Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Paradox

In this video I'm talkin cool about Stanley Kubrick's way-back ultra paradox laden classic Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Love you Kubrick.
PATREON: bit.ly/2GhaUMJ
TWITTER: bit.ly/2FvQGBq
DISCORD: bit.ly/2NFLQRA

[@BREADSWORD]

PATREON: bit.ly/2GhaUMJ TWITTER: bit.ly/2FvQGBq DISCORD: bit.ly/2NFLQRA

[@reptilespantoso]

Nice one. One thing; Dr. Strangelove was NOT fiction. It still is not. Including the conversations in the War Room. (Gentlemen, no fighting in the War Room!?)

[@YoniIsrael]

i thought the first sentence in this video was "hey"

[@jacksquatt6082]

I disagree with you about feeling joy when Strangelove stood and walked. Throughout the movie each of the characters represented an aspect of politics at the time: Ripper being McCarthyism, the President being pandering US politicians, and so forth. Dr Strangelove himself represented post-WWII fascism, and the fact that he is inside the US War room represents how the US took in ex-German scientists to help build or adapt German military technology to their own purposes. He represents that German fascism was severely crippled, but not yet dead. In those final moments, where he is talking about eugenics to the highest authority in the US government, the fact that he is able to stand and walk represents that German fascism has taken hold in the minds of the US leaders, that it is getting back onto its feet. I don't think that is something to feel joy over, but, since this video is about paradoxes, I suppose it is just as valid as any other emotion.

[@kiwwiee]

intro song??

[@coreycallahan4609]

I totally enjoyed the break down of the movie. It was spot on and very informative. The only issue that I had was that the commentary continued to reference Nucular as opposed to nuclear. It was like listening to George Bush.

[@alexandrasandu3947]

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the War Room!"

[@alienbacon656]

We can’t fight here! This is bat country!!!

[@d3ada5tronaut]

im dead that killed me

[@ZrankFappaH]

Has to be one of the greatest lines from the movie! I laugh every time.

[@danielcobbins9050]

"This is outrageous, I've never heard of such conduct in the war room before!"

[@weldonwin]

"Mister President, we *CANNOT* allow a Mineshaft Gap!"

[@LinusE]

''I dont wanna be known as the next Hitler'' *hires nazi weapons scientist who accidentally lets out his inner nazi* This movie is so good on so many levels

[@weldonwin]

*"MEIN FURUR! I CAN WALK!!!"*

[@leoui1085]

The best thing is, something like this happened in real.life. Wernher von Braun was a Nazi scientist, who build rockets for the SS in WW2. After the war he went to America, and build rockets with NASA. Don't know if Kubrick took inspiration, but I would not be surprised.

[@Auchentoshan]

@@leoui1085 technically, it was most likely under Operation Paperclip. Where former nazi scientists are initiated into development and production of such weapons. So yeah, he probably did take inspiration.

[@leoui1085]

@@Auchentoshan I've never heard of Operation Paperclip, just breifly about Braun. Seems interesting, thank you.

[@cv4809]

@@leoui1085 they were German scientists, who were working for their country Would you call American scientists working during trump's presidency "republican" scientists?

[@flaviochavez1747]

“If you want peace, prepare for war.” ... We really do live in a paradox

[@owenbunny4023]

We can only control our freedom of will after all

[@paolopasini8200]

in latin it's even cooler: "Si vis pacem, para bellum"

[@chrizzel28]

The sad reality of deterrence is that only those willing to fight can live peacefully.

[@kelechi_77]

kill for peace

[@thecircusb0y1]

"Dear John" letters were girlfriends writing soldiers to break up with them. So the warhead was a "break up" symbol. Ending the relationship between the two parties.

[@selecterjd9785]

The letters could also be from wives or fiancees...I think it represents the contradiction of the men going far away and for an extended time putting their lives at risk to protect their homeland, family and lovers in war, broadly, that are often betrayed by the thing they're fighting for. The narrator seemed to miss the term's reference and it would be nice to include his thoughts on it in the video. This is one of my favorite films and I am glad to see it get some of the attention it deserves...so funny and so deep.

[@louisalvarez9907]

And after you say, That's All she wrote.

[@selecterjd9785]

@@louisalvarez9907 I was just reading that there is thought to be a connection between the term and the phrase. I never realized that.

[@louisalvarez9907]

@@selecterjd9785 I am History major and my professor mentioned this to me a few years ago. It's really interesting and sad at the same time.

[@helenl3193]

As he says in the video, it symbolises the sacrifice made by the soldiers, and the loved ones they have left behind - be they women breaking up with them or sending letters of love and support, is less important to the broad theme than the idea of the forced separation and potential for that to be permanent - due to death, or because the distance is too hard, or because if he gets to go home he may no longer be the man he was and that relationship will be changed as well.

[@jonwesick2844]

I always interpreted "We'll Meet Again" at the end of Strangelove as cynical sarcasm. The survivors of nuclear holocaust who dig out of the ruins will remain bitter enemies and repeat war and destruction over and over. There's no comfort here.

[@ViolosD2I]

^ This. It does give comfort, but in laughter as it is the crowning satirical moment. Using that song which is meant to make people feel better to state how humans are damned to not learn from their mistakes, even after just literally destroying the world. With the Doctor being the only one who thrives in this madness. Also as others have stated, the "Dear John" line is the start of a breakup letter... while "Hi there!" was a popular greeting uttered by gay men at the time. I personally don't think those are connected to any song lyrics - although they might be, on top of that. All in all I think this is an interesting analysis, though it is trying too hard / spinning things too far at times. What a paradox! ;)

[@helenl3193]

Yes, which is highlighted by them using a song from a previous war. Round and round we go again! :(

[@Coolguy98765432q457]

In other words, war, war never changes.

[@mr.pavone9719]

I always felt it was used ironically since humankind would almost certainly be wiped out. There would be nobody left to meet.

[@xw591]

Same here

[@yourunclejoe9500]

This is the most "video essay" video essay I've ever seen.

[@plugshirt1762]

I don't know if that's a compliment or an insult lmao

[@Ponderro]

I took the scene of Strangelove walking as completely the opposite of what you describe. It's the symbolic rebirth of fascism on the ashes of the world. He was getting increasingly energized and giddy talking about his eugenics project while physically gripping his hand to keep himself from throwing it in a Nazi salute and slipping into calling an American officer "Mein Führer", finally having his true message heard and listened to very intently for the first time in years. As a culmination of that, as the bombs are falling, he can walk again, rejuvenated by the end of the world as we know it. You aren't supposed to take any "joy" from that scene. It's there for a dark, sardonic, final laugh.

[@nickwestbrook5647]

This is correct

[@byronbuck1762]

Interesting. Always felt the uncontrollable arm was a metaphor for the ultimate uncontrollability of nuclear weapons

[@drlupe4232]

Yes. I have no idea where he got any joy from in Strangelove standing up lol

[@OlOleander]

Point of note: while it's entirely possible that the "Dear John" and "Johnny" connection you describe at about 24:00 ish was intentional, a "Dear John" has a very specific meaning in the military: a break-up letter from a significant other back home to a member abroad, often paired with the stereotypical "Jody" who has replaced them in their relationship.

[@09VMM]

Yeah I agree. I enjoyed his analysis but think he was off on this one point. I always took "Hi There" and "Dear Johnny" as a breakup of the status quo of the world. The modern world happened quickly after WW2 then quickly ended with the most catastrophic of break ups.

[@somedude5749]

The "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye" connection was MIND-BLOWING. Both songs have the same exact structure, have a similar subject, and both feature characters with the EXACT SAME NAME, with the biggest difference between them being that one is about Johnny coming home a celebrated war hero, and the other being about him dying in a pointless war effort among many. That detail is astounding, the coincidence is almost uncanny, and it perfectly represents the entire movie. This was perfect. It did the entire movie justice, and explained everything about humanity in a beautiful way. Thank you. This kind of work is just what everyone needs.

[@mapache7317]

I would think the latter was to satirize the former.

[@flooblet]

quality>quantity, great fucking job

[@BREADSWORD]

THANK YOU DEAR FLOOBLET

[@inco9943]

Please do something on Barry Lyndon!

[@gabriellayates8644]

flooblet SERIOUSLY

[@2012Zyle]

5:01

[@BB-pt9hv]

To be fair this is both

[@lolshark99b49]

"Dr. Strangelove is the best Kubrick film." You're damn right!!!

[@lorensims4846]

I've always been such a huge fan of 2001: A Space Odyssey ever since it first came out, yet I can find absolutely no reason to argue with this assertion.

[@moxxie9707]

I think you mean quebrick

[@geordiejones5618]

This and Barry Lyndon stand out for me

[@Cannibal713]

"You can't fight in here! This is the war-room!". Dr Strangelove is one of my favorite movies and my fav of Kubrik. Its amazing he got this film made right in the height of the cold war. It is so much like and completely opposite another movie made at this time; Fail Safe. Great review and analysis of this classic.

[@williamwoodall3538]

@Cannibal 713 That's a good onservation, and speaking of paradoxes it is worth mentioning that both films used the same novel, Red Alert, for their source material. Fail Safe mostly differs from Dr. Strangelove in its so-serious, humorless approach to the subject matter. However, they are not opposite in every way. Despite its relatively promilitary, do what has to be done pacing for most of the movie, in its bitter, near-nihilistic conclusion Fail Safe reveals itself to be subtly anti-MAD. (Mutually Assured Destruction)

[@geordiejones5618]

It must have sucked being the creators of Fail Safe after watching this just knowing they nailed everything they wanted to say in a timeless comedy.

[@F22onblockland]

I didn't cry at the end. Definitely didn't cry at the end. Certainly didn't cry at the end. I cried at the end. That was beautiful.

[@nicholasmitchell6025]

SSH-40 Yeah, this is the only KZbin video in more than five years to make me cry. It reminded me of the 3 hour tearjerker I had with Devilman Crybaby beginning with the butterfly rap and continuing almost interrupted through scenes of absolute shock and horror at the human condition, interspersed with scenes of blind hope and optimism, and in a way, I feel like it ties into this video with its dualistic yet pessimistic view of our future. Seriously, go check it out.

[@hugoperegrina6571]

Feelings... I forgot I had those

[@commanderv4114]

you're not alone in this

[@willkriegforkartoffeln4878]

I kinda just felt an empty want to shoot myself. The world is absurd, humanity is absurd, there is no meaning. Why continue in the meaningless day to day just to see what comes of it. I got a feeling of complete empty loneliness. I wish I could feel what you all did.

[@hyperionic1044]

I laughed... I laughed a lot and then drunk a lot that night, then i went to sleep the whole of the rest of the day. I honestly love this film.

[@nicobruin8618]

"Gentlemen u can't fight here this is the war room!" Still cracks me up every time.

[@FLJuJitsu]

Dr. Strangelove is an utterly brilliant film on every level.

[@CatacombD]

"Hi. The first sentence of this video is a lie." There is no paradox, only an incorrect assertion, since the first sentence of your video was, "Hi."

[@dru7277]

If I ask someone to explain how the Earth , and universe began without a creator is it possible to explain? If I ask someone to explain a computer - it's beginning and inner workings BUT without a creator. Just natural laws and observation, theory, experiment. Is it possible to explain? If so to either question does Faith? and the underline theme of phylosphy take root? Is there a duel system of everything? Science included? Astronomy? Astrology?

[@lancasterchurch4747]

Hi Is a word. not a sentence.

[@CatacombD]

@@lancasterchurch4747 "Hi," is a word that can be a complete sentence on it's own, which is why, in the example from the video, it is followed by a period instead of a comma.

[@nachtegaelw5389]

Grim Reaper well, in this case you could call it a phrase?

[@jacob-zz6my]

Steve Zirngible “Hi, the first sentence of this video is a lie.” note apostrophe

[@Inkerflargin]

I think Dr. Strangelove is so ecstatic at the end of the film because is witnessing the final and total defeat of his enemies at their own hands. In a way, the Nazis won at the end of the movie, because Dr. Strangelove ends up converting the last remnants of power in the world that the best path forward is his mineshaft eugenics plan.

[@wittsdream]

That is indeed a very good reading of the film, one of many Rosetta Stones to be found throughout SK's oeuvre, including Dr. S. When the male sexual drive is halted in its tracks, or men are humiliated in some way, the end result is a Freudian reading of sexual frustration/repression, whose end result is a violent or caustic: The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Lolita. When sexual release is allowed to happen, men become exalted/liberated at the prospect of ejaculating their pent up "energy," in films like Dr. Strangelove, Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon (loss of limb, as a sexual metaphor). Eyes Wide Shut is Kubrick's ultimate socio-psycho sexual deconstruction on this. 2001 is very much a cautionary tale of a future reality (a counterpoint sequel to Dr. Strangelove in some ways) in which humans become so sterilized/neutered by technology that sexual drives cease to exist, and instead, AI becomes the predominating impetus to forging ahead the species into the cosmos. Quite a different future to the "10 females to one female" male fantasy of underground breeding emblematic of Dr. Strangelove. Kubrick's work remains way ahead of its time, and always invites deeper introspection, peeling off more onion layers with each subsequent viewing to get to the core.

[@ILoveDawko]

Didn't Sellers ad lib the walking? Obviously K chose to keep it in, so that doesn't discount what's being said. I guess perhaps it shows that films have several geniuses that contribute to what they are trying to say in their owns ways

[@hem9483]

Your content is fantastic and incredibly entertaining to watch. Never a boring moment. Thank you for making these.

[@BREADSWORD]

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS NICE COMMENT THANK YOU I'M FRAMING IT ON MY WALL

[@hem9483]

:)

[@inlikeflynn7238]

your an armless legless chickenless egg you'll have to be left with a bowl to beg johnny I hardly knew ye with your guns and drums and guns and drums haroo haroo with your guns and drums and guns and drums haroo haroo with your guns and drums and guns and drums the enemy nearly slew ya oh darlin deer ye look sae queer johnny I hardly knew ye

[@inlikeflynn7238]

oops you're and dear instead of deer

[@inco9943]

Please do something on Barry Lyndon! I love that film too and could see a Romantic interpretation and am interested to see a detailed analysis like this for it

[@adrianpaulalfafara5005]

One of the most comedic scenes I could remember was when the (sorry, forgot the names) British Officer was insistent on calling the top brass thru a pay phone by using the coins from smashing the coin box from a Coca Cola Machine, the sergeant didn't want to be responsible for that...yup even in war, Capitalism is king.

[@ViolosD2I]

Him getting coke in the face shortly after is the only obvious comedy scene in the film. And indeed, it feels out of place.

[@jamesalexander5623]

He was a Colonel not a Sergeant .... His name was Bat Guano .... Get It? .... Bat Shit as in Bat Shit Crazy!

[@TheGravyTrainConductor]

“If this doesn’t work, you’re going to have to answer to the Coca-Cola Company!”

[@augustgreig9420]

Although I think 2001 is his best film, I do have Dr. Strangelove as his second best. I think the parallel he draws in a movie which on the surface is about the Cold War, the folly of man, and how absurd thes men are who play these games with every life on this planet. When you juxtapose that with all of the sexual energy in the film and then extrapolate that to all of these power games they play are really just a different kind of expression of their sexual energy. That's why the final scene is so important. After discussing the mineshafts and how there woul be 10 women for every man, and the women would be chosen for their beauty so they could breed most prodigiously, Strangelove realizes that as a paraplegic, he may not get to go, or at least not get to enjoy it. But then what seems to be out of force of will alone, he stands and proclaims, "Mein Fürher, I can walk!", a proclamation that his penis works. And then we see all the mushroom clouds, which have become synonymous with sex. Great film, so many layers.

[@ScorpionXXXVII]

I like this interpretation. Good stuff

[@andyfeyfall5571]

This video was amazing, and you should be proud. Every point was well thought out and every example had an explanation. You drew eyes and thoughts to things most people wouldn’t notice, and added depth where it may not have been evident before hand. The opening was extremely clever, and I’ll be honest with you, I actually teared up a little at the end. TLDR: This video was amazing, you’re amazing, and you have no idea how glad I am that I found your channel

[@BREADSWORD]

THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU ARE SO NICE AAAAAAAA

[@MillionthUsername]

I teared up at the mention of "xenophobia" near the end, but it was tears of laughter.

[@AlcuBerry]

“Who the f is BREADSWORD? Oh yeah, the Treasure Planet guy 😍”

[@Yohoat]

Miguel Alcubierre lol I did the same thing

[@AkashaBadGuy]

The fact that you have Bobby Caldwell's "What I'd do For Love" playing softly in the beginning gives you major respect points from me.

[@comandantethorn9929]

Same, do you know the exact version BTW?? I've been looking for it but i haven't found it

[@ACTlVISION]

"...that sword never left, if anything it just got bigger but the grip tightened" ok I am stoned but this is profound af

[@petergant1379]

I'll give you that, on BOTH your points! Not necessarily a bad thing, either of them!

[@kyriesanchez4122]

This is real ASMR for me. I get “tingles” from the music that has that filter that makes it sound muffled with passionate analysis of how a piece of media portrays certain philosophical ideas. This is truly relaxing. Thank you.

[@caseyspaos448]

Except every other sentence starts with the narrator's irritating "euhhhhh...."

[@gifdar]

Bobby Caldwell will always give me that tingly feeling

[@kyriesanchez4122]

@Dr. Phil Good wtf indeed

[@johnpaulcross424]

I use these videos to fall asleep far too much to disagree with you

[@esteboi3858]

@@caseyspaos448no kidding

[@StarlasAiko]

Am I the only one who feels like the lamp in the war room above the table looks like the cloud halo of a nuclear mushroom?

[@Bravo2uniform]

Good eye!

[@johnmiller567]

Well, maybe not before, but now I certainly do. Thanks!!

[@normsaunders4980]

That's something Kubrick would do.

[@elleon677]

One of my favorite scenes in Dr. Strangelove involves Jack Ripper. He grabs his golf bag and we all expect him to go play golf while his OWN ARMY IS FIGHTING ITSELF. But, in the end, he pulls out a machine gun from the bag and starts shooting at his own army. It is an underrated moment of comedic brilliance.

[@Vivi_Sterling]

Wow, just wow. I have never seen anyone pick apart this movie in such a simplistic, referenced and analytic meticulousness. This is a professional grade of analysis and is remarkably well made. When I am tutoring some people next fall for collage level writing analysis, I am definitely haveing theme watch this

[@normsaunders4980]

3 yrs later, how did that go over in your class? Did your students pick up the idea? Are you still using this in your course?

[@grimjhaixus]

I took “Dear John” to be a reference to the Dear John Letter, which I knew as break-up letter soldiers would get while in the field from girlfriends they had back home.

[@vaylonkenadell]

Yes, same. Rather strange that he didn't mention that.

[@Johnjwalt]

At the end, Strangelove got his eugenics program approved. His sudden ability to stand up meant that Nazism was literally on its feet again.

[@MrTurbowhitey]

your over thinking things. That was just Peter Sellers acting like Peter Sellers. A good portion of his acting was ad libed.

[@AudieHolland]

No, john1054 is correct. Remember that it is the director who decides what stays in the film in the cutting room. It wasn't Christian Hayden's fault or the little kid's fault. It was Lucas who chose to turn his movies into freaking disasters. And it is Kubrick in this film who lets the Nazis win after all. MEIN FUHRER I CAN VALK

[@fangsabre]

Or you could say that him suddenly standing up is a representation of a Nazi erection, much like the involuntary salute

[@_NobodySpecial_]

Lesser evil than the communist at least

[@petersayatshkin7454]

yeah, that was also my intuition, and I‘m deeply confused about author’s reaction to it. “warm feeling and hopefulness”?? seriously??? A very real hope I felt was that the missile won’t be dropped after all... it was possible and came down to anecdotal bad luck. I don’t get it, I don’t feel it... feel free to correct me.

[@UnholyBasil]

I want you to know that this video gives me comfort in my darkest hours, paradoxically so given it was released during one of yours. I'm really grateful you've decided to continue doing what you do, because you inspire me to do the same. Keep talkin' cool about cool stuff, I look forward to hearing more of it.

[@wills242]

Normally I hate background music in videos but the way you used it with only the low end and stuff was great. Set a nice tone.

[@nothingorother302]

Arguably, I think the last moments were less optimism on Cubric's part, and more a final bit of dark irony. The only positive character in all of the movie is strangelove, who took joy in the increasing madness of the situation. His perspective is the closest to the audience, the spectator that can laugh at at the insanity, and in the final moments, when we hear those pretty tunes and see the world being destroyed, it's funny because, like reality, like ourselves, like Strangelove, it's kind of insane, and you might as well stop worrying, relax, and enjoy the show.

[@amiller9628]

That’s my plan 😈

[@gfarrell80]

"the only positive character in all of the movie is strangelove"?? What? President Muffley and Mandrake are both positive humanistic characters. They come aware of a horrible threat to humanity, and rather like other characters in the film that either seek to exploit the potential death of millions (Turgidson) in order to launch a greater attack, or the bomber crew who simply carry out their insane orders unquestioningly - Mandrake and Muffley work their hardest to save lives. Not just of their own tribe, but all human lives. Strangelove is just a horrible technocrat scientist. The fact that Mandrake and Muffley ultimately FAIL in my opinion makes the movie a much stronger warning AGAINST tribalism and nuclear war. If they had succeeded in averting doomsday, the audience would feel much less need for individual action, as the message would be 'eh, don't worry, I'm sure the technocrats at the top can restrain the military and avert disaster if it comes down to it'.

[@okuno54]

@@gfarrell80 I'm pretty sure nothing or other means that Strangelove is the only one who sees the situation in a positive light

[@gfarrell80]

@@okuno54 he said "The only positive character in all of the movie strangelove". That seems like a pretty broad and odd take to me, as I have written above. Turgidson also sees the wing attack situation in a positive light, or at least opportunistic for a potential positive result. He excitedly describes how the US could win with minimal casualties with a very positive upside take on the situation.

[@deanbrooks8542]

Your closing thesis was outstanding! From your cadence, to your alliteration; wrapping it all together with another affirmation of the paradox was some of the finest and most satisfying conclusions to any video essay I've seen. I cannot wait for you to continue making more videos and hope you enjoy them as much as I.

[@BennyBigIron]

Just watched this movie for my history class, gotta say you nailed everything right in the head. That plus you gave me a lot of much needed context for its significance. Thanks man! Awesome video!

[@finwake]

I laughed I cried I got the T-shirt. Your Insight is pure genius. Thank you thank you

[@tSp289]

Note: A Dear John letter is a breakup letter from the wife/gf of a serviceman informing him she has found someone else. Seeing that on the bomb made me snort beer the first time I saw it. Also the theme from 'Johnny' has three meanings: those two you mentioned, and it is also the tune to the nursery rhyme about Noah's Ark: " The animals marched in two by two, hurrah! hurrah!", so it is not only a pro-and anti-war song but also a song about global catastrophe. And if you want to read anything into the mating pairs of animals, then it's there for the reading.

[@SpiderandMosquito]

There's also the nursery rhyme the ants come marching on which is more of a children's educational tune than anything else

[@symph2220]

LetterBomb

[@partehonn2311]

Yeah, I was waiting for him to mention that as it fit with his theme.

[@nachtegaelw5389]

Christian Schmude but they’re escaping the rain! It’s obviously not about counting but about climate change causing super storms! Jk jk!

[@nachtegaelw5389]

Yes, that’s true, but so many famous tunes have been recycled into hymns or nursery rhymes (Greensleeves for a Christmas carol, the Arkansas Traveler for I’m taking home a baby bumblebee), that one could argue that the original lyrics still carry the strongest association with the tune. That might vary by person of course, but Johnny has such a martial feel to it imho. It’s in a minor key, the rhythm feels foreboding, and even both the children’s songs kept the extant martial parade “hurrah!” So for me, just hearing the tune with no lyrics evokes an army marching off to death and glory, more than it does ants. Or elephants. But that’s just me ofc, and we could easily argue this the other way (when most Americans hear the tune of their national anthem, I doubt they recall the lyrics of Anacreon in Heaven, or think of drinking songs generally).

[@michaelroach3175]

You think you can just do that? Leave for 4 months and come back like nothing happened and expect me to watch your video? Well you can.

[@xxtonyblastxx]

Michael Roach It seems only the most talented deserve our patience.

[@CynicallyYours]

I watched the video 2 years ago but it wasn't till now that it hit me, we are going to be ok

[@samantha.redacted]

I'd argue that the "Dear John" on the warhead is not in reference to the song, because both of them have John in the name, but of Dear John letters. They were letters sent to a soldier by a woman to break up with him, usually after finding a new man, this still works with your analysis though!

[@papawhitebeard4648]

Need me a 10 to 1 mineshaft waifu ratio

[@giascle]

more than one waifu will ruin your laifu

[@F_lippy]

What's the ratio of trash waifus though?

[@shira_yone]

Pip IV depends on your laifu span I guess. If it's short the ratio would leans to either 10 or 1, if it's long then it'll be somewhere in the middle due to your high rates of exposure to both trash and naisu waifus. I'm just spouting nonsense here, don't read too much into this...

[@papawhitebeard4648]

Pip IV One man's trash is another's treasure

[@franklinvonfrankenstein1137]

How to you make 10 of yourself I'm interested

[@CptFishrPrice]

I don't fully grasp like half of the cinematographic and environmental themes you talk about but I still love the fuck out of your videos because you can see exactly how much effort and passion went into each and everyone. love your shit man!

[@hughman6663]

I've always loved the media of film and watching your videos allows me to experience and think of it in a whole new way. Because of you, I plan on studying philosophy in college because you make it incredibly enjoyable. Thank you for everything you do to entertain thousands of people. You are appreciated.

[@davecrupel2817]

The first sentence of this video cant be wrong or right. You said "Hi." There. Paradox eliminated. *Sits back and smokes pipe.*

[@sigmasquadleader]

Ceci n'est une pipe

[@MrChocolateM4n]

Dude, your video essays are freaking great. Keep it up my guy.

[@michael_17213]

I just spent almost as much time watching a deep dive into the message of a movie from someone else as I would actually watching the movie and arriving at my own interpretation of the message, but it was truly fantastic. How paradoxically magnificent.

[@MemorableMedia]

After binging a whole bunch of your videos I ADORE how strong your thesis statements are. They present such an incredibly strong core to your analysis that is all at once broad-strokes relatable and INCREDIBLY personal in its presentation. Your points are all so detailed and interesting. I walk away from every video with a MUCH greater appreciation for the subject that leaves me better prepared to enjoy it and anything like it. Can't wait to see more.

[@nellab4366]

Wow, total chills at the ending comments. You continually put out the most thought provoking video essays on film that I’ve seen!

[@MrOwnerandPwner]

It was my interpretation that the contrasting moods at the end of the movie was to place us in the position of the characters in the war room. The last 10 minutes or so of the movie is spent discussing and planning the steps taken after the dust settles, and how they will rebuild society to be even better (through eugenics and 10:1 harems) and stronger than it was before. Humans are obsessed with the blank slate. If you've ever seen hollywood reboots, it's evident that most people think that the only way to fix a set of deep structural problems, real or imagined, is to destroy it and to build it again from the ground up, this time with hindsight over what went wrong before. The Americans latch onto this idea, talking about "the future of mankind". Strangelove mentions reaching their present GDP in only 20 years, and Turgidson even talks about resuming the Cold War in case the Russians manage to do the same. Like you said, the characters look at the situation as a net benefit for Humanity, despite the billions of deaths and the probable end of civilisation, and it's reflected in the final song, "we will meet again" which I think implies that the nuclear holocaust is nothing more than another hardship for Humanity to undergo. And as we watch the bombs fall, we see it directly through their lens, as a moment of optimism, after they have spent the entire movie subconsciously rationalising the destruction of mankind. After all, the movie is titled Dr Stangelove or: *How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.*

[@dragoxl5]

MrOwnerandPwner This makes a ton of sense

[@GBart]

"Dear John" is a euphemism for a break-up letter. More generally, it's a phrase meant to precede bad news

[@jamesalexander5623]

Yes .... As in by dropping this Bomb .... The US is "Breaking Up" with the USSR

[@Panzerfan93]

16:20 I want to add, that the combat scenes in this movie are superbly made with a lot of influence from actual combat footage

[@StarDragonNova]

Thank you... I really needed to cry tonight. I've re-watched this video for the first time since you've first uploaded it. Can't put my finger on it, but it hit so much harder. Just...

[@wm2429]

This is great. Like, seriously great. You deserve waaaaay more subscribers.

[@Crazelord91]

Holy shit you're back! Liked this video and haven't even watched it yet... Update: I have watched the video and have no regrets

[@CuriousPersonUSA]

That was a beautiful tribute to a great movie. It is amazing how much the world has changed since and yet we remain oblivious to the paradoxes you describe. The line "Paradoxes within paradoxes within paradoxes" reminded me of Frank Herberts Dune "Plans within plans within plans".

[@sierraspenser4394]

The final three minutes were enough to bring me to sincere tears, amazing. “Somehow, we’ll be ok.” Hit really hard for me.

[@DirkDerick]

OK so I know nobody is going to read this but you're using the term "paradox" quite a bit looser then I think is appropriate, not all contradictions are necessarily paradoxes, a paradoxical contradiction has to arise from entirely sound logic and some of these contradictions are merely juxtapositions designed to make a point, not a paradox

[@Khepriem]

People have brought this point up quite a few times actually, he even responded to a few of them. To sum it up though, a paradox is a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true. In this definition, which he also gives in the video if I'm not mistaken, he's completely right to use the term paradox as he does. Paradoxes don't all have to be logical tongue twisters for your brain, those are just the most well known.

[@seanseanston]

Yeah, but the fact a song called "Ironic" may not actually contain any irony... is pretty ironic you have to admit.

[@SwarthySkinnedOne]

Alex Auto Ok. Now give about three examples to make sense of what you said. Make three statements exemplifying what a paradox is.

[@racercowan]

Though the words "absurd" and "self-contradictory" are both in that description, only one of them is the really important one. If a statement of set of statements contradicts itself, it's a paradox. If a statement is absurd, it's only really referred to as a paradox if it seems at a quick glance it should contradict itself. "The yellow mars-elephants eat hamburgers" isn't a paradox, even if it is absurd, but "Red staplers aren't red" is a paradox even if it isn't absurd. Here, he seems to use paradox to just mean "things that don't make obvious sense". I mean, how in the world is MAD a paradox? Or "comedy movie shot in dramatic style"?

[@katim2644]

I read your post, and my first reaction as I watch this is I need to look up paradox in the dictionary, because it doesn't seem to mean, as this creator suggests, what I think it means.

[@MiaRosyCosplay]

I fucking love your videos and will watch anything you talk about. Your voice is nice. Your topics are interesting. The music is great. Keep it up dude

[@Arthur_Winslow]

i watched this and it made me want to see the movie so i asked my mom about it and she said: 'i love strange love, hey did you know i used to be the presedant of the harvard film club?" and no i didn't know that, thank you for introducing me to my new favorite film.

[@markiemax5450]

I just found this video and It has have me thinking so much that rewatching it made me cry with that last sentence. We will be okay. Your editing is amazing and there’s just so much I love about your videos. I’m sad to see that you don’t post more and that I might have missed the train for your channel. My family and I love your videos, we watch them on the tv and hope we see you upload

[@tiny_shovel6570]

You make incredible content

[@crowspheet]

Socrates must not have wanted to cross that bridge anytime soon if he answered like that

[@kekero540]

Only if he said he knows no truth.

[@ChrisLeRose]

I love the part about the contrast in camera lenses and shooting styles between the ground combat and B-52 scenes and the rest of the movie. Great insight!

[@fizzydog9249]

I can't believe I'm JUST NOW finding your channel, your videos are incredible and I love the way you talk about these topics! You put your points in such a clear, clever and entertaining way. You analyze things in a very compelling way. It's like having a really interesting conversation. It also helps that your voice is super relaxing to listen to!

[@zoidsfan12]

Strangelove is one of my favorites. Kubrick was a master of film it speaks so firmly to me. I never entered the armed forces due to both struggling with moral implications but also because I knew of my own wrath. A paradox is the best word for it as we constantly shoot ourselves in the foot as a society. I always had a fascination yet damnation of war. I went through a time where I even yearned to just fight for the sake of it, to get out rage. Yet despite loving a lot of extremely violent media (except for my sophomore years being up my own ass and yearning for a darwinian slaughterfest due to perceived weakness I felt had rooted in society), I preach peace and cooperation. I draw art that often veers horror themed but then fill my writings have themes of "progression is slowed by squabbling amongst ourselves". Inherently we know that fighting is not solving the problem but because everyone isn't coming into agreement no-one can put down their guns. I believe that defense is a necessity. I think we won't overcome this issue as long as we are playing with large numbers, too many variables have to go right so the probability is low which prevents most from even considering it.

[@RealLukeWilson]

My dad was a teenager when this came out, and he didn’t think it was a comedy. He found it too terrifying that it verged on ill taste.

[@thorn262]

Along these lines, Daniel Ellsberg saw this in 1964 with a friend. Upon exiting the theater, Ellsberg...who was intimately involved with nuclear realities as he dealt with, in short, the Mega-Deaths binders via the Rand Corporation...said, 'This is not a fiction feature film, it's a documentary!'

[@drewyyy101]

I come back to this video quite a bit. The intro alone is probably my favorite video intro of all time, and the use of Bobby Caldwell's 'What you won't do for love' is amazing. Then the rest of the video matches that awesome energy. Great stuff

[@RenamedUser]

HE'S BACK

[@buffoonustroglodytus4688]

HE'S BLACK

[@romulusnuma116]

Please explain the cold war to me.

[@aarontheperson6867]

weapons race, no real fighting just everyone really worried the other one was gonna nuke em

[@declanglynn419]

Don't forget the using of other countries as surrogates to fight each other

[@aandredaandred3378]

@syaondri It is much more interesting if you were actually growing up in a colorless communist state with meat, soap and gasoline being rationed and crossing fingers for the enemy team.

[@slippytrippy8122]

I think we still may be in a cold war with russia. Trump n Putin couldve changed that, but all this russian hacking stuff is fucking it up

[@Endymenbro]

US and Russia began racing for German scientists to build rockets and once the common enemy was gone two systems considered opposite of each other wanted to prove who was better. At one point the US put missiles in Turkey so the USSR put missiles in Cuba secretly and then the US pretended not to have put missiles in turkey and then they both threatened to kill each other for several years until it got better. When things were finally getting better Nixon came in and was completely FUCK RUSSIA AND COMMUNISM and set it back. Things never got much better but they settled down some. During this conflict that never became physical they fought proxy wars by arming groups that would be a pain in the ass for everyone in the end, they big dick battled over space, and one Russian man stopped the destruction of the entire world. That Russian man is so underrated I always forget his name but he essentially said let’s not return nukes when there was a false positive on their system saying the US sent a nuke. Essentially this man accepted his death in sadness instead of doing his job of killing innocents. Oh yeah, we would’ve nuked North Korea but we were afraid of Russia nuking us due to MAD. Also both Korean War and Vietnam war could’ve been avoided but we deciding that Russia must’ve rigged the elections and they believed the US rigged it. So basically because everyone is obsessed with themselves and being right therefore we fight each other instead of live and let live. So Russia was bad and so was America therefore conflict was inevitable.

[@n119511m]

first youtuber to make me watch a 37 minute long video and completly enjoy it, subscribed :D

[@paulaharrisbaca4851]

Another thing about Strangelove is its look. It's as unique in its way as "Barry Lyndon" and "The Shining" or "A Clockwork Orange".

[@bootortle]

Did you just implied when you said "Hi!" you were lying? What does that even mean? Are you some sort of triple genius?

[@terribleauthority]

NUCULAR

[@mac2phin]

John Smith Nuclear. Unclear.

[@dahawk8574]

Right up there with Q-Brick. (Cube Rick) Perhaps done intentionally, to avoid sounding too intellectual?

[@katim2644]

Ok George.

[@EggBastion]

Uncular?

[@mcnultyfp]

Two syllables better than three

[@catholiccontriversy]

I love how you make some rather out there theses and then spend half an hour proving it to us, and succeeding.

[@steveclapper5424]

The time I read Catch 22 I thought it was the funniest book I had ever read. I tried to read it again and all I wanted to do was cry.

[@jameswilson8433]

"He was so young!" “Well, he died. You don't get any older than that.”

[@danielcannavo8899]

Your content is like an oasis in the middle of the desolate land of KZbin

[@JKPancake]

Dig into the world of video essays, there is a lot of gold in these hills

[@MrCactuar13]

I've been hooked on video essays for the past 3 or so years. They're probably the only youtube content I look forward to anymore, aside from high-level fighting game footage

[@bluest1524]

Exceptional insights, thank you. I didn't feel Ripper was driven by impotence however, you may have missed the point on that. When questioned about his water obsession by Mandrake he explained he 'denied women his essence' because he feared that empty feeling he'd had after ejaculating. It wasn't that he couldn't get hard; it was that he'd refused to orgasm for years, and this buildup of tension had driven him mad.

[@Redwhiteblue-gr5em]

You are exactly right. Most everyone misses that. Jack has no problem getting hard, he just gets an empty depressed feeling after he cums. And he blames the Commies corrupting fluoridation of water to create this depressed feeling.

[@maxr5799]

"McLovin is the crescendo" Damn, I wish I could've made that my Senior quote

[@MyLateralThawts]

Something I just noticed while watching this. Ripper doesn’t blink when he explains his motivation to Mandrake. I doubt Kubrick knew about the propensity of liars to blink frequently when telling an untruth, but it works brilliantly for Ripper, convinced of his own fiction he created for himself. It shows him to be utterly mad. Genius!

[@briancollins1296]

Barry Lyndon deserves a video someday. Easily Kubrick's most underrated.

[@lorensims4846]

I fell asleep during that one.

[@Anthony-hh7tk]

@@lorensims4846 blasphemous

[@koshnu7475]

seriously dude, please, for the love of god, post the tracklist of your videos in the description or whatever, they´re great , and you should spread your good taste, Do us a favor.

[@jayvonwebb4864]

Romanov 1917 it makes the video much better

[@trevorwilson9229]

The opening song is What You Won’t Do For Love by Bobby Caldwell.

[@constantine5]

Just noticed the War Room’s lighting shape and it’s resemblance to a nuclear cloud. So much symbolism and thought put into every shot of his movies. Nothing is accidental.

[@thorn262]

Well, sorta, kinda. Kubrick was masterful in making it appear in his films that nothing was accidental. However, 'DS' had its first test screening, November 22, 1963. It was re-released January 29, 1964. Certain cuts or loops were made due to the assassination of JFK: the phrase from Major 'King' Kong, 'Shoot! A fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff,’ had been, ‘...a pretty good weekend in Dallas...’ There’s no such thing as ‘perfect’ or nothing accidental in filmmaking (as for the lighting in the War Room, you align with my thoughts, but it is nevertheless, and always, an interpretation).

[@UnholyBasil]

This video is the most important one this year. Hands down. Thank you for being such a massive inspiration to me.

[@howaboutsomecorn8592]

The last 5 minutes of this video always make me cry without fail. It's just genuinely too powerful and cements how good breadsword is at this whole thing.

[@aaronlawrence666]

I just watched Dr. Strangelove for the first time a couple of days ago and loved it. I decided to watch your video to get some insight just now and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very insightful and really well produced. You did a great job with this. Thanks very much.

[@satanicchameleon1928]

Your videos legit give me chills. I really love the deep analysis you go into with each of your reviews and how it opens up ones mind to the many details we could have possibly missed regarding artistic choices and a realistic approach. It’s serene and refreshing. I’d love so much to see more videos like this, especially if older movies. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your opinion on “Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Wolf” and “What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?” ?

[@CWargh63]

Okay, bear with me, as this may be a long walk for a short drink of water. This movie was produced less than 2 decades after WWII - so that was fresher in most memories than this movie is to us, almost 6 decades removed from this film's release. I only just noticed some details of the pistol shown @28:20 it appears to be the standard sidearm of the U.S. military of that era; a 1911 Colt .45 automatic, with mother of pearl handles added. A famous story from the war regarding General George S. Patton went as follows: Some newspapers at the time described the revolvers as having pearl handles, but when asked about those handles by a reporter in WWII, Patton angrily responded that they were in fact ivory, and that, “only a New Orleans pimp would carry a pearl-handled gun!”

[@senabea]

I started out intrigued by the topic, halfway though I legitimately started to get freaked out and lose hope in humanity, and at the end I felt comforted and genuinely fortunate to be a part of this paradox. Truly a fantastic video, I have no idea how you haven't even hit 100k yet

[@therussbuss5314]

I know I'm 7 months late but please explain the entire cold war. You could do a video on agricultural practices and I would still be entranced. Also the cold war was my favorite subject in history.

[@zacharyvowles6513]

Dear John also may be a reference to the letters sent by significant others to soldiers at war, used to state that their relationship is over, and that they have another lover now.

[@ethansmith7263]

I really needed your ending monologue from this video today, thank you.

[@QuikVidGuy]

the first sentence of the video is "hi"

[@nixietubes]

Hi is the first word, The first sentence is "Hi, The first sentence of this video, Is a lie."

[@DaftSheep]

Tntmod54321 That's a lie.

[@billstephens396]

Tntmod54321 Actually, the first sentence of this video was "Hi." And that can be both a truth and a lie at the same time. "Hi." can and usualy is, a stand-alone sentence. There was a VEEERY long pause at the end of "Hi." indicating the end of a specific thought. Thus, that is a a stand-alone sentence. Just saying the truth... Problem solved... Who's up for Italian? (My "..." indicates extremely long pauses in thoughts. Nearly paragraph long ideas going on in these words...)

[@arthurcarvalho6591]

I think Kubrick used that music at the end implying irony... I didn't know the background to it, to be an optimistic return-of-war song, but by the tone of the rest of the movie, I guess he went dark all the way and selected this specific tune in order to use it as a tool to his fine irony - or paradox Great video tho! loved the intro and the analysis on film particularities w/ exterior expemples, in reality or other movies..

[@jthadcast]

i agree. that song is irony and has nothing to do with hope, it is the final stage of grief ... acceptance. "we'll meet again" is the hallmark of that generation's loss of innocence, by '62 it was an absurd cliche.

[@reeddressler9042]

Yeah I think it's definitely irony especially since Dr. Strangelove jumping up he also says "Mein Fuhrer I can walk" which uh...is less about being happy for him and more that he an actual nazi, his ideology that of destruction has gained power through the the US war. This could possibly be a point against the US because we did actually pardon nazis to help us with our military goals.

[@tSp289]

There's more to the song as well: it's both a 'chin-up' optimistic song, but I read a slight possibility that the 'some sunny day' might actually be the afterlife. "Will you please say hello, to the folks that I know; tell them I won't be long. They'll be happy to know that as you saw me go I was singing this song."

[@samuelbaker4004]

I don't know if you'll ever read this, but you honestly made me cry a bit after watching this. its beautiful poetry about one of my favorite movies, and you just hit it all the harder. subscribed, i hope you keep doing what your doing because your doing something special.

[@DallenMalna]

I'm pretty sure Dr.Strangelove walking at the end was supposed to symbolize the proverbial return to power of the horrors of the Nazis. Or at least the spirit of them. And the song at the end represents that that evil in humanity will never been gone and always return. I don't think it's optimistic at all...

[@Roflmaolinde]

Dallen Malna It's cool how many things that can be read out of one tiny thing. I've always just assumed it was a easier joke on this doctor talking about ushering in a new übermench and realizing that he himself wouldn't be a part of it if he couldn't walk.

[@DallenMalna]

GainedSalmon 3 it's possible some of us will but it's not true we all will. Disaster sometimes reveals that the most normal of people are monsters waiting to happen. But it also reveals that the most unlikely of people are heroes in the making. It's true if the world ended many of us would be willing to do terrible things to each other...but many of us wouldn't. We would do what is right even if it meant a painful death. That was true even in Nazi Germany. People fought back.

[@th3b0yg]

Dallen Malna. I'm with you. This nutty assertion that "We'll Meet Again" is optimism, and not bitter sarcasm, really bugged me. And of course you're right about Strangelove walking. He's so invigorated by the destruction of the world he manages to stand erect once again. Yep. It's another bitter sex joke.

[@mattbenz99]

It is hilarious how differently people can take interpret that improvised part of the scene. Apparently Strangelove standing up was an accident and was just the actor getting excited. Kubrick however liked it so much that he added it to the film.

[@mattbenz99]

Romano Coombs Sellers was one of the few actors that Kubrick liked enough to let do improve. In fact Sellers improvised a ton in this movie. I mean the entire phone conversation between the US President and the Soviet Premier was improvised.

[@thomaskent887]

Thank you and Kubrick for this profound entertainment. Paradox is the doorway to enlightenment and as confusing as it can be there is nearly always a more important truth underlying them.

[@daishi0001]

There was an additional oxymoron gag in the war room scene when the President exclaimed "There is no fighting in the War Room."

[@traviswrigg5158]

"We'll be okay" Well I didn't realize I needed to hear that until someone said it

[@GrandLordGeek]

Climate change

[@gbrading]

Really excellent analysis. Convinced me to subscribe. I disagree about the ending a bit (I think the ending is a funny last gag followed by the hopeful song, considering Strangelove bellows "MEIN FUHRER, I CAN WALK!" before the bombs drop). But Dr. Strangelove is certainly very current today when we consider how the threat of nuclear war seems much more real again. And definitely one of Kubrick's very best (2001 is my favourite).