The Lego Movie: Constructing and Reconstructing Identity

[@AliceDiableaux]

When this movie came out I was babysitting for a friend who was going to evening classes, and the annoying kid kept whining about this LEGO movie he wanted to see. I also thought it would be just a dumb kids movie, but I eventually gave in and imagine my surprise, haha. I don't know if the low expectations and the extremely pleasant surprise as a result played a part but it's still very high on my list of all-time favorites.

[@schodes]

Grace, this was fantastic. The writing progresses really nicely, you articulated your ideas very clearly, and I can tell you spent a lot of time on getting the right clips for each sentence. It paid off.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much! :)

[@riotbreaker3506]

I absolutely love these new Lego Films, they each take on a different, deeply personal topic, self-identity(Lego Movie), the rejection of solidarity for companionship(Batman), and dealing with parental rejection and alienation (Ninjago,which hits me hard)

[@danr1620]

Well said

[@virgilmccorgray1656]

I like the idea of ultimate fluidity of a conception of self, but I would distinguish that from the concept of "identity." We are, as rational-moral beings, concrete universalities. I.e., a worker is, as you say, never simply abstractly and fixedly a 'worker' but he is that in the world. The deconstruction of ideology is two fold, I think: 1) to do as you have done, which is to point out the ultimately arbitrariness of a form of self-conception and to get at the content of it, i.e. human subjectivity as such but 2) this is only truly revolutionary when we acknowledge the form (of subjectivity) itself; in other words, while a worker is fundamentally a human, we humans create the worker through intentionality and it is only through our freedom can we be both a worker AND a human capable of infinity possibility. In anywise, you've got my subscription. Thank you for the refreshingly thoughtful work.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

These are great points! Thank you very much for your comment. :)

[@Sdozeman]

I remember I wrote about this movie as a required response for a philosophy of art course I was taking at the time, and I said some fairly similar things, although without all the clarity you just did. I'm amazed you don't have more subs. This was great.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much!

[@prod.hxrford3896]

Well done, you hit the many nails on the many heads with this video. I was particularly impressed with that quote talking about the idea of the DJ and the programmer as roles that essentially plug existing things into other existing things to create new things. Having dabbled in programming myself, this comparison has actually been on my mind recently. For example, I see a huge a parallel to meme culture, a humour which is derived from interlocking and even interpolating existing cultural material. The essence of it is like “hey see this thing/experience over there, imagine if I isolated it and put it into this situation/context over here”. In other words, “hey let me plug that thing over there, into this thing over here to create a new experience/function”, which is the essence of programming in many ways.

[@vamosnamaciota7611]

I discovered your channel a short time ago and I can say without a doubt that it became one of my favorites. Oh, great analysis and research, as always! Keep up with the good work!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you so much! :)

[@alissonfranca9162]

This movie made me cry so much! No one saw that coming.

[@ofkfdjdjfk7574]

This is a really well put together video especially your fantastic transitions I haven't seen anyone mention. Lovely stuff! It's the little things

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much!

[@EntertainTheElk]

Your stuff is great. Are you on social media?

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much! I'm afraid not. I have vague notions of getting twitter at some point, but for now I just have a tumblr: whatssogreataboutthat.tumblr.com/

[@pdzombie1906]

It's too a bad Hollywood has made us accustomed to odd properties turn into terrible films (see the 'Emoji Film', on the other hand, please don't see it). This animation masterpiece should be better appreciated... Everything is awesome, including your videos and you. Thanx, Grace!!!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Yeah, who new a move entirely about a branded product could be so good?! Thank you! :D

[@Emperor-Quill]

Maybe it's just my brain drawing parallels where there isn't any, but for me personally, this sort of thing is reminiscent of a video I've witnessed regarding identity and it's growth. (Video is Tale Foundry's Chimera Vid, for whom it may concern.) We are neither who we were yesterday or who we will be within a moment, or even that in an of itself. We are simultaneously "ourselves" and the fragments of other people's "self" to culminate into a being that can be classified as a "whole", but we still can't truly identify with any of the sum of our personality's parts. I am not another person, neither they to me, but we are not our own original person either. Could just be me though.

[@janedoe3043]

This is the best video essay I have ever seen. I am impressed and hope you keep it up.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you so much!

[@clare5223]

your editing is fantastic seriously, beautiful

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@gh0s1wav]

Honestly thought you'd say what every other analysis video has said about this movie but nope, you brought a new perspective. Gj. I'll continue binge watching your channel now :D

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much! :D

[@aullette]

I recently had a revelation about Lucy and her character arc and her struggles with insecurity. As i'm typing this the narrator just mentioned this. Let me elaborate. When Lucy is first introduced to the audience, she is constantly trying to act mysterious and super unique, nothing like the people of bricksburg. For instance, when she first introduces herself to Emmet, she calls herself Wyldstyle, and when Emmet asks if this is her real name, she shuts him down very quickly. According to Vitruvius, she changed her name a number of times and was very insecure about her name, Lucy, probably because of how common a name Lucy is. It was also revealed in the sequel that she recolored her hair because she wanted to be seen as more mature. She is also one of the artists in the movie that made the "Everything is Awesome" song, and she denied that she co-produced it or even liked it, most likely because she didn't want to be associated with something she viewed as "basic" or "immature." With Emmet's help, Lucy is able to start accepting herself and stop trying to hide parts of herself that she deemed as "conformist" or "basic," starting with her name.

[@donidino3349]

Great analysis and insight! I also like that you used external sources to add to / enforce your argument(s).

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@altayyuceturan335]

This is fantastic! The editing, the script and the ideas -all really good! Thus makes me love the LEGO movie even more So glad I subscribed

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much!

[@martinovallejo]

I stumbled upon your channel a while ago, and every time I watch one of your videos, I wander how is it that I still haven't binge watched them all. I have similar feelings about this movie, I especially concerning the 'expectations vs. reception' subject. I found most interesting the point of copyright, collaboration, creator-recreator realtions. Awesome work, keep it up.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much! :D

[@Julika7]

Awesome video. I loved the film before but you showed me even more great narratives about it. Love.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@sclogse1]

This is the reason I'll see. This film. Had no idea it was this marvelous. Maybe I was put off by the glut of animation, (where do my eyes go) that reminds me of the worst elements of Speilberg films in the 80's. (roller coaster time)

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

It was really much better than I expected and is now probably one of my favourite animated films. :)

[@Prettygirlcn5]

Great points! I liked the perspective ☺️ Also, I’m not sure if it’s just because you mentioned Star Wars❤️ & then said a line about, “negotiation”, but you’re voice then sounded almost like Queen Amidala for the rest of the video 😁

[@sofiejegeras3179]

Your channel is great! I've seen every video! keep it up!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@josephwalls8917]

Great job again! I really enjoy your video essays!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@ArchiveINC]

Kidzbop matrix except it's actually good

[@ShirDeutch]

Wonderful movie, excellent essay!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@Moscato_Moscato]

The Lego Movie is so good!!!

[@lrgogo1517]

I thought you were gonna link the Idea Channel video

[@darrenelkins5923]

Great vid. Although, overpriced coffee, isn't capitalism

[@thbaloo]

That was good

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thanks. :)

[@roebenns7601]

cool dude

[@Mario-cz6tr]

55

[@gethynace6240]

the lego movie rebulit i was make

[@LUC4Z3]

It was a fantastic video. You sure made really pertnent coments over here. But pls don’t mess capitalism with corporativism or consumism. As like other politcs conceptions. It Isn’t something great. It can confuse the watchers. And is you do, your videos will be really more condencorated

[@Austinator0630]

The Lego Movie is definitely a masterpiece. Though, that nothing compared to The Iron Giant.