The Art of THE BIG LEBOWSKI: The Importance Of A Rug

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[@rootsrockbelgium]

Well, that's just your very well researched and entertaining opinion man.

[@yama5182]

rootsrockbelgium 😆😆😆👏👏👏👍! Well done...

[@yama5182]

rootsrockbelgium ...CORRECTION: well uhh, that’s just like your very well researched and entertaining opinion...man. 😏😉...

[@cw4025]

Like, well said, Man.

[@hidan2703]

I literally read this in the dudes voice 😂😂

[@kursk_kuku141]

YOU SAID IT MAN! NOBODY PHUC WIZ DA JEEZ-SUS!

[@patrickshaw8037]

What you're saying is that the rug ties the film together?

[@gua_guko_yt6170]

Of course

[@AtomicApex]

That rug really tied the movie together

[@pauls1883]

A valued item.

[@nickjohnston7513]

Well said.

[@jonesey251]

... and these guys peed on it

[@TheBretDark]

You actually never see the Dude bowl one single time, throughout the entire movie, every other character bowls except the Dude.

[@tieflingcorpse9817]

Zeppelin ♫ and walter

[@nahnope8581]

@@tieflingcorpse9817 I very clearly remember walter puffing out some cigarette smoke and bowling at some point in the movie

[@ethanbrock5453]

@@nahnope8581 You are correct

[@ryanmccabe5156]

@@tieflingcorpse9817 Walter bowls only once in the movie, right after they throw the ringer, "Fuck it dude, lets go bowling." He stands with a a cigarette in his mouth and then proceeds to bowl once

[@eddiecowen6530]

Yeah, I've always found that interesting

[@user-qm5hw2me3v]

The best thing about The Big Lebowski is that every time you watch it it get's funnier, the first time I saw it I didn't even like it now it's one of my favorites.

[@RyanHollinger]

It REALLY grows on you. I just watched it again after I finished editing and I found so much more I wanted to talk about... An essay sequel is in order...

[@andrewa9414]

Yea I find many Coen films to be like that, as well as my favorite director of all time Stanley Kubrick. Two totally different directors but they both had that effect in their films. I usually either liked or thought the film was okay after the first viewing of the films done by these directors. But then rewatching them, you notice so much more that you missed, and they just keep getting better and better each time and you STILL haven't noticed everything the films had to offer. And then these films become my favorites. Can anybody suggest any other great directors that tend to have these effects from their films?

[@adriennetisme]

Andrewz za, Darren Aronofsky is my favorite director. I could think and/or talk about his films all day. He films are brilliant.

[@eduardocarneiro7903]

@@adriennetisme my favourite too man. the guy is a genius!!

[@bensagal-morris8072]

Andrewz za I think Ingmar Bergman and Andrei Tarkovsky have that effect, also Tarantino. There are definitely others as well, Fellini, Mastroniani, and others. But I think Tarkovsky did that to me the most.

[@WhoIsTadhg]

You wanna know the importance of the rug? It really tied the room together

[@ericisabadbadman3978]

Fuck a right it did

[@irish3183]

And they fucking peed on it.

[@Walderawr]

@@irish3183 shut the fuck up donny

[@xandermander6035]

The Dude abides.

[@benjaminjones5029]

@@irish3183 unchecked aggression man.

[@bleachsanchoblastk]

I think The Dude was a sort o hero to me, kind of still is, because in the face of all this shit he still goes on without stressing too much. I have lived with an anxiety disorder for a big part of my life so characters that can keep their cool like that are basically superheroes.

[@anthonyramirez2576]

bleachsanchoblastk wet

[@benjaminjones5029]

Nothing's fucked here dude.

[@DFMurray]

They are shooter sunglasses. They don't symbolize hiding his identity. They enforce his charecters militaristic stance. As in "hey I wear these glasses to let you know I KNOW how to kill". Part of his whole Nam shtick.

[@mjonasbaker1]

Those are his hater blockers.

[@adamlane6453]

Walter's look is modeled after writer/director John Milius. Take a look at any picture of Milius and you'll see he's worn the same style glasses for literal decades. The glasses symbolize literally nothing.

[@starbell9962]

Like what hunter s thompson wore

[@teleplayer605]

I always thought there was some deeper significance to the different styles of shades the Dude and Walter wear, but I'm not sure now. I always thought the Dude wore Ray-Ban Wayfarers... Which seemed sort of apt for his drifting lifestyle, and tied in with the tumbleweed imagery at the start. But on closer inspection they clearly aren't Wayfarers, and turns out they are actually Vuarnet Legend 03s... So that kind of shits all over what was shaping up to be a damn fine theory. Ah well... Strikes and gutters.

[@moriarty2666]

i would describe the big lebowski an an "anti film". creating possibiilities which lead to nothing like you said.

[@FaresMason]

I hate how this became a trend in modern films or even tv series. Writers nowadays always set up interesting plot points that always lead to nowhere just for the sake of it leaving fans to endlessly speculate.

[@connorbovingdon8563]

@@FaresMason personally i like a handful of unresolved in a story, but they have to be earned, e.g a character dying before they can finish something, preventions as opposed to a disregard, but more cause its more true to life, world aint all nice and clean cut, some stuff just never gets resolved in the end

[@Andyanddiana467]

Ryan, the symbolism is NOT THE ISSUE! It's about drawing a LINE IN THE SAND, upon which you say, YOU DO NOT CROSS!

[@noah-4482]

Am I wrong

[@FullMoongrn]

The Dude is the kind of guy who has come to the conclusion that you let life come to you as it is. He sees no reason why he should try hard or work hard. He has his friends, his hobbies and something in the house (his rug) that he sees as true possession and likes to cherish.

[@Psilocybin77]

Your revolution is over, Mr. Lebowski. Condolences. The bums lost. My advice is to do what your parents did; get a job, sir!!!!

[@johngillon6969]

he should have just cleaned the rug and he would have been spared allot of grief, his car would still be in working order and Donny would have been spared the stress that caused his heart attack. He should have just taken it easy and cleaned the rug. His pride was his problem. He could have let the humiliation of having that punk violate the rug. and just cleaned the rug. No this Dude has a over inflated ego in this dude's humble opinion. I choose to choose like the buddha in such a predicament. He is in the end a lovable stumble bum, and there is nothing wrong with that. BTW. he never got that rug did he.

[@johngillon6969]

he never got the rug in the end did he?@@Psilocybin77

[@WritingOnGames]

Chandler's thesis - 'Could the Scene BE Anymore Important Than the Plot?!'

[@Garp74]

Writing on Games "Bing"

[@Jimmy__Jazz]

*chanandlers thesis. ftfy

[@karmah5874]

the whole movie is pretty much a dude having a bad day

[@juancarloscevallos3899]

not a normal "bad day" tho haha

[@blackguyofthesouth2161]

The Dude

[@LoadedTunafish]

The ending of this video reminds me of the start of The Big Lebowski. Where the stranger just stops with the introduction because he lost his train of thought. Great video, this channel will blow up soon.

[@RyanHollinger]

You're goddamn right.

[@bestdjaf7499]

I believe in the original version, the Dude says to Walter: "you've never went to Vietnam",

[@nathannakonieczny1343]

The story of frodo never leaving the shire and just watching the world burn.

[@mookie714]

I'd like to see this movie from the viewpoint of donnie.

[@scott1lori282]

shutup!

[@gladeye30]

Scott1Lori2 shutup? It's actually an interesting idea

[@scott1lori282]

@@gladeye30 Sorry. It's just that the running theme was to tell Donny to shutup.

[@gladeye30]

Haha true...my bad 😊

[@Paul-os2hn]

Donnie would be out of his element

[@aquafresh3150]

Whenever i get stressed i always think “eh, fuck it dude, lets go bowling” and i feel a lot better.

[@kev_whatev]

Seriously, same

[@jadon184923]

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FIND A STRANGER IN THE ALPS

[@benjaminjones5029]

MY BABY!

[@azorahigh3218]

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FRY A STRANGERS EGGS

[@jeffbrambila9311]

My favorite characters are the three Nihilist ; they all think they are more capable of harm & violence than they ever commit . I’m sure they are tormented psychologically like our main character from Crime & Punishment...

[@Infaziation]

"I'm the dude, man."

[@nicolasguarana2402]

His dudeness

[@jgreen114]

You see Donny flex his hand as if it’s tingling, a tell tale sign of someone about to have a heart attack

[@lynnpehrson8826]

The dude definitely has routine tho. That's like the main conflict of the movie, the tension between choas and routine. But that, just like, my opinion, man

[@Notes2Home]

The story is just a bunch of scenes, and the rug just really ties it together, man.

[@krooskontrol3238]

To be fair, the rug did really tie the room together...

[@RyanHollinger]

Thanks for watching everyone and I am so humbled by all the support, especially as I continue to try new things to make this 'my thing'. See you soon! *QUESTION: What's you favourite character in The Big Lebowski and why?*

[@muffinmapfer]

The dude, but that is just like my opnion, man. Love that intro, but...you know, whatever dude.

[@judgeomega]

The dude of course. Its refreshing to have a non-confrontational protagonist. We are what we absorb from our environment. And our mass media homogenization needs more of the dude and less of the traditional hard ass anti hero.

[@rooneyfire9901]

hands down walter is my favorite

[@chody5840]

The Strong Men, whom also cry.

[@lsipahelut]

Walter, because I'm nothing like him.

[@techsavvyhero]

Well done, dude! You put in the time for this. Much respect

[@OzzyAndrews]

John Goodman is my favorite character in life. Thanks again Ryan for making me think in a new way about a movie I love

[@PhoebeJCPSkunccMDsImagitorium]

in michael hauge's 6-stage narrative structure, based off of the hero's journey, he says that the ultimate goal of any narrative (movie, book, tv show, play, etc) is for the hero (The Dude) to evolve or change from his 'identity' to his 'essence.' in this context, identity is something that the hero takes on as emotional armor or protection from past trauma, or from societal expectations, etc. it is what holds the hero back in his journey, akin to the ego. essence, on the other hand, is more like the id, what the hero thrives to be, and what gets him out of bed every morning, but is usually repressed and the hero finally actualizes this essence at the climax of the narrative. in the big lebowski, The Dude is already in his essence at the beginning of the movie, and returns to it at the end. throughout the entire film, he is being forced to assume many identities until it finally concludes with what Would be a tragedy (the hero not changing at all, rejecting his essence). however, because this entire narrative structure is flipped on its head, it feels like the opposite of a tragedy. The Dude is The Dude again. everything is back to normal, As It Should Be, and The Dude is back in his essence. he no longer answers to anyone (including the cowboy) and just bowls and smokes bowls

[@alexbucsp]

Freaking good essay as always, man! Keep it big, man! You´re awesome

[@varrakuda]

i found your channel a few days ago and i'm simply amazed by the content. thank you very much, and keep it up! greetings from argentina.

[@riteousrighthand6144]

I caught this film, with my best friend, at a dollar theater. Right after a crushing break-up. Been a fan of The Dude ever since. Why? Well, it's down there somewhere, let me take another look.

[@NkTubah]

What a great and well written analysis on one of my favorite movies!

[@user-wq9im1hx1p]

Dude, I can watch your videos non stop, you are AMAZING. So happy to find this channel.

[@MrNerdista]

Ryan, this was outstanding. As someone who has watched almost all of your videos, this ranks among the best. The editing was flawless, the content top notch. Loved it.

[@zacharyberry7773]

Everything you covered in this video is why I chose this movie for my first formalized research project. Awesome analysis!

[@garcia726]

"That rug really tied the room together, did it not?"

[@chriskadlik9867]

Fuckin' A!

[@junkiejackflash]

AM I WRONG?

[@dirimens_copulatio3989]

@@junkiejackflash YOU'RE NOT WRONG, YOU'RE JUST AN ASSHOLE! 😁

[@thejudgmentalcat]

I only saw the film once, but my guy friends tried to state their interpretation many times to me, albeit with a general loss for words, that I knew the meaning of dudeism before even seeing it. I think they think of themselves as constantly reaching for a state of dude but life gets so in the way. I've noticed I'm like that too. Just binge-watched some of your stuff and love it. Subbing now.

[@benjaminjones5029]

It is like the dude becomes you.

[@lukeharrison1655]

Ironically, constantly reaching for a state of dude prevents you from reaching a state of dude. It's like trying to relax.

[@JaCkmArc0]

Damn it Ryan, I just wanted to go to bed....

[@RyanHollinger]

I'm so sorry, but if it's any consolation, you're awesome for sticking around!

[@TheArchon1]

fantastic video, dude. You actually make me think after watching them, sometimes into the next day. Like today at work I was just mulling over some points you've made in previous theories.

[@TheArchon1]

also I should add that you've really helped me in my film viewing by getting me to start noticing and care about the subtle details. hell you're definitely going to get a shout out if I ever stop being lazy and start writing because I'm going to use the things I've learned from you when I do.

[@JimmyDThing]

Been a subscriber for a little bit now. This is a great one, my friend.

[@Gallboynarossan]

Love these vids mate, keep em comin!

[@rbdriftin]

Fantastic work as usual. Always impressed by your videos.

[@CrankyB1tsch]

i watched this movie countless times but everytime i notice something new, some new detail

[@markperron851]

Ryan years ago before I first saw the movie a friend who is a local musician came up to me and said he had been trying to put it together all night but that finally he felt my personality was a merging of The Dude, Walter, and Sam Elliots Cowboy narrator. I had no clue so I watched this movie at least five times in a row and have to agree he might be right. I am The Dude as I went to Kent State right after the shootings, I was always partying in those days and I was the spiritualistic guru to folks around me without trying. I am Walter in that I am a big guy who can at times be bombastic in approach and I used to be a professional bodyguard. And I am the Cowboy Narrator because I am a writer and teller of stories who back at Kent State was known as Cowboy due to the hat I sported while tending bar for a living. Given all that this video is awesome and I greatly enjoyed. The Dude abides Bro!

[@navigatingmadness180]

Another great video man! Keep em coming

[@ryanwilliams9712]

This is onè of my favourite movies ever, and everytime someone asks me about the plot I have to go "idk man but its good. Trust me"

[@potexto]

That's like... your opinion man. (seriously great video )

[@Imaproshaman7]

Very interesting to listen. This was very well said. Thanks.

[@tuungan]

Enjoying your channel ALOT dude.

[@mbryson2899]

Great video, one of the best wrapups I've ever seen from anyone. I've heard that Walter was inspired by John Milius. If true, a brilliant choice as a foil for The Dude.

[@oldpossum]

Well done, Ryan! Erudite and to the point. Always detecting new details after watching it for the umpteenth time. Like the Dude fixing his White Russian at Maude's place, sniffing casually at the cream can...

[@jakzilla95]

Great video mate! Love this film :)

[@allixollivier4137]

Dude, your videos are incredible.

[@MrVeniVidiVicioo]

nice one these are really good, keep making them!

[@azanathwhateley7235]

Still in my top 5 best movies. Watched this multiple times while I was tripping balls

[@azazelkoh3666]

I wanted to rewatch The Big Lebowski, but decided to take it easy and watch your review on it

[@damnatiomemoriae1894]

Great channel, love the content.

[@theLittle726]

Love your channle and all your videos! They are all great, interesting and insiteful.

[@im19ice3]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING ABOUT THIS MOVIE YOUR VIDEO ESSAYS ARE THE BEST MY FAVOURITES I DON'T EVEN WATCH HORROR MOVIES I JUST LIKE YOUR DELIVERY

[@bearhustler]

Really great essay but I'd argue the Dude is not free of routine, his life is full of routine that he loves until the rug-peers burst in.

[@witsend177]

That rug really tied the room together...man

[@DemonicMind]

That must have been a great essay. As a student of literature I know how hard writing a good essay can be. Keep up the good work buddy. ;-)

[@ChristianThueringer]

This is one of the best essays I ever enjoyed. Kudos from a dude priest.

[@Josh_Sellers]

Great work!

[@JohnMassari]

Excellent perspective on my favorite movie!

[@benquinney2]

I love how mortified Philip Seymour Hoffman gets

[@kev_whatev]

I love the way his nostrils flare when he laughs

[@decodeddiesel]

Well, it really tied the room together.

[@sudocatsda1guy390]

You talk about the pattern in the rug, but we never see the rug. We see Maudes rug (and I only now got the symbolism of it)

[@MikeHoughtelin]

Excellent ending! The Dude abides!

[@katieandkevinsears7724]

That rug really brought the room together.

[@evelynrobinson3573]

That ending really got me man, had me there for a second man haha

[@georgereinhardt3027]

amazing work.

[@theyorkerguy]

Such a great video!

[@jelle8071]

This is great!

[@multidwee]

On one hand you deserve way more subs. But on the other hand I like having this great content to myself ;)

[@RyanHollinger]

I may be getting more subscribers, but trust me, I always recognise those that have been around the longest, especially when I bump into them on other youtube videos...

[@bkinstler]

Sometimes analysis just takes the pleasure out of life.

[@mattklein5498]

Really Ryan Well Done Very well done

[@artfuldodger7838]

It really brought the room together.

[@chicagotylenol]

This is my favourite movie of all time!

[@BasementMinions]

Great video, thanks for sharing. :)

[@ziadmir]

Brilliant breakdown of a great movie

[@JakeRayTM]

This was the film that introduced me to the White Russian. Bless the Dude. Thanks for the video Ryan! I have a question for you if it's okay: Have you thought about making a video about The Talos Principle? It's an interesting game developed by Croteam. It's packed with complicated perspectives on existentialism, in a sci-fi manner. It's beyond my general understanding of those things, that's why I'd like your perspective on it. - but it's all up to you of course.

[@JakeRayTM]

Oh, and my favourite character in The Big Lebowski is Walter. He might seem damaged or crazy, but I'm pretty sure he knows something the rest of us doesn't... I mean, he's hilarious.

[@chris86simon]

Same here. Too bad I live in a country who bases their bars on nothing but beer and vodka red bull...

[@orhunklc3337]

best movie review I have ever watched 👍

[@sabresbest]

It really tied the room together.

[@dr.johnathancrane5822]

I watched and enjoyed the video despite the title. " The importance of the rug" already knew the importance, it really tied the room together

[@travismiles5885]

I grew up in Port Huron, MI. The statement was written in Lakeport State Park. Just North of Port Huron.

[@isaywhateveriwantandyougot7421]

The way I see it, the best movies tend to follow their main character the whole way through the film without cutting to a different perspective or sideplot. The Big Lebowski understands this perfectly

[@Furtivo95]

One part that lacks continuity was how the Dude ever found Mr. Lebowski in the first place. Dude's home went from being invaded to going to Pasadena without any detective work. This film took place in 1990, way before facebook. The Dude lived in Venice and Mr Lebowski in Pasadena. There should have more of a person in Dude's circle to connect him to the crippled millionaire somehow.

[@earthrelated]

because ...it's just fun to watch dude

[@christopherjohnson3520]

That was Great! CJ

[@LucasHowardluchowdrwho]

Yeah...Well...That's just like your opinion man. Love ya work!

[@mrbisco]

It seems the whole basis of this video is the rug. But you constantly show and refer to the wrong rug.

[@PhysIXjuk3]

You missed the point. The rug is symbolic.

[@johngillon6969]

Dude! the rug tied the whole room together. And it just occurred to this humble dude. He should have just dragged the rug outside and hosed it off scrubbed it with a scrub brush and diswashing soap, let it dry and then he could really concentrate on the bowling tournament, and perhaps his little buddy would not have had the heart attack and his dodge would still be ok kind of. but then he wouldn't have scored with that randy read head. I guess it could have gone either way. He was a good dude, and his strength was his good ness.

[@RustyZipper]

The center of the rug is designed to mimic a female’s lady parts

[@lawrencejones5640]

It really tied the room together

[@lianaleia9667]

Love the Dude! :)

[@enzoarayamorales7220]

I think this was the first "artsy comedy" I've ever discovered.

[@urbanesmala]

Have you looked into the show the guy created that is in the iron lung? Dude also sings the theme song for it while he's drugged and in Treehorns car. Short cut, just look up the intro for Branded on youtube. That put a whole new angle on the film for me.

[@moonlily1]

Well, you know, it ties the whole room together.

[@user-tc1sx3qn7e]

That rug really tied the room together.

[@StudioCorpse]

I watched this for the first time ever a week ago and I've been in a weird funk due to not fully getting it, I'm still not too sure but the story did feel very common to me, it reminded me of the midsection of certain video games (I.E GTA IV as my frst thought)... I remember playing that game and being dragged into situations that never really involved Niko in the first place but after watching this film, I can see big similarities

[@chethanagowdachaze1775]

Take it easy man!!