What Does Glass Onion Have to Do With US (2019)?

Part Two of my deep dive into the Knives Out Mysteries! What is the Truth at the center of these so-called "murder mysteries"? Let's find out!
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sub count: 1,049

[@ariannawright7586]

Yeah for me the biggest catharsis was burning the Monalisa, I also cheered in the theatre, like I can’t imagine thinking that was too far.

[@evi6784]

as an artist, i was in pain lmao but still agree

[@icaro_andstuff]

As an artist, I was so goddam happy that it happened 😂😂😂.

[@aazhie]

It was, as someone who regularly burns their art, wonderful :)

[@thebigwagyu]

My only pushback against “the detective genre is inherently conservative” is that The Detective usually is an outsider who fights against the Traditional Legal System, actually solving the crime rather than just closing the book after seeing an obvious solution. Most of the villains/killers in a detective story are rich, or in a position of power, and use that status to divert attention away from themselves and onto someone who’s disenfranchised. The Detective is the only one in the room who sees past the established order and challenges it. Fictional detectives are the working class’ solution to an injustice system that gives them no voice against a police for that works for the rich and powerful, someone with just enough power to say “mmm I don’t think this is right.” But in the real world, detectives and PI’s are usually just hired thugs for the capitalist system, so I’m not married to this take.

[@AL-xg8vx]

Preach

[@LordOwenTheThird]

I think the show poker face really works for this approach to it, as Charlie can't seek the help of cops even if she wanted to. It's literally just a show about some person sticking up for the random working class people she meets.

[@aazhie]

It's a good take, though. I might not marry it, but I'd love to hang out with it more xD

[@mere5168]

To me it’s more often that the detective feels like the “good guy with the gun” of this genre. The detective is fulfilling this fantasy that if only the right person was there (who cared enough and was smart enough) shit would actually get done. But that doesn’t mean the story is presenting a systemic critique of the legal system. And I’ve often see in these stories the detective actually functioning like an extra arm of the legal system (acting outside of its jurisdiction generally but later folded back into it when detectives assist in the arrest/takedown of perpetrators). You know how true crime people often critique the actions of the police - but doing that doesn’t mean they are inherently making anti cop or abolitionist content? I think of the detective genre in the same way. Often these stories gesture at actual problems (and might have poignant things to say about them!) but dont offer much in opposition beyond what if a guy showed up and was able to do all the things we wish the cops were doing. It all depends on what stories exactly were talking about of course and plenty choose to subvert the things I talked about (or lean in to them and use the cyclical nature of crime to point out how individual actors can’t solve systemic problems)

[@labelle9921]

I'm not sure how I got here, but I'm glad I made it. Also, thanks SO MUCH for the list of Black content creators, and for giving them credit for the influence they had on you.

[@HopeEvey]

I am a life long reader of mysteries. I'm a second generation mystery reader, having started on my mother's mystery magazines almost 50 years ago. I wouldn't have described either of us as conservative in any way. Then the clip about mystery stories being essentially conservative slammed into me shattering cracks in my consciousness. I need to think/ write more about this to let truth fill those spaces, then decide what to do about that truth.

[@vivianstrange]

this means so much to me! ^_^ I'm glad my video is stimulating thought and consideration and I hope the truth that comes from thinking and writing about it yields positive results! :)

[@KSignalEingang]

The Philip Glass "dong" reminds me of when Microsoft commissioned Brian Eno to compose the five-second-long Windows 95 startup sound. While there are probably other examples of musical geniuses being paid ludicrous sums for equally trivial, disposable techie projects, there's a solid connection here: Eno's often considered the inventor of ambient music as a genre, but Philip Glass both prefigured and inspired a lot of that work. Bowie's album Low (which Eno produced and collaborated on) was pretty much a straight-up homage to Glass, start to finish.

[@vivianstrange]

That’s so interesting! I didn’t know that :O the connection to Bowie is also fascinating because in Glass Onion, Miles seems to be a sincere fan of Bowie’s music (“you think you’re an alligator?”). LAYERS!!

[@KSignalEingang]

@@vivianstrange I just found out there's an unused (and unscripted) scene where Miles & Cassandra perform Moonage Daydream open-mic style at the Glass Onion bar! I really hope they release that footage someday, it sounds like the cast had a great time making it.

[@garygrinkevich6971]

Awesome comment 👍

[@roadsidefruitstand]

interesting, low doesn't sound very glassesque to my ears 🤷 apparently glass adapted it into a symphony tho. the eno nod does obliquely tie in to the film's themes in another way too - eno has spoken against the concept of "genius" in favour of "scenius"

[@ariannawright7586]

Oh okay I’m nine minutes in and I already know I’m gonna watch this twice.

[@Jaggedknife11]

Here because of F.D . I watched a few more of your videos and you've quickly become maybe my favorite video essayist. Just your whole way of expressing things is very much on my wavelength.

[@vivianstrange]

Your favorite?? Oh my! Well, thank you!! ☺️

[@Petrichoroma]

The editing and commentary, especially toward the end with Miles’s “disruptor” speech over the montage you edited… Brilliant! So glad to have found you.

[@JoseMariaLuna]

Rewatched Glass Onion to rewatch your video and it's even better! An honor to voice the king in this ☺☺☺

[@vivianstrange]

YAAAY!! Thank you so much! ^_^

[@colonelweird]

When I started watching this, I thought I read that you had 100k subscribers. Given how great the video is, that wasn't at all surprising - obviously you have the money to afford a good editor. But I was shocked that I'd never heard of this channel before. Then I saw your actual subscriber count. WHAT?!? I literally don't see how that's possible. Well anyway, you convinced me I need to watch Glass Onion for a fourth time, and you've given me a new hobby: searching for dead billionaires. And you have a new subscriber.

[@vivianstrange]

I'm so flattered you think I have production value! xD but for now, until I can actually start making any money from this, I do all the editing myself. It's a chore, but I'm glad it looks good enough to justify the effort! Here's to hoping once my subscriber count goes up, I'll be able to make even better looking videos! Or at least, be able to outsource and put money in the pockets of well-deserving artists and editors :) thanks for the sub!

[@colonelweird]

@vivianstrange You have a great talent for combining very precise analysis of the details without losing sight of the work as a whole or the larger political context, from a revolutionary perspective. There's a lot of great stuff on youtube from leftists, but I can't think of anyone else who combines these things the way you do. It's really something else. I hope you find the subscribers who can appreciate all this - the number should be pretty large! Also it would be ridiculous for me not to support you on Patreon. So that's what I'm going to do.

[@vivianstrange]

Thank you!! 🥹

[@Syurtpiutha]

For the algorithm, I just wanna point out that Peg definitely was crushing on 'Andy' pretty hard. And can you blame her?

[@OrinSorinson]

This movie had a lot of feather ruffling material to ruffle the easily ruffled, the kind of people that use the word "snowflakes" a lot. And it might just be the alignment of worldviews, but this movie was an excellent story and commentary. I will always be a fan of simple ideas executed with complex nuance and elegance.

[@ashleighcalvert8937]

You devastated me at a time when I really need to hear everything you had to say. I do feel kind of hopeless because of it but I have hope that I’ll find some kind of purpose in the aftermath. Thank you for making this video

[@noneofyourbusiness7658]

Only wanted to watch a little snippet of the video and... well I watched the whole thing and now it's 3 am where I'm at. And I don't regret a second of it. Too tired right now to express just how insightful and brilliantly crafted this was. But I'll definitely be back for more tomorrow! Oh, here because of Fiq / f the algorithm. And of course you have a new sub.

[@reinapiratayquepaha]

This was an excelente análisis and I'm really happy you also gave a big shout out to other content creators, especially BIPOC. Also surprising to me that I already followed a lot of them, but this certainly gave me new voices to listen to, so double thank you for this ^-^

[@SebastianSeanCrow]

1:21:35 it’s a piece of history and I love art so irl it would be a true tragedy BUT I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t even the real Mona Lisa and he was just too stupid to notice. And it’s a replica made for the movie. And it’s SYMBOLIC

[@rozzie3701]

Absolutely amazing and thoughtfully put analysis 👏🏼 I have to watch both films again with all this in mind

[@dinosaysrawr]

Minor sidenote: I appreciated how each character's covid mask or lack thereof reflected their personality. Clever touch.

[@talaf6616]

Amazing video, im glad FD put me onto this because these are some of the same thoughts i had watching Glass Onion

[@thelmadelyte5890]

A marvelous, insightful video! I'm so glad to have discovered you!

[@theocurry1234]

I am overjoyed that KZbin recommended your video to me. I loved every minute of it.

[@themaddiemerlin]

the mona lisa section is so amazing, my mind is *explosion sounds*

[@vivianstrange]

thank you!!! ^_^

[@capitalkaemusic]

video goes hard I'm in tears, good video

[@Talia778]

Hearing you talk is so nice. You explain complex thoughts so well, my pea brain actually gets it. ❤️❤️😩

[@AZNRainbowLover]

I loved this analysis, it was so well put together. I found your breakdown of the characters to be the best

[@Marsuvee]

Always a good day when there's new strange.

[@packman2321]

Really enjoyed this one and I like the drive to push to find the truth in any piece of art, that no work can escape the actual entanglement with reality. That's a really solid way of putting it. One note I would have is always find these twin analyses that you briefly discuss a bit frustrating (both the 'Andi isn't real theory' you reject and the 'Andi as a metaphor for who Helen could have been). There's a tendency when twins (especially identical twins) appear in media to look for the metaphor we 'really' mean or to fold both of a set of twins down into one 'complete' person. We almost get treated as if we were something fictional or a curiosity for a singleton audience to 'figure out' (meaning pushing back into being one person). There's very rarely a consideration in media that the viewer might themselves be a twin. I don't think Glass Onion quite bypasses this issue, but I really like how it handles Helen. Glass Onion doesn't play into the sibling rivalry narrative or position Andi and Helen as somehow magically close or able to predict one another. There's no essentialising 'tell' that makes them seem like one individual minorly modified, there's no simplistic opposing, there's no sense that one 'completes' the other or a suggestion that Helen 'is Andi' beyond the act. Rather plays Andi and Helen as two separate people who know each other very well but aren't totally up to date on each other's adult lives who had a relationship and where Helen now has to deal with that being gone. Even if the film also plays into a genre cliche, we go beyond that treat both Andi and Helen as different people, connected by their history, not by some inherent magic. It's honestly pretty nice to see. Other than that though absolutely excellent.

[@LukeLavablade]

As an identical twin (who ironically was part of a twin imitation gimmick in a Shakespeare performance once), this is something I noticed and appreciated in the movie, too. I readily accepted the representation as soon as I understood it was happening and it felt very validating. It's one of the few times I've recognised that kind of inclusive representation in media for myself. Though obviously twins aren't a marginalised social group, being a twin is frequently depicted poorly in media, and some people have very foolish ideas/superstitions about twins as a result. So it's good to see a strong example of twin characters where being twins is important and relevant to their lives, but without any additional mystique added unnecessarily. Something I quite liked was that Helen rejected the imitation idea initially. When the idea was brought up for the performance me and my brother did, I too was skeptical, because I thought we actually acted too differently, but we were persuaded because people wouldn't even notice. And they didn't. Helen thought the same thing - she emphasises the differences between her and sister a lot - but she also overestimates how smart these people are, and underestimates how cocky they are. The truth is they could be fooled. The image of the complex genius was just an illusion. Very good twin characterisation. Hats off to you Rian Johnson.

[@ClockFink]

No idea how DeBose would have done as Claire (not overly familiar, will take your word), and I can appreciate/don't doubt your suggestion that Hahn could have been better as Birdy, but... it's hard to even imagine Claire as anyone other than Hahn. She did SUCH a good job, she just vanished into the role outright... I love all the little characterizing mannerisms in her speech, expressions, motions, relationship dynamics (the understated ways her and Birdy interact differently with each other than they do anyone else is SO great). Birdy is a ridiculous careacture, but frankly I was fine with that, and I'd chew my nails at the idea of someone else taking the role of Claire... like as the straight man, she desperately needed the subtle nuance Hahn brought to the role to make it work, so Devos would have had her work cut out matching it.

[@vivianstrange]

You're right about Hahn doing an outstanding job as Claire, and lowkey, I'd love to see her have more nuanced leading roles, cause she's so damn skilled and deserves the chance to shine! And I'm even warming up to Kate Hudson as Birdie too -- maybe it's just because I've spent so long watching and rewatching this movie, who knows? xD

[@suezcontours6653]

@@vivianstrange The problem isn't her acting range; it's her box office draw. Katherine Hawn knows her role, she knows she's a ]complimentary comedic actor. She already had a tv show that centered around her that flew under the radar. Her strengths are comedy but as a SUPPORTING character elevating the material

[@nki5ikni5i45]

Here due to F.D Signifier but I subbed when you when you called the activist performative and that they should have gone further. I agree!

[@lime7642]

I put this on as background noise but it was so interesting that I couldn't do anything else and I had to watch the whole thing

[@vivianstrange]

That’s immensely high praise!! ^_^ thank you!

[@zekewalker1350]

I was also disappointed Miles wasn't killed at the end. And thank you for calling to attention the way this film is a metaphor about the racialized capitalist system that we live in. I trust that Rian knows the racial and political implications of every detail of this film which is why Miles Braun being an idiot was kind of a detail I took for granted as soon as he said "inbrethiate"

[@birchwwolf]

51:32 This poster is for Andrei Tarkovsky's film Mirror. posting this cause the added text obscures the print

[@birchwwolf]

So I just saw a video of that scene from Mirror with Subway Surfers on the bottom of the frame and 😭😭

[@jaffidantonioperezcota2057]

I started watching this video thinking it lasted about half an hour, and suddenly an hour and a half had past. No regrets.

[@thegammelier]

Excellent video! I’m jealous of your analytical skills. Gotta up my game!

[@vivianstrange]

I believe in you!!

[@radaliendesigns]

I don't know how intentional the casting for Birdie was, but Kate Hudson was one of the co-founders of Fabletics, an athleisure company that a big labor scandal in 2021.

[@vivianstrange]

Oh daaaaaamn. That can’t be accidental xD

[@kaijuno]

Excellent video! I love your editing style, and I found this a challenging and refreshing analysis. Your thoughts on structures of power are very perceptive.

[@WidespreadKnown]

I quite like the aesthetics of the green screen just being used as a background for the video and nothing more. Edit: Oh shit, I didn't realize it was an homage to F. D. Signifier, very well done.

[@vivianstrange]

my apartment's really small and not very picturesque, so I figured that it would be wise to keep it simple and consistent. Although once I actually learn how to USE a green screen, I wanna use it in fun ways like Nobuhiko Obayashi does in his films

[@haveialigned]

This is so so interesting and I'm amazed by all the work and research this must have taken. Very much appreciate this thank you

[@JadyLester]

Banksy has done some sculpture in plaster, wood, other media, with and without help, and *maybe* would do things in glass or resin too like the dock, but I would be really surprised if he took a commission like that.

[@vivianstrange]

That's interesting! I didn't know that 0.0 if you have a source, I'd love to see some of his sculpture work!

[@circleman628]

Very much worth the wait! My favorite media analysts on the internet always manage to point out details I never noticed before, it's what I love about group discussion as a whole and reading into art. Like you said, it's not just about the why, it's about what it means in and out of context. To continue using glass as a symbol, it's like if all art is hidden behind a window you have to look through to observe it. It's less about what's behind the window and more what the window is there for and how it both glimpses into a different location and how it reflects our own view back at us. It's my general frustration with how art is talked about now, and really for all of time. Ever since wealthy patrons created the meritocracy that has led up to the modern day film industry and even the subscriber function of youtube. Everyone looks at art as this transaction, that quality must be rewarded. But no art is more necessary than anything else in a physical sense, it's all about the viewer reaction and engagement. The Mona Lisa only matters in how you read into it, if a trans person reads it as trans that's more important than the physical painting itself because one is alive and the other isn't. But the system thrives off of creating a barrier between those that are "allowed" to critique and those who aren't, and love convincing people that they're just too stupid to understand art and therefore shouldn't try. As much as it's fun to mock the masses that say things like "it's not that deep" it's also deeply saddening to know that they are victims of that system (which side note, is also illustrated in that Helen was better at sleuthing while intoxicated than Benoit was while sober, she was convinced he was the natural detective when anyone could've figured it out). That they've been convinced that their feelings on whatever they experience don't matter, hence why so many of them come off as hiding parts of themselves they're afraid to admit to. Breaking the mold means losing privilege, and everyone wants to hold on to that golden tit even if it comes at the sacrifice of their own being. I know being born a cishet racialized white man meant I felt like I had a natural authority over most things, I can remember having that natural narcissism as a kid (that I definitely still have but like you said do my best to mitigate), but the happiest I've ever felt is giving up that shit. My art got better the more I stopped caring about being compensated for it, either through money or status or fame or whatever. Making art for rich executives and corporations to me is just as soulless as working retail, I just would get paid more doing one and arguably doing less to help people. It's why I love that there's finally at least like actual people who don't have fancy degrees or born privilege making content on KZbin, double shoutout to all the channels you listed they're all fantastic. It's not perfect, but at the very least it's satisfying seeing more people finally realize that everyone is human, no one is born better than anyone else, no one is naturally more vital for society than anyone else. An obvious conclusion hidden behind layers of layers of bullshit.

[@vivianstrange]

WOW, what a thoughtful comment! I'm happy my analysis was able to elicit such reflection :) I dig most of what you're saying here, but I do want to clarify one trivial little point. I do have less class privilege than most other white KZbinrs I'm familiar with, but I DO have a Bachelors Degree in English. It's not what I'd call a "fancy" degree; I got it from a pretty shitty backwoods university, and was only able to do so by going tens of thousands of dollars into debt (and my economic circumstances have been such that I haven't been able to make a single payment on any of them in the seven years since I graduated lol), BUT it's worth noting. I owe a lot of my analytical and creative skill (not to mention my overall gender liberation) to my time in college, and without that time and the privileges I had then, it's unlikely that I'd be doing KZbin now, never even mind making videos of this caliber. I can't speak for any of the other creators I've listed, but I certainly wouldn't hold me up as working class "exception" or anything like that. I'm sure there are MANY creators on this platform though who have a much less privileged background than me, and I think it's up to both of us to do what we can to find them and elevate their work :) but still, thank you for your thoughts and your kind words!

[@circleman628]

@@vivianstrange I totally get it, I was less trying to say you didn't have certain privileges and was more happy you were using the knowledge and foresight you had from that to encourage more people to look at art critically and read into things as opposed to other creators that try to use their education as a shield against criticism and despite it still encourage that narrow minded analysis of art. College and higher education of course can be helpful for lots of people, but I'm happy that the experiences and education people have gotten with or in spite of it can be spread on this platform by creators that normally wouldn't have anywhere to share that perspective.

[@ClockFink]

On Dave Bautista, not only has he grown to be a great actor, but MAN, what a journey that was! Like if you've never watched the Man with the Iron Fists, he's just AWFUL in it, like I was surprised he wasn't better as an amateur actor just from his experience as a wrestler. Then cut to like 5 short years later, and he's absolutely clowning far more recognized actors in Blade Runner giving the best performance in the whole flick (and not for lack of good performances elsewhere in the cast... while there were some bad ones, it was a mixed bag with De Armas and others absolutely nailing their roles too)

[@vivianstrange]

Oh dang, I forgot he was in Man With the Iron Fists. I remember watching that movie a decade ago or so and thinking it was awful. My taste was illiterate and untested though, so now I'm thirsting to revisit it and reevaluate it 👀 thanks for the reminder! You're right about him being a show-stealer in Blade Runner 2049 - I was SHOCKED, especially as someone who grew up knowing him as a wrestler. If you haven't seen it, I STRONGLY recommend Knock at the Cabin. It's a pretty great movie overall, but he's just... *chef kiss*!

[@garygrinkevich6971]

Great video, I only got like 1/3 of what the movie was going for, I really like the touch of the red pill dude dying from the pineapple allergy like a fudeal peasant. Good stuff

[@tc6923]

This comment is... long, maybe too long, but if nothing else I hope I convey my sincere appreciation for your work here. It's extremely difficult to articulate how incredibly vindicating this video, and its first part, is to watch. It's impossible to concisely respond to the level of effort and craft that went into this duology, and the breadth of topics that it covers, but I deeply admire your eloquence and passion and the confidence you express them with. Your analyses have changed and broadened my understanding of the topics addressed while affecting me on an emotional level. I think your words have also greatly informed my personal viewpoint of the world, in particular with regards to the matters of 'immunity to the human condition' and the dance of acknowledging your own struggles while also acknowledging the privileges you have that others may only dream of. I will need to watch rest of the creators and videos you mentioned that I haven't seen, as well as read the handful of recommended books. On the topic of 'fine art' (and the inherent false distinction between it and any other art), when watching Glass Onion with my family, my mother reacted very negatively to the burning of the Mona Lisa plot point, despite being perfectly accepting of the text of the rest of the film. She's an American neoliberal, lifelong Democrat who truly believes in the power of the system, and despairs at how all three of her children became more politically radical than her (i.e. aware of the nature of capitalist realism and the performative framework that constitutes the bulk of entertainment and, generally, our current society). Interestingly, the reactions to the burning of the piece matched the political and sociological perspective of each family member---my younger sister, anxious and with a habit of searching for the single correct answer or action to life's issues, ended up agreeing with my mother; my youngest sister, as a disillusioned closeted trans teen struggling with the existential futility and powerlessness of our lives in this present era, immediately and vehemently celebrated the destruction and then promptly argued with my mother about the ethics of it; and I, as, well, someone incredibly prone to living life on autopilot and with some investment in art culture, felt disquieted for a reason I couldn't parse, and which I have come to understand in the context of your analysis as the ingrained cultural expectation and regard for venerated artwork, the value of the 'priceless' and the museum piece. I think the willingness to accept or even approve of the Mona Lisa's burning is correlated with a viewer's attachment to social norms and susceptibility to the pressure of conformity to the status quo, if not directly related or caused by. When I think critically I slip into overly academic and formal language, and I hope the length and over-complicated vocabulary/sentence structure doesn't detract from my main point, which is that these videos are frankly amazing, and I have subscribed and I am excited to watch your backlog. If I had a source of income and was not a dependent---full-time student in final stretch of university, a privileged but grueling existence---I would absolutely support you on Patreon, because this is genuinely incredible work. Thank you very much for sharing it with us!!

[@vivianstrange]

Omg I appreciate this comment so so so so SO much!!! 😭😭😭 thank you ☺️ you made my whole week, and I’m glad you were able to get so much out of it!

[@brightfurys]

wow. this is my introduction to your channel and your work and i must say ROUND OF APPLUASE. i loved glass onion, but i could barely articulate any of my points properly. for the whole video i was cheering "OH MY GOSH YEAH!" i also learned a lot, as someone who is young and fairly new to the politics scene. you are a very snappy and informative speaker, not once did i consider turning this video off to watch/do something else. i was meant to be doing my film homework, but this was much better. the little vertigo tangent i wholeheartedly agreed with too. can't wait to watch some more of your videos 👏

[@phatmantv]

No lies detected in this well put together essay.

[@benzur3503]

33:08 in the Simone de Beauvoirian sense, precisely so. Reducing multifaceted people into just one of their many aspects, ignoring their many varied sides and wills to shove them into a simple easy to think and work around box. She fetishizes him on both occasions on different aspects of his personality and qualities, not addressing him as a person with multiplicity and agency in working those different aspects of themselves together but as parts with immediate automatic use, skipping over the agency that comes from not limiting oneself to mere automatic facticity (I have quality x therefore in Situation y I must act in z).

[@Riderbooker]

God, that whole buning scene was the most cathartic shit I've seen in a movie in so long.

[@ariannawright7586]

Also yes you’re interesting enough for a podcast I’d listen (sorry for commenting so much)

[@vivianstrange]

don't apologize! I love comments ^_^

[@CryptidSystem]

Really liking your take

[@tywilliams5447]

“At the expensive of everything beautiful and meaningful in the world….shit like that” 😂😂😂😂

[@emilyrln]

By the time you said this was part two, I was too intrigued to pause and find part one. Also watch time is important to the unknowable algorithm.

[@GabbieGreenEyes]

When every tool you have is a hammer, every problem appears to be a nail.

[@bringitover18]

W for mentioning double consciousness 🤝 made my heart happy I can’t lie 58:30

[@travisraboin8470]

Excellent video!! ❤

[@nailati]

incredible video 🔥 🔥 🔥

[@Oisin5555]

Sorry, it says subtitles aren't available for this video? Not even autogenerated ones. I'm not sure if it's a problem with the video or just something wrong on my end.

[@vivianstrange]

They might still be processing

[@Don3W1thTh3]

@@vivianstrange I’d be more than happy to offer my captioning services on upcoming or present projects.

[@vivianstrange]

That would actually be fantastic! I'd love some help with that in the future. @elizabethpadilla96 , if you wanted to DM me on Twitter (twitter.com/vivvian_Strange) or email me ([e-mail]) so I have your contact info, I'll definitely take you up on that soon!

[@thandondlovu5392]

I love 😍😍😍 your video. Your analysis is chef kiss 😘.

[@aazhie]

Glass Out, Knives Onion better be some kind of follow up book or something xD

[@helo218]

Faaam I caught the thrills at the end omg

[@ClockFink]

So fun/embarrassing story: I *used* to be the sort of reader that’d make that Venn-diagram… and I’m a long-winded pedantic, bastard, that dives so deep I’m outright infamous for overthinking it. I absolutely 180ed on this topic over a decade or so from the greatest extremes of actively scowling at/ranting at hand wringing over critical readings as absurd in my mind, to the most exasperating sort of person that does them. Young me would HATE listening to current me talk media.

[@vivianstrange]

In my experience, one being so heavily at odds with one's past self generally means that one has grown and come a long way, and that sounds like the case with you! You probably aren't as exasperating as you think you are, and when it comes to media and art, thinking more is ALWAYS preferable to thinking less!

[@ClockFink]

Oh tbc I know I exasperate some people, but other people love me for it… and that’s the way to do it, yeah? Find the people that value you.

[@TheJayman213]

that was phenomenal.

[@kathryndavis9698]

This is beautiful!!!!!!

[@vivianstrange]

Thanks dear!! 💜

[@paulanapoli1212]

This was awesome! Thanks

[@vids1900]

Peg+NFTs=💰

[@calvinanderson9758]

It’s not the waking, it’s the rising It is the grounding of a foot uncompromising It’s not forgoing of the lie It’s not the opening of eyes It’s not the waking it’s the rising Hozier’s Nina Cried Power

[@YourPrincessLainie]

I’m in love with your takes on Rian Johnson. Im curious to know if you’ve seen Poker Face, with him tackling the medium of television and a new streaming platform, as Peacock, I believe, was a conscious choice. Regardless, I love when people are able to articulate in full detail my special interests as a person on the spectrum. I applaud you.

[@vivianstrange]

I love Poker Face, and I'll probably say more about that in my stream when that happens!

[@john-paulstephens5151]

Handful of billionaires just got crushed like a pop can while exploring the Titanic. So that's cool. More billionaires need to explore the depths in faulty submarines.

[@crashb800]

I will give a slight issue with your take on the meme presented at 2:07. It's a very slight issue, but I would say your right with one minor nuanced difference. I would get mad with the "what the English teacher thinks the author meant" because usually they only would accept one specific version of why the curtains were blue would shut down the conversation when students actually tried to look into it and found another interpretation.

[@Furore2323]

God dang this is good, time to sub.

[@drjpica]

Ms. Strange you are amazing.

[@vivianstrange]

awww shucks ^_^ thank you!

[@Potatoes9000]

See I thought Kate Hudson was perfect and wouldn't trade her performance for anything No, it isn't subtle, it isn't supposed to be

[@bretstiles345]

Great video

[@nonamenodame]

Double consciousness is more or less an extension of the looking glass a la Satre.

[@writethepath8354]

55:10 that sent me into actual hysterical laughing

[@leemuleemu7915]

partway through watching this, i forgot this was a glass onion essay and not an Us essay...idk what that means but i think its funny

[@sii479]

This video was great

[@Coco-hq6ns]

The banksy joke is oddly common I heard a similar thing in the animated spider man. I think the joke is literally just to make fun of artistically illiterate people, I’m none to sure though.

[@mikemason775]

Let it roll

[@ariannawright7586]

OMG I love how you do the “fuck you” CJ the X thing. It’s so funny because I’m always like lol what audience member are you talking to who is constantly telling you you’re wrong instead of listening? Also sometimes your videos feel like a fun collection of hot takes that you’re very defensive about. I wanna be like, no seriously I want to hear your takes I’m not gonna tell you’re wrong or making gender queer too much of anything. But I understand it’s a persona lol. Anyway it’s great

[@vivianstrange]

You know that thing people say about "making up someone to get mad at?" Well when I write my essays (which you're right, are basically just a collection of my hot takes hahaha), I have this contrarian asshole in my brain who argues with everything I wanna say xD guess I'm just tryna anticipate and prepare for the inevitable trolls and contrarians who will undoubtedly find my videos someday and take umbrage with the things I say hahaha

[@LostFutures1]

Its out! Did you defeat copyright?

[@vivianstrange]

I did! For today, at least lol

[@LostFutures1]

@@vivianstrange W Wish me luck! I am facing Toei Animations (the channel killer lol)

[@Yupthatsme_7D]

Pobody’s nerfect !!!!! Kenzie ❤

[@EtruskenRaider]

Do Louis XVI and Charles I count as Billionaires who were killed or just millionaires?

[@vivianstrange]

that interlude was a quick editing afterthought and the result of a single night of hurriedly perusing two lists on Wikipedia of "current billionaires" and "list of the wealthiest individuals throughout history." And while the gulf between millionaires and billionaires is a surprisingly large one, it would take an entire video to touch on all the richest people throughout history who've been killed hahaha I don't want it to be seen as comprehensive by any means

[@EtruskenRaider]

@@vivianstrange it’s telling on a level that so few ultra rich have been actually killed by their underclass that they few times when it ostensibly HAS happened are so burned into their collective memory the stories become pillars of literature like A Tale of Two Cities, despite the actual victims of the Revolutionary Terror being almost entirely poor peasants and urban workers. Ditto for the Romanovs who get all the press while the countless peasants and ethnic minorities slain by Lenin and his successors barely get a mention.

[@vivianstrange]

It’s really nice to hear someone on the internet acknowledge the working poor and minorities killed by the revolutionary movements that far too many people on here idolize

[@EtruskenRaider]

@@vivianstrange I listened to far too much of Mike Duncan’s Revolutions podcast.

[@vivianstrange]

I guess now it’s time for me to do the same!

[@writethepath8354]

YAY.

[@carolinaferreira5890]

I was a bit skeptical about Johnson ever since Star Wars, not because of average fan reasons of nostalgia and such, but because I felt his deconstructionist takes were rather shallow compared to other works done within the franchise, mostly the themes explored in the KOTOR era. And also because of how Finn was sidelined in order to make the film (and consequently the rest of the whole franchise) about the Rey/Kylo Ren dynamic. No matter what people argue, you can't sell the Canto Bight part for me. I don't care if it had commentary about the wealthy profiting from warfare, it was poorly situated in the overall plot. The guy even admitted not knowing what to do with the character, so it says a lot. And as you argued, celebrities shouldn't be worshiped. While I don't think he should be burned alive or anything like a lot of more passionate fans might do, I don't see him as being deserving of all of the credit for "doing something new and subversive with Star Wars no one had seen before". Anyways, I hadn't watched the first Knives Out so I knew very little about it when Glass Onion came out. I only saw the huge posters with all the actors in the metro tunnel and thought "great, another shallow deconstructive take about whatever, I won't be surprised if he underutilizes Janelle Monae and Leslie Odom Jr. in this either." But my boyfriend was into the first movie, so he convinced me to sit down and watch the other one with him, and I've got to say I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe it is because the film is set in a more grounded reality, but the commentary feels much more dense and less condescending, the metaphors work better, in general it feels more like a complete movie and not a rollercoaster of mixed feelings. It is certainly not an indie low budget experiment and I don't doubt Netflix execs had their say in some aspects, but it makes me think about how the Disney/Lucasfilm people might have had their hand in making TLJ such a weird film to digest. Or maybe Johnson really does struggle understanding the franchise as a whole, idk. Not saying that people who enjoyed it are wrong in doing so, but as I said, it's not even close to being the most dense or deep take about the flaws of the SW universe. It just feels like another cynical jab at nerdy culture, something other creators already did and much, much better (Hideaki Anno, long life otaku, creating Evangelion, anyone?). If his own trilogy ever comes out, maybe it will turn out to be better thought out than TLJ, and Glass Onion certainly proved to me he is capable of insight in a way I didn't see with the former. I know the video is more about the themes of Glass Onion itself rather than Johnson's career as a whole, but it always ruffles my feathers when people assume all criticism of him comes from reactionary rednecks blinded by nostalgia and all is done in bad faith. Not saying you necessarily did that either, it's just that the nostalgia bit that made me have this catharsis on my feelings about his works. Also, Jordan Peele rocks and he would have made a better SW film. Or knowing how Disney is, I bet he would at least not let John Boyega down :P

[@dontpickonme]

You really didn't include class revolt as related to the murder of the rich? French Revolution? Haiti? No?

[@lily_lxndr]

oh shit

[@vivianstrange]

I’m hoping that’s not a bad “oh shit” 😅

[@skitza95]

Channeling ISIS who were really good at destroying art. But I get your point, great video. spooky af

[@zekewalker1350]

at 11:50 and Seriously Shoutout to AOC for once and for all killing the idea that politicians will do anything to save us.

[@kyleoswant9533]

"Reads das kapital to the audience"....... Have you seen triangle of sadness yet?

[@vivianstrange]

I have! 😂 had a lot of mixed feelings on it. If you wanna read my review on Letterboxd, here ya go! letterboxd.com/vivian_strange/film/triangle-of-sadness/

[@kyleoswant9533]

@@vivianstrange lovely reveiw, to no surprise i couldnt have said a single part better myself. Doubly so for Woody Harrelson and the russian shitlord.

[@c.morland]

Thanks

[@oliverbohn8861]

Well fuck me... I thank you deeply for this video Vivian!

[@punkinholler]

I haven’t really thought about this much so I’m not set in stone on it, but I’m rather confused about the whole “burn the art” sentiment. I know art is often used as a tax shelter for rich people (which is gross) and I suppose I can see the notion that we overly fetishize the work of a relatively small group of dead white dudes. That said, I’m uncomfortable with the sentiment that appreciating visual art and not wanting it to be destroyed makes one a capitalist shill. Does that only apply to the most popular artists? Only the pieces that are more than 100 years old? What about the lesser-known artists who make leftist political statements with their work? What about the ones who just want to do art because they feel inspired to do so? This isn’t a “gotcha”, I promise. I sense there is a whole pile of structure and nuance behind your sentiment that I’m just not getting and I would like to understand. I don’t know that I’ll end up agreeing with you (not that it matters, of course) but anytime someone who otherwise seems quite sensible says something that appears this nutty on the surface, experience has taught me that the fault is usually my lack of knowledge or context. If you feel like throwing me a bone without writing a thesis, I’m perfectly happy being pointed in the direction of an outside reference if you’ve got one handy. However, I fully acknowledge that it's not your job to teach me and my confusion is not your problem.

[@zachcaudell3081]

The "art" isn't going anywhere; I can wipe my ass with dozens of copies of Starry Night and Mona Lisa if I was so inlcined and that's not even getting into how a lot of "preservation" efforts and methods actively end up altering the art anyway. The art's impact on culture and the world writ large is already out there to be experienced. I personally am hard pressed to imagine seeing the original Scream Painting in person would be any more impactful than viewing it in a Google search. I've got printouts of my favorite paintings (Ivan the Terrible murdering his son and Ghost of a Flea) in my room and they're doing just fine as far inspiring feelings in me. All placing original copies of work on a higher pedestal does is create status symbols for the elites.

[@punkinholler]

@@zachcaudell3081 I see your point. Still not sure if I agree but I get what you're saying. That said, I do get something from being in a room with the original objects that I don't really get from looking at pictures . I definitely get that more with historical objects than regular art though. There's a lot to consider either way. Also, I like your choices in favorite paintings. Ivan the Terrible Murdering His Son, in particular, is fascinating.

[@kaijuno]

Honestly, I’m with you there. I believe as a baseline, that we should aim to structure our society in a way where every human being is entitled to being treated with basic respect, humanity, liberty and civil rights, not as a reward for wealth, productivity, success or moral purity, but as a fundamental birthright. Not something you have to earn, never at constant threat of being taken away from you. I’m not against destructive acts that ultimately work towards creating a world which isn’t built on constant violent exploitation. Our status quo is just.. ethically unforgivable if you don’t hold oppressed people responsible for their own exploitation. Which they’re not. But I feel weird about violence/destructiveness without a specific aim? I don’t really understand what the poor and marginalised stand to gain from activists destroying culturally significant art. I am genuinely asking. Yeah, it pisses off conservatives, but I hope by now we’re at a place where just like… we have bigger goals than just making people we don’t like angry? I can’t fathom how destroying art moderates/conservatives are attached to is going to start making them want to do anything positive about climate change?? If anything the resentment is just going to make them more spiteful and callous. Idk, it seems like there’s probably more to it? I’d like to hear people’s thoughts

[@vivianstrange]

Thanks for your comment! I totally get the whole "otherwise sensible person who says something seemingly nutty" thing; if anything, that's kinda what I go for in a lot of my videos. I use hyperbole to shake people out of their comfort zones to better see the points I wanna make. And I don't mean to imply that anyone who appreciates visual art and doesn't want it to be destroyed is a capitalist shill -- absolutely not! Truth be told, if I were in a room with an unprotected Mona LIsa and a box of matches or a soup can, I don't think I could bring myself to do the deed. I acknowledge it's because I too have been taught and socially conditioned to value fine art as worth preserving -- which is an ethos I find no inherent problem with! In fact, I'm generally deeply distrustful of people with a desire to destroy art of any kind, given that the ideological motivations for doing so are 9/10 times for reactionary and conservative reasons (such as, destroying "controversial" art for containing "objectionable" material). And as @kaijuno says in their comment below, there is little pragmatic progressive value behind destroying "priceless" works of art, which is why I think we don't usually see it done by activists engaging in actual praxis. Ultimately, it's performative, an act of symbolic "violence," which is why I see it having the most value contained in the context of a mainstream Hollywood film rather than in actual practice by people who want to make the world a better place. Really, the thing I have an issue with isn't art itself (even actually problematic art honestly), but with the way we fetishize it and elevate it into something that ultimately serves to preserve power. Like, for example, the way many white art historians will bemoan the "tragedy" of the Library of Alexandria burning and everything "lost" in the blaze (there's a lot of misconceptions about the LoA, but let's go with it just for the sake of illustrating a point), while at the same time ignoring the reality of the IMMEASURABLE quantities of art created by colonized peoples throughout history that have been destroyed by their colonizers. THAT'S the thing that fucks with me. It's the fetishization of certain art over others, that essentially rewrites history and erases the human life and creativity lost to Power in favor of enshrining a "canon" that upholds the mythology of Power. Sorry for going off and writing a whole damn thesis, I kinda spiralled out of control a little bit 😂 I hope this helps clarify some things for you though! Thanks again for your questions!

[@vivianstrange]

(I went and typed a long ass reply to @punkinholler 's original comment that I think addresses your questions here)

[@southparkking2]

You just get a instasub just for being against braindead takes on media literacy like the "why are the curtains blue?" Meme.

[@8ofNine]

Damn, Vivian.

[@vivianstrange]

Hope that’s a good “Damn, Vivian.” 😝

[@8ofNine]

@@vivianstrange Hell yes. a brilliantly thoughtful and in-depth analysis that gave me even more appreciation for and enjoyment of the movie. Maybe too well done. Reign it in, girl.

[@vivianstrange]

@@8ofNine I'll do my best ;)

[@ryanfitzgerald9833]

Wealth is bad for you... But a little poison can be good treatment for the impoverished

[@vivianstrange]

what the fuck?

[@ryanfitzgerald9833]

@@vivianstrange it means money is not so bad if you can't pay the bills.

[@ryanfitzgerald9833]

@@vivianstrange you know I just realized it sounds really bad without the context of the phrase "wealth is poison. " Thank you for pointing that out.

[@vivianstrange]

OH!!! Hahahahahaha I’m glad you clarified xD

[@heighbeut99]

31:46 appropriation is the right word; it looks like a simplified maang tikka.

[@tennicksalvarez9079]

Yo f d sent me

[@PauLtus_B]

1:02:10 what's with the weird jab at vegans?

[@vivianstrange]

It’s something that occurred to me as I was editing. I was a vegetarian and a vegan for several years myself, so I couldn’t resist not putting it in lol vegans go through a lot of trouble to avoid consuming animal products, but many of them forget that to be able to do so is a class privilege, and that for the most poor folks in society (esp in the Global South), that simply isn’t an option. So in the context of the Tethered, I imagine back when I was able to seek out and eat particular things, my Tethered would only have the one bloody horrific option for food. Yes, it’s a weird jab to make, but it’s just a thought experiment. I think vegans can handle it lol

[@PauLtus_B]

@@vivianstrange I would agree that being able to live ethically can be quite a privilege. There's a lot of buts with it in the context with veganism: By the most common definition of veganism it is said "as far as practicable". When you have food dependency on charity or welfare then of course take what you can get. Veganism isn't demanding anyone to starve. Plant-based are generally the cheapest foods out there, even with government support making animal products cheaper than they should be. If you're going to buy beyond meat or something it will be expensive, sure. But something like tofu is often cheaper, let alone just something as basic as beans. I feel the veganism-as-priveledge is only ever brought up by people who use the unprivileged as an excuse for themselves to not make a change they could. It's ridiculous how often some middle class person living in a big city uses the inability of some hypothetical indigenous people living in a forest as an excuse for them to keep going to McDonalds. If you want to have a less negative impact on the world then going vegan is the easiest thing with a relatively massive impact. It might very well turn out both healthier and cheaper.

[@adriennepatterson6113]

42:40. Brilliant babe 😘

[@vivianstrange]

😉

[@williamlarner6852]

Its not that deep bro