054]

@@4dultw1thj0b wow I had to take a second there. You pointed out something that I've been experiencing that has been incredibly confusing to me. It's exactly how you worded it, whenever I've felt despair and I break down crying it feels strangely fake? Even though it's coming from a genuine place of pain, it feels like I'm acting. Perhaps that's why I related a lot to ''Inside', especially when Burnham talks about this disassociation. Maybe that's something I should look into

[@xboxnameQuest04]

I love how this special is based on being locked in because of COVID but he doesn’t mention COVID once...Perfect

[@ResidentZombie0000]

"...and then the funniest thing happened"

[@xboxnameQuest04]

@@ResidentZombie0000 *(Crowd laughing)

[@GeeEmOh]

And “Human to human contact will kill you” 😬

[@xboxnameQuest04]

@@GeeEmOh Facts

[@nickclark9481]

That thin line between the audience laughing with or at him is probably a big source of his anxiety/panic attacks. this whole special (to me) is his best attempt to not care about his anxieties and failing. And, if he cannot overcome his fears with no audience present, then maybe he wont be able to return to comedy on stage. Whether or not this is just an act or his true feelings, I can relate to struggling with irrational thoughts and the internal struggle of what I am and what I want to be. The frustration of having zero control over my mental health will forever frighten me.

[@llamaglitter]

One may never have full control over one`s mental health inherently, but one may question it and take personal control back from it. Asking questions and being constructively critical. Working on defining where the line goes between the subconscious stream of irrational thoughts, and the peace and stability of the conscious self. Finding peace with life`s inevitability also helps.

[@keekskage3490]

Right like the time where he says “wanna here a funny story?” He adds in a laughing and cheering crowd that’s laughing with him/ encouraging him. While when he says “then the funniest thing happened” the crowd laughs AT him.

[@Audistin98]

@@llamaglitter Well said

[@technocarp]

I remember watching Inside for the first time and feeling genuinely hurt from the 'self awareness doesn't absolve anyone of anything' quote, because i've justified my constant dizzying self-awareness and criticism as a positive thing that can enable me to avoid being a bad person. Hearing it impacted me more than anything else in the special as I secretly knew it to be true, and that my 'self-awareness' was destroying me mentally, and didn't actually stop me from doing the wrong thing. Thank you so much for commenting on this part, it means a lot that it resonated with others too.

[@Suzanne4415]

(Just to be 100% sure, you realize him saying that isn't to be taken exactly at face value, right? It's said as part of his rapid descent into ultimately crippling, unproductive and just uncalled for self-criticism in that scene. There's some truth to it but it's also ridiculously harsh.)

[@yerpedy]

another thing i really love about this special is how he has fewer and fewer clothes on with basically every number, which i think has something to do with how honest and "bare" he is on any given musical number. also all eyes on me is the best song fucking @me

[@TomLube]

I feel like nobody is grasping on how he's wearing the same outfit he wore for Make Happy when he's singing "Hands Up" and I think it's very very much done on purpose based on the 'bareness' of his outfits like you said

[@AnuskaDhar]

ooooh yes i love this insight!! i noticed a lot of the color symbolism going on too with his outfits, someone could totally do a whole essay on just the clothing!

[@stonecat676]

when he went back to sing about "jefferey bezos" to run away from his feelings he put on full camouflage suit

[@JayJayJyeBoy]

@@stonecat676 I honestly thought he was dressed as a weed nugget. Firstly because it's funny. But secondly because Amazon (and worker exploitation as well as the capitalist idolisation of the idea of ultimate wealth in Bezos escorting ultimate convenience for customer) is a drug.

[@xanpeepo]

as for the sobbing on camera I personally think it's a skit and he is acting in that moment. he has moments where you think he is just being genuine and it isn't planned but then you remember the skit from an older special he did where he "accidentally" drops a water bottle and then 10 seconds later reveales that it was all part of the plan and his entire performance on stage is predetermined. just a personal opinion but nonetheless it thought I would share.

[@erinpeterson3202]

as i saw it put in another analysis of the special, dishonesty is not the same thing as inauthenticity. it is very clear throughout the special that everything is staged, planned, and acted, but that doesnt mean that it isnt an authentic insight into his mental state and the emotions he is hoping to convey

[@brockbierly]

this is one of the best videos about the special ive seen, no “This isnt comedy. its cinema!!! “ or “ENDING EXPLAINED” just very good analysis

[@yerpedy]

i saw the same "not comedy its cinema" vid like 5 mins ago lol

[@tmaxgo6696]

@@yerpedy yeah, i don't see what the problem with that one is, but. guess since there's only 3 videos its a 33% chance

[@AnuskaDhar]

wow thank you!! definitely wanted to avoid watching everyone else's vids before i posted mine because i didn't want to subconsciously just end up using the same points and i was also like this is just gonna intimidate me while trying to write my take bc i knew there was no way i could get my vid out before the pros hahah so i'm glad i could provide a unique perspective!

[@darkmoon1883]

I can relate to this a lot, I feel like he personally called me out on this. I’m self aware to an intense degree and it affects my life a lot. I’m always paying attention to every action I take and every word I say. And it causes me to not show my personality too much around others, which in most cases makes me not like able and difficult for people to be around me. Self awareness is my excuse in these situations, though it doesn’t fix it. And at this point I don’t think I’m going to get any better. Great video, very well explained.

[@justinallen2408]

There's only been a select few that I have felt comfortable enough with to show my personality and guess what ! Fucking lost them all to either distance, death, or my own derangement and over analyzing. They come along in your life and you have to struggle to keep em.

[@tibianelnair8714]

You can get better you need to detox from the internet this overstimulation is killing us and our sense of growth we grow so much in such a short period of time that we end up stunted we want to grow more but we can’t we can’t we are not g to wing anymore we’re just suffering which leads to death. We need to stop learning in order to learn and start feeling in order to live. I beg you start to focus less on who you are and start focusing on who we are, feeling and sympathy is much more fulfilling then intelligence, sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with my thoughts that I start to block them cause I can’t and I won’t deal with them, open your blinds, talk to others, see life and stop focusing on one frame when you can look at the entire film. This is also partially a letter to myself. Healing takes time but it’s possible don’t lose hope. Questions? Ask me I would love to help.

[@darkmoon1883]

@@tibianelnair8714 Thanks for your suggestion, due to quarantine I interact with the internet much more than I did before. As if the internet was my friend that supported me and my mental health, even though it actually made it worse. I think it’s a thing that should be mentioned more because the people around me have experienced it as well. But even my friends have admitted that they might not have tried to get to know me if I met them today. Both of these elements kind of affect how I interact with people and I think it might cause me some issues. I’m just wondering what to do and I’m sure others are in similar situations as well. And I hope everyone here finds support in at least one person around them, and recognize when someone is making the situation worse. Even if I am opening up to people on the internet rather than the people around me, no offense I’m sure you’re all amazing

[@janinebohl7488]

maybe the solution is to test out showing more, and focusing on the other person instead of yourself. people will feel more comfortable around you if you show flaws or are being weird. then they would feel they can be themselves more, too. This is probably easier said than done, but yeah. Idk, i think i have kind of adopted a sort of clown persona i tend to show, and maybe it is very fake while trying to be authentic

[@ifisawyourreplyiwillanswerback]

Honestly I don’t know what’s better having no self awareness or having too much of self awareness. Usually having no self awareness can harm other people but too much can be harmful for oneself.

[@JakDRipa]

“We are unsure if it is us holding him captive or him holding us captive” This is truly brilliant analysis and I can’t wait to hear more.

[@winterquinnhawkings]

I’m saying this un ironically, (knowing I sound like some “I’m 14 and this is deep” post), but Bo’s special is honestly very philosophical, and somehow oddly, showcases the human mind suffering from consciousness.

[@N3ONLUV]

suffering from consciousness, I like that

[@winterquinnhawkings]

@@N3ONLUV :,) thank you.

[@jeffreyclifton9928]

@@winterquinnhawkings "Suffering from consiousness" That is something I wish I didn't understand.

[@winterquinnhawkings]

@@jeffreyclifton9928 it is why suffering is the only thing all humans share.

[@edmonterey5138]

Jaden Smith

[@meinzingera]

I normally stay away from bo burnham analysis videos, cause I find people just rehash the points that he's made in the performance without actually adding to the conversation, but this was great!! very insightful commentary

[@AnuskaDhar]

i'm so glad to hear i could add something to the mix, thank you!!

[@samanthapurdy2053]

When he said that line "googling derealization, hating what you find" it gave me chills I know that feeling. I've been suffering from extreme anxiety since I was 13. I am pretty sure I have a dissociative disorder as well. It happens a lot. He's so real and self aware and genuinely concerned about humanity. He is definitely my favorite comedian. He's not just a comedian, he is an artist.

[@juliannehannes11]

It's not your fault, our generation was conditioned into vicariously living through others real or imaginary and to avidly compare ourselves to the mountain of our peers showing their best digitally curated and manipulated image of themselves and their milestone clout that makes feeling actual self confidence impossible and turns fomo into a serious regret and deep insecurity.

[@RagnarokB]

I feel you far too strongly on this one. I'm lucky enough to say that it isn't extreme, but I started suffering from anxiety and panic attacks about 16 or 17 years ago myself, and right around the same time I was experiencing moments of... Not so much derealization as much as depersonalization. Not. Fun. At all.

[@TannerBraungardt]

Holy insightful articulation… you’re great at this!!

[@alexjacobs6867]

omg is it the acc tanner bragnart. that’s so swag fam

[@expchrist]

@Anuska Dhar You are great at this, I hope you create more of this type of content.

[@AnuskaDhar]

ahh tysm!! 🥺💞 means a lot coming from a creator clearly a lot of people love watching!

[@samotoole7712]

Oh wow it's Tenner Bratwurst

[@JacobRyann]

wasn't expecting you to be here

[@BenKuyt64]

"Get your fucking hands up" is also very much a view of the outer world forcing people to do stuff while also saying this isn't about you. "Hands Up, don't shoot" has been said hundreds of times in the last years, and most people will go to rallies, post on instagram, etc. Get your hands up, make a difference, but this is about ME. I'M being good. I'M showing you that I care. And then they go back to their homes.

[@mapleleaf65]

It's been hard to put into words, but there is some discomfort seeing this special get processed through the digital lens that it's commenting about. I've seen so many fanarts, memes, etc. Even idolization of someone talking about a very real human condition we're all in. A show with a lot of humility and uncomfortable truths. I'm commenting on a youtube about it, so I'm in the maze as well lol

[@user-es7ui5mc1m]

oh my god this, I had this really weird moment a few days ago where i saw welcome to the internet on tiktok a bunch of times and had to step away from my phone for a bit because i felt like it was all pointless and everyone was kind of agreeing with the special and everything bo points out in it but not changing anything (obviously the tiktoks were just a symptom of a wider problem but they were a few of the specific instances that made me question how the internet is responding to the special)

[@maybepolly_]

@@user-es7ui5mc1m it basically feels like the system is still working as intended, and people are so bombarded by info that even this very clear wake-up call just gets drowned into the noise. we know what he means, but we don't have the energy to think about it, and the human brain runs from anything that feels uncomfortable. better make a funny meme about how you can only sing this part if you're neurodivergent and ignore the rest!

[@chuckpearls]

this is exactly how I’ve felt. I was at work the other day and it was super hot outside, and a girl I work with starts filming herself out in the sun and I hear her add the the audio “how is everybody tonight? I am not feeling good!” as she posts the tiktok to her account. it made me chuckle, because how meta is this? but also, how eerie. we’re all missing the point and getting the point and then moving on a million times. I don’t know how to feel anymore. this special made me feel so seen and so scared for us and so confused

[@grace-rz4ho]

thankyou this is exactly what ive been feeling but had no idea how to word it

[@sstephens630]

Yes, completely. I personally loved this video analysis and a few others I've seen. They're very well thought out and seem to be coming from a place of genuine care. We're all trying to deconstruct Bo's incredible film and the internet is the only place we can gush about it unless we have a friend who is just as enamored haha. But the reaction videos make me roll my eyes and knowing that TikTok is blowing up just hurts. There are so many layers of irony, I can't handle it! I hope Bo sees comment threads like this though. Like, we get it. And people who genuinely loved "Inside" would be at his possible future stand-up shows. Hopefully that would give him some comfort knowing his live audience members appreciate him as a human. But then maybe that's too much pressure and adoration, and what got him into this mess in the first place? Bo, look what this film did to us haha

[@JadedOne420]

"Self-awareness does not absolve anybody of anything" hit me hard

[@yellowfoxwontshutup420]

When I watched Make Happy, I cried during the last song because I was worried about him. When I watched this, I didn’t cry like that. Because instead of just feeling worried… I understand. I’m empathetic. I feel like I’ve said some of these very things to myself in my worst moments. It’s so beautiful yet simple yet complex and nuanced, and the thing that kills me the most is that everyone always feels this pressure but it’s so hard for some people to deal with especially on top of mental illness and trauma. Life is hard. That’s why the small things are so important, we have to take everything we can get. And we have to keep remembering that as individuals there is an inherent unique value in each of us. No one can make our art except us

[@N3ONLUV]

thank you very much

[@AllenSmithe]

Thank you for saying all that. I felt really uncomfortable with Make Happy because you could feel it in his performance, not just that he was unhappy but seemingly losing faith. A lot of people seemed to be really worried about him after first seeing this special but I was actually relieved! Like, thank god he's actually going for it! He's dropping almost all of the veneer that I think is what made him so miserable. I know it's dark, but I think this will be healing for him, and for many of us as well.

[@Waitwhat469]

I feel like some of his performance really hits the "an artist tells a lie to convey the truth" kind of moment.

[@honglouis]

“My pain is constant and sharp, and I do not hope for a better world for anyone. In fact, I want my pain to be inflicted on others. I want no one to escape. But even after admitting this, there is no catharsis; my punishment continues to elude me, and I gain no deeper knowledge of myself.”

[@honglouis]

- American Psycho (finishing quote)

[@THEDONTTELLSHOW]

Jesus Christ, that is the best review of Inside I've seen.

[@evobe]

love that movie, love that quote, expresses so much of the world today. Yeah I'm shit, the world is shit, and I hope it burns and everyone else along with it too. But until then...YOLO!!!!

[@notyourmum7883]

wow that's spot on

[@Andy-Bodhi]

I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy

[@arielle222]

I had a totally different interpretation the second time I watched it! The very last thing we see after everything is Bo smile. Like we relate most to that silently watching version of him. And so that smile, it made me feel like...after all his questioning and self-aware meta-ception stuff; he didn't heal the world or anything but he made himself laugh a lil. He probably made us laugh. And it's just comedy and he's just a kid doing comedy and that's that's all it was ever supposed to be. Just something to make us grin for at least half a second. And for a moment we're right there with him, smiling at the silly comedian's antics together...och! So smart. So...weirdly gentle? The very idea of even for a moment being able to distract himself from his own pain with humor and that being both tiny but also huge...and that very idea encapsulating watching a netflix special during a quarantine? Good shit!

[@generalkenobidaily4642]

Seeing Bo go from this clean cut, short hair to an unkept mountain man was one of the most jarring moments

[@RO_JD]

When I saw Bo in a neater state at the start of goodbye, I thought he had finally found himself, only to see that it was just the past and that the present stays the same

[@missartist123]

I think a lot of people are missing a huge thing with the socko skit. Near the end he literally shows how white supremacy continues with tone policing(as well as literal abusive behavior) and taking away socko’s life because it was getting annoying and inconvenient to Bo’s character, him being a white male.

[@artisticboyo7820]

it also is just a message about how often an ignorant white person will completely shut down or opinions about social issues that make them look bad or that they don't agree with or if its something they can't "fix". There was a word that I was thinking of but I forgot what it was. It basically completely explained what Im trying to say but since I forgot it I tried to explain as best as I could. Sorry if its hard to understand

[@enzomthethwa5861]

As a person of color who is also queer, I totally got it! In fact, I was amazed that there was a rich white man who actually understood our struggle and was actively exposing the white supremacist capitalist hetero patriarchy's agenda!

[@chrisbarry9345]

Who missed it huh. Pretty clear

[@artisticboyo7820]

@@chrisbarry9345 why comment this? what point was there to commenting this?

[@hiffahyphae6707]

@@chrisbarry9345 I’m sure a lot of people missed it. May have dismissed it as bo making it more dark and looked past its actual meaning.

[@auttyauttyoxenfree]

I already struggled with derealization, depersonalization and existentialism driven dissociative out of body panic attacks when I was 16-17 so thank god I don’t have really any reason to Google it all for myself now, ten years later. I truly felt trapped and doomed, like I would never be free from the cursed hell of anxiety, til I embraced that maybe I never will be, and maybe I can learn to live alongside these fears and feelings and challenge them head on like a terrifying rollercoaster. It gave my an entirely new outlook on life. I still struggle with my bad days, everyone does, breaking down is a part of life. But it doesn’t have to mean I’m trapped this way forever. I am incredibly grateful to be able to say that I haven’t felt like I was out of my body since I was 17 years old.

[@evobe]

I remember that first feeling of full consciousness, that's what I call it now, absolute awareness that you're a being that has edges and an end. It made me dizzy and scared cause I was so young, I can't say anything about your struggles except it sounds like you're very human and awake and it's hard to be that way sometimes. I hope medicine and time help.

[@carfincap]

It’s so common and accompanies aware people on any awakening journey to higher self. You are intelligent aware and connected to source energy. I don’t know if you have experienced any psychic and or higher dimensional realms. But ppl like us do. It’s pretty amazing and happens through kundalini yoga, mediation and the pineal gland-your body releasing DHT. I and not going to explain b/c it sounds cra but this is what you will experience when you seek healing for mental healthy issues like you describe, addictions, cancer, some cancer, ptsd, autoimmune diseases-all disease is just stress trapped in the body-healers can lighten you literally. Well you end up doing after sort of model how. Crazy stuff. What you feel is the most intense gush of loves and connection.

[@carfincap]

No. I promise it goes away. Then you’ll experience diff painful stuff as you process the trauma that caused all of that and vice verse around 40-and kinda realize your whole story backwards. Life’s a hoot:

[@skylerjones2689]

As a 17 year old who's currently struggling with the same thing, debilitating dissocation and panic attacks this gives me some hope, thanks for that

[@autumnb1626]

oh my god ive watched like too many video essays on Inside, but this one is by far my favorite. youre so articulate and did a great job analyzing it. wonderful vid!!

[@AnuskaDhar]

ahh thank you so much, so kind!! i've already started to go down the rabbit hole watching people's reactions to the special as well, now that my own take it out there haha

[@GamerBadger82]

The deep irony (or tragedy) that most of the reaction videos and essays are by “the white guy on the internet” type that Bo is mocking in “Comedy”

[@autumnb1626]

@@GamerBadger82 ikr! i kept thinking about that too. and the guy would be like “i know i’m exactly who he’s talking about but..” but nothing dude. also like bo said, being self aware doesn’t absolve you of anything. just another reason this video is much better than others

[@lilybolanos9301]

I’m fairly empathetic and find myself connecting with people online too often and create a lot of parasocial relationships and I trust them and I trust their feelings. I trusted his feeling and had such a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that it was a script. Some of those “candid” feelings just weren’t and I have such a hard time understanding that despite the fact that he says it over and over that he is a performer.

[@mahnoor2775]

Me too! I STILL do, even though I have read enough to know that its most likely all scripted to the dot, but everytime I watch something of his that I have already seen MULTIPLE times, it makes me feel for him and even worry. Lol. Which is stoopid and makes me feel stupid for caring too much. So I am trying to self reflect and myself NOT be like this too much and trying to learn how to maintain a distance (is it good? Is it bad? Does it add to the experience? Is it an outlet for suppressed feelings? Am I projecting?) UGHH. So many feelings. Sidenote: i really loved reading a comment that echoed my thoughts ❤

[@SoICanComment163]

I love the bit about culpability at the end! After I finished the special, I felt almost guilty for enjoying it, like it was unethical for me to have so much enjoyment out of genuine distress filtered through the lens of art. Logically I know I have never personally done anything to Bo to contribute to his struggles, in fact I'd like to think that my support has helped him from afar. And yet though his commentary, I recognize that I am part of the system he is so thankful for that also causes him so much distress. It's so interesting. The impostor syndrome, the blurring of the lines, it's genius work, but it feels like an ouroboros for both the artists and the audience. It's fascinating.

[@arcaneprince]

I've watched a lot of videos about this special. This essay blows them all away. Your intuition, insight, and broad understanding of the emotional implications of certain bits is impressive, as is your prose and ability to succinctly yet eloquently state things. I'm not often impressed by the conceptual clarity or linguistic vividness of video essays in general, much less those about Burnham's latest special, so please feel the strength of my encouragement when I say: WRITE MORE! I could write a video essay about this video essay lol. It would fit with the theme.

[@honglouis]

This channel is reacting to Bo reacting to himself. Incredible.

[@AnuskaDhar]

LOL the cycle never ends!!!

[@Rickrollmachine23]

And now I’m reacting to the comment that is reacting to the reaction of the reaction.

[@Girvo747]

And your comment is a reaction to the video that is reacting to Bo Burnham reacting to himself ;)

[@honglouis]

@@Girvo747 too meta, way too meta. 💭

[@rozewing7399]

now Bo has to react to this for the cycle to be complete

[@TerrorbyteTC]

This is a very good analysis, skipping a lot of the obvious things others have done to dig deeper. You've definitely earned my subscription.

[@AnuskaDhar]

thank you for subscribing!! 🥺💞i'm so glad i could provide a fresh take!

[@juanrincon777]

this is so so so so so good. you've vocalized virtually all my thoughts on this special and more. i love the straightforwardness of your editing style because it gets all your points across in a clear and organized manner. the asthetics will come with time but i greatly admire you making this and sharing your thoughts with the world. can't wait to see what you do next!

[@AnuskaDhar]

yayy i'm so glad it resonated with you!! the editing took me embarrassingly long bc i'm new to it so i'm really glad it paid off hahah and definitely excited to develop more of a unique editing style as i keep learning! :)

[@nathanb9565]

@@AnuskaDhar Just wanted to chime in and say I mirror all of the above. Too often KZbin "video essays"™ are just circuitous, masturbatory and thinly-veiled secret dialogues between the essayist and themselves discussing the most surface level shit using college-educated rhetoric, but with the sheen and pizazz that keeps eyeballs on screens. This was refreshingly direct and insightful. Also, the irony of criticizing this phenomenon while you analyze a painfully self aware and meta comedy special is not lost on me. All I can say is keep up the good work and I think you deconstructed and analyzed Bo Burnham's philosophy as well as anyone can. From one painfully self-aware millennial to another that can't shake the shooked-ness Inside gave me, I see you and I see all of us

[@thisisme4239]

I can't believe this was your first video essay! It was so well made, and I was shocked when I scrolled down and saw your subscriber count. You should be incredibly proud of this, and you've earned a subscriber.

[@nicholassama1572]

"we are all puppets, I'm just a puppet who can see the strings" -Dr. Manhattan

[@AbendscheinLGN]

I really like his vocals. They're actually great. Part of what drew me to him.

[@piratery3289]

His vocals have gotten so much better over the years too. This episode was very Weird Al-esque

[@kirasussane1556]

As one of the songs say in the special "Deadpool self awareness". There is so much to unpack in Bo Burnham special .The nature of performance and entertainment, democratization of fame and is toxicity,self awareness and the exhaustion of language came to mind while watching his comedy special. The scary part for me is while he loses his mind we never stopped watching and he never stopped performing. Loved this video essay.

[@3070723b]

I've watched Inside like 4 or 5 times this past week and loved your analysis. More video essays!

[@AnuskaDhar]

i normally don't rewatch shows/movies but i've been doing that too, it's that good! and yay glad you liked it, i'll definitely make more :)

[@JackHoward]

Loved this

[@deffonotluke]

If Jack Howard likes it then you've done very well

[@potionseller2083]

Balls deep my friend

[@potatoboy6094]

when I first watched the special, I was worried I was the only one feeling unsure/cynical about some of his breakdown moments, part of me wanted to simply believe it, to take it for its surface view and feel bad for him, but then the second more cynical instinct kicked in, and I was really unsure of how to feel about it, I guess in a way it's like his own examples of becoming desensitized thanks to the internet, often now when I see horrible things I have the instinct of feeling like it was faked in some way, or it wasn't showing the whole truth. that's how I felt about these more intimate moments, if Bo had just been a character it would have been easy to feel for him, but the fact that this is all based on real experiences and that he's supposed to just be acting as himself makes it so that either he was expressing and editing extremely personal moments of weakness, or he was playing it up for the sake of the show and a good approximation to how he actually felt, either way whatever his intentions or actual feelings its clear that at some point in some way, he really felt this way.

[@mrmaudeville]

I hope you do more video essays in the future, this was fantastic! It's funny how so many people seemingly played into all the critiques that he outlined in the special, just by connecting with it. This video is just as important a step back and look inward as the special itself.

[@AnuskaDhar]

right?! literally just by me fangirling and making this vid, i'm hyperconscious of me doing those same things, the meta-ness never ends! but i'm so glad the video resonated, thanks for the encouragement, and definitely let me know if you ever have suggestions on topics for future vids :)

[@BeAltyrnative]

I think I wasn't as shocked as I was more so - "Oh, he feels the same as I have felt for awhile." It really is a messed up world where we cover things up with smiles and money. I hope his message opens more peoples minds up to enjoying life more by engaging in real moments with others, as opposed to our handheld social devices. Its sad to see him suffering, but I take solace in the fact that we all feel the same together. In a way we're all connected to his perspective as people living their lives inside and away from others.

[@pugschamp]

compared to every other video i've watched, this one seems to get to a point that i felt like was a genuine conclusion from the film. most of the other ones ive watched and seen i feel like dive way too deep into an idea that burnham has never really stated or given an allusion to exploring, contrasted to what you present, which is rooted in the progression and evolution of what burnham likely was trying to achieve and make a point on. i personally dont think bo really attempts to make anything too much beyond surface level despite it being a quite profound piece, as it would be 'too performative' i assume, and i think he would rather just let the raw performance and message speak for itself rather than have what he wants people to experience be layers upon layers and require some level of insight of bo burnham's previous work to understand the whole production. thank you for making this video, it was a really interesting watch!

[@thomdotexe]

I have a feeling this movie is going to change cinema, there's a special type of self-awareness and parasocial interaction that comes with KZbin content, and Bo has managed to shift that to film better than anybody I've seen, so excited to see if other KZbin creators or even filmmakers inspired by it.

[@liamattivissimo6288]

I really thank the youtube algorithm for recommending me this, it's awesome

[@AnuskaDhar]

yay glad you like it! i thank the algorithm for bringing ya here too :)

[@X_TheHuntsman_X]

I think there is an extended view of Bo's performance and the ending with him back on stage. What is it that everyone else in the world must do once the pandemic is finished? We must go back out and perform as well in our own social constructs where previously we were both isolated and unbelievably free for the majority of our days. Bo is commenting on his own life and showing us our own too. Everyone is in the play, just different roles.

[@Yesnomu]

This was great! I liked the way you examined Bo's themes running through his other work and how it's all tied together, and the unpacking of what could be a sincere or meta moment. His stuff has so many layers of meta self-awareness, that breaking it down really helps. Thanks for the video!

[@AnuskaDhar]

yay, thanks for watching, i'm so glad you found it helpful! yeah it's definitely fun looking at all the work he's done so far and how each piece just seems to add on to the next and keep growing all these ideas!

[@DeadkidWalkng]

This was incredibly thoughtful and insightful. Thank you for taking the time to make it! I just watched Inside for the first time last night and was wondering how much analysis there was of it online, when this popped up on my recommended (make of that what you will). A particularly striking moment for me was when he was telling anyone considering suicide not to in a cynical, condescending sort of way. Initially he seems genuine as he says he’s not in danger, but when he starts with the somewhat mocking jokes of a very serious struggle, it immediately cuts to him projecting the image onto himself as he sits there, face slack. He simultaneously shows that cynicism and comedy are both masks and coping mechanisms for him, while also structuring the whole thing is such a way that it allows him to make what many would otherwise consider a fairly problematic joke without issue. He clearly cares about people and wants to help them, yet humor often comes at the expense of someone or some group of people, so what’s he to do? This way he both makes the joke while distancing himself from it, while further endearing himself to the audience. Keep in mind he’s absolutely the type of person to have thought this all through and I can’t blame him for questioning his own intentions sometimes. I could go on about a lot of it, like how he almost seems to be seeking punishment in the song Problematic, but tbh I’m considering making a full analysis myself. How did you get your footage btw?

[@carpenterarcade8722]

A real missed opportunity not delving more into the Socko bit, there was a lot to unpack there!

[@bportom]

Love this video essay! Your opinions on this movie are the first I’ve seen that finally aren’t simply reacting to the movie within the movie. I was getting frustrated seeing so many people talking about how vulnerable Burnham is here, whether annoyed or moved by it. But it seemed like no one was considering that the “vulnerability” itself is PART of the performance, it’s carefully crafted and part of the character he’s creating. It goes back to his closing number in “what.” called “We Think We Know You.” We watch “Inside” and we think we know him, even though he’s constantly making us aware that this is all artifice. I think that’s one of his ultimate magic tricks. Inside, to me, feels like an apocalypse movie. I completely agree with the way you worded it as him creating a central tension. That’s what the best art does, confronts us with a tension, and allows us to feel it and take it with us to process and think about it. Love this special/movie/documentary/“content,” and this is my favorite video essay about it so far!

[@amelie4890]

Okay I've watched bunch of essays and interpretations of Inside on yt and yours is criminally underrated. Really great work!

[@AnuskaDhar]

aww thank you so much for saying that, too kind!! 💞💞

[@pottetplant9975]

I'm no expert and I'm not incredibly creative and intelligent but I definitely am obsessed with this special (and with Bo's art and way of thinking and expressing in general) and have watched it more times than I should admit. I've also watched A LOT of videos about it and a lot of Bo's interviews from various moments in his career AND this is hands down the best video about "Inside" in my opinion. I really enjoyed listening to you speak about it, thank you for a great content.

[@AnuskaDhar]

what a sweet comment, i'm honored by your opinion!! 💖 and if i say so myself, i'd think anyone who's watched so much bo content is an expert in my eyes :)

[@alicia379]

When I tell you I ugly cried AND laughed so much throughout this special… If I’m honest, I cried more than anything because I have some serious mental health issues, but I digress.

[@greengoblinboy585]

I've seen his special 6 times now and I don't think I'll ever cease to love just how much work and understanding he put into it. The music, the camera work, the every single bit of "outside the skit" bits we get- it's all amazing. His film really stuck onto me and gave me something I could relate to, not understand and understand all at the same time. It's truly beautiful.

[@thebeach-maxifyfilm6412]

This is an incredibly well-put-together and thoughtfully comprehensive analysis of Burnham’s complicated and at times paradoxical tone, and a great breakdown of the conflicted meanings of “Inside.” I can’t wait to see more from you in the future, keep it up!

[@spiffykun]

THIS ESSAY IS SO GOOD. this has to be one of the best video essays I've seen. i feel like you hit the nail on the head at every turn. well done!

[@courtneylovesmaccompact9047]

"Daddy made you some content" - its just too accurate

[@maxlvl912]

Author David Foster Wallace once said that irony was the greatest threat of the post-modern age, he described it as 'the song of a bird that's come to love its cage' he died shortly before he could truly see the rise of the parasocial relationships and hyper self-awareness of the 2020s but I feel like his quote rings more true now than it did during his time. Our detachment from the world and lack of sincerity has only grown with the introduction of social media. Inside highlight's the paradox of irony, the constant fourth wall breaks, reaction sections and self-awareness, both in his jokes and the intentional displays of authenticity do nothing but lead him right back to the same spot. We use irony as an escape, a way to put ourselves above the issues in our lives and problems of the world but Inside shows that irony offers no escape. By the end, I haven't decided if he has finally come to terms with the cycle or just continues to perpetuate it but I'd like to think he finally sees himself truly in that final shot. Great analysis, seriously underrated, watched Inside twice this week and this was the first analysis recommended to me.

[@mavericka29]

This is the second channel I’ve seen switch to video essays to cover inside. Love it.

[@AnuskaDhar]

bo's fans are really out here revealing ourselves hahah ya love to see it!

[@hippixie]

Inside was so packed with details that every time I watch I notice something new. It's crazy.

[@Madison-ur2qn]

This is a great video! Great essay, great examination. Subscribed! "Was this a sincere moment of vulnerability caught on camera? Or a planned reenactment that took multiple takes?" This line specifically reminds me of Philosophy Tube's video "KZbin: Art or Reality?", and I think you picking up on that question (and the answer, that it's both and neither, that it doesn't matter) is really astute!!!

[@josephstanichar5434]

I nearly spit out my drink when I heard this was your FIRST TIME doing a video essay. Holy shit, I just assumed you had been doing this for years! Excellent, excellent stuff. There's something insidious about INSIDE that I fear has a negative effect on my mental health, because even as it can be therapeutic to see someone else struggling through similar stuff, having your worst thoughts confirmed and sung back to you in catchy ditties you can't help but sing along to has been difficult for me to process. On my worst days, I catch myself singing lyrics like "Don't you know the world is built with blood, and genocide, and exploitation," which, while all true, isn't the best thing for me to sing to myself over and over again while I'm on the verge of total mental collapse. But I also can't deny the incredible effect it's had, and the positive, genuine messages of hope, joy and of course, comedy found within as well. I put it in a similar column to Neon Genesis Evangelion, which seems just about as different on the surface as possible but has similar themes with a creator who clearly deeply struggles with his wellbeing as well. I don't know if you're into that, but if you are, I'd love to see an essay with your take on it! The final movie's only a couple of days away, so I both dread and can't wait for that lol

[@kayligo]

I’ve had the song “kill yourself” stuck in my head...I’m now watching some Jordan Peterson to balance it out. Hope you find some light in the darkness.

[@thefollowingisatest4579]

Incredible work, MAY THE ALGORITHYM REWARD THIS VIDEO.

[@Vogopolis]

Great video! Well researched and very insightful! At 4:50, I think another critical thing he says here in addition to the digital world being safer is that it is more vital and "real" than the real world. I think that was another integral theme of the special, how we now use technology and the digital world to connect with each other in very real ways. This idea shows up in Facetime With My Mom (Tonight) and Sexting. I think All Eyes On Me was him really committing to this idea and connecting to the audience without cynicism, looking directly into our eyes, getting us up and dancing with us, etc. Recreates the feeling of being with him at a show. Just something else I feel is important. Looking forward to seeing what you talk about next

[@AnuskaDhar]

SO true!! i feel like the pandemic totally was the perfect context for him to amplify that point as well, thanks for sharing!

[@onodera3238]

This was wonderfully written i adore this video essay. Well done cant wait to see more

[@AnuskaDhar]

aww thank you, i so appreciate the kind words! let me know if you ever have any requests on what you'd like to see! :)

[@dylans3833]

This was really good, I was surprised to hear this was your first video essay. “Is he holding us captive or are we holding him captive” particularly stood out to me. Good insights!

[@isabelsmith3775]

this is very well written, can’t believe it has so few views

[@AnuskaDhar]

aww well thank you for adding another view! :)

[@stevenballantyne9710]

Great video! Possibly the best analysis I’ve seen of the film so far 👏🏻

[@NastyWalkThroughs]

"Well, well, look who's inside again. Went out to look for a reason to hide again. Well, well, buddy, you've found it. Now come out with your hands up - we've got you surrounded." -The Audience (from Bo's perspective) after reappearing in the public eye, probably.

[@leor797]

This was incredible. Really happy to see this blowing up and even more excited to see what else you have to offer. This could be the start to something special

[@artifindr]

"Here's a question for you guys. Is it necessary for every single person on this planet, expresses every single opinion that they have on every single thing that occurs, all of the same time?" -Bo Burnham

[@kayligo]

Can anyone...and I mean anyone just...shut the f up...lol

[@mark_makes]

Fantastic video. It's seems very difficult to break down or discuss a Bo Burnham special in full. You nailed it

[@YiaMdj]

I found that reaction bit so extremely relatable, it was honestly kind of creepy.

[@alittlebitsunburned5075]

Just had to comment that I'm amazed this is your first video essay - such a well thought-out analysis, clear editing, and a great flow/structure. Loved every second of it!

[@emilie6466]

I think that “Inside” ties heavily with the works of Jean Baudrillard and heavily reflects the increasing drive towards the virtual social space as opposed to the real world analog that he calls “dangerous.” I highly recommend to anyone whose interested to look into Baudrillard’s books: “Simulacra and Simulation” & Screened out. They both discuss unique concepts coined by Baudrillard which perfectly describe the issues that Bo makes references to multiple times throughout the seemingly chaotic special.

[@aquatan1994]

This absolutely blew me away. You so eloquently touched on every point and had such amazing observations. Such a natural talent for this format of content. KEEP THIS UP!!! PLEASE!?!?

[@RedMeansRecording]

Wonderfully done

[@JacksonKintz]

This is the quality I’d expect from a much bigger channel, you’re doing great!

[@JordanDoww]

this was hauntingly amazing!

[@courtneylovesmaccompact9047]

Yeah, it sticks doesn't it

[@travismattingly1414]

This was a very well written and edited together video essay for your first one! Full of insight and understanding, well done!

[@CoreyStewart91]

wild to watch this whole thing and be totally engrossed- and then hear you say it's your first vid essay.... this was spot on, thank you

[@dannyblooimaging4796]

For goodness sake, please make more videos like this! This is incredibly well done.

[@ALtheBoi]

Here before this blows up, good shit!

[@AnuskaDhar]

hahah thank you for the good omen!!

[@robk6551]

This special really hit the hard reset on my sense of human empathy and sense of self. I feel like a ton of your points are equally and especially applicable to the audience and "understanding" the joke or the commentary doesn't excuse us from its implications or our collective inaction. Dont Wanna Know caught a lot of people on their phones with the special on in the background and none of this stagecraft, real or rehearsed matters if you aren't *catching yourself* when Bo isn't here. The entire feature turns comedy on its head and a lot of ways I felt like Bo was critiquing me as much as I was watching him.

[@a.w_.]

Man I'd really love to hear what he had to say on the h3 podcast but unfortunately I'd have to both see and hear ethan klein and it's honestly really not worth it

[@emfinch602]

great video!! thank you so much for putting this together and articulating all these feelings and experiences so thoughtfully

[@andrewperla4142]

My favorite thing about the "Inside" special is all the fans who identify with the "quirky and light introspection" aspects of his jokes but attribute the "white privilege and self-indulgent" bits to Burnham being open about himself as a white male. Not at all catching the irony of. No, my friend, it's all you. Good and bad. He is making fun of the very disconnect you have between portraying and owning the good while working around and explaining away the negative aspects, as if you were just a bystander. It's that "selective self-awareness" that is so flawlessly mocked in every song. We're the generation who took 10 psychology classes, with 2.6 GPA, before getting bored and switching majors, but not before we developed incredible "mental awareness" and the "ability" to process our emotions and place without any kind of bias. Right? There's no bias or ego, or anything?

[@CMinionTV]

I like that he refers to what he does as “writing silly jokes”, like he doesn’t respect what his own job and tries to belittle his own profession.

[@sophiestrano]

During the pandemic I basically never left my room, constantly played my ukulele, and quietly cried often, so that one skit where he does the let’s play of himself and the only thing he can do is play the piano, cry, and fail to open the door before going to bed really got me lmfao

[@BrandonOfJapan]

Awareness is the first step, its up to you what you decide to do with the insights and perspectives youve gained. Ive found most people cant handle self awareness, thus they fall into lives of simplicity free from any existential thought. Its easy to be critical when you think of all the things you dont like about yourself and it feels like a never ending cycle, but ill tell you, its not never ending. Patience and self compassion are 2 of the hardest but most valuable things that ive been tryin to reinforce in my life on a daily basis. Through doing so, i found that i was searching for external factors outside of myself to satisfy the inner critic, through jerking off, smoking weed, video games, and the hope to find love and friendship. Alas, this made me a miserable fuck, more prone to my depression and anxiety than i already was. What ive come to learn is that you must be your own friend, and your own lover. Its not fucking easy dude, but if you persevere, everything else will follow suit. Stay strong friends 🧡.

[@JaycoTV]

YOU ARE A NATURAL!! I cant believe this was your first. The whole time I was thinking "How have I not watched this girl before?" I love commentary channels!

[@devons.3481]

i've been avoiding watching video essays on this special tbh because i've watched a few about bo's content before and it just bothers me when people pretend like there are definite answers to any of the questions he raises. if he wanted to make a simple point, he would make a simple point. but he leaves a lot up to interpretation and i think that's kind of always part of the point. especially here. i have no idea what his intentions were but i sure have a lot of interpretations. i love that you approach this from the larger context of bo's content, because i thought a lot about that specific h3h3 podcast clip and the kanye rant from make happy all throughout watching inside. that really sets the tone for where he was already at and how he was thinking about these parasocial relationships before covid. i think the moments with laugh tracks included speak a lot to his extensive experience in live performance and how his perception of his audience is all he has with him in that room. he knows when to expect a laugh (like in the first few lines of "healing the world with comedy") and in other, quieter moments, his anxiety about the mystery of audience reactions is palpable. the song "feeling like shit" has so much to unpack in itself and it's one of the moments i gravitated most towards upon first watching the special. in that song, and in a couple other little moments during the special, we can hear bo's Stage Voice. and it's kinda jarring. it feels like an attempt to connect with his former self through the medium he knows best - performing comedy - while simultaneously acknowledging his declining mental health in a way that would be considered unusual to perform on stage. but he crafts this depressive state into a commentary on himself, and for a moment, he can pretend that there is an audience present to empathize with him openly. he is seeking that external validation that he can't help but be reliant on. in "art is dead" (a song from ten years ago) he states "my drug is attention, i am an addict, but i get paid to indulge in my habit." in the "make happy" kanye rant, he talks about relying on the audience because that is his job, pleasing masses of people so they pay for the shows and watch the specials and listen to the music. at the very end of make happy, we switch to a much more intimate view of him (inside the room which "inside" was filmed in) singing questions to the audience, "are you happy?" then, just after the intermission of "inside," he has a song resembling that one a lot imo, asking the audience if they're enjoying the show, asking for feedback, and saying he doesn't wanna know the answers. he seems to feel compelled to perform a caricature of himself, trying to be what everyone else wants him to be, and in that moment, in "feeling like shit," he seems to almost be mocking the audience for pulling this performance out of him. at the very end of "what." bo has the song "we think we know you" that begins with three nameless characters approaching him with their own opinions of who he is or who he should be, and those audio tracks evolve into a song drowning out the voices of people trying to impose their own ideas of him onto him. it showcases bo reclaiming what others say about him and forming it into something of his own, something that he is in control of. i think "inside" has some themes of that as well, his desire to control his own narrative paired with an adolescence on the internet, knowing that once he releases something into the hands of the general public, the content becomes something of its own. i think the very ending of "inside," where he steps outside into the spotlight, is an interesting version of this internal conflict. i think it could represent releasing the special and taking a figurative bow on stage, receiving the applause that he so desires. but he can't go back after releasing it. just after "welcome to the internet," there's a clip of bo saying that he is reluctant to ever call the special "finished" because then he has to just go back to living his life. once he releases the special and takes a bow, he is yet again trapped in the gaze of an audience who may or may not be rooting for him. we may be rooting for him at the wrong moments, because we don't know what is planned performance and what is genuine vulnerability. and i think that allows him to be more vulnerable because he can always just claim that it was all part of the show. i could go on, i think it shows that i have many thoughts and opinions and connections with regards to bo's content, but i will cut myself off here. thank you for reading and please do respond if you feel so compelled to do so

[@ragsyfoodtube7650]

My favorite video on Inside for sure. Thank you for making this!

[@Slayer5551]

This was really well done, especially since it looks like it's the first video essay on your channel. Great work!

[@AnuskaDhar]

it is indeed!! 😇 i so appreciate the encouragement, thank you!

[@Rosiewithlove]

This video was so good. Loved it. I even had someone say to me after watching this that it was “to millennial” and degrading it to the entertaining value of its content rather than its representation of the universal breakdown the world went through during the pandemic. Bo’s language is comedy and in this special he says what everyone has been feeling and thinking this past year and half. The disassociation he Illustrates here was easy to consume and often indirect, leaving the viewer conflicted on wether they enjoyed some light, funny content or were enlightened on their condition as perpetrator and victim in the digital world

[@mienvard]

Amazingly insightful analysis! Keep this up, you've got a definitive knack for it! This special definitely blew me away. I went in after a long day at work expecting a good satirical comedy special, but it's so, so much more right from the start. I really like your critical viewpoint that we can't know for sure whether the most vulnerable parts are completely sincere, constructed, or somewhere inbetween. But I also think you can construct a simplified scenario to better convey a truly heartfelt pain without taking away from its legitimacy. I don't feel like there's anything unnatural with the way Bo is acting in the inbetweens in the special. Whether the display we see on screen is his actual reactions/felings or not, I do feel that they are heartfelt, sincere, and completely relatable, and in the end I think it doesn't really matter (christ..) because this whole special (working on a project all lockdown, not knowing whether it will/should/shall ever finish while feeling stuck in limbo) is likely relatable to the majority of people out there. And every single song is so damn catchy and has this sinister undertone that just keeps gnawing away at you. I don't know if my week got better or worse after seeing this.