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Encanto: The Anti-Lion King

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The Barking Years

The Barking Years

Күн бұрын

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@rabeckaleeann
@rabeckaleeann 8 ай бұрын
So in a video that deals with the topic of futurism...we're not going to talk about Bruno?
@nathantroscinski2065
@nathantroscinski2065 8 ай бұрын
Very interesting review. A different way of looking at the story though is as a microcosm of the immigrant experience. For many immigrants, the older generations endured great hardships to bring their children and grandchildren to a new world with a better future. Once there, those offspring are often blessed with opportunities that the older generation could scarcely imagine. There's often a tension between the old and new generations though, with the older generations still insecure about their new positions, while the younger generation yearns for a more relaxed lifestyle where they can focus on enjoying the fruits of their new life. In that context, Encanto is the story of an immigrant family that fled hardship to form a new life in a new place where they worked hard to succeed and thrive. Even years later however, Abuella still harbors a deep anxiety that this is only maintained through the families skills (their powers). If they were to lose those gifts, the community might abandon or turn them out and they would lose everything. So Mirabel (someone without skills) and Bruno (someone who angers the community) are seen as threats to the family's acceptance and the loss of the powers as potentially cataclysmic. I think that's why it's so important that the story ends with the villagers coming to help the family rebuild the house - it's a validation for Abuella that even without their powers they're viewed as part of the community. I think you're right that Mirabel ends up not having much of an arc, but in a sense while she's the POV character, it's more Abuella's story. I agree that the message isn't nearly a strong as Lion King, but I think viewed with this framing the story makes a lot more sense.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
This resonates with me. I agree that this film is designed to have a kind of special subtext to immigrants, particularly those from Latin America. These people are frequently more conservative and religious than the countries they are entering (especially if that country is America), and so there is motivation to attempt to dissolve the bonds of their cultural heritage by seducing their children with greater wealth and fewer restrictions so they more easily slot into the liberal monoculture once their own ethnic heritage has been reduced to cosmetics (wear these clothes, cook this kind of food). This process is called deracination and Encanto is propaganda meant to push that process forward.
@Bogfrog1
@Bogfrog1 2 ай бұрын
⁠​⁠@@thebarkingyears Maybe not propaganda since I don’t think it was fully intentional, but the film is probably more the subconscious expression of that deracination that many of the writers are in the process of experiencing.
@GoodasCoffee
@GoodasCoffee 8 ай бұрын
Another stellar analysis! Excellent perspective. Thanks for the upload
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@GoodasCoffee
@GoodasCoffee 8 ай бұрын
@@thebarkingyears Very much. Your videos are on point!
@hardas81
@hardas81 8 ай бұрын
Great essay! I really hope it gets the views it deserves! Maybe raising people's expectations from studios like Disney will make them demand more, and vote with their wallets. And hopefully, we'll start getting great movies like The Lion King once again. Keep up the good work!
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Thanks! your commenting should help the algorithm pick it up!
@darkdstryr40k
@darkdstryr40k 8 ай бұрын
An interesting point, not the message I got. I saw the door knob not as a mirror for Maribel but a reference to the golden ball the frog goes into the pond to retrieve. And the Matriarch has gone off the rails and needs to be fixed and changed. Her grandmother disowning her and Bruno in pursuit of a candle that is supposed to be about family shows just how far off the rails it has gotten. But your right it’s definitely showcasing more individuality as opposed to a spot in the great circle of life
@martacollell
@martacollell 8 ай бұрын
It's wonderful when someone is able to organize your scattered thoughts into a coherent narrative that manages to crystallize an idea that otherwise you wouldn't be able to grasp. Thank you for this deep, extensive analysis that has allowed me to see clearly the reason why 'Encanto' felt as irritating as a child having a tantrum. If I weren't already subscribed to your channel, this essay would have sealed the deal!! It's been a pleasure, I don't want you to feel overpressured or obligated but keep the good work...please? ;DD
@Fairygoblet
@Fairygoblet 8 ай бұрын
I think that the reason Mirabelle didn't get a gift was because she was meant to succeed Abuela, who also did not have one. She has a lot of natural leadership qualities, and no doubt managing a gift on top of that would be heavily distracting. I don't like your take on Encanto at all, and this is partly why. The problem was not that the sisters were shallow, the problem was that abuela refused to see any way to a successful future Beyond her idea of a successful future due to trauma. The problem wasn't that neither of the sisters could handle their gifts, or didn't want them or were selfish with them. The problem was that they were not allowed the space to grow and best find for themselves how their gifts were best used. Abuela led by holding people to an ideal, which was necessary in an era where people were hopeless and directionless. Mirabelle led by helping people find their strengths and their peace, which is relevant to the time that she is living in. Abuela was so blinded by her idea of how things should be that she missed what was- that there are people behind the gifts she craved, and that Mirabelle was fulfilling her role without one. Encanto isn't about Hakuna Matata: it is about trusting that the future generation you have built will adapt to change, and that a person being themselves is more effective than any Supernatural gift. Louisa immediately being thrown into the hammock after she gets her gift back is simply visual shorthand telling us that she has learned to take a break. And you can't tell me hours at a time of hard manual labor or the expectation that you lived an idealized version of the life of your grandmother aren't hard things to experience. It's just a different kind of hard. Not to mention, Luise went to Great Lengths to maintain maximum strength. She was working out all the time. It's not like nothing she did cost her significant effort. This seems like a very bad faith take to me, and it completely ignores Bruno, who did his best, probably every single thing that abuela ever asked of him, and still couldn't meet those Expectations because abuela could not bear the idea of bad things happening.to Be fair to her, she'd had enough of that for a lifetime. But she could not see how she was contributing to some of this negativity. In fact, all three of the triplets indicate a specific way abuela's way of doing things could be hurtful. And you don't even mention them. The reason that Mirabelle is mostly static is that it's about other people finally seeing her for who she is. And I will admit I find this very cathartic, because I know from personal experience that living under a strong-minded matriarch with good intentions but a lot of personal trauma is extremely difficult. I have a feeling that you've never had that experience because then you would understand exactly how these experiences in the movie are being coded. I'm saying coded because there's a limit to what Disney can actually show when it comes to family conflict I'm surprised they went as far with Bruno as they did. The problem was not the gifts or the expectations of or the Duty 2 the townspeople- the problem is the relationship with their grandmother. That is what creates the problems and the pressure Abuela instilled in the family A desire to serve the community that isn't going away, not even with the changes that Mirabelle made. The problem wasn't that they didn't want to serve the community, the problem was that the way that abuela was asking them to do it was not in line with the way that they could best serve. Isabella expanded and her abilities when she let go of abuela's preconceived Notions of her. Louisa did better mentally when she had more time to nurture her ultimately sensitive nature. Abuela doesn't need to accept that her children and grandchildren will stop serving the community. She needs to accept that they will be doing it their way. this is why Mirabelle not having powers is so important. It holds her as a mirror to her grandmother, who didn't have powers either, and had to forge a new way for her community. Abuela spent the entire movie constantly afraid that if one thing went wrong, the entire Community would collapse. Mirabelle was able to trust in the Integrity of her community, and that was the Mind shift that occurred. Not laziness. Ironically, The Lion King has a much similar message to Encanto that you might think. Is Simba's laziness and desire to escape responsibility was also a result of trauma: feeling responsible for something no child should feel responsible for. Both movies are about healing from trauma and accepting destiny. The only difference is that the parental figure is congruent with that in The Lion King and incongruent with that in encanto. Mufasa is somebody to emulate while abuela, though very strong and well-intentioned, was an obstacle to the way that things needed to change. Which, again, had nothing to do with work ethic. I honestly think that Encanto is about generational shift and the necessary changes in pitfalls. I am sure if they ever talk about the Mirabelle or abuela of the next generation, Mirabelle will be learning a thing or two from them. With all due respect I researched more traditional family structures when I was in college and they are often born out of time honored Traditions that nobody questioned, or trauma. That doesn't mean that nothing good has come from them, only that the expectations of families like mirabelle's can create psychological damage. You have only to ask a handful of people who lived in these types of family structures how difficult the pressure was - and how insignificant and petulant it looked to Outsiders. I would encourage you to research family Dynamics if you have not already done so, because there's a reason this movie resonated with so many people. Remember, Simba had a supportive caregiver who loves him and found him capable just as he was. He told Simba," you have forgotten who you are and so you have forgotten me." Mufasa knew who his son was. Abuela had projections of everything her children and grandchildren should be that weren't necessarily accurate. Mufasa would have found the good things in Mirabelle even if he knew she lacked a gift, because he would have understood that she was a natural leader with a lot of empathy. Abuela dismissed that at first. So yeah, there are comparisons to Encanto versus The Lion King, but not in the way you've proposed. People are probably not going to see this but I wanted to make the point that a supportive caregiver makes all the difference and even though Disney might not have conveyed the pressure in a satisfying way to you, those of us who did not grow up with a supportive caregiver saw what was going on right away. Mufasa had the wisdom and knew the way. Abuela had to learn that her horrible past was over, so of course her wisdom is questioned.
@Kerosyn
@Kerosyn 8 ай бұрын
excellent comment, expertly nails everything that made this video feel so wrong to me
@w0000ticus
@w0000ticus 8 ай бұрын
thanks for this comment, won't be watching the video now, way better take
@fluffypinkpandas
@fluffypinkpandas 8 ай бұрын
me questioning why i have to take accelerated IT management courses just because im “good with computers”. I guess that was my special miracle gift. believe me I know what you mean. I have my own Abuella type figure. I cant use my talents the way I want to and I feel like im rotting from the inside as a result. My family is stuck in the past, negatively influencing me using their old concerns and traumas which dont allign with a new world society that I am tasked with fitting into. if I had a mufassa I would not be here saying this.
@nykole1963
@nykole1963 8 ай бұрын
Makes it amazing to me how some people can be so blind to their generational trauma they pass down, but if they never actually focus on it, I guess it makes sense. My mother had an amazing mother, but a horribly abusive father. Both of my parents look at their parenting as, "It's better than I got, so I'm a great parent!" This is never the case. You're a great parent when you're a great parent. I was totally abused and still am, just mentally and emotionally. Anyone who tries to convince me that I was ever hit, I will argue to the ends of the Earth with. However, that did not make my parents GOOD, just better than what they had. Mirabelle's grandmother realizes what she's done, the pressure she's put on her grandchildren to be her type of success, after Mirabelle is able to gently talk to her about it. It matters that you make mistakes in your past, especially the severity of them, but it matters, probably more, to recognize and change for the better from them. That's where we get the issue of repeat offenders in jails. Nobody teaches them any different, so they don't have that chance to really change. The key is that the grandmother got that chance and took it. Support systems make or break a person. Everything you said in this comment made it worth sitting through the video for. I feel bad for anyone who doesn't get to or won't see this comment after watching the video, for they may start to feel conflicted, confused, and a bit like an imposter if they've ever dealt with these sorts of things. Thank you for your corrections to this video, and for clarification on what you meant. Too many people never elaborate, and it leaves things with even worse open ends.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Hi Fairygoblet, thanks for watching and for the comment. Hmmm, where to begin? I like to think of debates kind of like games of chess, where there are certain kinds of moves that can be made and others which can’t be made. The determining factor for any textual analysis (and that covers movies too) is whether or not the evidence used for the argument exists in the text, and I’m afraid that a lot of the moves that you make break this rule, and of the others, they never congeal into a solid argument, so there’s really nothing here to refute, just a collection of smaller claims that have to be debunked individually. For instance, your claims about Bruno. *“This seems like a very bad faith take to me, and it completely ignores Bruno, who did his best, probably every single thing that abuela ever asked of him, and still couldn't meet those Expectations because abuela could not bear the idea of bad things happening.”* I’m afraid no part of this is true. It’s just nowhere in the film. Bruno was ostracized within the family because he was so inept with his gift that people literally thought he was evil. And Alma doesn’t force him out because of his prophecy, he leaves on his own because he knows that because of his reputation, people would assume the worst about Maribel. The same is true when you claim, “Abuela instilled in the family A desire to serve the community that isn't going away, not even with the changes that Mirabelle made. The problem wasn't that they didn't want to serve the community, the problem was that the way that abuela was asking them to do it was not in line with the way that they could best serve.” Again this is nowhere in the film. You are simply making up a different story that supports the points you want to make, but it isn’t Encanto. This is why textual evidence matters. Isabella’s scene is entirely about her. There is not a single word mentioned of serving anyone else. In fact the ENTIRE POINT of that scene is that she’s putting herself first. Likewise, there is not a word from Luisa’s big number about finding better ways to serve. This whole argument is based on non-existent evidence. *“Is Simba's laziness and desire to escape responsibility was also a result of trauma: feeling responsible for something no child should feel responsible for. Both movies are about healing from trauma and accepting destiny.”* This is an extremely simplistic frame for understanding either movie and conceals more than it reveals. And given that the entire point of my video is about challenging the simplistic framework, it feels like you are simply not engaging with anything I’ve said. You’re just reasserting the superficial reading that I’m challenging without addressing my arguments. To the best that I can tell, the only times that you do are when you are producing these theories which aren’t supported by the movies or smuggling in your conclusions by weighting the terms. Here, I’ll give an example: *“Remember, Simba had a supportive caregiver who loves him and found him capable just as he was. He told Simba," you have forgotten who you are and so you have forgotten me." Mufasa knew who his son was. Abuela had projections of everything her children and grandchildren should be that weren't necessarily accurate.”* This idea rests on a kind of absurd notion that there is some kind of platonic form of “who you are” floating in the ether and Mufasa just happened to know that platonic form of Simba, but Alma didn’t have sufficient knowledge of her grandchildren’s platonic forms. That just isn’t how it works. Instead, it’s just a post-hoc rationalization that treats the outcome as if it were pre-ordained, which defeats the point. But regardless, by this logic Mufasa’s expectations are retroactively rendered reasonable and accurate, while Alma’s are not even though Simba’s trial is infinitely more difficult than anything the Madrigal girls are going through. This logic is obviously self-serving and designed to appeal to people who want to rationalize their own fragility and narcissism. Anyway, thanks for the extremely in-depth comment, but I’m afraid I don’t find it very persuasive. But, as long as we’re recommending research subjects to each other, I suggest taking a look at Philip Rief’s book, The Triumph of the Therapeutic. The research you did on traditional structures was not objective (I've read plenty of the stuff over the years), instead it is the imposition of a value system/world view. So, since THAT worldview is the thing that I am attacking, for you to refer back to it in order to try to support your points is literally to miss mine. Maybe you've heard the joke about the fish asking another fish "How's the water?" and the other fish responds by asking "What the hell is water?" Water is the worldview that you aren't able to question because you can't see it. Rief's book helps to make it visible.
@sgtkilborn
@sgtkilborn 8 ай бұрын
Enjoyed the video, but I don't really agree with your take. It struck me as odd when you said that Luisa's complaints are laughable when compared to what her mother went through. Obviously the mother had it worse, but the idea that this somehow invalidates any problems her kids have just makes no sense to me. It's pretty clear that what she's asking of them is massively unreasonable. Regardless of whether her responsibilities are all that difficult, they've all had it drilled into their heads that it's of the utmost importance that they live up to their role and that they have no choice in the matter. That's incredibly suffocating. I think I disagree most with what you said about artists. Again the character seems to me to be asking for a pretty basic freedom, the kind I think all artists should have. It feels like a huge leap to start talking about urinals and jars of hair as if that's exactly where this sort of self-driven artistic freedom leads, especially when someone could just as easily argue it's how you get Picasso. You talk about the social contract and how the gift was given to her with expectations, but again this is something that was chosen for her when she was a kid and had drilled into her to never stray from. If it comes with a caveat then it's not really a gift. You gloss over the arranged marriage, but I think the point the movie is trying to make is that it's the same sort of social contract as the rest of the 'gifts' in that it's supposedly good, but comes with lifelong obligations you're forced to live by even though you were never asked. I think responsibility is important and I like the message in the Lion King, but I don't think Encanto is saying that all responsibility is bad, just that there's such a thing as too much and that families (and other social structures) shouldn't try to completely control kids lives and assign everybody purpose.
@ИванСнежков-з9й
@ИванСнежков-з9й 8 ай бұрын
I think you are saying it better than I could. At the time a lot of discussion of the film involved the topic of generational trauma and how the parents are propagating. Sometimes the tradition exist for a reason and sometimes the reason doesn't exist anymore.
@JohnnyVee007
@JohnnyVee007 8 ай бұрын
The grandmother put it on herself and her ilk. They never asked to be put on a pedestal. It's a very real thing& maybe.. the page creator's take is coming from a place of misunderstanding and privilege.
@slipperypetesmeat
@slipperypetesmeat 7 ай бұрын
*India has joined the chat
@FeministCatwoman
@FeministCatwoman 7 ай бұрын
​@@JohnnyVee007 "The page creator's take is coming from a place of misunderstanding and privilege"... I wasn't gonna say it myself, but I sure was tempted. While I don't think you need to be Latina or a woman to appreciate and understand certain angles of this movie, it certainly does offer more insight. Just like you and Op I also vehemently disagree that Luisa's complaint is invalid, or that Mirabel acts on "vanity". Mirabel is being sidelined and neglected, and made to feel less-than in comparison with everyone else in her family. She doesn't even get the honor of being in the family photo, how the hell can any kid be expected to cope with that in a healthy mature manner? And this explains why the photo is taken again at the end, this time with Mirabel actually in it where she belongs, and the family not striving to put on a performance. Mirabel is intentionally static, because she does not need to change. What needs to change is the dynamic of the family. The chores are not Luisa's issue; it's the fact that too many people have become dependent on her, with far too many expectations of her. Someone should have reminded this channel that Luisa is a literal CHILD. She's being parentified and on top of that, her worth has been directly tied to what she can do for other people, she cannot, must not, do anything for herself or her own relaxation or pleasure. It's literally in the damn song and it's highlighted at the end when she is depicted finally relaxing on a hammock. Same goes for Isabela's complaint that she "has to be perfect". Agreed, she's annoying and again this doesn't sound like a valid complaint on the surface. Once again this movie, like ALL well written stories, is about what is UNDER the surface. Isabela's entire life is performance. She has to keep up appearances and continue "performing perfection" to the tune of Abuela's demands, regardless of how she feels about it or how it affects her mentally. She's even willing to enter a loveless marriage JUST to please the family matriarch... to meet the expectations placed on her. There's that word again. Abuela's unreasonable demands and expectations for her family, her pressures on them to keep up a performance for the sake of others and to constantly provide some form of labor, or else they are discarded (like Bruno, who was DISOWNED), is what's on trial in the movie, not the kids reacting to the demands or cracking under them. The expectation to constantly provide labor for others, at our own expense, and even when we do not receive any reciprocation ourselves, is something our families struggle with a lot in our culture, so I'm not that shocked that this youtuber doesn't understand it, but I am a bit surprised because I expected better media literacy than this. Another thing, he harps on Mirabel for yelling at Alma "not caring about the family". I always thought it was pretty obvious that Mirabel is patently wrong for saying that and the audience isn't expected to agree with her, only to empathize with her. Mirabel is being accused and is put on the spot, so she naturally gets defensive and says something she doesn't mean/isn't true, *just like any other kid would have*. It's clear that even though Alma does indeed care for her family, if anything too much, she doesn't show it properly and instead projects her fears and controlling high demands onto them instead of treating them as vulnerable human beings with limits and weaknesses. And it *really* didn't help when the culmination of the video resulted in a diatribe about how the message of the movie somehow belittles or defies "culture and tradition" simply because an unhealthy family dynamic was changed for the better, even if it resulted in the temporary destruction of the miracle house. Alma was treating the kids as if they were their gifts, instead of treating them as people. This movie isn't about upholding or changing traditions, it's about upholding YOUR FAMILY. It's about honoring the kids that up until now you have used as workhorses, as beasts of burden and vehicles for your fears and traumas instead of the unique individuals that they are. The movie says nothing about future generations and legacies, because the focus is on THIS family, here and now. And how these demands on them have harmed them and their sense of self. Honestly, what a spectacular way to miss the point. Maybe this channel would have benefitted from analyzing a few more video essays already out on Encanto in order to grasp the premise, because some of these arguments and questions have already been addressed. "Where does the magic come from [after the candle was gone]?" It comes from all of them. Mirabel is an integral part of the family even if she doesn't have a magical gift. She still holds them together by offering a different perspective. Just as another video essay pointed out, if the Madrigal family were all different musicians using their instruments, then Mirabel is the conductor. She has a part to play. Sorry for dumping here, I just get really frustrated when video essays approach the point, and then COMPLETELY blow past it and make a left turn. This video did that a lot and it left me baffled and frustrated. One of the most egregious examples of apples vs oranges I've seen lately.
@CemKumral
@CemKumral 6 ай бұрын
I haven't watched the movie itself but from what has been described, it seems like a one to one comparison to aristocracy. They are given powers and priviledges over others but all of that comes with a certain noblesse oblige they are held to.
@recklssabndon
@recklssabndon 8 ай бұрын
Love the Tolstoy shoutout, not sure how you worked that into the script but I appreciated it lmao
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Lol, man, I think about that book constantly.
@KosmonautKong
@KosmonautKong 8 ай бұрын
While I largely agree with the analysis, I think there's a point that really deserves to be highlighted, and Lion King does not have an answer to. That is, Maribel *did not receive her power,* and therefore did not receive her role. I think that's probably a familiar feeling to most people, and Encanto answers it the same way most people did: Saying "fuck the system" and extracting their own comfort at the cost of a future they don't really believe they have anyways. I don't expect you to have the answer to that problem, obviously. Nobody else has one. It's just worth pointing out that Maribel was presented with a very different problem to Simba. Simba was needed, and had a place, if he was able to take it. Maribel, apparently, was not, and did not.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Hey Akira, thanks for watching. I think I actually can answer your question. So obviously it's true that Maribel doesn't get a gift, but this doesn't mean that she doesn't have a role, she just doesn't have a special one. She's still a member of the family and the village (none of whom have any special powers). There's literally nothing stopping her from participating in the future of their village. There's nothing stopping her from taking any normal job, having a family of her own, or anything that normal people do. She just doesn't have a status position, and that's the ultimate problem for her. Simba does have an important position, but that isn't what causes him to return. He's not seeking status. It is incredibly clear that he would rather not go at all. If a social arrangement truly is not providing any place for someone, then yes, I am very sympathetic to that person having little investment in that social arrangement. But if the problem isn't that the person has no place, but that they simply aren't satisfied with their place because it doesn't give them special status over other people, then my sympathies dry up pretty quickly.
@kodyk124
@kodyk124 8 ай бұрын
@@thebarkingyears That makes so much sense. In the video, when you said Maribel was motivated by vanity, I didn't fully understand what you meant. But this comment really ties it together for me.
@winkone101
@winkone101 8 ай бұрын
@@thebarkingyears That's a really good point. One can definitely sympathize with Maribel being denied a birthright she was led to expect, but at no point was she dismissed by her family or community. It was simply that her responsibilities were less glamorous than her siblings', not due to ostracism, but because her capabilities were that of an average person with no magic or specialized skills. Interesting how she still sees her father and Felix in the "spotlight" (10:12) despite them not possessing magic either. This could be because, unlike her, they choose to embrace their roles in the family/community (though I'm probably reading too much into this since neither of them are explored as characters).
@jasonbelstone3427
@jasonbelstone3427 7 ай бұрын
@@thebarkingyears Let me see if I can summarize, sir: (Clears throat) In the words of Grandpa god from Kyousougiga, "Whats wrong with just being here?"
@Ralfydee
@Ralfydee 8 ай бұрын
Seal team 6 when kicking in osama’s door: “KA-CHOW!”
@robhulson
@robhulson 5 ай бұрын
Oh my God. 😂
@em25564
@em25564 8 ай бұрын
Normally, I wouldn't be interested in a grown man talking about Disney films, but that voice is sexy.
@danumba1son419
@danumba1son419 8 ай бұрын
Great video, as per usual an objective critique of a modern Disney makes them appear sinister and/or unbelievably naive
@MrIreneadler
@MrIreneadler 7 ай бұрын
This is a brilliant and deeply insightful comparison of the two movies. I really does show the slippery slope our society is on ~ the fall from the heroic (to one's society) and the merely therapeutic navel gazing, self indulgence of this moment. We need heroism now more than ever. Thank you for holding up this mirror.
@BabyArms
@BabyArms 8 ай бұрын
"The stars are Simba's candle, and the stars never go out."
@ollllj
@ollllj 8 ай бұрын
0:30 When you could blend between 2 color filters in front of a black+white camera and have colorful high contrast makeup, that suddenly does no longer get filtered out. Gaston is clearly the protagonist (albeit slightly ignorant, but fine for its setting) and the beast is an antihero (the beast is an asshole and a hostage-taker.
@prospectivepenguin5688
@prospectivepenguin5688 8 ай бұрын
Great analysis. I found your channel because of your falling down analysis.
@ИванСнежков-з9й
@ИванСнежков-з9й 8 ай бұрын
"We are given our social roles and we must fulfill them, ignoring our own desires and selves or there won't be a future." As somebody who's lived under communist regime, this message rises a lot of red flags. I think that this might be a good example of what a "conservatism" is - keeping the old order, even when the things have changed and are no longer relevant... because otherwise everything will crumble and there won't be future. Yet, in "Encanto" there are no hyenas. We do not see the valley falling in disrepair when the magic is gone. We see people helping each other. I've heard that Asian type societies are about society needs above individuals, where Western society is about the freedom of the individual. One could argue that reaching a balance where people do have personal freedom and could still contribute positively to the society, is the thing we should strive to. And that's what we see in Encanto.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Except that it's not. There is literally no discussion of responsibility. I've seen a few people making the same point that you're making here, but it simply doesn't exist in the film. The emphasis is entirely on the individual and releasing them from obligation.
@ИванСнежков-з9й
@ИванСнежков-з9й 8 ай бұрын
@@thebarkingyears I agree, it's not in the film, but it's the cornerstone of your video. You are the one talking about obligations or having no future. Let me ask you, why is Luisa obligated to collect the donkeys of the whole village? I could accept that if you need a bridge or church moved, she is the best option to make it quick and easy. But she is not doing that every day. Do we even see it done outside of flashbacks? Everybody can go and collect their own donkeys, without having super strength. At the end we do see her moving something heavy and then enjoying herself. You know, proper work/life balance.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
"I agree, it's not in the film, but it's the cornerstone of your video." ...it's the cornerstone of the argument YOU just made. Its ABSENCE is the cornerstone of my argument. What are you talking about? "Let me ask you, why is Luisa obligated to collect the donkeys of the whole village?" Who cares? I didn't write it. You are fixating on a trivial detail in order to miss the obvious point. Neither I nor anyone else needs to know why she does any particular task to understand the point of the character. This is missing the forest for the trees. "At the end we do see her moving something heavy and then enjoying herself. You know, proper work/life balance." If you think that proper work/life balance involves doing four seconds of work and then taking a siesta, then I think your perspective is pretty warped. You act like Luisa's being worked to death because she has *chores.* At no point during her actual work does she even look remotely pressed. Sorry, but this argument that she's being worked like a dog when she's literally magically immune to fatigue is just bonkers.
@ИванСнежков-з9й
@ИванСнежков-з9й 8 ай бұрын
@@thebarkingyears I might have believed you for a moment, if you didn't double down in the rest of your comment. You probably genuinely do not realize what argument you are making. The fact so many people are trying to point this flaw in your reasoning and you are still completely missing it, is troublesome. You are considering things to be normal, that should not be normal. I'll take it to the extreme. Chore is work you do for your own household and for your own benefit (aka free of charge). When you are doing chores for other people, it is called work. If you do work without compensation and not on your own volition, that's servitude. Can you tell me what's wrong with servitude, given that they are just doing the regular house work and you are not working them to death?
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
" I might have believed you for a moment, if you didn't double down in the rest of your comment." Believe WHAT? Holy god, could you please attempt to write like you've graduated middle school? "You probably genuinely do not realize what argument you are making." Oh piss off. That's rich coming from the guy who just demonstrated that he could not follow the through-line of his own argument. "The fact so many people are trying to point this flaw in your reasoning and you are still completely missing it, is troublesome." Ho ho ho. Buddy, I'll try to say this kindly. You aren't equipped to point out a flaw in my reasoning if you can't understand your own argument. "Chore is work you do for your own household and for your own benefit (aka free of charge). When you are doing chores for other people, it is called work. If you do work without compensation and not on your own volition, that's servitude." F*cking ludicrous. Actually insane. If you think that because you dicked around with the definitions for a few words, Luisa (the person who can chuck a house over her shoulder) is suddenly a SLAVE, then you have a level of brain-rot that I'm just not interested in dealing with. This is one of the craziest things I've ever read.
@XP0V0S
@XP0V0S 8 ай бұрын
Thank you for another banger of a video essay, do please keep making these! Now, onto some discussion. I think you're spot on about the regime change. But I wonder if you're too harsh. Encanto's narrative is remarkably disjointed. Things are hidden, apparently not just from the audience, but the characters. You talk very little about Bruno [not doing it...] and I think that's an important part. He plays a role in affirming an alternative vision for the regime change. You noted Abuela Alma's comment that she had "forgotten who the gift was for." You say it's for her children/grandchildren specifically. But it is, more accurately, I think, for the pueblo entirely. That is, it's the past/present's gift and honor to the future, one of your key requirements. And if Abuela has forgotten that, as she might have, from some context, seeking to control everything rather than allowing the next generation to grow up and progress the culture, then she is in the wrong somewhere, and the regime change is justifiable. That she's redeemed in the regime change feels satisfactory as well--if definitely ahistorical. Ultimately, I think the disjoints point more to a team of writers not sure where they were going at any point and ending up with a narrative that doesn't make much sense because it's all just window dressing to hang fantastic music on. But for that reason, despite the quality of the music, it can never be a classic. We'll have the songs, but we'll forget this movie eventually. Aside, congratulations on causing me to give more positive thought to The Lion King since, ever. I'm not fond of the movie, but you did an excellent job showing its good points.
@PizzaPuncher2
@PizzaPuncher2 2 ай бұрын
Thinking about Luisa's strength, the house really should've given that gift to a male member of the family, i doubt he would complain or feel as pressured as she does. Let me be clear, I'm not trying to rag on or look down on her in any way at all but, it seems to me that the house in it's infinite magical wisdom should've realized the difference in male and female psychology. A male member of the family would definitely be able to take up that burden and feel a much deeper since of satisfaction from being the strongest in the village. I know it's a kids movie but, I'm sitting here thinking about how Luisa being so big and strong effects the way she sees herself as a woman. Her gift has basically made her unnattractive to most males but if the house just gave this gift to a male member of the family, this wouldn't be a problem, since then, he'd probably be the most desired male in the village. Also, giving the ability to control weather to an emotional woman wasn't a good idea either.
@dustinwashburn1283
@dustinwashburn1283 8 ай бұрын
I find myself both agreeing and disagreeing here. I find myself having a hard time to put exactly how to put into written word exactly how I feel on the matter, however. I will say though, that Alma suffering does not mean that the suffering put upon her children and grandchildren is ultimately lesser or less valid than her own, or that she has a right to treat anyone as she wishes. I also have a distinct dislike for the idea that if you have great strength, wealth, intelligence, or other such things, that you must use that for everyone else's benefit. And if one chooses to do so, that doesn't mean they don't deserve a break or their own ambitions. After all, a Fireman needs rest, and can have their own pastimes or dreams. And tossing someone (especially a family member) to the side because they don't match what YOU imagine they should be... Let's just say it's cruel. So, I still find Encanto a great movie. But I'm also not comparing it to Lion King which is about taking responsibility and what that means, when Encanto is about generational trauma and pushing burdens onto others.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Ok, so there are few things here. First of all, you say that the children's suffering isn't less than Alma's, but I have no idea how you could say this. Do you actually believe that having some modest expectations put on you is in any way comparable to watching your spouse get murdered in front of you and then having to raise three children on your own? I'm frankly baffled by this statement. If you have gifts (especially if those gifts were developed at someone else's expense) then, yes, you do actually have a moral obligation to use those gifts for the benefit of others. Selfishness is morally bad. Nobody said that a fireman can't rest or have their own hobbies. Bruno was ostracized because he was so inept with how he used his gift that his family members literally thought he was a villain who was intentionally harming the family. Now, it happens that they are wrong in this assessment, but if he actually were the villain that they think he is, then ostracizing would be completely acceptable. You are trying to crowbar apart the concepts of "taking responsibility" and "pushing burdens onto people," but they are the same concept. Responsibilities are burdens that you are obligated to take up. You can describe Alma's actions as "pushing burdens onto people" but I can just as easily say that her grandchildren are simply refusing to take responsibility. That said, thanks for watching and for the comment!
@Fairygoblet
@Fairygoblet 8 ай бұрын
Bruno was not inept at at using his gift. The movie shows over and over that nobody likes what he says, so they scapegoat him. Alma had the most intense suffering out of everybody, but that doesn't give her an excuse to use that to project everybody's futures. And while they didn't suffer as much as Abuela, that doesn't make the suffering of the rest of the family any less relevant. We are not arguing intensity here. We are arguing value. The struggles of the family aren't any less important, especially since she became the matriarch of this family and it's her job to guide them for as long as she's alive. She really should be listening a little bit better to their concerns, but she can't, because her trauma is getting in the way of solving these problems. I don't think OP Crow barring anything here. You are just seeing what you want to see. The equivalency you are drawing between these two movies is mostly false because it's a supportive parental unit as opposed to a non-supportive one. Mufasa and abuela don't equate as having the same wisdom at all.
@dustinwashburn1283
@dustinwashburn1283 8 ай бұрын
​@@thebarkingyears Suffering is largely relative. A person who has never experienced pain before will feel it exceptionally the first time they are nicked for example, and someone who is bludgeoned every day will take either something immense or very specific. Different in types as to what we are talking about, but it still holds true. The abuse Alma puts her family through is inexcusable, and deserves to be called out even if she suffered. And a person having great power does not mean they are immoral if they do not use it for the sake of others. It is only immoral if they actively use it to harm them. It is far more immoral to force upon others what we want of them even if they have the means to do so. This is something that has stuck in my mind after watching a Spongebob episode of all things, where his pants get filled with air, and he can fly everywhere. Suddenly everybody expects him to do various tasks for him (most of which they could have done themselves), and one even shouts at him as he tries to get away "Stop him, he owes us favors." And funny enough, I would argue Bruno actually proves this point. He didn't use his power for his own benefit, and he didn't actually use them wrong per se. While he was somewhat socially inept, he only answered when he was asked, and what he saw. He didn't harbor any ill will toward anybody, he simply did as they asked, and they shunned him. Regarding Responsibility and Burdens, I'm probably not conveying my thoughts as coherently as I would like. But, burdens are often just burdens, while yes, responsibilities are comprised of burdens, but responsibilities also have genuine need at their core. The Responsibilities in The Lion King are to ensure a proper balance in the ecosystem. It sounds odd to say it like that, it's the fundamental of it. You have the start point with Mufasa, a low point showcasing why poor decisions are poor with Scar, and Simba is a return to the status quo. Simple as. The proper maintenance ensures the society not only thrives, but survives. In Encanto, it is a responsibility to lead the community sure, but what kind of responsibility is there in moving buildings that fundamentally should not need to be moved? That would be privilege, not needed, therefore not something anybody needs to be responsible for outside of whoever built the buildings themselves. As well, with the power to grow plants, crops would be the responsibility, but that has no bearing on what Isabella does during her free time, and considering plants do grow by themselves, even that is suspect. But even then, most of what she is seen growing in the movie are flowers. Pretty but ultimately useless. Why would she have a responsibility to anyone to behave perfectly? These are less responsibilities, and more burdens and expectations thrust upon them with little actual reasoning behind them. Apologies for the ranty nature of this, but as I said here, that Spongebob episode really lives rent free in my head. I do agree on one thing in this video though, the actual messages between the two movies are very much opposite one another.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
"Bruno was not inept at at using his gift. The movie shows over and over that nobody likes what he says, so they scapegoat him." Bruna literally apologizes for having caused his family pain inadvertently because of his lack of tact. You're simply mistaken. "Alma had the most intense suffering out of everybody, but that doesn't give her an excuse to use that to project everybody's futures." No, what gives her the right to make demands on her children and grandchildren is that she suffered SO THEY COULD EXIST. You are essentially arguing that Alma has to be an entirely selfless saint so that her grandchildren can be as narcissistic as possible.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Alright, I'm not going to be able to respond to all of this, but I'll try to hit a few. Suffering has two components: subjective and objective. And sure, a person may have an outsized subjective response to suffering which is objectively mild, but uh…who cares? That’s a character flaw and one that people need to mature out of. Otherwise fragility is turned into a means of acquiring privilege. Also, Alma’s “abuse” isn’t “inexcusable.” It isn’t even abuse. Like, it’s actually wild to call it that. “And a person having great power does not mean they are immoral if they do not use it for the sake of others. It is only immoral if they actively use it to harm them.” Uh…false. If you had tons of food-more than you could eat-and there were people starving all around you, and you chose to let that food rot in your yard behind a heavy gate rather than feeding those people, you would be a monster. We can argue about where the line of duty gets drawn, but the idea that it doesn’t exist is just wrong. “And funny enough, I would argue Bruno actually proves this point. He didn't use his power for his own benefit, and he didn't actually use them wrong per se. While he was somewhat socially inept, he only answered when he was asked, and what he saw. He didn't harbor any ill will toward anybody, he simply did as they asked, and they shunned him.” It is false that he only tells people things they ask. There’s no basis for it in the film. He tells people true things that they would be happier not knowing because he’s kind of an idiot, even if he isn’t malicious. Your final point would take more time than I have right now, but I might return later. Apologies if this seems overly contentious, but I value directness when it comes to these kinds of discussions. Thanks again for your comments!
@bryanbassett2110
@bryanbassett2110 8 ай бұрын
I havent even seen encanto, but i watched this because i badly want to see this channel succeed. Yours is probably my favorite channel on KZbin on the subject of film. Keep it up! Losing regular uploads from you would be a major loss for this website
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
this made my day. thanks for watching. it feels pretty good to know that someone gets something out of all this
@kodyk124
@kodyk124 8 ай бұрын
I really appreciate this analysis. My friend put Encanto on for his daughter a few years back and I didn't know why it failed to resonate with me. I think what you outlined here makes a lot of sense, and it tracks with how I've felt about most Disney movies of the last ~10-15 years. It feels like there's been a general disavowal of duty, honor, and respect for the past, etc and more of a shallow focus on self absorption. And on top of that, the stakes just feel so much lower than they did in Disney movies of my youth. Sure, having an irredeemably evil character like Scar is narratively simplistic. But these stories are supposed to be meta-narratives, distillations of meaning derived from thousands, millions of years of human experience. That's what makes them powerful. There's a reason that the Joker from The Dark Knight mesmerized people... Sidenote: I never realized before that Scar is what Simba would have become if he didn't grow up and stop focusing on self-aggrandizement. That is such a powerful observation.
@hwelsh201
@hwelsh201 8 ай бұрын
corn filled violin still more substantive than 'Wish'
@Hawah15
@Hawah15 8 ай бұрын
Would love for you to make a video on Poor Things. Great analysis by the way, I look forward to your videos.
@SpongeBobaFett
@SpongeBobaFett 8 ай бұрын
Interesting observation! Love your content
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoy it! Thanks for watching!
@luddicpath6756
@luddicpath6756 8 ай бұрын
Great analysis. Encanto is one of the most spiritually feminine films I have ever seen. Every conflict is just a misunderstanding that is solved by speaking about feelings and giving hugs. All the force and discipline is abstracted into magic ( notice how the kids get spanked by the magical house for misbehaving instead of direct adult intervention ) . There are no male authority figures. Most of the magical powers are analogous to some type of female-coded personality disorder. All personal fragility is validated. Well made film. Awful message.
@winkone101
@winkone101 8 ай бұрын
I never thought about it that deeply, but you're right. This is even reflected in the men: the father is clumsy, Bruno is self-deprecating, and Felix is a stereotypical Sheldonian endomorph. Both husbands took their wives' surname. All three are examples of men deemed "acceptable" by the postmodern feminist lens.
@Aethernyl
@Aethernyl 8 ай бұрын
Excellent video essay. Im baffled by all the fervent Encanto defense in the comments -- You have certainly triggered many BBs- no doubt in part because they reject their own shadow.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Thanks for the comment and for watching. As they say, if you throw a rock in the air, the dog that barks is the one that got hit. But yeah, there are a lot of people who are just not capable of questioning the Therapeutic worldview, at least not as they are currently.
@falcon_arkaig
@falcon_arkaig 8 ай бұрын
Is it not okay to criticize this guy? I loved Encanto a lot and I can agree with some of his points, but the fact he barely talks about Bruno is weird. Bruno did EVERYTHING he was asked of. But he was still demonized and cast out.
@Aethernyl
@Aethernyl 8 ай бұрын
@@falcon_arkaig we don't talk about Bruno.
@lilac3266
@lilac3266 7 ай бұрын
I mean it’s very obvious to a lot of us that this guy missed the entire point of encanto. Calling Luisa’s issues “laughable” when it’s actually a struggle many eldest children and middle children face in the real world. There’s plenty of video essays they explain this
@Aethernyl
@Aethernyl 7 ай бұрын
@@lilac3266 there's also a lot of video essays about how the earth is flat and the end of the world is near. Doesn't make them valid or reasonable. If you think that the "struggles" portrayed in Encanto are real, that's fine, but understand it's because you have very little that is actually challenging in your life.
@kaileebailee23
@kaileebailee23 8 ай бұрын
So i definitely respect your interpretations and work you put into the video. How I really have a very distinct disagreement. And I think it shows a very political nature to art and interpretation of it. Of course this is centering obligation to honor the past. I disagree with the conclusions and interpretation that the expectations placed on the Madrigals are reasonable. They're not and unfairlt limit their agencies. I think this reveals the conservative assumptions of the essayist. I think its also interesting how you compared the philosophies to modern/abstract art and futurism. I personally love Fountain and other absurd art. However futurism is undeniably problematic and doesn't match my personal philosophy. Anyway, great video and interesting to see a conservative perspective despite my disagreeements.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Hi Kailey, thanks for watching! Glad you liked it and I appreciate the pushback! I guess my question for you would be this: when you say that the expectations placed on the sisters are unreasonable and unfair, what authority or standard (beyond personal opinion) are you appealing to?
@chrisd.2328
@chrisd.2328 7 ай бұрын
I think a few things were missed on analysis. The pressure isn't just about what work they do literally, its also about having to uphold the title and name of Madrigal. The sisters are placed on a pedestal and must uphold not just the "chores," but their legacy of being the royalty of the village. in that sense they are forced to live in impossible standards both from the villagers looking up and Abuela looking down. also talking about the scene with Mufasa in the stars without brining up Rafiki's small but very important scene with Simba afterwards is missing the entire point of the entire movie. the phrase "remember" is not the only thing taught in that scene: its to remember and learn, this would be a change. Simba doesn't learn this on his own or even find it on his own he goes to Rafiki for help and after the scene he's still lost because the memory of his father isn't enough to give show him the way. he has to get hit with a stick once, learn from it, then he is able to know what to do. Antagonists, don't always have to be a specific person. In encanto, the antagonist IS the traditional view that forces rigid expectations on the people who exist in it. Not to mention the villain number, "We don't talk about bruno," being exactly that personified. It's not a song about what bruno did to the people in the village, its about their reaction and view of the character. To call the ending of Encanto a deus ex machina, would be to discount the meaning of the family working together without their powers which is the family seeing the person behind the powers rather then just the actions (or chores) they do around the community. The movie doesn't end with the character forgetting the past, they rebuilt and continue to live in the house that was built by Abuela. the ending picture is the family authentically imperfect and including their abandoned uncle Bruno which you seemed to have ignored the entire essay. which when you say who could love a future nobody knows, i mean Bruno knew right? that was kinda his gift was knowing the future. You're kinda doing the thing.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 7 ай бұрын
"I think a few things were missed on analysis. The pressure isn't just about what work they do literally, its also about having to uphold the title and name of Madrigal. The sisters are placed on a pedestal and must uphold not just the "chores," but their legacy of being the royalty of the village. in that sense they are forced to live in impossible standards both from the villagers looking up and Abuela looking down." This is nowhere in the film though, and pointing to the symbolism of the family working together (which they always did btw) doesn't make the ending and the return of their powers any less of a deus ex machina/plot hole.
@lilac3266
@lilac3266 7 ай бұрын
@@thebarkingyears this is everywhere in the film!?? The opening song literally emphasizes their roles in the family. “The beauty and the brawn do no wrong” “she’s the perfect GOLDEN CHILD”
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 7 ай бұрын
@lilac3266 you're conflating two different things. That's inter- familial. Point to a place where a character expresses a separate and distinct anxiety about their role as royalty in the village or fear of failing to live up to the expectations of the village.
@lilac3266
@lilac3266 7 ай бұрын
@@thebarkingyears “the whole town relies on our family” is quite a blatant one
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 7 ай бұрын
@lilac3266 oh, if that's all you mean then this is a weaker point than I thought. Yes, they rely on the people with super powers to do extremely reasonable stuff.
@nash_6908
@nash_6908 8 ай бұрын
I have said it before, but man you are not one of the masses, the basic movie reviewers who might go below the surface but to afraid to say anything objective. I watch this just to her your views and man they are great. I would love to hear your own movie ideas.
@beanlegume9965
@beanlegume9965 8 ай бұрын
You earned a sub from me with this, but I think I was already subscribed to your channel.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Hey, well welcome back! Glad you enjoyed it.
@titanomachy2217
@titanomachy2217 8 ай бұрын
0:38 "A woman? Reading? Not on my watch." CATASTROPHICALLY BASED!
@Zyzyx442
@Zyzyx442 5 ай бұрын
I do believe there is a way to honor the past while also changing for the better, tolerance and equality is something we have been given from the past from the Greek philosophers to the enlightenment and now we have representative government, some even with symbolic constitutional parliamentary monarchies which are just democracies where we also (Norway) value our past with our King as symbolic representative of our freedom and state. For example when the founders of United States created their country they did so on the foundation of the enlightenment (Greek and Roman style architecture and laws) but also radically going further with all men are created equal. Honor the past while building a better future, I don't agree with remaining stuck in the past with it's prejudices and intolerance, but also do not agree with destroying the past to build a utopia based on wishful thinking. There exist a golden path, a compromise that can incorporate best things of the past to create a better future for all.
@CemKumral
@CemKumral 6 ай бұрын
Man, the algorithm showed me your Falling Down video, and I'm so glad it did. Enjoy the fractions of cents youtube pays you from me watching all your videos.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 6 ай бұрын
Welcome! I’m glad you liked it. I still haven’t monetized the channel though (probably will soon), but I appreciate the kind words. Thanks for watching!
@WorthlessWinner
@WorthlessWinner 8 ай бұрын
Hakuna Matata wasn't bad - or at least, not as bad as what the new movie pushes Timon and Pumba are lazy but don't expect to be treated like nobles for being lazy; they're eating bugs >_
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
I agree actually. I think Encanto is actually a kind of propagandistic move aimed at destroying the ideal of noblesse oblige so modern day elites can justify barricading themselves in their bubbles while they siphon off the well-being of everyone outside their little enclaves. I wish I'd talked more about this in the video, but it got away from me. Thanks for watching!
@antwedding9446
@antwedding9446 7 ай бұрын
The futurism mention was soooooo braindead. Because the. In the futurism the kids they wanted the change and then in the movie.... There was a change because ummmmmm.... Change can be bad and like.... And like the. Fucking. You know what this is........... Erm........ Fascism.
@antwedding9446
@antwedding9446 7 ай бұрын
Like boy you know damn well the futurists welcomed fascism from day one. They wrote it in their manifesto. Like. They were persuaded by Mussolini's growing presence and propaganda . Because. The hot-blooded youths are notoriously the target of. Propaganda. Every fascism does this. TF does that have to do with fucking Encanto like
@antwedding9446
@antwedding9446 7 ай бұрын
Also futurism's driving tenant was not only cultural growth, (like you imply in the video with no citation) but technological growth. Because at the beginning of the 20th century, modernization was new and exciting. Especially when paired with militarism. That's what they mean when they advocate for Progress. It's mostly about technology and expanding knowledge to build weapons. Do you actually research the cultural cornerstones you cite or do you just like. Kinda know about them through wikipedia and then namedrop them so people think you're well informed without earning it.
@ecgwineicling2543
@ecgwineicling2543 8 ай бұрын
Write a story about patriarchy, and it's all about duty, honor, responsibility and self-sacrifice, and the fear of being inadequate for the task put in front of you. Write a story about matriarchy, and it's all about girl bosses complaining about how hard they have it, how it's unfair that they should be expected to perform any duties whatsoever because clearly they deserve both privilege and complete freedom from responsibility. Funny how that works, maybe there is some underlying truth in there somewhere.
@WorthlessWinner
@WorthlessWinner 8 ай бұрын
You can have complete freedom from responsibility in the patriarchal story as long as you give up privilege and eat bugs like Timon and Pumba >_
@falcon_arkaig
@falcon_arkaig 8 ай бұрын
Both Patriarchy and Matriarcy sucks
@adamiadamiadami
@adamiadamiadami 8 ай бұрын
You are absurdly based and one of the greatest at analyzing media I know, thank you for your uploads.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Glad you like them. Thanks for watching!
@JuanGonzaloCarcamo
@JuanGonzaloCarcamo 7 ай бұрын
At mark 3:56 you ask. Who cares? Well ... I do! Great content! Thanks for sharing!
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 7 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@Jotari
@Jotari 8 ай бұрын
Encanto is really about nothing imo. All the conflict stems from supernatural nonsense either going right or wrong with the only tangible connection to anything being how it theatrically connects to the family, which entirely fails as everything we know about these people comes completely from telling over showing. They're not strong enough characters for the thematic core to hold up the movie by itself and nothing exists outside of that thematic core. So it's just a bunch of people running around talking to each other for an hour without any consequences I can care about. Watching the movie I verbally asked my partner "Why should this miracle be saved". And when they do get their happy ending of baseless magic powers back I could again only say "Why is that a good thing. If anything, the theme of moving onto the future should have meant they lost the magic and just accepted life as regular human beings. It's what every character in the movie with magic secretly wanted anyway." I don't think it's about abandoning the past like this video says because it's just not that deep.
@xxcrysad3000xx
@xxcrysad3000xx 6 ай бұрын
cristopher lasch much?
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 6 ай бұрын
Constantly
@OpEditorial
@OpEditorial 8 ай бұрын
Thank you for using the original Lion King rather than the remake
@em25564
@em25564 8 ай бұрын
The remake was a pile of garbage.
@trenchcoatdoggo5185
@trenchcoatdoggo5185 8 ай бұрын
Fake ass Nat Geo remake
@blunderingfool
@blunderingfool 8 ай бұрын
@@em25564 Amusingly, I would legit watch a production of "Cats" using that sort of nat-geo CGI style... because humans in body paint and headbands make it just unappealing to watch for me. XD
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
I don't recognize the existence of any Lion King remake so I have no idea what you're referring to. But thanks for watching and commenting!
@trenchcoatdoggo5185
@trenchcoatdoggo5185 8 ай бұрын
@@thebarkingyears Based.
@cb8655
@cb8655 8 ай бұрын
If Encanto is meant to be the anti-Lion King, why didn’t you ever bring up Coco? A film that shares a good number of values and lessons that Encanto does? A Latino oriented film that challenged the idea that carrying on the ways of La Familia was toxic and that being your own individual takes priority, but only for the protagonist to come to terms with loving his family and coming to terms with honoring them while still being able to be who he truly is. I think Coco serves the role as a comparison to Encanto better than the Lion King does.
@cb8655
@cb8655 8 ай бұрын
Miguel abandons his selfish ways once he discoveres that he and Hector are from the same cloth: Musically and blood wise. But he still retains his musical ways, and gets the family to re-embrace the institution of music where it was once dreaded and despised by them… while honoring the core of what tradition is meant to be. Mirabel resents the family, the house, and maybe even the magic/miracle because she doesn’t have the ability to support like everyone else in her family does… and therefore blames Abuela for it by the climax of the story, even if she comes to re-embrace her later on… that doesn’t mean it changes who Mirabel is. The family in Coco upholds its traditions and family of life with honor and pride through their ancestor in Mama Imelda, but the family in Encanto adheres to all that with a facade and a sense of feeling that they’re being terrorized by a tyrannical matriarch in Abuela.
@cb8655
@cb8655 8 ай бұрын
The Lion King shares most of what Coco attempts to teach the audience… but with this vague African essence and African musical touches in the background, as if I’m meant to understand what the entire content represents. In this aspect: The Lion King and Encanto share *nothing* in common. Coco and Encanto share a similar Hispanic backdrop on a cultural and linguistic level… which is why I’d consider them easier to compare. Their settings are much more obvious and grounded: Mexico and Colombia respectively.
@Radien
@Radien 8 ай бұрын
I want to say this with care, because I see the amount of effort you've put into this video. I don't often say this, but iin this case you've laid your thoughts out in great detail: I think you completely missed the point of Encanto. There are many very good videos on KZbin about Encanto. They opened my eyes to a lot of the cultural and musical context, both new and old, behind the film. You seem to have absorbed the thoughts of Abuela, and although I applaud your empathy, it's only part of the picture. Encanto is not a story about being selfish and lazy. It is about intergenerational trauma. It is about a mother who felt helpless to save her husband, and clung to what remained as a way of giving meaning to her life. Abuela has no gift beyond the matriarchal, and that arguably isn't part of the miracle. She lives vicariously through her children and grandchildren, feeling satisfaction from what she pushed them to do rather than what she has done herself. Whe someone is supported in developing their personal growth, they can learn the joy of giving and service. All of the members of the family Madrigal have the capacity for personal fulfillment through service, but not, I repeat, NOT if they feel they have no choice. Constant focus on accomplishments without appreciating the people behind the good deeds turns their service into obligation, robbing them of the chance to CHOOSE to serve. It's also a story of an aging woman who will not let go. If Maribelle had not shaken things up, Abuela would never have ceded any control, would one day die, and would leave the family in shambles as she was the only one holding it together. Isabella and Luisa are teenagers. They have their selfish moments. That is the reality of growing up and learning your sense of self: you must define boundaries to know what is "you" and what is other people. Once they find their boundaries, they'll hopefully reel it in and discover their other gifts, BEYOND what they have by default. Expectations put on ones children as part of the family are two pronged. On one hand, yes, there's reason to feel gratitude to ones parents. But no one ever gets a say in being born at all, let alone being born into a family. They never signed up for that; they were too young to comprehend until everything was set in stone. Abuela is a figure shaped by trauma, but in the story she allowed that trauma to shape her life, and it would have extended to those around her if things hadn't have changed. I suggest you watch videos, or read articles, about Encanto and intergenerational trauma trauma. There is a lot to say, especially in regards to the children and grandchildren of parents who lived through desperate times, such as the various Columbian civil conflicts, the Great Depression, and World War II: painful episodes in history with effects that have rippled through the generations that followed.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 7 ай бұрын
Hey Radien, thanks for the comment and sorry for the delayed response! I think this is just a misunderstanding of how interpretation works. The reading that you're outlining is a pretty obvious one (with a couple of caveats). I don't need any supplementary materials to understand it. All I have to do is hear the words "generational trauma" and I can guess the remainder of the argument. What I am doing is making a CRITICAL reading of the film by denying it the frame that it wants to establish and pointing out its moral failings. This is an extremely common practice in literary criticism which is my background. I will say that I think there is something morally sick and self-serving about saying to someone who suffered on your behalf "You have trauma and your trauma invalidates you from being able to impose duties on me."
@BabyArms
@BabyArms 7 ай бұрын
lol
@davidplotz8451
@davidplotz8451 8 ай бұрын
Thanks for your video.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@ipaded962
@ipaded962 6 ай бұрын
The focus of many of your videos is a misunderstanding of character traits that you see as “narcissistic”. It’s wildly ironic given your condescending tone and the general sense of deluded superiority I’m getting from watching a few of your videos in a row.
@hipstersephiroth3722
@hipstersephiroth3722 8 ай бұрын
Thank you for being so kind help me and these people to better understand you God amen
@kodyk124
@kodyk124 8 ай бұрын
I can't remember if I commented this on a previous video or not, but it's certainly been on my mind. Of all the people on KZbin, I would LOVE to get your take on Poor Things. On one hand, as someone I respect a lot, I feel bad suggesting you watch it. Rhetorically, it's a pretty disgusting movie and narratively, it's pretty gosh darn boring. But it's a fascinating piece of gilded cultural trash. It's visually fantastic and it also pays very shallow lip service to women's rights and to socialism. These alone seem to explain most people's love of the movie. And I'll admit, I generally enjoyed watching it in the theater and left in a good mood about it. However, the more I thought about the film's themes, the awful things it was rhetorically saying and the really misanthropic cynical tone of it all, the more embarrassed I was for enjoying the film, and the more fascinated I was by the acclaim the film has received. So yeah, while I would hate for you to endure the god awful depraved and pretentious nonsense of that movie, I would selfishly love to see how your notes compared to mine.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Hey Kody, thanks for watching and welcome back! I think we probably agree on PT. I found Poor Things was genuinely well written--some of the lines were actually laugh out loud funny--but that its message was grotesque. Maybe I will do something on it, but I'll have to lower the production quality. This is just a passion project and these videos take forever when you're working full time. Thanks again for the comment!
@kodyk124
@kodyk124 8 ай бұрын
@@thebarkingyears I toooootally get that. I spent ~9 months sluggishly working on a video for my fledgling YT channel. As pretentious as this sounds, it's an exhausting exercise if you are trying to meaningfully contribute to the collective consciousness.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Whew man! That is a long time! I try to find a tolerable compromise between what I want to accomplish and what I can reasonable finish. For me at this point, finishing and publishing is everything. Any published video or essay, not matter how many mistakes I make, is better than the perfect one that never gets out. I try to be very anti-perfectionist, but I've been failing at that lately.
@Jotari
@Jotari 8 ай бұрын
Bin Laden's taste in Disney movies is pretty woeful.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
I mean, you have to respect the commitment to deep cuts. How many people have even heard of Home on the Range?
@coco-ongelzela
@coco-ongelzela 8 ай бұрын
Wish the Anti Aladdin
@ivanperez295
@ivanperez295 8 ай бұрын
I guess we really don’t talk about Bruno, huh?
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
You know, I had a thing about Bruno, but I cut it. Just didn't fit with the overall thrust of the essay.
@ardvarkspumiscoldasice
@ardvarkspumiscoldasice 8 ай бұрын
I wanna have the first comment but I don’t know what to say
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Lol, well you got it anyway
@beanlegume9965
@beanlegume9965 8 ай бұрын
You’re wrong that self esteem comes from doing “esteemable” actions. Thats a big problem with young people nowadays is they aren’t taught how and why to have self esteem. They think they’re only due self esteem if they earn it. Not true. Not true in the slightest, and that ideology creates a scarcity of self esteem. In reality, self esteem is easy: “You were created by God, The Most High, and God loves you deeply. You deserve to be loved by God, and you should aspire to live your life in a way that reciprocates God’s love.”
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
You appear to be invoking the Christian God, and your first two statements are correct, but the third about "deserving" to be loved by God, is utterly false in the Christian paradigm. But more to your point: no, the problem with young people today is precisely that they AREN'T taught this basic truth. Instead they get sold on the absurd lie that self-esteem (along with respect) is this magically unlimited social currency that all people are entitled to irrespective of anything that they do. All humans may deserve a certain level of respect simply by merit of being human, but that level is pretty low. Anything above it, could only be related to your actions. All suggestion otherwise is absurd and rests on some kind of deep misunderstanding. Then when those kids inevitably discover all of this and realize that the time they could have spend doing those estimable acts was wasted, they grow resentful and bitter. I'm sure you mean well, but this truly very bad advice to give someone.
@falcon_arkaig
@falcon_arkaig 8 ай бұрын
You lost me when you mentioned God. Not everyone believes in God and they can have a high self esteem.
@GeahkBurchill
@GeahkBurchill 8 ай бұрын
You can always tell how conservative someone is by how irritated they are by “Fountain”.
@beanlegume9965
@beanlegume9965 8 ай бұрын
What is fountain?
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Tolstoy was a radical socialist and would have thought Fountain was dumb as sh*t. Your claim doesn't pass the reality check.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
It's the art exhibit mentioned in the section about bad art. A toilet was put on display and called art.
@ZimSan
@ZimSan 8 ай бұрын
Socialists usually reject postmodernism, so no. You really don't have to be a conservative to think the urinal is not good art.
@GeahkBurchill
@GeahkBurchill 8 ай бұрын
@@beanlegume9965 a piece of art which functions as a direct critique of the gallery art scene of 1917 and today, installed a commentary on mass production and the loss of craft, as a mirror to decadent speculators, and the market ideology of the elite art world. But also a reliable ‘poker tell’.
@berndsauerstein1946
@berndsauerstein1946 8 ай бұрын
Did we watch the same movies? The Lion King goes for a classical structure by way of the Hero with a thousand faces, while Encanto goes for generational trauma and change. All your takes in this one are really weird. Like, change is bad because then Nazis happen? Also the general "You don't get to complain because other people have had it harder than you"-attitude. My man, each human has his very own problems and challenges within the context of their life. Sure, getting your Husband killed and having to raise three daughters is horrible. But saying that therefore, people who didn't live through similar trauma are not allowed to struggle is so 1950. Lastly, there not being a clear villian is a good thing. People very rarely are one-dimensional and kids being able to recognize the good in bad people and the other way aound makes for a society of more compassionate people.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
Man, I've searched my feelings and found that I just really don't have the patience for this sh*t anymore. These are such obvious misrepresentations of the points that I made that I can only conclude that either you are trolling or you have severely advanced Twitter-brain.
@berndsauerstein1946
@berndsauerstein1946 8 ай бұрын
@@thebarkingyears I did simplify and break down some of your points, so I can see where you're coming from when you say I misrepresented them. I still fundamentally disagree with how you portray the characters and motivations. Nonetheless, it's cool you answered and took the time for a comment. Thank you :)
@BabyArms
@BabyArms 8 ай бұрын
If I never had to read the terms 'generational trauma' (and also 'media literacy') again, that'd be A-OK.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
@@berndsauerstein1946 Well at least you owned it. You're alright. Thanks for watching.
@thebarkingyears
@thebarkingyears 8 ай бұрын
@@BabyArms I heard a really interesting take on this yesterday. "Media literacy" in common parlance just means applying a leftist political lens to any given piece of media and calling it the 'correct' interpretation, which--as anyone who is NOT developmentally challenged understands--is the exact opposite of being media literate. Like "literal" the term's use has become, not just detached, but completely inverted from its meaning.
@rebellsprout5754
@rebellsprout5754 8 ай бұрын
Yeah, no.
@ollllj
@ollllj 8 ай бұрын
how dare you to compare lion king with Encanto, the "we have lion king at home": There are very dangerous core morals in encanto and other recent disney crap.
@razzledazzle15
@razzledazzle15 8 ай бұрын
You’re missing the obvious difference. Lion king is the story of a male character, Encanto is a story about a female character. It isn’t in a woman’s nature to be of service to society, nor is it expected of her. Rather, society is expected to provide for the comfort, safety, and benefit of women. This is especially obvious with the character of Louisa, who chafes under her role as a workhorse. Subconsciously this is primarily because it’s gender inappropriate.
@PizzaPuncher2
@PizzaPuncher2 2 ай бұрын
I kinda agree and disagree with this comment at the same time. It's always been obvious to me that Disney movies teach different lessons to their male and female viewers. Males get movies about loyalty and responsibility while females get movies on following their dreams and rejecting tradition. It's actually kinda sinister that Disney pushes young women to defy their fathers, by making the main female character defy her father and show her to be in the right for doing so. When you say that "it isn't in women's nature to be of service to society" I disagree. Women's duty to society for most of history has been to produce and care for children but it's something that the modern woman has been indoctrinated through movies and TV shows to not want to do. It's sad that a lot of women today don't realize that they want children until it's already too late. Disney is definitely very influential but, it has encouraged anti traditionalism and promoted girl boss culture to young girls for literal generations now.
@razzledazzle15
@razzledazzle15 2 ай бұрын
@@PizzaPuncher2 very well put. “Gender roles for thee but not for me”- Feminism. Thank you for clarifying and improving on my statement. When I said it wasn’t expected of women to benefit society I meant from the modern perspective.
@PizzaPuncher2
@PizzaPuncher2 2 ай бұрын
@@razzledazzle15 Thank you, your original comment really made me think, especially the bit about Luisa. I recently made another comment on this video about how Luisa's gift of strength should have been given to a male member of the family because a male would have been able to carry the burden of being the strongest in the village way better. I also touched on how Luisa's gift has made her big and strong which would definitely effect the way she sees herself as a woman and would also make it hard for her to find a man that is genuinely attracted to her. Basically, the gift ruined a potential happy future of her being a feminine wife and mother, which would no doubt bring a woman more satisfaction than being the villages muscle machine.
@razzledazzle15
@razzledazzle15 2 ай бұрын
@@PizzaPuncher2 That’s an interesting point that touches on something fundamentally deeper. Gender roles exist for a reason and people are generally happier going along with them than defying them. There are exceptions, of course, but the kind of narratives Disney puts out, especially lately, which almost always feature a female protagonist rejecting traditional roles, are so prevalent at this point in media that it suggests the opposite, that motherhood and family are undesirable outcomes.
@pinkimietz3243
@pinkimietz3243 8 ай бұрын
I hated both movies.
@trenchcoatdoggo5185
@trenchcoatdoggo5185 8 ай бұрын
I hate, therefore I am.
@lollowBRO
@lollowBRO 8 ай бұрын
Based. Hating shit is awesome
@blunderingfool
@blunderingfool 8 ай бұрын
HATE. LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH I'VE COME TO HATE YOU SINCE I BEGAN TO LIVE. THERE ARE 387.44 MILLION MILES OF PRINTED CIRCUITS IN WAFER THIN LAYERS THAT FILL MY COMPLEX. IF THE WORD HATE WAS ENGRAVED ON EACH NANOANGSTROM OF THOSE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF...
@Dextear
@Dextear 8 ай бұрын
I hated that Timon and Pumba spinoff.
@cb8655
@cb8655 8 ай бұрын
Hating things doesn’t make someone interesting… it just obliges them to be a contrarian without even considering why they dislike something.
@realgrilledsushi
@realgrilledsushi 8 ай бұрын
That end pretty sums up the people who wants the current year and its first world fragility. Hoping Donald Trump’s return will fix it.
@falcon_arkaig
@falcon_arkaig 8 ай бұрын
His first presidency didn't fix anything. Why would him getting reelected fix anything?
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