What Is Kafkaesque? - The 'Philosophy' of Franz Kafka

[@PursuitofWonder]

Thank you very much for watching. Consider checking out my philosophical fiction book here: www.amazon.com/dp/B08D4VSD88

[@graminha2242]

2:30 i've waited 3 years for that

[@NuanceOverDogma]

Kafka like Nietzsche & Marx grew up in the upper-class & became emo philosophers who mostly complained & railed about the human condition yet never rose above those conditions. They are societal finger-waggers who never pointed the finger at themselves. They are more like modern day social commentators than philosophers offering universal wisdom for improving the individual, community & society as a whole. Socrates, Plato & Aristotle were much better at this than all the existentialists combined.

[@caelum7717]

"Gregor, of course, cannot do this. He is a bug." The delivery of this line is comedic gold.

[@ieatpaste8360]

The whole novella is satirical genius. I cried. I laughed. I was terrified. Truly a great piece of art.

[@fellipedasilva99]

“I must get up, but I’m a beetle laying on my back.” - Gregor

[@tomatenherbert5874]

I see your point. For myself though this is the true loss of the individual dignity. The incapablity of following senseless orders and the guilt arising from judgement of eyes that'll never stop digging themselves into your soul. and even if you are willing to fight against it. You'll be cracked by the burden you've carried since ever.

[@sannevanbeers]

I laughed out loud when I read it in the book 😂😂

[@ilyan.v.371]

reminds me of The Stanley Parable

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“He is terribly afraid of dying because he hasn’t yet lived.” ― Franz Kafka

[@sayyidatulimamah3410]

isn't it's Seneca who saying that?

[@fabr1cated]

shit, this one's a majestic quote

[@nicknomski8399]

Didn't Bette Midler sing something like that?

[@CRP7000]

@@nicknomski8399you are the wind beneath my wings

[@NeostormXLMAX]

how true it is scares me, i always found kafkas works to be akin to horror, but a different type of horror not that of the unknown like lovecraft but to know something so clearly yet unable to change or steer clear of it. a vicious cycle of irony

[@amanul_2474]

Mad respect for his friend Max, just for not stealing Kafka's work and claiming it was his

[@GreedAndSelfishness]

Kind of nuts you would even think of doing that.

[@raidennaz1590]

@Sherry yeah. Just like Nietzche wicked sister for example

[@sash0047]

@Sherry some?

[@sairapaks15]

Max-esque doesn't really work does it?

[@mohammadjihad569]

@@sairapaks15 lol, that makes you wonder how many others have taken credit for shit they didnt create

[@user-ob5il7cy8o]

"Kafkas work is not considered great because it describes something profoundly unique but because it describes something mundanely common in a profound way "

[@Slender-James]

That mundane moment when you wake up as a bug

[@alliedorito3858]

@@Slender-James 😂 it 100% happens all the time

[@uncleusuh]

@@Slender-James I once woke up as a Kafka. I miss those good old mundane days.

[@theyoungknight.3119]

@@Slender-James It is mundane to wake up feeling as though you are one unfortunately.

[@Rattyratratt]

@@Slender-James it's not the bug , it's the way a bug is commonly perceived, "useless, small and dirty" Perhaps that's how he saw himself in the eyes of his father. Interesting

[@samtepal3892]

So basically Franz Kafka is the Vicent Van Gogh of writing. He died without realizing how important he was.

[@mylesjeffers6148]

Sounds even more tragic tbh. He died working a mundane job believing he was a failure, having given up on writing. At least van Gogh lived his life as an artist, travelling and doing what he loved surrounded by other artists!

[@onemoremisfit]

Van Gogh came to my mind too. The public didn't realize their work was important until after they were gone. At least van Gogh was able to sell his work for rent money while he lived.

[@nenvesillyshadow4886]

Myles Jeffers no love, they shouldn’t be compared to each other in any way or form for they were and are their own person. Both forms of art and self expression. There is no use trying to match them up to be the same because they aren’t.

[@eleven864]

Or Keats... So many people had this fate.

[@Carefreeblues]

Many artist of the past share this same fate, there was not a vehicle to share their work to the masses a la the internet. Ironically, most things on the internet these days pales in comparison to what those guys produced. I mean how many prank videos do we really need?

[@karltanner3953]

Can we take a moment to appreciate what a great friend Max Brod was?

[@notbjork1262]

Both of them were immensely lucky to have found each other. Life has its own way, of course but how we forget about those people who introduced us to the more famous one's is so funny. Think about it, how often do we remember Anne Sullivan while we remember Helen Keller?

[@rivv4902]

Wait .. by completely disregarding his friends last dying wish? Lul

[@klawis]

@@rivv4902 a good friend may not always follow what you told them. Instead, doing something better for you. Max Brod is a good friend. Yes, he didn’t follow his last wish, but what he did was something better not just for Kafka, but for us. Imagine the world without Kafka’s work. All thanks to his good friend.

[@rivv4902]

@@klawis I get that, and I'm personally glad he disobeyed because I love his writing. But I fail to see how it helped Franz in any way since he lived out his whole life without recognition, and what's a legacy worth to a dead man? Idk it seems disloyal and also made max more famous by proxy

[@klawis]

@@rivv4902 idk if that made Max famous by proxy tbh I knew him when I dug deeper on Kafka but I always knew Kafka. But yeah, you're right. It's kinda sad that his works became famous after death. Guess what, life is still absurd

[@vaisnow]

It's so sad to think about the artists who lived an ordinary life, without ever knowing how their work would be loved, dying with the feeling that their work won't matter, that they have wasted their life...

[@helldenizens8154]

Why would they care about others loving their art? So what? Endlessly do art, technology, progress for others like you? Yes, there are people with talents, so what? You want to gather them and tell them to do art for others? When you don't know why, it's hard to do anything.

[@reina78]

Ok but like deep af

[@saniancreations]

@@helldenizens8154 it's not about others approving your art. It's about having a purpose in life. If you've lived your life and at the end of it feel like you have achieved nothing, that makes you feel miserable. It would have been such a relief for anyone like Kafka to know that their work has inspired others or had another sort of lasting impact on the world, rather than having it gone to waste and be forgotten.

[@WaterIsLife77]

I think about that as well. When I see documentaries about Nikola Tesla, and how he died in obscurity, it saddens me. Take care.

[@helldenizens8154]

@@saniancreations you think everyone and anyone would be happy to have a purpose, you think that's the only thing that matters, to make impact on the world? And everyone should have a purpose and do the same for the sake of what? For having to know that your work is approved to be enjoyable by people? By people miserable like you, yourself? So, life is about making things that would be enjoyable by you and others, to enjoy them endlessly, do more things, and more to enjoy while you are alive, for other people after you? I am asking for real.

[@clairjunior5291]

Kafka got a bad rap for being negative, but I believe he was a realist. He was against what we call today “toxic positivity”. To be sad is to be human. In our culture, we promote positivity to the point of being numb and desensitized to any suffering and injustice. That’s what Kafka was trying to portray.

[@givepeaceachance940]

Your comment is more real than most of the comments here. Kudos

[@jvckpott]

very well said. i completely agree. to live is to suffer, if we are no longer suffering, it is because we are dead. even if we are still alive, we aren't living

[@D04444]

You mean rep not rap

[@prashiq]

Beautifully put.

[@EarlofSedgewick]

Can't help but feel that Meat Canyon is somewhat of a spiritual successor to authors who are Kafkaesque

[@Chiplanay]

“Every thing you love is very likely to be lost, but in the end, love will return in a different way.” ― Franz Kafka, Kafka's Selected Stories

[@SieMiezekatze]

This is just beautiful, he is hopeful

[@MisterJerry34]

Woo

[@JJLewis-so1iq]

There's that silver lining

[@philipchatz]

This is from a beautiful story in which Kafka supposedly met a little girl in a park where hed walk every day and she was crying because she had lost her doll. Kafka tried to help her find it unsuccessfully, so for the next few weeks he'd write letters to the girl from the doll stating that she went on a trip to see the world. and she was going to write about her adventures, asking the girl to not cry. After some weeks, Kafka bought a new doll, gave it to her claiming it was her lost one and when she responded that it looks nothing like her doll, he gave her another letter in which the doll said "my trips, they changed me". The little girl was very happy to bring her doll back home. A year later, Kafka died and many years later, the girl, who was now a woman, found a hidden letter in the doll that Kafka gave her. The original comment is what the letter said... truely a wonderful story

[@ethanblanca2658]

@@philipchatz oh .. wow...

[@MiaSabathy]

I want the afterlife to exist just so Kafka can know how appreciated he is

[@onesahara]

finally someone says the same , aint no way all this will go to waste

[@abhinav1690]

@Toni Your idea of waste is nothing but an idea. An idea that started as a thought which was fed to you knowingly or unknowingly. Life is empty and meaningless. We are the meaning making machines.

[@squiddesauce9589]

@@raisin4406 That's harsh, no wonder people get turned off by religion.

[@honk42069]

@Toni I think it is entirely possible for before I was born I had no consciousness. There was nothing. It makes me think that death will be the same as never having been born. No consciousness, no life. Just like before I ever had consciousness

[@josephtagalog5916]

@@raisin4406 ok mr "raisin" if your god does exist why doesnt he just tell us he exists in our minds.

[@cherryl333]

Kafka really deserves a "you are enough" and not just congratulations for his work. This man turned his sufferance into his own form of art and even then he didn't think it was enough but it was and he was enough. I wish someone holds him in their arms where he is now and tells him "you are enough" because he didn't write to be congratulated but because he wanted to be good enough at something he really enjoyed doing. And he succeeded thinking he failed.

[@cockycookie1]

I'm so happy for people who manage to believe in an afterlife.

[@وقارأحمد-ش9ث]

It’s lying, and you know that.

[@No1reallydies]

I don’t think you understand the level of intelligence Kafka had. He was sad not because he was not loved , he was sad because he was so intelligent he realized that humans life is an endless attempt to satisfy ones desires. Desires ever changing and motivated by the physical world. This Philosophy is very inline with Niethzke will to power

[@suziecreamcheese211]

He is in the arms of God.

[@rsk47reviews59]

@@No1reallydies yes but it cannot be the only reason. I hate the assumption that being sad because of lack of love is not a sign of intelligence itself. Yes, Kafka's miseries became centered around existentialism, especially in his adult life, but it is also very clear that he realised in his childhood that he deserves more validation from people around him, even though he had no verbal way to express it.

[@Slender-James]

His friend Max is the greatest homie of all time. It would have been so easy to publish that work as his own or follow Kafka’s instruction.

[@LawAbidingSociopath69]

@@dee8323 you'd be surprised with today's generation of "friend"

[@lizmcaulister]

@@dee8323 are u stupid LMAO he literally didnt steal it cuz we aint talking about brods works, we talk about kafkas. He knew his genius, and didnt want it burned??? And hes still talked about years later, so how did he steal anything

[@venti13]

​@@dee8323 sadly some people don't have a heart

[@serenitysubs933]

​@@dee8323ever read yellowface

[@ryandonnelly6730]

“YO, that’s like so kafkaesque” -Jesse Pinkman

[@Zizzyrae]

Love me a good breaking bad reference

[@DirdyJoker]

I just saw that episode and then this came on my recommended.... SUS!!!!! But it was really worth learning about.

[@iorigin3934]

I couldn't remember where I heard this! Thank you!

[@pettyee]

😂😂You forgot the Yo!!

[@ihatetheinternetitsawesome3578]

I was about to type this out

[@osse1n]

A man, who sought for his father's approval and perished without ever receiving it. One of more tragic philosophical backgrounds.

[@Moha_]

No

[@patrickswalenski8273]

I see you everywhere dude

[@greyscale1487]

Tragical... ok buddy nice englishing.

[@RICEWOAHH]

O'SSÉIN - Master Your Mind With Me I see you again on this video, keep expanding your consciousness

[@appleslover]

I won't subscribe 👅

[@danielapenaloza8628]

The original "would you still love me if i was a worm"

[@bethhorner2599]

this is my favourite youtube comment ngl

[@gaugea]

lmfao

[@nellirajkumar]

🤣

[@negativezero3107]

nice!!!!

[@janycebrown4071]

Good comment 👌

[@abon2204]

You and Kurzgesagt should team up and erase me from existence.

[@theknightwhosayn1]

watch exurb1a

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Yeah. This crossover will be great.

[@Stoney-Jacksman]

@moqal beautiful comment

[@michaelwu7678]

Hmm or you could just read some existential philosophy!

[@Maperator]

Ive seen this before

[@bhaveerathod2373]

This is an *_*EXTREMELY_** well thought out, and made video. I can’t imagine the amount of effort to get everything right, this goes for all of our videos.

[@fidgetmackenzie9419]

Agreed, the dialogue is incredibly detailed and well thought out

[@Lord_Starry]

True true, like u need to think! ~☆♕

[@augmentedman]

I saw an old reddit post on r/exurb1a from 2018 that said “pursuit of wonder is a poorly made exurb1a clone”. I had been watching this channel for a while now, and only stumbled upon this post after further researching a topic from one of these videos. Dunno why I’m commenting this, I was just reminded of it. Funny to think that people are actually aggressively angry at this channel as if exurb1a patented philosophy channels on KZbin.

[@robLV]

it is, except the building in the right photo at 0:34 is the old Globe Corner Bookstore in Boston. It's now a Chipotle. Kafkaesque

[@zapantalambda]

@Saudade stumbled upon this video today at 0123am. very nice narrator. made it a very educational time-lapse of Kafka's life.

[@vixenamk]

Honestly this man seriously deserved sm better, I'll hug him if I could.

[@lucassimmon2297]

He wasn’t big on physical contact

[@HusnaHabib-wb9gh]

He just needed somebody who would help him through, he needed therapy so bad

[@helleneee]

"Gregor, of course, cannot do this. He is a bug" I lost it

[@DrKane-ey9ix]

I literally just read that book and UGH. Mixed feelings about it.

[@renrichmad-od9ut]

@@DrKane-ey9ix Read it again. It just gets better, and worse.

[@allentastic]

I think an important part of the term kafkaesque has to do with the language in which he wrote which allowed him to write incredibly long passages that were technically one sentence so that the reader literally felt trapped in what they were reading.

[@angrygerman82]

Das ist korrekt.

[@Spetnaz-wc1fz]

​@Sick_Pencil😂😂

[@Slightly_Sizzled]

I'm halfway through "The Metamorphosis" and noticed that a bit 😂 It's my first time reading anything written by him so if you have any recommendations, please let me know!

[@Badficwriter]

@@Slightly_Sizzled I don't know written by him, but the artbook Castles, by Alan Lee, describes Kafka's story The Castle with some lovely immense labyrinthian castles.

[@sukruthas1646]

​@@Slightly_SizzledThe trial

[@PracticalInspiration]

I love how Kafka's writing is so intrinsically linked to his personal and professional life, albeit it's disappointing he never got to see the success of his work. Great video.

[@michelhebert9832]

The end of his books were like a thought he had that he would never escape his condition... and he was right. Still, at least he gave his insights on life and here we are!

[@mercury6800]

His own life was kafkaesque

[@kafkab.3143]

thank you

[@kimmy01]

If you guys think Kafka's work was impressive while reading it in Englisch, imagine being able to read it in his Native language. My teacher made us read Metamorphosis as part of my course ( I used to attend a German school) and my teacher literally sobbed on multiple occasions due to his writing, (not just Metamorphosis but also reading chapters of other literary works he had so we can connect the dots between his emotions and how he conveyed them). His writing in all honesty was extremely strong, Honestly no way to describe it other than the said term "Kafkaesque", especially with how he wrote in German, it was a whole new way i experienced that language and how emotions can be conveyed through it.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Bro, your videos are so good.

[@q.m17]

cap

[@q.m17]

cap

[@Powerdweeb96]

Retweet

[@kiransatyaraj]

HI BRO, SUBSCRIBER OF YOUR CHANNEL, I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS TOO.

[@trumpone4443]

They are, arent they? That sentence is insane.

[@mansken48]

the story of Kafka is another example of many that family can be your misery but you might be destined to meet friends who’ll help you cope with the stress your family brings. friends who’ll guide you from the darkness to the light like Kafka’s friend.

[@lucassimmon2297]

His father Hermann (as you seem to know) was his lifelong nemesis but he was extremely close to his sister.

[@Buff-Wings]

This is seriously well researched, well spoken and all around well done. A brief but concise look into this small corner of existentialism, and the kind of life someone has to live to reach these revelations. It's funny how so many people in the comment's one takeaway is in Kafka's works being made famous post-mortem by his good friend, and how it's "crazy how history can be changed by one person," when Kafka's writings actually tended to entertain more the opposite of this idea that so many of us, most of us even, will never be given a chance to make a difference or reach our true potential as individuals, ending up a piece in someone else's puzzle before we have a say in the matter. There's an old fable, I forget which religion or culture it pertains to in particular, but it goes into detail of this great war-hero general who dies and meats God in Heaven. He asks his God to introduce him to the greatest war tactician of all time, so he can spend the rest of his afterlife sharing stories of battles and the secrets they used to win them. Much to his surprise, he is brought to a gutter, of an old street in one of the poorest villages in his nation, to meet a feeble and starving beggar. He angrily asks if this is some kind of joke, to which his God explains that this man WOULD have been the greatest general to ever live, but was born into a poor village with little food and never achieved the strength needed to even be considered for war. A very similar message to Kafka's overarching themes. But I guess the hard part is in trying to decipher what the deeper meaning really is behind this mode of thinking. To me, as with all existentialism, the "deeper meaning" is that there is no deeper meaning to anything in life. We all live in a world framed by social constructs set long before our lifetime, that hold no real weight outside of our social context. People who are more happy, healthy, attractive, successful etc., are not only indebted to the circumstance of their life for being able to attain such things but also base this perception off of the human abstraction of these ideas, which isn't based in true logic. If you'll spare me another anecdote, in Greek mythology there was a man named Sisyphus, who is punished to push a giant bolder up a hill for eternity by Zeus for cheating death. There was also a curse put upon the bolder such that it would fall as it neared the peak, to ensure the punishment be never ending. Sisyphus however, had a reputation for his cunning and was quoted as being able to outsmart Zeus himself. So despite his constant failure, his determination led him to keep trying until the end of time. The act of pushing the bolder to the peak became his true purpose and some like to interpret this as an analogy to the struggle of man, that so long as we have a bolder to push we will push on despite the hopelessness. The true "meaning of life," to me, is in the search for meaning itself. It is our dissatisfaction that drives us to strive to achieve, and that desire is all it takes to keep people moving. TLDR: Life is pointless, and that's okay. You might do great things in life or more likely you won't, but either way it doesn't matter. Life is binary, you either are alive or you aren't, any other kind of value imposed upon your being is in the long run irrelevant, as most of these values are based on or due to circumstances outside of your control. This was a way longer comment than I had anticipated lol, kudos to anyone who had the patience to read through it all. Big ups for the video again, I'll most definitely come back to this one.

[@fyresparks8979]

wow i didnt realize how intellectual comments are on this side of YT.. that was really well thought out 😄

[@luluraheem8487]

This was extremely beautiful and well-said. If you don't mind, I'll probably write this down somewhere and look back at it every once in a while. Really great way of summing up existentialism.

[@kimshitachi4964]

Wow...I wish I could've friend like you...

[@sophiamorris1225]

A gem: "Life is binary, you either are alive or you aren't, any other kind of value imposed upon your being is in the long run irrelevant, as most of these values are based on or due to circumstances outside of your control." I'm teaching this story to 10th graders; I think this is as good a takeaway as any.

[@renrichmad-od9ut]

What a long, and brilliant comment. I'm still at the precipice of letting go, and surrendering to the meaninglessness of life. What has helped, is detaching myself from the wasted energy of Christianity. Which doesn't mean suuccumbing to a plethora of evil desires, as some might believe that means, but that I will, from now on, live my life doing what best serves me and brings me joy, hoping that it can also affect others in some way, but not making that my responsibility. Thank you for this.

[@machatigeri8257]

Kafkaesque - confusion basically. Youre confused by the complicated world around you. The characters in the books are suddenly put in a complicated situation and are confused about why they're there and what to do. Kafkaesque things are also about characters who continue and continue to search for answers to their situations but never find it. Kafkaesque literature shows that people must face that there are no answers or whatever. Kafkaesque books directly tell us we must face the confusion without understanding it (because there is no way to clear confusion) and we just move forward with our lives.

[@reesedaniel5835]

"Kafkaesque" means to make things far more complicated, oppressive and tedious than is necessary. Enter government taxatation, red tape and bureaucracy.....

[@AxelSpinnet]

Its nore than just being confused. A key part of the absurdity is that despite waking up as a bug, the Protagonist's main concerns aren't 'how do I turn back' or 'how did this happen?, its 'How do I do my job lile this?'. The situations are absurd but the characters accept them as perfectly normal and try to deal with them as they are.

[@lateatlife999]

Yep !

[@korpen2858]

Hopelessness. The feeling of not even having a chance to accomplish what is expected of you, for reasons out of your control.

[@PurpleKaf]

@@AxelSpinnet "The situations are absurd but the characters accept them as perfectly normal and try to deal with them as they are." Making the whole picture more absurd if that makes any sense

[@lenkaprochazkova2002]

as a girl from czechia i am really proud of how our literature influenced pretty much the whole world. believe we're really proud that he's from our country

[@sree3650]

He sure made ur country proud 😇.

[@brotherman8873]

Kafka didnt even speak czech lol

[@Redrot272]

@@brotherman8873 1) He did 2) He was from Prague which is a Czech capital city today 3) He died with a Czechoslovak nationality 4) Saying he wasn't Czech because he wrote in German, which was Bohemia's official language at the time makes as much sense as saying an American writer isn't American, because he writes in English.

[@adonis744]

Omg, why do people connect individual people's accomplishments to entire nations?

[@lenkaprochazkova2002]

@@adonis744 cuz he's really important to us and we're just proud. why do you even care??? and what's your point lmfao

[@jessicaschlimmer410]

This inspired me in the most depressing way possible.

[@renrichmad-od9ut]

Yes!

[@likhitameruga9829]

Can u suggest any book of him?

[@jessicaschlimmer410]

@@likhitameruga9829 Start with The Metamorphosis

[@samirThapaSRT]

Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly

[@ashash7147]

❤❤❤

[@DrSpaceman42]

Yes papi

[@ayushigusain7814]

N it is from which book of Kafka?

[@ashash7147]

@@ayushigusain7814 this quote not by kafka

[@Trenti45]

@@ayushigusain7814 A gothic novelist named Anne Rice wrote this quote and she was put in the foreword of a collection of Kafka’s writings published

[@astronautofthought5288]

This is one of those times I start watching a video out of pure curiosity... But I finish watching with a new sense of being, a new way of thinking. This story is heartbreaking and I'm bothered that i havent heard about this before. But very grateful you took the time to make this! Seriously, thank you

[@davidbradbury3232]

Well said

[@sugarsaltspice]

SAME DUDE. SAME.

[@Ozzix]

“Gregor of course, cannot do this, he is a bug.”

[@sachimourya1431]

😂😂

[@Vanessa-gw7rh]

this made me laugh LOL

[@yanderememe2580]

Love that story

[@dinsun1111]

I feel like a bug too

[@visa9313]

I wheezed

[@MaynightMemory]

I can only very strongly recommend the Kafka museum in Prague. It does not only provide information on Kafka's life but the whole museum is designed to give you a kafkaesque feeling. So for instance, you have this dark room filled with file cabinets up to the ceiling that exudes the feel of a crushing, claustrophobic office etc. Very much worth seeing!

[@rainbowcake4771]

I have this sort or theory/idea that “The Trial” is really about Kafka himself. It’s his life story but written in a different perspective. Just like the main character who is persecuted for a crime he is unaware of, Kafka might’ve felt he was being held guilty by his family for a reason he couldn’t tell. We all know he was anxious and saw himself through his fathers eyes so this could make sense. Then again I have a feeling a lot of what he wrote was related to him and a reflection of his own struggles such as “Hunger Artist” which was written near his death when he himself was dying of starvation and illness.

[@Red-Wolf-Ben]

I feel this. It's like how, even if you have your crap together and you're doing things right, you can still feel guilty of... Something. You don't know what, but it's something.

[@kane-111]

Truly, could be the case.

[@taragreenetarotastro]

Every writer and artist projects their own inner soul out onto the canvas of the world.

[@sk8_bort]

It has to be. That's why he wanted all his works to be burnt. They were extremely personal and intimate.

[@alexc7367]

i found The Trial to be quite clearly about the judgement of the society around you, not a literal witch hunt trial. It shows the inescapable nature of said trial as you will always be judged no matter what you do but also the repercussions of the 3 most common reactions the said judgement. Initially, he tired to tear down his opponents through his charisma, wit , intelligence but once people decide to judge you unfairly they will not be won over or have their minds changed, on the contrary , they will become even more obstinate so as not to be proven in the wrong! Afterwards he tried to ignore it, but it bled into his mind and his life, this judgement started affecting his work, his sanity, his personal life , his career. It spread like a cancer until there where he saw it everywhere, pronoia takes over and you believe everyone is judging you. Then he tried to play the game of his judges, submit to their process and live in the snare of their eternal judgement, doing everything that they deem fit only to prolong his sentencing, living miserably according only to the judgement of these people. (an example of this is Block) Only in the end does Joseph realise that no matter what he does, the judgement of society is inescapable and neverending, there is no escape from it, you will always be guilty in the eyes of someone that judges you.

[@shmeagol]

“Who is Kafkaesque? I’ve never - - I don’t know him..” - Michael Scott

[@dimbulb23]

Reminds me of: "Do you like Kipling?" I don't know, I've never kipled.

[@stentor9640]

Now I have to watch the office for the 10th time

[@kafkab.3143]

um okay

[@zaidshah4535]

I'm a philanderer

[@VansLudwig]

is that that one show that I don't like because I remind myself of the guy from... where is he from again. AGH i can't remember he's the guy who's painfully funyy in an unfunny way whats his name.

[@lk-py6iz]

The editing in this video along with the commentary is just soooo amazing. i can watch these videos for hours!!

[@Banele808]

Existential Crisis Loading

[@maneater-]

man, I just want to give my guy Kafka a hug. he deserves the world.

[@jgjhj662]

" I have hardly anything in common with myself and should stand very quietly in a corner, content that I can breathe."

[@callumwarren3342]

Fuck me.. that hits home.

[@renrichmad-od9ut]

HOME RUN!!!

[@yokonono2171]

This story is so disparaging:( I cried suddenly when you told his story. I wish he knew how irreplaceable and brilliant he was. How needed , valued and most importantly , that he is loved.

[@benawesomebw1197]

What’s sadder his his entire family died in the Holocaust. Max Brod only barely made it to Israel because he was already famous and well-known. Really, if it weren’t for him saving his work, all the success his family had gotten would’ve faded into the ashes unknown. I can’t stress enough how much everyone needs a Max Brod in their life. No matter how famous he got, how rich he got-he always stuck beside Kafka till the day died. And even though he straight up told him if he gave him his writing in his will, he’d refuse to burn it, Kafka gave it to him anyway.

[@gowdsake7103]

Ummmm never heard of him, not needed by me for sure

[@ashleyhall6464]

@@gowdsake7103 wow so edgy

[@jauxro]

"Follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly" That's... A really good quote, actually. I'm glad I've read it now.

[@zxnow8504]

but how can i follow something that dont exist?

[@usiyabongandlovu6779]

@nadya Create

[@viciousKev]

Im glad you're glad.

[@anthropolis4427]

I watched this video two months ago for the first time and it inspired me to start reading his books. In last two months I read The Trial and Metamorphosis, and I'm currently reading The Castle. It's safe to say that Kafka became one of my favourite authors.

[@isaacliu._.6899]

My SAT reading teacher told the class to read metamorphosis if we have the chance and he is now responsible for my reading addiction.

[@renrichmad-od9ut]

If these masterpieces are presented correctly, without the taint of the established pedagogy, addiction is a prerequisite.

[@potatoboss2441]

Who are you? Whos running this channel? id like to know more about you personally. I don't see anyone talking about just how profound and meaningful your videos are. I want to hear about how you came to make these. I want to know who the person behind this is. id like to hear about the psychedelic trips possibly inspiring you. I hope you've found contentment in your life, and I hope it means a lot to you to know you've created something so incredible. I'm happy you're introducing people to such life-changing concepts. I feel like a lot of people go too long through life being unaware of just how lucky we are to have the minds we do. sometimes I get uncomfortable being human because I feel like this limited perception has confined me tighter than I can imagine. your videos have given me some relief. I'm happy with what I have, there's still so much I can do and learn with this body I was born into. a seemingly infinite amount of lives I can live just by making choices until I die. it's incredible, I'm still trying to learn how to be happy with it though. truly the bitch of life. anyways, you're easily my favorite KZbinr. hopefully this comment can bring you some joy. consider an AMA

[@andrewostrovsky4804]

Potato Boss Wow, what a reply! How easy it is to spot a human being in the crowd after all.

[@Mira-pc6fv]

I think absolutely the same!

[@00HoODBoy]

It's our curse and our blessing. Though What we wanna do with it.. Gotta find out

[@elconejito99]

Academy of Ideas is pretty good

[@mig_kite]

Life is limitation though, when you experience the whole you dont experience the self and vice versa. Limitations means suffering but it also means freedom and joy.. in a way a future which is 100% predictable/controllable is already the past. Each of us has a different way of judging ourselves and its all according to the concepts we created and sorted in our limited reward system as good or bad.. its all an illusion, we are hardwired to atempt creating order out of chaotic world around us.

[@sobersky3716]

I'm sitting in front of my computer in my apartment in Prague, watching this video, contemplating the absurdity of life. What an experience.

[@laragenter]

Out of all the authors (living or dead) I'd love to have a sit-down chat with, Franz Kafka is the absolute number one on my list.

[@randomcomment7675]

Man I’m so happy I can read his writing in original language.

[@renrichmad-od9ut]

Oh, I wish. It's almost been translated to mush. I had an older version years ago, and it mad me laugh hysterically, cry, almost vomit, and I was on the verge of ending it all. But somehow, I lost that version, and have a different translation, and it doesn't take me there. Yeah, I didn't go and purchase a new noose. Just sad.

[@gothaxngel5383]

i must say, for the first time ever, im jealous about it

[@Bubblegob]

Aaah Kafka, it's almost mystical when reading "The Trial" how much it sounds close to home, it's really cathartic and I've experiences few pieces of art able to communicate this feeling. It's not really enjoyable to read but it sticks with you.

[@Nada-cj6nl]

Can you recommend similar books ?

[@reikaratnam]

What shocks/traumatises the senses usually leaves an impression

[@tuanjim799]

@@Nada-cj6nl Dostoevsky's novels. Kafka was hugely influenced by Dostoevsky, and they dealt with many of the same concerns in their writing. In speaking of Dostoevsky's influence and importance to himself, Kafka even went so far as to refer to him (metaphorically) as a "blood relative."

[@kafkab.3143]

:)

[@Bubblegob]

@@Nada-cj6nl What make such a strong impression to me is that I found very few authors who managed to channel this in their writing. Tuan Jim is right I must say that Dostoevsky is excellent too in his exploration of the human soul especially Crime and Punishment. Maybe I'm wrong but I also feel like Kafka left a strong impression on Kundera's writting and... Yeah Kundera is a pretty good read!

[@미니멀코코넛]

Kafka is definitely one of my favorite authors. But also, please allow me to just appreciate how I just love how you wrote the script for this video! Its beautifully written and video is greatly made! Great work!

[@MyPaperTiger]

Whoever did these "illustrations" they are so wonderful!

[@حيدرمحمدعبدالزهرة]

I wish that afterlife does exist, so that kafka can look down on earth and see how his works are loved by many people.

[@GM-gh7cn]

Don’t wish for it, there IS an afterlife. God is great ☦️🙏🏻

[@Pepegalord]

@@GM-gh7cn you can believe that

[@CJJ928]

clearly he isnt too happy considering he asked for the writings to be burned

[@dickmaker5405]

@@CJJ928 that’s because he thought they were meaningless

[@wavepainter]

Kafka's "The Hunger Artist" series of stories helps explain his ideas. When I wonder about Tesla or VanGogh, it's always "The Hunger Artist". While Kafka's novels explore a complex wonder or confusion, the Hunger Artist is a plain and simple answer. Kafka and Camus are truly guiding lights through humanity.

[@s.b.--]

Kafka was such a genius, his style of writing his perception of the world and his ability to reflect himself, all while writing in a riddle sorta style combined with brutal honesty

[@jules9266]

every morning when the alarm rings feels a bit kafkaesque

[@jacquelbeamon6244]

Ha!

[@abhishekshah11]

Does everyone on this channel usually have anxiety or is it just me?

[@Keev12661]

Luxor 3D maybe u could try integrating some lessons u learned while tripping? Not sure of your situation so my advice is probably pretty bad but in my experience reflecting on trips and integrating the experience into my personality is what gives the lasting change, also if you’ve been anxious for years ur brain has essentially wired itself to be anxious so it’s gonna take a fat minute and some big effort to heal ur anxiety, don’t give up

[@fatboyjones2]

I think everyone has anxiety, it just varies in intensity

[@DennisMoore664]

[@Cptkoala4]

This dudes voice gives me anxiety

[@outerspace2325]

@@Cptkoala4 he talks too fast and intense, or I'm just wrong?

[@MonkwithQuotes]

This is why it's important to share your story . Don't be scared of people who will make fun. There are some people exist who needs to hear you.

[@gpll8135]

Imagine his work wasn’t even deep like they’re just stories he thought up and was like thats kinda cool ill write that, now people spend years trying to decode it all

[@glitchyguru6468]

I wouldn't even be surprised if that was the case

[@Ruylopez778]

Even if they are just out of his subconscious, his subconscious is trying to express something meaningful from his experiences. So regardless of whether we know what he intended of his writing, or how clearly he could intellectualise it, we can be sure it had meaning to him. Where do you imagine your subconscious and dreams come from? They come from your experiences and stimulus.

[@user-td3uj8is5i]

@@Ruylopez778 No you can't be sure.

[@Ruylopez778]

@@user-td3uj8is5i What can't I be sure of? His writing was clearly important to him. People who want to write don't write things for no reason, with no meaning. You're thinking of someone forced to write stories at school, who make up any crap because they don't care, but have to do it. Anything that comes from your imagination is from the part of your mind that experiences the world around you and pays attention to things that influence or move you, on a conscious level or sub conscious. Consciously intended or not, we can conclude there are themes that appeared in his writing, as a result of his life experiences and influences.

[@mylesjeffers6148]

@@Ruylopez778 Yeah you're definitely right. His writing is a window into his thoughts whether he intended it or not

[@dreamsatnight]

I urge anyone to read Kafka's letter to his father. Those couple of pages dedicated to the tyranny of his father to him and the alienation he created between mother and son truly displays the torment that inhabited his soul for the few years he lived. In the mind of the abandoned, none of one's own doing will ever be valuable if one's father or mother did not even spare him a smile for a simple effort. Interesting how our childhood is what tortures us as adults.

[@Ashley-zt9yh]

This is horrifically sad. His works are clearly what he was experiencing and he felt so helpless. I admit I have a fear of becoming Kafka.

[@lost8886]

You should listen to 'the smiths'.

[@richardlo125]

this is the most clear n distinct elucidation about Kafkaesque i have ever read. thx

[@ChocolateDonut333]

What a beautiful soul. I hope he was reborn and is having/had a wonderful life.

[@xToTaLBoReDoMx]

Song at ~2:30 is Vanilla Morning - Martin Klem Song at ~3:30 is Not Sure What You Mean - Stationary Sign Took me way too long to find this, hopefully helps someone

[@tolgonai9042]

Thank you!

[@intermilan8571]

Thanks Alot

[@aditamartarizky]

THANKSS

[@mrpaperbag6664]

Ive been searching for this😱🤲🤲

[@hainhamid6112]

Helped me alot, thank you so much!

[@HejskzkexrctvtE]

I just started crying because I wasn't able to live in the same time as kafka and be his friend and talk to him and learn from him....

[@Shah-iu1bx]

There are many Kafkas all around us , we tend to ignore them because they are weird and not fun to be around so I don't buy this If i was in his time i would be his friend and learn from him.

[@jajabor2942]

The first part about Kafka's life was so sad to hear. What a brilliant man, and no one really recognised him for what he was capable of. Sometimes I feel like while society provides us with a structure and guidebook to live by, many a times it hurts people who are different from the masses - those who think differently. Societal structure and expectations are only helpful for the common, average humans and not so much for the outliers. Look at any outstanding creator's life and for sure you'd see pain and struggle resulting from not being accepted and recognised by society. Only a lucky few out of them got recognition during their lifetimes.

[@zenab92]

Thanks youtube for introducing me to a great writer. Soon I'll immerse myself into world of his books. 😭

[@darkmoon3646]

Oh my days same here

[@cheesewithuhhh]

Maybe me 3-5 years from now?

[@zenab92]

@andreoliveira2032 bcz Ive my exams really close so I cannot

[@DewiKlein]

It's upsetting that he died believing his work was unworthy. And, even after more than a century, his books still have an impact on people's lives. I admire and respect his friend Max's will to publish his work, even though he said to burn it. I only wish Kafka had been able to see what he's accomplished :/ Also this was such a great explanation and it definitely helped me to understand Kafka more!

[@nikkikearns8658]

The voice of the story-teller is mesmerizing!

[@sigurdvingelsgaard9466]

I swear this guy could talk me into a hypnosis

[@lastgaminggt7828]

Guy get hypothesised and used

[@misterx4757]

This just changed my thinking forever. Thank you, sincerely.

[@MagnaO_o]

Kafka’s work is so fascinating, I think it embodies the human nature, we as humans never give up no matter how absurd or tiring the task is not do we stop at anything to complete our task or to achieve what we craved for…

[@27051740]

"I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound or stab us. If the book we're reading doesn't wake us up with a blow to the head, what are we reading for? So that it will make us happy? Good Lord, we would be happy precisely if we had no books...." - Franz Kafka

[@staryty_22]

He is just like Van Gogh. Both died not knowing how much their art impacted the world.

[@gowdsake7103]

Not at all then

[@PetraKann]

A quirky Austria-Hungarian-Czech Bohemian. Read “The metamorphosis” and “The Trial” as well as “The Castle” as an in-road into the colourful mind of Kafka

[@C.K.Productions]

Anne Rice died this year, her funeral was held today. I was really surprised to hear her mentioned in this video. Her writings and Kafka’s are some of my favorites.

[@arsenic2821]

This didn't make me appreciate kafka's work, this just made me want to die.

[@ritulakhani8535]

Lmao

[@tommyp.7108]

Do the two have to be mutually exclusive?

[@steffaville5798]

you need to read Kafka works, Castle for example

[@chloereed2434]

@yourgardengem you cant ask someone else what you'll feel when you read something

[@thesoundsmith]

Hey, you got his message...

[@glidershower]

Birthdays are a pretty kafkaesque concept IMO. It's a celebration of life that at its very core reminds you how much little time you have left and that inevitably you will die. And yet somehow we find ourselves always eager for the next, sometimes to the fault of not perceiving the now that will only exist today, for yesterday is gone and tomorrow does not exist. In the very end, as with anything in life, it's all dependant on how do you understand your existence. For a long time now, I've haven't planned my birthdays; I never expect gifts or calls, nor expect anyone to care or for a miracle to happen to me that day. In doing so I've felt a freedom of being able to actually enjoy my day as I damn well please, not feeling guilty because "another year wasted, siiiighhhh". Goes great with my positive nihilism. Gotta let go of what you gonna have to let go eventually.

[@malenyluna5275]

I can relate, a couple of weeks ago was my birthday but this one was different. I woke up feeling pretty much the same as every day. No expectations, no excitment and better yet no pressure. No need to go out, dress up, drink, and please others. I just went along with my day and it felt so good. Of course relatives and friends were like are you ok? Or looked at me like it's your bday let's party. For me it was interesting to notice the deep social programming and norms that we are supposed to follow. It's kinda sad like I want to open their eyes to something more meaningful but it's not up to me.

[@bibo2728]

well if a person is pessimistic they would often make even the best of celebrations kafkaesque

[@tagaway6173]

@@malenyluna5275 I've never mind telling people my age, now 30. I dont mind growing old. To some I do say the month i was born if I'm telling a story that need that information. But I don't like telling people my birthday. I stopped when I was a teen as I noticed people expecting me to be happy or want to do something. But I don't. I dont feel any different inside so I didn't want to fake it. BUTTTT if I know someone that is into their birthday, I will cheer them up because it somehow makes them happy even if I dont understand it. Edit: An example of me having to say my birth month is when someone is talking about Zodiac signs. I tell them I read into it because of the entertainment value (like the appeal of reality tv people have) but I dont necessarily believe in it because one of my sister and I share the same month just a couple of days apart and we are not alike or go tru the same thing. Or me having to renew my license or whatever. Anyways I see myself looking forward to a day off work than my birthday.😅 Edit 3: I want to clarify that I have Dysthymia and maybe that's the reason for me no caring rather than you guys seeing things from a different perspective than your peers, but I did want to share my case nevertheless 😅

[@shuzennn]

He reminds me of Nikola Tesla, even his appearance.

[@ganga8051]

Yes True. Two of them share so many similarities.

[@Bianca-wp3uo]

same

[@iprefernotgivingmyname3582]

Fact: they are both cancers

[@technic1285]

Both were killed by the government for knowing too much. Only one on accident, though.

[@Fatmawati-tg2gy]

The video is so well narrated!

[@XSPawnned]

This is really well made, thank you for dedicating your time into creating this. There is a letter by him, namely "Letter to my father" where he explains more or less the deep impact his father had on him. I would like to point out that even if he was unable to find peace with his parent, his father never forced him to go to law school, he even describes the insanity of having to choose a faculty. This could represent more of his father's education, but nonetheless thank you for reading!

[@FruityFarterSG]

"Kafkaesque" one word that sums up my life

[@renrichmad-od9ut]

"Kafkaesque," extra strength on crack is MY life. Now, you sir, go have a picnic, and I'll just sit here.

[@kashifrabbani1348]

3:11 that is so true. Even in this fast and connected world many people like Kafka is still unknown because all the filth and shit gets the light.

[@davisbenecke3623]

I just know this showed up on my recommended because of the Star Rail Kafka hype 💀

[@vavet39]

Ive seen a lot if not almost all of your videos and although the quality is usually superb this one is incredibly well written and stands out from the rest. You did a fantastic job analyzing his literary work with how you spoke about the different stages in his life and emphasizing how he made the mundane sound profound. The way you presented it seemed heart felt and sincere, it was easy to tell you meant what you were saying and that added an immense quality to your words and to the video as a whole.

[@RajatSolanki728]

In our country India,Great hindi writer Munshi Premchand was also remain unnoticed throughout his life span.His short stories,novels became immensely popular after he dies and for the past 60-70 years,he undoubtedly remains the most read writer of hindi literature

[@novarwitter8267]

7:33 THIS IS THE BEST LINE IN THE VIDEO AND IT GIVES ME HOPE THAT I CAN BE JUST AS IMPACTFUL AS FRANZ KAFKA

[@gcarlson]

Man. I am so impressed with the actual video itself. Your transitions between and with images/video is very good. Creative and subtle without showing off too much. Maybe it's the monochrome thing, but either way super cool.

[@Melonaru25]

I am waiting for the star rail comments

[@SungatsukuCharak]

Can we just appreciate how beautifully this video is made, the script and the editing, just wow.

[@adlozi]

I used to think he was surrealistic, now I know that he was just describing the real insanity we live in.

[@renrichmad-od9ut]

YES sir.

[@HipHopShowRoom]

Holy shit you're videos make me cry all the time Edit: it's super sad someone so prolific can go unnoticed his whole life and die unnoticed and thinking his most prominent works weren't worth the paper they were wrote on. If I had one wish, it would be to tell him how much we value and understand him. Gosh, could you imagine how that would of sounded to him. Feeling the Kafkaesque rn

[@ins4nutty341]

i reallt love this video. The clearness of how robotic and yet affectionate the narrator was, the images shown on the screen as a lot of people are visual learners, the touch of editing of the video and the message of kafka. This made me really emotional not about what i said but mostly about kafka's life and his work. I stopped multiple times thinking out loud about absurdism and how its meaningless, this video really explained it to me, its a mundane process and a lot of us experienced it. I would love to see kafka's reaction about him being known in the 21st century. I'm reading 3 books currently, and i wanna read kafka right now.

[@gamalielbontilao3679]

Won the 50/50 thanks dude

[@skunk12]

0:20 Narrator: [Kafka was born to a man and a woman.] Me: "Hmm... imagine that."

[@tagaway6173]

🤣 I totally see your point. Good catch. Although there are some cases where people have foreign names, that you do have to specify the gender when telling a story. One personal example; Back in the day I applied for a job at a bakery and the girl said that she was sorry but the only reason she called me was because she thought I was a man, based on my name, and started to explain how the job would be very difficult for me because of blah blah blah. I understood her point but I got shocked she would confuse my name with one of a man's. Then I started thinking that I did the same, based on her name when we were e-mailing (she's from somewhere in the middle east) I thought she was a man😅

[@skunk12]

@@tagaway6173 im saying that people cant be born any other way. Everyone starts with a man and a woman.

[@tagaway6173]

@@skunk12 I know and I agree with you. I'm just saying based on the name, the uploader had to specify *who* was the man and *who* was the woman.

[@Moder6969]

I heard this in the voice of Oblivion guards. Imagine that.

[@Sehru23]

😂✌️

[@nicholas5468]

Maybe its just me but Berserk by the late mangaka Kentaro Miura is very Kafkaesque. Like how the protagonist, Guts, never stops fighting and struggling no matter how despairing and absurd his situation gets, no matter how cruel his fate may be. Miura was truly gone too soon, but thankfully his work was preserved and will be continued by his closest friend. May Miura rest in peace, and may his work live on and resonate with his fans and people around the world for many years to come.

[@CatzNGaz]

7:14 Your emotional intonation's so palpable, I'm tearing up.

[@tarsierontherun]

Okay. Both Kafka's and Lovecraft's friends are such stand up guys. Imagine having friends that are as loyal and as supportive as those men.

[@sevenaries]

Kinda sad how many artists never get the recognition they deserve until after their death

[@georgealderson4424]

...but their achievement(s) lives on!

[@I_V_X]

For better or worse we can now publish our thoughts without worrying that they may be incomplete

[@yusoff9793]

The last thought of being worthless before dying....

[@heatherwhitehead3743]

A professor once told me upon hearing stories about my family that it reminded her of a Kafka novel. Great😟

[@IdahoDali]

This essay is brilliant and life-changing. THANK YOU!!!!