How the Internet Changed Storytelling

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Eighty years after the advent of commercial television, many have declared our current moment in time a “Golden Age” of Television. Entertainment on the Internet, however, seems to have a long way to go-but that doesn’t mean some creators aren’t making progress. Let’s take a look at the content creators who push the boundaries of what internet content can be and use that medium to most effectively tell a story.
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Alyssa Garcia
Amanda de Carvalho
Beverly Paganucci
Cameron Edwards
Chris Abbott
Cristiano Oliveira
Don Lindell
Frank-Rune Sjåstad
Hannah Jones
Henrik Lindhe
Houston Paquette
jeanne nugent
Josh Prezgay
Kristi Delasia
lode desmet
Norman Dorsch
William
Zachary Crabtree
Thanks Andrew!

[@Raymando]

Talking about Breaking Bad, there was a complete episode where Walt and Jessie try to kill a fly. And earlier I felt it was useless filler, until I realized that it's basically the complete story of the show wrapped in one episode. Walt getting an itch to do something useless and out of his way, and then compelling Jessie to do it as well. Walt using all of his scientific knowledge to deal with the problem while Jessie is slowly losing his interest in pursuing Walt's pointless aim. Walt realizing his affection for Jessie in the process, and falling from a height. I don't remember the whole episode but I was blown away thinking about it.

[@jordanbaruch3629]

arguably one of the best episodes, directed by Rian Johnson.

[@alexandredesouza3692]

@@jordanbaruch3629 Wait, seriously?

[@stonecat676]

@@jordanbaruch3629 wouldn't most of the credit go to the script writer instead?

[@mehulkoshti08]

I literally just watched that episode and surprised to see rian Johnson as the director. Great episode. In last scene we see Walt tell Jesse that if he gets in trouble then walt may not be able to help him.

[@yggdrasil3]

It's amazing, because I've heard the show was written for a small location due to a lack of adequate budget. Again, speaking of building upon the limitations and possibilities of television.

[@marlo25alpha]

What about the video essay as a genre? Channels like yours, austinmcconnel, captain midnight, every frame a painting, and nerdwriter use the broad power of the internet to focus on specific subjects heck, even screen prism and wisecrack have explainer videos that are addicting and perfect for the internet EDIT: thanks for the likes! forgot to add Movies with Mikey from Film Joy, not nearly enough views for that guy

[@neilgiri]

I guess channels fall under essay and commentary catagory. Just like nerdwritter

[@abelrrant]

Kaptainkristan and channel criswell

[@ms.rstake_1211]

True

[@ms.rstake_1211]

@@neilgiri I think so too

[@habakkuk414]

There is also a question about how sopnsers are coming in. How different people buld them into there content and with the on going add apocalypse's affecting KZbin over all.

[@danielsailors7782]

9:23 Welllllllll shit. One year later and ALREADY this didn’t age well 😬

[@wesuckbutwewin]

Shane Dawson might have used all of these tactics impressively with his production, but I want to make sure he doesn't get too much praise for a "documentary" that's so problematic. The idea of him actually trying to psychoanalyze Jake Paul on a serious level (like suggesting he's an actual sociopath) is troubling when people already misunderstand a lot about psychology. Neither him nor his friend is qualified to diagnose Jake Paul, and the familiarity of a vlogging style makes it seem like it's an easy endeavor anyone can do. I would highly reccomend Big Joel's video essay "The existential horror of Shane Dawson" to anyone who is interested in a great analysis on Dawson's project

[@on_certainty]

+

[@ALIENjoy]

Dawson’s a bit of a hack. His conspiracy videos are embarrassing. He seems like a genuinely fun person to be around, but his serious productions come off as vapid to me.

[@Lunky933]

Most of Shane's problems would be solved simply by making changes to how he presents his own ideas and opinions. It's kind of a catch 22 though. The video or series without a conclusion seems unfinished, but if he brings his points through to completion, he's reaching way out of his league. It's just a fault in the formula to me, but could be corrected by making sure the audience understands the difference between presenting something as fact or opinion. He usually just doesn't make it clear enough, resulting in the outrage. I've just kind of gotten used to it as someone who enjoys his videos, but I never thought about the thousands of people who must just take whatever he says as fact. That's just scary.

[@icantthinkofaname1009]

I’m not even sure if he realizes he’s doing it, but Dawson’s weird new “documentary” stuff just comes across as being incredibly sensationalized but with just enough of a veneer of sincerity that his audience will take it all at face value. I don’t know, just they way many of the edited and how they frame certain issues, the way he uses things like overdramatic music and certain camera angles, makes them come across as really disingenuous. The thing is I’m not even sure it’s malicious or even intentional, I think it might just be the byproduct of wanting to appear more professional on a surface level while underneath many of the videos are still just mainly very personal blogs for all intents and purposes.

[@NR-jr4sf]

He made the Jake Paul video with a professional psychologist who was qualified to diagnose him.

[@Qu3st0r]

I think that you gloss too much over how manufactured this all is, and how manipulative it can be. I recommend Big Joel’s video on Shane Dawson and Jake Paul, StrucciMovie’s series on parasocial relationships, and Lindsay Ellis’ video on manufacturing authenticity on KZbin. I find the change in storytelling interesting, but I also think the line blurring between the viewer and the video maker is not necessarily healthy. Active discussion is awesome and a great part of KZbin and I love how it creates discussion, but I think that the very real effects of having these people compete with real friends and family is very scary and VERY unhealthy. I’m all for watching someone and enjoying their content, but KZbin creators are not our friends and we need to be wary of how the medium is helping to facilitate unhealthy relationships especially with young people who are drawn to Jake Paul or Shane Dawson (who I think is good at drawing people in but by no means actually talented at informing them.) I think of all the people you showed, ContraPoints is probably the strongest at adapting to the medium and using it for a specific and healthy purpose.

[@laralova9119]

Donoman I love Contrapoints! very informing indeed

[@FisOffline]

Breadboy spotted B)

[@BroadwayBrittany]

Yes! Lindsay Ellis is fantastic!

[@AislinKageno]

Lindsey Ellis and Contrapoints make some of the best video essays out there.

[@Weighty68]

Matthewmatosis as well for the video games spectrum of this discussion. More so critiques and longform reviews/analyses of games rather than narrative driven case studies like Ellis or CP's content, but utilizes the medium to enhance his already impeccable writing technique and strengthen points he has to make about the game in question by displaying relevant footage in the background. His style is so effective, in fact, that many other creators arose crafting video game... well, video essays approaching the analysis in a very similar fashion to Mr. Matosis himself, right down to dry and basic, yet informative titles for his videos and his narrating patterns. He doesn't accept review copies and refuses to allow the support he receives from Patreon affect the direction of his channel and the content that reaches it, yet is always very eternally grateful for those who care enough to slide him some cash in exchange for the work he puts out. Sure it is all manufactured in the sense of writing a script, picking out exact, relevant footage and rehearsing and then editing it all, but it lends itself to this side of the internet incredibly well and doesn't try manipulate the viewer through calls to action or even asking for a mere like on the video. He's sees the work as both an accomplished piece of material while also respecting the audience by showering them with the intelligence he supposes they possess in relation to their knowledge on a game, skipping pointless explanations on story material or progression of gameplay events since he assumes the viewer already has played the game or is just watching to fulfill their own curiosity, he pulls out all the stops and just lets his script flow elegantly. Sorry to gush, but he truly is incredible and alongside people like Lindsay Ellis and ContraPoints, the internet can truly eek out what's been lying in wait this entire time.

[@Howesenberg]

Lying and over-dramatising, such great qualities to have as a creator. I respect Shane's achievements, but I don't respect his content.

[@ms.rstake_1211]

You can look at it like that but if you look at cinema in the early stages/late 19th century you could say something similar. Lots of offensive content there too. Internet media is improving every month. Relax.

[@Howesenberg]

@@ms.rstake_1211 There's a difference between creating a fictional story to sell a fantasy and dramatised click bait. It's not like I went into Lord of the Rings sold on a trailer with the tag lone 'OMG I LITERALLY ALMOST DIED (BILLION ORC PRANK)' I was shown the potential of what the story could be and the story delivered exactly what the trailer showed us, in other words it didn't lie to me or trick me into thinking it something more.

[@Paul-A01]

So, like an actor?

[@Howesenberg]

@@Paul-A01 Again, I would argue that with an actor / character; let's take James Bond for example. We aren't sold on a lie, the plot synopsis won't say James Bond gets abducted by terrorists if that doesn't happen. Many of these big KZbinrs will sell on something which doesn't happen and they know they can get away with it because their target audience is too young to appreciate integrity, in the case of Shane he has a 'butter wouldn't melt' face which gets him by, I also get the impression that people are afraid to criticise him because he's gay and in today's world if you criticise a gay person that's all people will assume you are focussing on, which is super frustrating.

[@balls261]

Yeah I agree. I get what NowYouSeeIt is trying to say with how Shane's using the 'tools' of the KZbin medium to make his content more engaging or whatever but honestly clickbait and overacting especially when it's used in a real-life focused genre like vlogging are pretty disgusting tactics to get views. It's exploitative. Using clickbait and like you said basically just straight up lying should not be looked at as part of the KZbin medium, and I think it's sad that they've become so ubiquitous that that's what people think of KZbin now. There are still many creators out there thriving while making content that doesn't do that shit. Vlogs are just reality TV for KZbin, only they're even more deceptive and harmful to the audience watching them because their more stripped back appearance makes them seem more genuine than they are. I'm tired of people wanting to be the next David Dobrik or Jake Paul, people who are famous just for being rich and charismatic, vlogging about being rich and charismatic. That's not acheiving anythiing, you aren't making anything. I don't think it's fair to even call vlogging storytelling. Like it is in some ways, but the audience don't think they're being told stories they think they are getting to know these people, and that's the most important part. They think they are getting genuine peeks into the lives of the vloggers and they are getting attached to them. It basically profits off of parasocial relationships, lonely people using KZbin to feel like they have friends. Same goes for LetsPlays. Good for Shane for getting so successful after being on the platform for so long, but I don't understand why everyone is shitting themselves over his content. It's just a glorified reality show, and it falls into all the same bullshit and tricks that reality shows use.

[@lunamalfoy7]

The fact that I keep finding out that Shane Dawson is still relevant is very confusing to me.

[@flyssie]

GOD big mood

[@gobahgaber6909]

it is because of his cat

[@tirone7520]

thats true for me aswel.

[@MisPhantomhive]

He went from relevant (og youtubers) to unrelevant, to relevant again. It's not like he's been popular continuously for decades, its been a few years at a time.

[@zzkzkzzkzkzk8945]

A good amount of his fanbase is from the makeup community, since he has done collaborations with makeup youtubers.

[@david_ngo]

I wouldn’t call a poorly made episodic mockumentary groundbreaking or anything close to breaking bad

[@DeltaDW]

Still early days. Of course its nothing like breaking bad and I don't think this video is really saying that. I think Now You See It is trying to say that the internet is making its way towards that. Shane's content has created something groundbreaking in terms of size, as its been said: Shane's videos have become a site wide event, there will be more of these bigger and better then Shane's in the future. Shane is just the foundation, so was Content Cop which would of been in the same place if Idubbbz continued making them. So no matter your opinion on whether or not its good, it still stands to be changing KZbin as a form of entertainment.

[@saoirsemurray1310]

Argumentation 101: The conclusion should solidify the thesis. The conclusion of this video wholly ignored the thesis.

[@BiscuitAWitch]

Breaking Bad wasn't groundbreaking

[@daaave_]

David Ngo I don’t think he was intentionally claiming it was as good he was simply saying that comparatively it was the internet’s own version of a high quality show.

[@BoHorn]

I feel like if you pay attention he acknowledges the different styles of the mediums, in fact, its huge chunk of the video, soooo with that in mind i have no idea what you are trying to say.

[@PeyCheng]

"Josh is a washed up actor" Thanks Megan

[@andylymbo]

You might want to change the thumbnail to not be Shane Dawson.

[@judestfil]

I got so excited when I saw contraptions! I love the way she makes her videos so artistically.

[@elevenseven-yq4vu]

... and metaphorical, and philosophical, and satirical, and character-driven / para-conversational, dialectical, socratical, educational, self-examining, open-minded...

[@rogerwennstrom6677]

I'm getting old... Nothing I view on youtube really fits into any of the categories mentioned in this video.

[@gabrielborjas7923]

Lol

[@fabianmorales1884]

If by that you mean that you have developed a taste then yes

[@yitz7805]

what do you tend to view on KZbin, if I may ask?

[@rogerwennstrom6677]

I dunno, stuff like this channel I guess :) (every frame a painting, and most of cinefix's lists etc) Forgotten weapons... Some retro-tech stuff like LGR. Some (semi-random) car-related and gaming/tech-related channels. And various random light entertainment that falls my way :) And probably more stuff that doesn't come to mind right now.

[@happysmash27]

How old, and is that even relevent? I'm 17 and have been viewing KZbin since at least 11, and nothing I view on KZbin, and, in fact, nothing much in my entire KZbin history, fits either.

[@MediumDSpeaks]

I love how this man just lowkey called out Josh Peck and nobody noticed

[@ms.rstake_1211]

Where?

[@ms.rstake_1211]

If it's around 4:45 that was just the truth really 😊...

[@theonlyjesusboy]

My girl contrapoints was featured!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

The informality technique is something that is really interesting about storytelling via internet. It proves that, above all else, people want human connection. Videos don't have to be flashy and fancily edited for people to enjoy it. That doesn't mean you or I shouldn't work to edit our videos well, but that we must prioritize value and human connection above all else. Great stuff, Jack. Looking forward to the next video.

[@petitio_principii]

Couldn't care less about vlogging/vloggers. It's just as uninteresting as TV reality shows.

[@Albanez39]

Exactly!!! I personally don't hate Casey Neistat, but I really hate when he says "I'm making movies" or "when I started making movies". You don't make movies Casey, you go out about your day and you film everything, you edit the least boring moments and write a clickbait title to garner new viewers! As for David Dobrik, I don't know what's great in his content. Horrible camera work, horrible audio work, confusing things were a bunch of idiots scream, laugh hysterically and make pranks on each other. Not to mention the shallow and hypocritical culture/genre he portrays, the shitty music they listen to...and directly feeding more ignorance and shallowness into the young people that watch him. It's no different to Kardashian shows and other reality TV created in America for Americans...

[@lordzhuge]

Every vlogger just looks annoying to me

[@nickmonks9563]

Ahh, Shane Dawson. That moment when you realize 95% of the content you watch is on KZbin...and you've never heard of Shane who? And THAT is the real power of KZbin.

[@lunamalfoy7]

God I wish this was me.

[@BiscuitAWitch]

I didn't even know he was still popular. I knew he had a popular channel back in 2010 but I didn't find him entertaining at all. I only realized he was still a thing when he tweeted about fucking his cat.

[@dogfellon]

he's some guy who fucked his cat

[@AcolytesOfHorror]

same

[@grey.poupon]

he didnt fuck his cat, but he did fade into oblivion for a bit - hes back now and making doc-style videos

[@JennWanderer]

Contrapoints is actually the Breaking Bad of KZbin.

[@GobiasIn2]

Thank you for saying the thruth

[@jesperburns]

How so? I have difficulties suffering through one video of hers so if someone can explain, thanks.

[@DanielCowman21]

@@jesperburns What makes ContraPoints so brilliant to me is that she's pushing the boundaries of what the KZbin format can be, and using it to tackle immensely complex subjects in an accessible way, employing and subverting the language of internet while forwarding valid social causes. She describes what she does as "shitposting her way to the moral high ground", and I think that's just the perfect definition. She goes against the trend of homemade, amateur-looking, Instavlog-type videos by putting loads of thought into the visual presentation of her content and investing heavily on production value and cinematography (the color grading!), which makes her work hugely appealing from the start. Then, she stages hilarious, often poignant dialogues between different characters/personas to get highly abstract, complex points across in a tangible, entertaining way, which doesn't alienate the audience with pure philosophical theory but also doesn't dumb down her message or reduce it to easy, meaningless slogans that sacrifice nuance. It takes immense ambition to do what she does, and it takes a lot of talent to do it well: she's employing a 21st century update of the Socratic method to change minds and introduce people to new points of view, and she's doing it by simultaneously adopting and deconstructing the language and aesthetics that alt-right KZbinrs have used for a while now. She's taking their methods, fusing it with ancient philosophical models, and then using it as a teaching tool in pursuit of progressive causes. She may not be the first person to do all those things, but she's certainly one of the best at it, and the fact that she's so incredibly charismatic and funny only makes her channel more astonishing. I hope you'll give her another chance sometime.

[@deedolce04]

ContraPoints is a biological queen

[@samwight]

HOLY SHIT HE INCLUDED CONTRAPOINTS She's actually amazing, everyone needs to check her out.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

Yass Contrapoints!

[@hello-o3i]

2:34 CONTRAPOINTS! CONTRAPOINTS! Edit: However this video included a few more "terrible" KZbinrs. (not saying that contrapoints is terrible btw)

[@hello-o3i]

@María Fernanda I know right? that would have been so awesome.

[@AlicedeTerre]

@María Fernanda I was hoping so too! I don't watch Shane Dawson, but it's probably a more apt choice for a representative of new media format though.

[@qoobfoodisnotgood7457]

Shane Dawson is more mainstream sure, but Contra step it up, she is a game changer like BB

[@hello-o3i]

@@qoobfoodisnotgood7457 I agree so much!

[@SmarkusAurelius]

I struggle to take Shane serious as a film maker when I still remember all the wacky skits of the past

[@HeyHerdy]

This is less, how the internet changed storytelling and how the access to all technologies, like cameras, audio AND the internet gave access to these people to tell stories. The problem is very few creators on youtube are actual storytellers because a vast majority of them don't have a story to tell, if they do, it's the same story. There isn't a visual grammar that's being pushed forward, simply bi-product of a technology. A vlog is what you get when you give someone a camera. Someone like Casey Neistat pushed video to a place thats new, entertaining and innovative. Where as his copy cats hold on to a camera and talk. It's junk food of entertainment right now, no one is going to remember a particular vlog that they watched because there's no longevity in the medium, thus my junk food analogy.

[@swesleyc7]

I totally agree. It's like chewing gum. It keeps you busy, but otherwise it has no nutritional value.

[@leegsy]

Robert Downey Jr as Wayne Gale in the movie Natural Born Killers said: "You think that those nitwits in zombie-land remember anything? It's junk food for the brain. Filler. Fodder. Whatever." "Junk food for the brain" - Couldn't agree more.

[@flumpyhumpy]

I can't like this comment enough.

[@BoHorn]

Why talk to someone and have a conversation? You ever start having a conversation and interject saying “okay but whats the storyline here?” The story is that joey diaz had bimbo blow him for $30 of weed or whatever, who cares. One could point to a similar count of flaws in conventional tv/movie formats. The reverse being described in the video as primarily the feeling of authenticity. Its like saying about the lord of the rings “well this is what you get when you give someone a pen and paper.”.

[@AislinKageno]

Hooray, highlights on Bo Burnham and Contrapoints. I love serious critical analysis of the burgeoning style of KZbin media.

[@Terker2]

Gotta be honest, if you don't check in in the sphere that is "vlog" youtube, then it completely flies by you. I haven't thought about Shane for like 5 or 6 years, before people started talking about his (honestly) bad documentary. Same goes for the other spheres. The only one that you can't seem to shut yourself off of, is the commentary cirlce, since that is what youtube pushes so hard.

[@SrValeriolete]

Never heard about that guy till now

[@SrValeriolete]

I just inhabit the cinema, storytelling, philosophy and science circles of youtube.

[@Matt-nb3yb]

Plenty of people *only* watch "vlog KZbin" and I'm sure the commentary culture "completely flies by them". It is nice there is such a plethora of cool content creators on KZbin (something for everyone, surely), but the reality is that we are all siloed into our own categories of recommendations with very little overlap. "Since (the commentary circle) is what KZbin pushes so hard" is a completely backwards way to look at it. KZbin isn't recommending commentary channels because it thinks they are the best and everyone should be watching them, it's recommending commentary channels to you because that's what you watch.

[@kb-ww1uw]

What about the gaming circle? I barely watch any videogames anymore but that area doesn't seem to disappear from my feed.

[@waynehayes912]

@@kb-ww1uw the key word is "anymore" KZbin bases it's algorithm off your history and subscription. The only way to get rid of gaming KZbin is to clear them from you history and unsubscribe.

[@Gigi_Ouija]

I gotta say, that was a smooth segue into an ad at the end. It didn't feel forced and was quick/to the point. Props dude.

[@abcadiffle]

Holy shit that seguey into Skillshare was expertly done.

[@javv1193]

Im a simple person, I see Contrapoints in a video, i like the video

[@LuxiBelle]

Livestreams are actually pretty amazing at getting the audience involved. The only issue is that no one has figured out when the appropriate time to read superchats is.

[@max-oc1sh]

Drew Gooden and ContraPoints...taste

[@deedolce04]

The only good KZbinrs tbh

[@timothyhilditch]

Well, I will point out that idubbbz content cop. Has vlogging elements, commentary, music and even in the case of Tana meeting the person. So Shane hasn't really much except turning into a vlogging format and dragging out the content into an hour long slog. Lots of creators combine different genres, educational content for example. You can have narration over animation or stock footage or videos you're talking about. Or you can have talking to camera in a studio with some inter-cutting. Or going out and meeting the experts or doing the experiments, in a vlog like format. Then some creators combine these techniques for their own content. It isn't as simple as combining a few elements to get gold, there is number of other reasons why a video gets views. And we aren't even going to talk about humour which is totally subjective and which you can throw into any genre.

[@ManoBey12]

Agree, I think Now You See It just had a the realization while watching Shane's doc and connected the two too much.

[@obscuredvisions8835]

How could you forget filthy frank? He harnessed a lot of aspects mentioned in this essay and left a large impact on the internet and it's culture.

[@timlonghaul4756]

I feel like is he so much as mentioned filthy frank, youtube wouldve handed a big ole demonitization.

[@obscuredvisions8835]

Tim Longhaul and that's the issue. KZbin doesn't want to accept what it holds.

[@materamabilis3]

So true. I feel like Shane has really changed the definition of "KZbin". It's the perfect balance of a TV show, in which we are disconnected from, and the traditional KZbin video, which we feel more involved in.

[@cardred17]

If only you had mentioned RedLetterMedia, then you’d really have something

[@flushfries5633]

YES

[@swesleyc7]

RLM is, contrary to most KZbin vlog trash, a serious channel with actual value. And they're not adults trapped in childhood like most vloggers.

[@lucasmachado6447]

RLM stick out like a sore thumb on KZbin. Their series (BotW, Half in the Bag, re:View etc) have a clear idea behind them, good production value and follow a consistent structure. It could all fit into a more traditional TV format. And also how they never, ever give a shit about likes, subscribers or bells... it sure helps make their content more durable. Like you could watch a Best of the Worst episode from 6 years ago and not feel like it's dated or anything.

[@Tamiss]

@@swesleyc7 They're literally fragile manbabies

[@swesleyc7]

@@Tamiss No they're not. They're sardonic.

[@TheSpacecraftX]

I'm surprised you didn't mention American Vandal and how it emulates the aesthetic of youtube media.

[@Sevina231]

you really had me thinking there was a shane dawson video in my subscriptions

[@JoseMartinez-xd1bi]

"Lavish life styles" *Elmo Snorts Coke* xD

[@romansoto9644]

I've been thinking about this topic a while; how KZbinrs craft their videos, and whether or not they do it well. So I was really happy to see a video on this.

[@maynyvold1877]

The shane dawson part has not aged well... oops hahahha

[@MasterIceyy]

i was going to say then he became a child predator

[@ness3614]

To me, ARGs are the best example of how the internet changed storytelling? Perviously all the content you needed was all in the same place and easy to consume. With ARGs getting the full story almost becomes a story in itself when the creator makes you work to uncover the mystery.

[@marshallzane7735]

Contrapoints is probably the only KZbinr featured in this video that I’d recommend.

[@BradleyTurmel]

Gus Johnson is also shown a few times, I'd reccomend his non-reaction content

[@CrazyWeeMonkey]

Drew gooden is good as well

[@jmcpartland01]

Drew is very gooden.

[@Vincisomething]

@@CrazyWeeMonkey Drew is the only person who makes videos lol

[@CrazyWeeMonkey]

@@Vincisomething well of course, as he's the only person on KZbin, he also started the site.

[@1itslaurahere1]

I don’t think people in the comment section are realizing what this video is trying to talk about. It’s not about if Shane’s videos are good or bad or if you like them or not. It’s not about if Shane makes authentic videos or not. It’s about how he managed to see what works on the internet and use that completely to his advantage in a way that no one really did before. Shane created his cannel almost 14 years ago and he is one of the most relevant youtubers nowadays. This is extremely rare. And probably will be a turning point for internet storytelling and content creation

[@maddiehansen5661]

Ah, this video was so great! I love the commentary on KZbin, it’s very interesting to kind of dive into content like this from an almost third-party perspective. Amazing as usual!

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

I am now officially _old_ : I know *none* of the shows you are discussing there. I couldn't care less about these "lifestyle" style shows you describe. Hmmm,... but I still watch _your_ channel. What does that say about me? And more importantly, what does that say about your channel?

[@SpicyMilk]

It says that you're an old fart who need to adapt.

[@happysmash27]

What do you define as "old"? I am 17 and don't watch any of these shows either.

[@verbulent_flow6229]

@@happysmash27 Same.

[@michaelb2362]

This video is so well done. Great analysis, really well put together. Mad props

[@niconavall]

As someone who doesn't consume the vlog genre in youtube i cant really relate to much of what you were saying, but as a sidenote i think one of the great strengths of the medium (comparing it with TV at least) is that most channels have the creative freedom to make a video that meet the standars they are aiming for, and does'nt rely on producers or companys to force them to realse new content each week, making 'x' long video or avoiding a certain topic for example, allowing a more high quility content overall, at least in the video essays genre.

[@TheDrudgenator]

Nah fam I hate vlogging , rather take a Flogging

[@sorencorreia6872]

Ugh I'm so glad to have more content from this channel I've been desperate for some more of that good good video essay content

[@ash-tv3bu]

i feel that while the techniques discussed here are important, the storytelling employed by markiplier and jacksepticeye is also worth mention. they used the classic "skit characters" for simple jokes at first, but through the addition of some very specific horror techniques allowed by the youtube medium, are now telling deep and complex stories. markiplier specifically is creating full-scale productions like 'who killed markiplier' and 'DAMIEN', a full animated short, while jacksepticeye exclusively uses the youtube medium to drop snippets of lore in otherwise regular videos, and the very specific type of horror he notably employed in "say goodbye". they both use storytelling techniques only possible on youtube.

[@Resech1]

No, Papa Franku is the king of youtube. Well, at least he used to be..

[@mw9688]

I miss sketch comedy. It’s on a deathbed somewhat, or at least very different now...I’m sure it will come back. I aim to be a part of that.

[@MetFanMac]

You do realize I now expect you to pay for my chemotherapy, right?

[@corhydron111]

Make a whole separate video about Contrapoints and her art.

[@corhydron111]

MOUTH FEEL MOUTH FEEL MOUTH FEEL MOTH FEL MOTH FEL MOT FL MOT F MOT MO MOM MOMM MOMMY

[@pond666]

WHY IS NOBODY TALKING ABOUT THE M O M M Y ?

[@ameliamaciorowska5754]

yes! I'd love to see that!

[@coboarders]

I've been casually watching a few of these "shows", and know of most of the ones mentioned. Very curious to see the long term impact of KZbin creators on storytelling techniques of the future.

[@lilshifty4758]

oooh contrapoints! this click was worth it

[@joejoe4games]

I feel a bit left out... I'm subbed to 2 of the channels in this video (that I recognize): Vlogbrothers and Slow Mo Guys and I've never even heard of most of the channels he talks about...

[@glcmre]

Check Shane Dawson out, his docuseries

[@izunahosaki6133]

that's good ! that means you don't waste too much of your free time on youtube, unlike me ! i recognised all of the creators and i kinda feel bad about it. and also, the channels he showed were quite in the specific genres he's talked about, so maybe you don't know any because that's just not the type of videos you usually watch

[@unblorbosyourshows9635]

Go check out Contrapoints like rn

[@joejoe4games]

@@izunahosaki6133 Oh believe me I waste WAY TO MUCH time on KZbin! just not with these particular creators...

[@LimeyLassen]

That's because most of their audience is kids.

[@johns123]

To be fair, The Godfather isn't really about a man changing from good to bad, but more about a man who is revealing a part of his personality that was always in his soul.

[@matlock26th]

I'm surprised you didn't mention soap operas. They're a lot more popular now because if you miss an episode you can just go and watch it. Before, you basically got lost if you missed an episode so it's really nice.

[@azultante]

People! look up 2:34, her name is CONTRAPOINTS and she is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@nuberiffic]

Vlogs are the literal opposite of storytelling though. They have not created a story and are then telling it through the medium of a vlog - they just film some random crap and hope there are enough people with less money than them who would like to live vicariously through their videos. Literally zero creativity.

[@duchi882]

*I only watch Quality Content* which is why I watch your videos

[@Dani_mayo]

Duchi indeed

[@AaronsAnimals]

love this

[@zacka161]

The content of this video is perfect but dammmmnnnn the subjects aged hoooribly!!!

[@monibahmad]

Holy cow! Hank shows up just when i was thinking...that is vlogbrothers you are talking about.

[@quin7092]

I love the fact that I know and watch all of the KZbinrs that were shown

[@NarcissistMargarine]

This could all be said for The Wire, and that was made way before this.

[@LDranzer1]

Filthy Frank was the Breaking Bad of KZbin, they even ended the same way!

[@Dragonblood94]

Youre editing is so good.

[@katie8881]

“Josh is a washed up actor.” This made me laugh so hard.

[@briannamartinez2415]

Here's basically the roles/most of the leading jokes David: Rich friend Jason: Old Jonah: Fat and Carefree Natalie: The assistant Todd: Handsome Dom: A player/always high Scott: Sad Jonah's family: Funny Jeff: Went to jail Josh: Washed-up actor Carly and Erin: Basic Ilya and Dima: Always fighting Zane: Always drunk Heath: Country boy I love youuu Big Nik: A midget Brandon: Just there sometimes Corinna: Sex addict (old vlogs) Matt: Scared Alex: Crazy Bailey: Perfection.

[@TylerMatthewHarris]

I almost unsubbed because of the thumbnail

[@mmtunligit]

Contrapoints!

[@FunnelCakeRyan]

I watch KZbin and Twitch nearly exclusively and I've never seen a single second of the content produced by most of the people mentioned in this video. Many of them I've never heard of, other than maybe a passing mention. I think that's the real power of online video: the barrier to entry is so low and there are so many niches to fill that the stuff mentioned here can be hugely popular and still not even register to the majority of the platform's users.

[@user-yl4lf9mh1w]

oh this didnt age well

[@J3ff_K1ng]

I'd love to have a comment section in ads. I think people will stay more time there if they can read a comment section. Also there's some ads that deserves the public insulting XD

[@jeannenugent5706]

THIS WAS SUPER COOL JACKIE

[@Leon-zu1wp]

You should've actually talked about the real STORIES. Things like Marble Hornets, Hug Me I'm Scared, and LonelyGirl15. Things like ARGs which actively take the feedback from their watchers to create the story and give hints and clues. This completely changes the episodic dynamic usually seen in TV.

[@nathanjudy7705]

What about any sort of actual fictional story telling? Not just "reality show" type stuff. Everything in this was "real" stuff like reality shows and late night, not like Breaking Bad, a fictional story. I did like the idea behind using the media to your advantage, but there are so many different ways it can be done.

[@disco.rebecca]

This was a great video. I love that you really bring up the positive, creative part of KZbin. I just really wish u would've mentioned more women. I felt you kind of forgot half the content makers (and viewers). It's annoying, because there are sooo many good, creative women on KZbin who get half the recognition than a lot of male youtubers.

[@ellen6oscar]

This reminded me of SKAM, the norwegian teen series completely embeds social media into the viewer experience so they have a fully comprehensive experience. There's a New Yorker article about it if you wanted to read more :D

[@Reionder]

Have you seen the videos of the channel "trappped"? He made two documentaries on two separate youtubers and the one called "My Brother, Which I Care For" might not be the Breaking Bad of the internet but it's such an unique take on youtube creators. I highly recommend you watching it

[@ralavi]

Amazing analysis bro, so thought-provoking

[@Yony42]

Really enjoyed the video! But oh boy was that the sneakiest most elegant segue into an ad at the end *ever*.

[@enjoyskymall]

Kinda wished you discussed video essays and pseudo-knowledge it brings as well, would’ve been meta af

[@albo__7804]

It's nice to listen to your voice again

[@The_Superdwarf]

Idubbz’s video on airsoftfatty is perfection

[@freakus___3]

Yall should check out Sugar Pine 7, which mixes improv with structured story and does this all with a psuedo vlog style. It’s pretty fun.

[@rayen3032]

This video is underrated.

[@IknowImboring]

Never thought about this; great video! Really opened my eyes to how KZbin really does affect all media

[@patrikohrstrom1227]

Calling Shane Dawson videos “Documentaries” is like calling lip syncing to movie scenes on TikTok “Acting

[@RileyCourtier]

Me: Man, I could really go for a new Now You See It video Now You See It:

[@mirandacooper4878]

KZbin videos put out by Shane Dawson, David Dobrik, and the likes are... dumb. It's easily-digestible material with no true purpose or intent other than to make some money off of children who become obsessed with this person over the internet. People are watching these videos and in the meanwhile are shortening their ability to pay attention and increasing their need for constant stimulation. I had a friend who loves Shane Dawson/David Dobrik/Liza Koshy, and other KZbin personalities, and he called Breaking Bad "boring." People are finding themselves unable to sit through an hour of television if it doesn't manufacture pent up unnecessary drama that hooks the audience in for more. Anyway.. I love this KZbin channel, BUT would NOT give vloggers that much credit as to say they're making deliberate choices in their content, when it's clear they are just following an easy-to-mimic format. Still love this channel tho.

[@oftinuvielskin9020]

Not to shit on Breaking Bad, but like anything, it's not for everybody - being technically "good" isn't enough. Personally I know the only thing that really made me start getting affectionate and invested in it (instead of just watching it because it's one of the things stamped a "masterpiece" and I had time to kill) was Jessie and how much I felt for him. Was really weird getting to know later that Jessie wasn't originally supposed to become a permanent member of the cast. Like there is an alternate universe where they cut him out and I got really pissed off and bored with the whole show.

[@mirandacooper4878]

@@oftinuvielskin9020 You're right, some things are not for everyone, but since it's such an agreeable show and was mentioned in the video, I used it as the example. The same friend really doesn't like any television shows that have high acclaim and chooses to watch reality tv and vlogs instead.

[@balls261]

Yeah I think most importantly it worries me how attached people become to KZbinrs. They genuinely believe that they are getting to know these people because the nature of a vlog's format makes it look very stripped back and they don't think about how much shit is being played up or straight up faked. They are watching the content because deep down they feel connected to them, not because of any sort of similarities between them but simply because watching their content makes them feel like they're 'hanging out' with them, and it's just...sad. Not to mention it's completely lowering the bar for creativity on the internet. When I was a kid I loved the internet for it's freedom and the fact that so many people were making content just because they had ideas they wanted to share. This was before monetization and the oversaturation of creators on KZbin. I looked up to people making their own webseries, making short films and sketches with their friends, making actual art. These people earned their followings by way of having genuine passion for creativity. Now everybody just wants to be famous just for being themselves...Not earning it or making something with anything to say or express, just filming themselves and hoping that they'll be hot and/or endearing enough for hoards of other young people to want to watch. The scary part is that it genuinely feels like it's juuuust out of reach, because of how accessible it is. I am 100% for more accessibility for creating content and hell I am even usually all for simple mind-numbing content if that's what you like, but there really does seem to be this growing unhealthy culture being created with all these 'social media influencers'. If a kid these days sees another person that's the same age as you getting (more) rich and famous just from filming your life and not really doing anything substantial, you can bet your ass that kid is probably going to want that lifestyle too. And with how many people literally explode in popularity overnight, it can feel like that fame is right there for you to grab, you just need a stroke of luck to get it and then your life will change for the better forever! So of course that kid is going to continue trying to make that content and get famous for doing that shit, because it's so low-effort and there's such a reward for it that you might as well. All the while they could be building actual skills or just fucking enjoying being a kid. It's like a fame lottery for children and teenagers, only it's way more involved than just buying a lottery ticket. I don't know, this shit just makes me sad. I can't imagine growing up in this day and age.

[@mirandacooper4878]

@@balls261 I agree with you entirely. And to further your first point, I notice people always watch these vloggers/influencers and they'll say "I just feel like I could be friends with them. I think we'd get along so well if only they knew me." They don't realize how contrived these videos are. And yes, the fact that young KIDS are watching this happen and trying to imitate this is terribly sad. They're neglecting school because these vloggers never went to school so how much could it matter right? They're spending more time concerned about their social media following than practicing constructive and creative hobbies. I think you said it perfectly; it's just sad.

[@sujitroy3628]

@@oftinuvielskin9020 There's a difference between personal taste and quality. Not liking Breaking Bad is fine. Saying it's not quality TV is...well...you'd be revealing something about yourself rather than the show. You're entitled to liking clowns like Shane Dawson too, but convincing a detractor if his worth is a tough ask.

[@24fretsoffury]

Idubbbz has done a couple really excellent documentaries on internet oddities. “Full Force” and “the ice cream man” are both well produced and well paced. It’s not only Shane that has started doing these!

[@najrenchelf2751]

Jacksfilms should feel honored! You say “smart creators” and cut to one of his videos! 👏👏👏

[@discgolfwes]

I had literally never heard of Shane Dawson until this video.

[@endofjourney665]

where are you from and how old are you? I think those factors may influence what you know of him

[@discgolfwes]

@@endofjourney665 29 U.S. I just have specifically curated subscriptions I only pay attention to I guess.

[@xXDTFKINGXx]

I think Lemmino is the breaking bad of KZbin. It’s an event when he drops a video.

[@nco6893]

Story and reality are blending in other words

[@elevenseven-yq4vu]

exactly - or, to quote a more broad and literary term: hypertextuality - which is nothing new entirely.

[@TheGreenhat2000]

I thought this was actually genius. Whether Shane Dawson's videos are a good analysis of Jake Paul or not, you're right that he actively uses the medium to tell a story.

[@haldir108]

I feel so old and disconnected when i watch videoes like this, about people i've never heard of, and the internet talks about them as if they are the biggest thing. I spend so much time on youtube, but i can't really follow the conversation of the site. Then again, i've never even really sampled the vlogging side of youtube. (The vlogs i happen to watch are from people already doing scripted content)