The Rest of "The Mario Essay" and Sequel Culture

what role does sequel culture take in online content creation?
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hey Show More and mobile folks. i probably could have added a little bit more to the end of this, that if you always make the same thing you won't explore (thus the da vinci line) and it leads to a weaker content culture overall. oh well. maybe ill make a sequel hahaha. just kidding thats just a joke based on the ol video here. hope youre having a good thursday and have a great weekend too

[@PhilJamesson]

if you liked my essay, watch my sketches. theyre the same kind of thing but you get to watch them. here's my S-tier sketches only: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6KnqnV5f8iAb9k

[@vinetari]

Will there be a Threequel? Perchance.

[@jletsgoo]

🧐😎

[@tobehidk4825]

@@vinetari you can't just say perchance

[@SG_Enjoyer]

@@tobehidk4825 Be careful, he might crush you like how Mario crushes turts.

[@tobehidk4825]

@@SG_Enjoyer will he do it? Perchance

[@vikramkrishnan6414]

Finding out the "stomp the turty" essay was not real was my adult "Santa doesn't exist" moment. Perchance.

[@suleycentral1787]

You can't just say "Perchance".

[@blueninja012]

​@@suleycentral1787 perchance

[@suleycentral1787]

@@blueninja012 -perchance-

[@skeletonbuyingpealts7134]

Santa is real silly

[@blueninja012]

@@skeletonbuyingpealts7134 extremely so

[@RandomDude647]

I think those "post the full essay" comments aren't quite the same as "release a sequel!" cuz they literally think it's a real essay lol

[@PhilJamesson]

totally! many do, many don't. i thought about making that distinction, but the effect for a content creator doesn't change. i can either release that "sequel" or not

[@thebigmeme7534]

It wasn't real?

[@rachelrachel9152]

@@PhilJamesson true, but probably a lot of ppl thought it a real essay written, like they didn't think you're a content creator at all, although i guess by creating a viral post you are a content creator even if it wasnt the goal. But also, "post the essay op" is more of a joke anyways, it's like ppl participating in the joke. I mean i would've said the same thing without any intention of you making the rest of it. Like i get your point in the video it's just that this specific instance doesn't make sense

[@SoloStudiosOfficial]

I think the essay analogy is better suited towards representing #ReleaseTheCut culture

[@PhilJamesson]

@@SoloStudiosOfficial true! i think that's a more specific example, but i think the root cause and the overall effects are very similar (desire for more of the thing i already know)

[@3th4nP31ff3r]

Before I got the actual lore… this seemed like an actual essay an eighth grader would write if they procrastinated and wrote it the day it was due.

[@Tarmorman]

"Leonardo DaVinci never drew the Vitruvian Man's ass" For such a shitpost-y feeling quote it's very acute and i love it immensely.

[@Gualberto_Villaroel_Oficial]

Perchance.

[@bananaman7969]

As soon as I started reading this he said it

[@exyzt9877]

yes, it is indeed a quote that is less than 90 degrees

[@KingRabid]

yea but like didnt leonardo davinci die? i really dont think that example holds up 🤔

[@angelicart.6]

@@KingRabidwe will too one day

[@nonuvurbeeznus795]

But if "Perchance Essay 1" is so good, why hasn't there been a "Perchance Essay 2" yet? This joke has been borrowed from the public stream of consciousness, thank you for reading.

[@Jaros]

If public stream if consciousness is so good, wh-

[@roosterboots4684]

Maybe the real public stream of consciousness was the friends we made along the waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@biruteleipute9230]

There is one! About baseball players, like a 3 or 4 pages essay, written in a similar style. No less funny!

[@ThisIsAHandle-xz5yo]

They should make a perchance essay 2 too

[@overlysk]

@@biruteleipute9230and where do I find such a masterpiece

[@adamharris306]

I have felt this for awhile. One of the reasons I love Gravity Falls so much is specifically because it's over. Without there being sequels or spin-offs, the show remains as special as it will ever be, and will never be changed into something else.

[@rachelrachel9152]

That's actually a bad example for me though bc the ending felt rushed. I felt like the creators were so afraid that it would become overblown so badly that they bailed too fast. I think it needed at least another season to really feel fleshed out. There was a lot of meat left on the bone in a way that felt bad

[@syweb2]

@@rachelrachel9152 While I see your point, as it is now it ended very well. Could it have fit in another season? _Maybe,_ but that's a very hard maybe, since to me it felt very well paced and attempting to add another season feels like it would simply stretch it out more than it needs or would be good for it.

[@rachelrachel9152]

@@syweb2 yeah, i mean we just don't agree on it, itll feel rushed and unfinished to me no matter what, but im glad other ppl can be content with it

[@Victini7472]

YOOOOOOO GRAVITY FALLS IS AMAZING!

[@sleepCircle]

@@rachelrachel9152 it was originally intended to have three seasons but alex hirsch was slowly getting more and more exhausted from dealing with disney, so he made the decision half-way through season 2 that this was going to be the last season, i think. it's kinda depressing.

[@wolfelkan8183]

I think many of the people asking you to post the full essay don't think they're asking for a sequel. They actually fell for the idea that this was a real student taking a real class, who only posted the top half of the first page of his essay (as did I). They aren't asking you to create more content, they are asking you to post content that they, wrongly, but understandably, believe already exists.

[@megamix5403]

Maybe Phil doesn't want to show the rest of his essay because that's legit all he wrote and that's why he got an F.

[@pengil3]

Makes sense, Why write more if it’s never going to be seen

[@_Heb_]

@@pengil3They're saying it's all he wrote for the actual essay assignment this was for

[@apheastra]

as somebody in academia, your essay was a work of genius. baudrillard would be floored by the conception of mario as simulacra and the turts he stomped as representing the successive stages of the image. genius, perchance.

[@9darkspells]

it really feels like just a pure encapsulation of the "you either die a hero or live long enough to become a villain" except its "you either die with people wanting more, or live long enough that everyone wishes you never started" too long of a series that didn't need all that extra fluff can often retroactively make the earlier parts feel cheapened and worse as a result. I feel this a lot with short songs, if they are too short I feel like I wish there was more room for the artist to develop the ideas of the song, but at the same time, i imagine that, what if the reason its the length it is, is because that was every idea they had for that musical concept was used, and they werent happy with anything else they could do with it? I might not like the song at all if they tried and failed to make it longer. Knowing when to end something is sometimes the hardest part.

[@Crowbars2]

Perchance.

[@mappplesirrup8473]

nah long songs go hard as fuck though

[@MacaldaReye]

To be fair, I thought it was a full essay and I was desperately trying to search for it until I came across this video 😩

[@nicknickelknocker1189]

Desperately trying to search? All I did was search perchance... Came right up

[@danfelder8062]

@@nicknickelknocker1189 you can't just search Perchance

[@GangGang-qk1se]

Same

[@MattiasPilhede]

Really great vid! I often get requests to make "more like this" or "do things more like the older stuff", so I very much relate to this and it really put it into words. A video I made that blew up was about how my grandfather made monkeys illegal in Sweden, and I would often get people disappointed I didn't do things similar to that video, which often left me wondering, how many crazy stories do you think a person can have? And what exactly do you want me to do as a follow-up? I think my favorite form of a sequel is something that takes a conclusion that was established with a story, for example "family is important" and says; "okay, so you think family is important? Well what about if this happens, does your conclusion still hold ground?", and might either re-affirm it or draw a new conclusion as what has been established is now thoroughly challenged.

[@dvdbzn]

Oh, hey, it's Mattias! (Love your work!) Yeah, I'm always surprised that people can manage to have entire channels just about their childhood stories set to silly animations. I tend to feel that most of these are really exaggerated, or even outright false, because who has enough life experience at such a young age to sustain that kind of content demand? (Kind of because of that, I thought your grandfather's monkey story was also made up. 😅 It's kind of wild for how casually it's told, and it sort of stands out as the only one presented as a true story, seemingly without a lesson.)

[@scrungozeclown836]

To be fair, you probably could've extended it quite well. "Planes, Trains, and Plantains: The Story of Oedipus: This font is smaller than the last." was an excellent comedy essay from start to finish, and it is 7 pages long (including the cover page). A similar style essay about Mario being a 1 percenter obsessed with killing turtles would've rocked

[@Roe97]

This is what I’m saying!!! He could’ve and should’ve capitalized off of this because the concept, tho entirely wrong, is really fun to explore.

[@ryko1478]

If someone else did it, cool, but that doesn't mean he will be able to come up with more just as easily, especially if he doesn't want to

[@LiminalBridges]

I'm so glad your mario essay blew up, it was amazing. I love too how much thought you put into your content from a theory perspective. You're the best, Phil. Further edit - comparing the mario essay to the Vitruvian man is 100% warranted, just to let you know.

[@PhilJamesson]

thats right. next up: inventing a flying machine

[@bruhsauce644]

the way this guy speaks makes me think that he could actually make a convincing mario essay. he's well spoken

[@btat16]

​@@PhilJamessonDa Vinci also never drew Mona Lisa's ass, for a similarly good reason.

[@azurebeast]

5 minutes in I unironically thought to myself "This is a fun video, I wish it was longer"

[@usernametaken017]

thats what sh

[@chucktowski_]

Joel Haver toed the line well. He had his RPG series blow up... Could have kept it going indefinitely. And didn't.

[@TehMastere]

Another fun example is the Llamas with Hats series. The creator was tired of people asking for more that he just created 10 more episodes that lost all the comedy that the first episodes had.

[@dennismortberg2591]

"This kind of content expires " Watching this a year later, and the "perchance" meme is still being used, albeit less than it had been. I'm glad to see it's still going. Maybe you'll go viral again someday. Perchance.

[@finctank]

This all very much applies to bands we like too. If they make a follow up album that uses all the same qualities as the first one it’s accused of being unoriginal and cynical, but if they put out something new and different they get criticised for abandoning their original values. The solution is to reinvent yourself endlessly and not give a hoot what anyone thinks

[@rachelrachel9152]

I do hate when ppl complain about bands as though anyone is keeping them from listening to their old music. Also, theres a lot of lesser known bands every year that have similar styles to more famous bands, and it would take very little to find them

[@agentstache135]

I absolutely adored the comedy theory aside. It succinctly and convincingly summed up what made the essay so funny, which I hadn’t even considered and it also gave me an insight into your thought process when making (or analyzing) your content. I think the cultural emphasis on “authenticity” has made content creators reluctant to acknowledge and discuss all the thought, theory, craft and work that goes into making content so that they appear more “natural” or “effortless” which made the aside really refreshing. I hope I get to see more mini video essays like (but not the same as) this in the future from your. Keep up the good work 👍

[@codyroberge2911]

"Perchance would be completely used up and dried out..." Me: ....perchance Also just want to note, I'm watching this 6 months later and I still think about crushing turts almost daily. Is it because your work has excellent staying power? Is it because I'm autistic? Perchance.

[@PhilJamesson]

hi cody! thank you for your comment! i've been thinking about this for this past week, since it's been having another go-around, and i think that the reason it's not used up and dried out as a piece of content is because if you have the "official" usages stay within reason, it allows people to continue to enjoy the post and riff on it. a lot of the people seeing it will be seeing it for the first time, so it's fresh to them. on the other hand, if there were three or four "perchance" posts all by me, nobody would want to go out of their way to riff on it. they would simply share the next post, which, if the punchline is just repetition / not built upon, cannot be better than the first time it's experienced. essentially, not posting the full essay is the reason that people want to see the full essay, and why the jokes in the paper continue to work. and yet, if i ended this comment in perchance, it probably wouldn't be funny. bazinga

[@botagasss]

@@PhilJamesson As they say, curiosity killed the cat. If you put up the rest of the essay in an auction, eventually someone will buy it out of curiosity to find out what was there. Heck, it would be even better if it was a skit that someone won that auction or bought the rest of the essay, as that would pique the interest of people even more. Or even better, follow that up with some bits and pieces of leaks that enhances the lore. Point being that the sequel might not be that good, but it's the process of everyone being curious and willing to find out the rest is what attracts other people who also get curious. Which means, shifting the focus is a good way to keep a certain thing, well, in focus for a longer period of time. Couple that up with psychology/pedagogy of understanding the statistics and logic behind the way humans learn things, and incorporate that into that process, and you got yourself a neat little social experiment. While the result can be rather disappointing, the process can more than make up for it in that regard. That's why we have myths, theories, legends, etc. Learning about the truth behind them is the most interesting aspect, isn't it?

[@alexwertheim870]

Really great video, Phil. Though a lot of it is targeted towards online content creation, many of the points apply elsewhere too. I feel like the point at the beginning is especially salient, and one I've expressed intensely for years: if you're chasing the way a piece of media made you feel, then empower that artist (and others like them) to make *new* art, not remake the same art. Artists must have the freedom to make new things in order to keep creating great content. One particularly interesting case study for me is the Zelda series. Wind Waker is a beautiful, incredible game, but was so different from OoT (also an all-time great game) and Majora that I think people who wanted more of the same reacted with hostility. The next two games in the series, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword, retread more old ground and deepened the grooves of the so-called "Zelda formula", to the point that they became a kind of caricature of what people expect from a Zelda game. These games received a great deal of praise initially, but my impression is that the cultural opinion of these games has waned over time, whereas esteem for Wind Waker has gradually improved. Go figure. The latest entry into the series, Breath of the Wild, was vastly different from the games before it, and was practically a cultural phenomenon. It's well-deserving of the praise it's received, not least of all because its creators had the courage to try something different again. Of course, ironically, BotW has spawned countless cynical imitators, almost none of whom understand why the game is great. I hope people will support those trying to make unique media, even with mixed results, instead of pushing them to follow the crowd. Your faux-essay was hilarious, and you understood well how to not stretch the concept beyond its natural elasticity. I'll be eagerly looking forward to the other new things you try.

[@alejandrodelhierro9676]

Great video! I can see you point all across art, t once you’ve gone through a certain concept or idea, the best artistic option is to try and make something different, even if everybody else is telling you that a sequel will put you on top of the world. There’s lots of examples to this, like Seinfeld or an even better example for me would be Radiohead. After releasing The Bends they would become the biggest band if they made a sequel, instead they chose to make Ok Computer, separating themselves from that sound and lyricism. And after that went on to blow up, and were told to do the same, they again took an even harder turn and made Kid A. And I think that is part of why they are such highly regarded albums. (Sorry for the essay and sounding like a Radiohead fanboy, just thought that point made in the video correlated quite nicely with their discography and story) thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

[@happydan20]

You also see this in "politician does their job" becomes "they should run for president" another example person writes a good comment becomes "you should write a book!" People seem to be unable to separate the idea that they just like something to considering any ramifications of what they are asking for. See also "I like characters in a show so they should get to get together, fuck any concept of story or theme." I blame social media, we are being trained that our every thought and idea matters so that we keep engaging, we have lost all perspective.

[@directrix777shinyshinyamyt4]

I’ll be real, I thought this was an actual essay. I’m shocked to learn that the one page is all there is, but it’s great nonetheless.

[@Hyperboid]

my headcannon is that there's one more line that just says "In conclusion, perchance."

[@TheyCallMeInsane]

Holy shit didn't know the mario essay was yours. You're a genius and make great content. Keep doing you, everything you've put out is great, and I can't wait for part 2 of this essay ;p

[@clxxxvii.]

Phil Swift has an ADULT SWIM TELEVISION SHOW in the works and nobody is freaking out!? Did i miss an announcement post or is this the announcement? Your humor is so refreshing in this endless sea of mediocrity we call the internet. You are one of the few content creators that stick out to me. You have a very deep and nuanced understanding if what is funny and what's not and i will binge every episode of whatever you make even if it's garbage because i love your sense of humor that much

[@PhilJamesson]

hey this is really nice, thank you so much. i will tell you this much: the project i did with [REDACTED] is not a television show. it would be closer to a web series, though it'll be on [REDACTED] so it'll be viewable like a television show. what i can tell you is i worked on it with some very funny people and i'm thrilled that it'll be out soon EDIT: you can now watch all of the episodes of The Hamlet Factory, my series with Adult Swim Smalls! its on HBO Max and youtube both. link: linktr.ee/thehamletfactory

[@joepemberton9031]

#NotAllPhils

[@shoes4clues955]

"You may have seen a few people test Flex Seal on a bucket, but you've never seen anything like mine!"

[@fakeyoutubenameftw390]

Hey, came across this video when quoting your "essay" at the top of my review of the Mario Bros movie, and wanted to say: Happy to see such a thoughtful response to a piece of viral hilarity.

[@TheLetterbomber]

This is such a good video oh my god. A better follow up to the funny post than I ever could have expected! Really hoping you do more of these essay-type videos (get it)

[@SleazyDutcham]

"So platforms say they want it, viewers say they want it, and your channel will likely grow if you do it... and you're saying, 'Don't do it'?" @PhilJamesson you have an excellent and rare sense of integrity. 🙌

[@ScarlettTheViewer]

It frustrates me how many people saw that essay and shared it on Facebook, yet have no clue you have a whole channel of hilarious videos.

[@bymovingimages]

I think I genuinely thought it was real which is why I wanted the rest, knowing this was deliberately crafted has definitely removed that desire

[@bymovingimages]

Great work though fr

[@rochelle1117]

Can you make a follow up where you're just literally beating a dead horse while making meaningful eye contact with the audience?

[@johnfsenpai]

I am not sure if sequel culture is really what motivated these people to ask for the whole essay, I think it is because people tend to take things on the internet at face value and are also curious about unimportant things, so they thought it was a real essay and wanted to see it all. It is the same reason why people are thinking the "James Bond burger" meme actually means something and trying to find *the* explanation.

[@jackgwhitaker]

thanks for making this, it was good and clear

[@Fumblerful]

What I think is really interesting about the work you do is how, more than any other creator, your work travels further than you do. A lot more people have heard of perchance AND Ace Watkins than know your name. I think this is really unfortunate at the same time seems almost the perfect validation: your work is so in tune with the internet that it becomes part of the internet culture. There is no interrogation of who made it: it simply is as so many of the greatest memes are.. I made a subreddit that has over 80k subscribers. One day, someone recommended it to me, not knowing it was mine. That was when my creation came full circle and it became part of the broader internet. The key difference is me being disconnected from a subreddit makes no difference, but you being disconnected from your work influences the recognition that can lead to you being able to do this full time. I really look forward to whatever you were plugging and I really hope more opportunities like it come in the future.

[@yourstruly2983]

I was ambushed by 'perchance' on Reddit in the comments sans context, and having only just been exposed to the source, I bet I looked super cool when I thought I was correcting the grammar of those five people randomly saying perchance to each other.

[@Fumblerful]

@@yourstruly2983 I knew about Phil Jameson before I saw perchance, but did not connect the dots and figured it was some college student, like the other Redditors.

[@yourstruly2983]

@@Fumblerful Oh I was already familiar with Phil, he's easily one of my few favourite content producers. I only see the videos he posts on KZbin though, so I was totally unaware of the essay gag. I really wish I could be a paying Phil customer! Yeah Patreon goodies sound great, but more because fair pay for goods/services rendered, you know? I get by on disability support pension peanuts (peanuts I am very grateful for), so I need to be pretty cut-throat with cash. (SciFi magazine Clarkesworld gets all the monthly subscription I can afford because I literally spent around three solid weeks worth of time listening to Kate Baker narrate stories just last year alone; to say they've earned it is a criminal understatement, plus it's all free to boot.) Congrats on the successful sub btw! Is it something you're passionate about?

[@Fumblerful]

@@yourstruly2983 Eh. It's a meme subreddit. The passion was in creating something self sustaining.

[@yourstruly2983]

@@Fumblerful Hey not everything needs to be The Vitruvian Man's Ass, right?

[@belgiumbunlover5787]

This really says a lot about Phil Jamesson the man versus Phil Jamesson the idea.

[@MDisaster]

I read the essay on Reddit and had no idea it was by you! In hindsight it has the same cadence of jokes that your videos typically have (I've been a follower of yours for some years...) But at no point was I thinking "I need the whole thing..." The joke felt wrapped up and complete. Again, in the same way, I never feel like I need more from, say, "your life is like this pencil" professor video.

[@DoAGoldeneye]

This is extra funny because his name is literally on the essay.

[@danni3387]

I have to say, the comedic timing on it is impeccable

[@aphex82]

"If the ground is fertile, crush a turtle" - Mario (probably)

[@adatewithkate]

I came here to finish reading the essay, but I'm leaving with a greater sense of self-awareness. Thank you for making me think about my motivations! This was so much more satisfying and thought-provoking than reading more of the same thing I just read. :)

[@ghoum56]

I'm so used to your shorts, but seeing you branch out is great! The more we see of you the better, however you feel like you wanna express yourself I'm ready for it!

[@gleventhal]

This video kind of explains a meta point that strikes at why the internet (as it's presented / mainstream) kind of sucks: it rewards unoriginal copycats. That's why reddit sucks with people trying to be funny by telling some stupid joke thats already a dead horse or jumping on a reply chain that makes it so that I have to scroll for an hour to find an insightful comment again. We watch videos of people watching videos. It's insane. I hate the unoriginal narcissists who have polluted the internet with crap like that. Anyhow good video, well said!

[@joog0]

I actually didn't know the Mario essay was yours. I saw it on Reddit and thought it was a real essay. I do remember thinking I'd like to see the full essay. Gg well done. I find it much funnier now that I know it's from you haha. Also I know it's a bit ironic to ask for a sequel under a video where you ask us not to but I think you should do more "long" videos like this one or your dissecting the frog ones. Where you dive into the "theory" behind comedy, I think it's an interesting topic and I feel like you have the knowledge.

[@half_pixel]

Really cool to hear your thoughts on this. Also really concerned by how many people thought that it was a real essay...

[@VetinariClone]

To be fair, if you didn’t know it was posted by a comedian, well there are actually essays like that IRL. Now, I might suggest that it’s a good idea to click on the poster’s feed and see what else they’ve posted before jumping to a conclusion either way, but it’s still understandable.

[@TheInfamousBertman]

People are pretty gullible.

[@manu_bdl9333]

oop

[@jd1800]

I don't think it's that hard to believe it could be a real essay. It's hard to believe the writer is being serious, but those two things aren't the same. If someone wrote this as a joke, then it's not much of a stretch to believe a student who has given up on their education wrote it as a joke and turned it in just to get a reaction. It wouldn't be the first time something like that has happened.

[@theqoulyv]

Have you ever had to do a peer edit with someone who just gave up on the class?

[@carstenpfundt]

1:40 is the beat to carolyn konstnars depression song lol

[@poiisondn]

You're so right about this whole take on ...online content creation. You're extremely well-spoken. I wanna learn that!

[@heysilly1341]

I love that you made a sequel a whole year later 😂

[@masterjbt]

lol yea me too

[@AFriskyGamer]

Whoa, you wrote that? Just skimming Reddit the other day and found it. Had no idea that was you. I appreciate hearing this "behind the scenes" mentality of a creator.

[@KioKah]

3:04 "If you're watching in 6 months hopefully it'll reinforce my point" *video posted 6 months ago* :0

[@blandiblue]

the real essay was about sequel culture and its effect on content creator and people. Magnificent execution. A+

[@mrkitty1997]

I had no idea you were the creator, when I searched for "mario the man" your video was 5 one down. Glad I've found the original creator

At the end of the day, it's about our culture being too future-focused: we don't know and/or allow ourselves to be present with our thoughts and feelings. We are like little kids who can't stop asking "What's next?"; we take another bite even before we stopped chewing. It's truly the malady of our generation. Great video as always, I love your usual skits but your thoughts are interesting enough that the occasional long form is also very welcome :)

[@mangotruth1414]

how does your most recent release of "the mammal and the reptile - a painful story" tie into the points you made here? does your decision to make more (excellent) content of the same format contradict what you said here? is that story the vitruvian man's best friend?

[@vipa1737]

Wow Phil, I love these longer commentary videos. You should make more of these... Or wait no, you're not going to listen to me... you should make less of thse.... no wait. Actually though, this and the shorts video have been two of my favorite videos on youtube until now. I never thought about sequels online, but you definitely opened my eyes to it. You have a knack for talking about unique subjects in a funny and interesting way. Keep it up

[@PhilJamesson]

i feel like "more video essays" is fertile ground territory, and "30 more sequel culture videos" is what im trying to say is what i have to remember to avoid

[@goomba008]

Thank you for this. It's long overdue that society develops a healthy aversion to sequels, and hopefully that will take money out of the equation too. I'm sure most of the time when a mediocre or unnecessary sequel happens, the original creator was pressured into it, or succumbed to the attraction of fame and/or money (which is understandable)

[@somecallmetim46]

grateful there are some creators out there who don't just dance when the mob says "DANCE MONKEY!"

[@melaniewilson1742]

Coming here after he made the biology essay is interesting. He didn’t show the rest of the essay like people wanted, but made a worthy sequel like he said he might here.

[@evrfreez]

Plot twist: the script to this video is what's on the lower half of the original page

[@rodeno01]

One year later. It hasn't expired. In fact, I've just came across the og vid, and some of my friends sent it to me. You did it well

[@killerrabbit587]

Wow, what an insightful video! Any chance of you making a follow-up video essay that perfectly satisfies my nostalgia for experiencing this for the first time?

[@badateverything2931]

underrated comment

[@Kerdack]

I dunno man, I'm here six months later... and Douglas Adams wrote several books that are really just rambling deadpan and taking multiple pisses at authorities. So, yeah I wanna see the rest of the essay.

[@cat_jk00]

Brilliant. Thinking about how to make videos after one even gets remotely popular is insanely difficult to wrap your head around. This also says a lot about critical thinking and how willing some people may be to just not go back to see the rest of what people have to offer. Some of my very favorite videos on this platform are from people who uploaded once and then maybe one other time, they purely made this thing as a passion and just put it out there and that alone takes so much strength and love that I think we take that for granted. Sometimes just sitting with a piece of art is great. Much love, great advice.

[@thomasrosebrough9062]

Gus Johnson did this with one of his characters! He didn't want it to live long enough to become the villain so he ended it on a high and I 100% appreciate that. The old content holds up so much better.

[@KrisPBacon69]

Too bad Gus Johnson himself lived long enough to become the villain.

[@mayatung]

this is kind of an insane example, but llamas with hats quickly turns into a meta commentary on the pressures of making a sequel to a trendy thing online. i never saw past the first 3 videos until recently but the full 12 make a short and cohesive story

[@justfrankjustdank2538]

been waitin on this :)

[@missyandere1647]

Damn I didn't know Perchance guy could be this cute lol

[@blainexpatrick]

So the original video that I watched was on a random KZbin channel when it was first blowing up. Immediately it began to have a sort of lore surrounding it especially the classic “is it real or is it not” argument. I enjoy videos like this that get into the subject from the viewpoint of the creator of the original piece because it gives a refreshing insight into what the original idea was supposed to be (that is if anything at all, perchance [im sorry 😭😂]) and how it blossomed in the hand of the internet to become its own thing. We need more videos like this.

[@jennettehallet3859]

Me watching it 2 years later wondering when it expires... 😅

[@evilmetbad]

THIS WAS SO GOOD, PLEASE MAKE ANOTHER ONE!

[@feyrworks]

i'm gonna be honest i thought it was a real essay which is why i was interested in the rest of it but now that i've seen this and thought about it you're absolutely right and i'm glad this video's content was content philosophy instead of "the rest of" the essay

[@a_pile_of_VHS_tapes]

hi phil. i really liked this video on sequels. could you make a sequel?

[@bane2201]

Glad that you talked about this and made a wise decision. I've seen multiple channels that get a hit with 200K+ views, so they do some sequels. Then they decide to do something new, and they don't even hit 10K. And your point about recommendations is one that I've thought for a while. Those algorithms are designed to show people more -ads- content. [Insert comment on the relevance of algorithms to political issues here.] I've set my browser up so that I don't even see KZbin's recommendations anymore - the homepage redirects to my subscription feed, and I blocked the recommended videos list. If I find something worth viewing naturally, I'll check the creator and subscribe. Does that mean I miss out on things worth viewing? Perchance. (Also, subscribed! I hope you keep up the good work.)

[@sournois90]

did i just sit through this all expecting the rest of the essay🤡🤡🤡

[@akielsteewart8577]

It's not a real essay it's a joke he wrote. There is no rest of it.

[@enduser178]

perchance there IS no bottom of the page except for what is at the bottom of OURSELVES

[@Poshriel]

The funny thing is I started looking for the rest of the essay because I had seen the post before. I could have swore there was a lot more to the essay when I saw the post the first time. So I was looking for something that I thought existed because my brain tricked me into believing it was there. Perchance

[@SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand]

You are absolutely brilliant. One of the most unique comedic voices I've seen.

[@grayjaket]

I only know a handful of card tricks, but one time I gave into the pressure to reveal the trick, and the person asking got very mad about it and said that I quote, "cheated". Yeah, don't reveal your tricks.

[@christycullen2355]

The fact you made stomping turtys up yet made it feel so organic shows your skills

[@litterbox019]

it's less like asking for a sequel and more like asking for an updated version

[@oscarzephyr6955]

"making a sequel will ruin how people feel about the original" if only five nights at Freddy's knew this

[@Christy0-0]

Good news for the people who want more content from you: it exists.

[@Angrystick0]

Perchance

[@EvilJosias]

Bro I loved that fucking essay, thank you.

[@gabek1120]

The reason I want the full essay is actually to know the logic behind the essay explanation. I think the idea of Mario being a 1%er interesting and want to hear more of the argument of why. Mainly because it has some merit. I dotn care if it's funny or has a authority figure correcting stuff I want the final product version that's finished, ie the final draft version to read. I'm sure some people maybe thought the same. But I get why you wouldn't want to write a real essay about it since it was just for fun and jokes. I'm the kind of person that would write an essay for fun... lol

[@Sabagegah]

So my plan now includes making my book completely exhaustive so nobody will dare speak to me after I release it.

[@Penndemonium]

i watched a video with a funny voice reading your essay and holy shit i died. it's comedy gold in every sentence. it's one banger after the next. i feel like an essay needs to be written on why it's so damn good. i will not write that essay because i do not know how to put it into words. anyway here's me trying to put it into words. we start this essay with a strong, "everyone knows mario is cool as fuck." this hits hard. makes me think of a 12-year old who wants to be cool and has started using the word "fuck" and who also thinks mario is a killer dude. we all know mario is cool as fuck, though. "but who knows what he's thinking?" this being a separate sentence? incredible. it's a separate thought and that's hilarious. you stated a fact(?) and went ". but" absolutely legendary. you follow this up with a "who knows why he crushes turtles?" and isn't that the real question. who knows why. the way this is stated so bluntly and genuinely… it really does make you question it. you then go on to mention another fact(?) of life, the existence of our fondness for the mythical dr pepper. who the fuck is dr pepper. i don't need to know. this sentence has automatically made me fond of the mythical dr pepper. perhaps related to the soda. who knows. then, the sentence that sells the whole thing… "perchance." this is where i lose my shit and composure. this is so fucking funny. just… oh my god. i. wojfiebjwijerhfruefhcje. anyway. "perchance" means "by chance" (thanks google). it was much more common in the 1800s than it is now (thanks again google). aren't those some fun facts. "why do we think of him as fondly as the mythical (nonexistent?) dr pepper. by chance." like "by chance, this is the truth" or "perhaps it is so". "perchance" answers a question, whether explicitly stated or not, and that question is "yes?" and the answer is "yes. perchance." i… had a thought there originally but then i forgot it and i tried to remember it but i couldn't so i just scrambled to find a fitting question. i guess the question is of frequency. i think this word is mostly used the same as "perhaps", but maybe in more specific ways. maybe there's an additional underlying meaning of "occasionally". it's implying "it could happen." this does not make sense after stating a fact(?). and it's fucking hilarious. take it from me, a 12-year old who wants to be cool and has started using the word "fuck". (i am not actually 12) and this is only paragraph one. of your essay, not this comment. this is like paragraph three. also i'm getting tired. i don't like thinking for too long because i spend the whole day doing that (overthinking) and sometimes i want to not think. anyway. "i believe it was kant who said". gold sentence because who the fuck is kant. ok i've looked it up he was a philosopher. i never learned of him. oh god i'm tired as fuck it's 12:45 am i need to stop staying up this late. ok, end of not-an-essay-but-yes-unnecessary oh my god it rhymes that's amazing. wait no it doesn't. … yes, it… does? what. i'm tired. i'm going to bed. it's like a near-rhyme. or… isn't there a term for it. rhyme with extra sylabbles or something. i'm not fixing that mispelling. or that one.

[@kristenhummel8624]

I love finding this video more than if I had found the rest of the essay! Excited to see your other work

[@emanresu2425]

4:06 can't believe Phil is someone who says "an historic", feeling so betrayed rn

[@NovemberOrWhatever]

Ironically, a video on a failing philosophy essay brings up some interesting philosophical points

[@danieljensen2626]

Didn't even realize you were talking about the Mario essay when KZbin recommended this to me.

[@toastom]

Interesting. This video did not give me in the slightest what I was looking for, but somehow I feel like it answered what I really needed.

[@THERATKING128]

“Mario the idea vs Mario the man” is truly a literary masterpiece. Perchance.

[@ninhydrinxo]

Phil I have tried and failed to find your biffed it looping video, and my brain will circle the drain until it completes the circuit by actually hearing that little melody, help!

[@PhilJamesson]

it was a tiktok! www.tiktok.com/@philjamesson/video/6908499172714925318

[@ninhydrinxo]

@@PhilJamesson jfc tiktok! thank you for your timeous response etc.

[@jonthefuzz]

I came here for a full version of one of the funniest things i heard and left with a philosophical reason not to hear the full joke

[@benjaminburt4285]

I always love your video essays.

[@DJHansYolo]

I appreciate you making this video. Charming, insightful, and

[@amoledzeppelin]

I remember how I used an archaic word in my algebraic proof at secondary school. Good that we had no photo/video equipment back then.

[@AUnicorn666]

I ended up subscribinb because of this sort of a response instead of a perchance part 2, which i probably wouldnt have subscribed for. so now ya gots a new subscriber and the benefit of people who like this sort of content and joke content is a thng to take note of

[@caity1116]

This was all very informative thank u Phil but that magic line TOOK ME OUT

[@rachelrachel9152]

Me tooooo lol