What Isn't a Video Essay?

What is a video essay? Or at this point, what isn't a video essay?
And who's keeping track anyway??
A further reading list, plus a lot of my own writing that was cut out of the final video, is available for $2 patrons: / whatssograce
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[@Tom_Nicholas]

Can't believe my favourite video essayist just defined the video essay out of existence.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Finally we are free! FREE!

[@MedlifeCrisis]

Academic sources, chill beatz, famous director, gratuitously emotional conclusion, under 10 minutes or over 2 hours, how thing does thing…this is dynamite keep it coming

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

I'm only sorry to have kept the world waiting for my spicy takes for so long

[@brarkbrark7985]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat Ive held my breath for so long

[@nicanornunez9787]

To be fair a British doctor may consider looking in to the eyes of "a human being" gratuitously emotional.

[@brarkbrark7985]

@@nicanornunez9787 and at the same time they may consider piercing someone's heart a rather routine affair.

[@pouncelygrin6699]

what's going on and why does it look like people are speaking immaculately?

[@pavarottiaardvark3431]

Die Hard is about surviving against the odds as well as managing scarce resources, and it incidentally takes place at Christmas. The inescapable conclusion: Die Hard is a HANNUHKAH movie.

[@justintonytoney]

This is the kind of thing that should be taught in schools. Not the content, but the approach: a freedom of thought that starts with the conventional debates/categories/observations available to all and blazes a new path through them through back doors and hidden geometries and unexpected side-long resonances to anywhere and everywhere

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you so much! This is such a lovely comment :D

[@pouncelygrin6699]

*nods in agreement*

[@ordinaryyoutubechannel582]

I'm gonna say something a bit controversial: a hot dog is NOT a video essay.

[@shadyguy23]

[I Think You Should Leave Hot Dog Guy Meme]: "We're all trying to find a satisfactory way to define a video essay!"

[@genossegitarre6607]

Yeah, I'll need a source for that. Preferably with ketchup.

[@rowandunning6877]

well agree to disagree...

[@SimplyMayaBeauty]

I'm going to write a thesis about the potential future of KZbin as a legitimate artistic medium, and video essayists are my primary case studies. This couldn't have come at a better time. Will likely cite you!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Haha, thank you! :D

[@j.b.aw.6968]

Please put a links to this video in the Printed Version of your paper. With blue letters and underscored.

[@SimplyMayaBeauty]

@@j.b.aw.6968 I have full intention of following proper citation guidelines. Of course the link will be included properly.

[@nesologies]

Please come back in however many years and share your thesis. That sounds very interesting.

[@pouncelygrin6699]

@@SimplyMayaBeauty yeah what this guy said ^^^^

[@benvincent6473]

This video is an absolute triumph in both form and function. As far as I'm concerned, this channel is the best at what they do.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! :D

[@nsalegit9482]

This reminded me of the work of Mary Douglass. She talked alot about categorization and our formation of worldviews and even ideologies. As did I.W. charney who wrote one of my favorite books, fascism and democracy in the human mind where he argues that the true marker between a fascist and democratic mind is an overeliance on strict categorization in daily life. Without the possibilities for our categories to be mutable, we choke out our own creativity and ability to empathize with people as every individual person has their own set of categories that have distinct boundaries. Conflict is inevitable in such situations, so allowing flexibility of interpretation with your categories literally helps you live a fuller life with more capacity to empathy.

[@KeithBallardA]

Me. I edit in Magix Vegas. I'm the fool. I ran into the weirdness of 'video essay' genre classification when I found the /r/videoessay subreddit. Their list of "What is NOT a Video Essay?" is... bizarre? A video essay cannot be less than five minutes long, nor more than an hour. It can't be political, and it can't feature the creator on-camera talking to the audience. The format stuff is just... what. "Political" got a chuckle out of me because that's just so classic of spaces like Reddit. They'll never grow up. But people being on camera? What? We've got to edit these extended videos where you can only use like 6-10 second clips before the KZbin bots come after you. Appearing on camera is a very useful tool for setting up or explaining a point without straining to fill the frame with barely relevant clips. And yet if there were ten video essay subreddits I'm sure they'd all have a slightly different set of largely pointless lines in the sand.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Haha, I know!

[@AmericasComic]

I don't want to give reddit any credit, we all know what it's problems are, but there's something sort of sweet in the way that, as a culture, they cling to this weird "objectivity" and these hard ridged, unnecessary rules. Like little boys setting up pillow forts.

[@Yossus]

... What? Sarah Z and CJ the X make some of the best essays on this site and their videos are majority pieces to camera. Oh well, Reddit gonna Reddit

[@AmericasComic]

@@Yossus I had an essay on death (and pets) and got deleted and when I messaged the mod about it and, like, showed the Wikipedia page on essay and Montigue essays on death and animals they were like “ok, I’ll allow this one but if this becomes a habit, it will be chaos”

[@PixelaDay]

@@AmericasComic If you lined up all the people who've been banned or had stuff deleted by subreddit mods for completely nonsensical reasons, that line would wrap around the Earth twice

[@StuartisUnoriginal]

Holy shit I JUST checked your channel for a new video and was disappointed to see nothing from the last 9 months and BAM here we are

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Haha, I was summoned by your disappointment!

[@brendanmoi]

I’ve been a long time fan of your channel and I audibly gasped when I saw a new upload today. Your videos are always so thought provoking, and I appreciate how as time has gone on, we’ve gotten a bit of a peek at your humorous side in your later videos! Usually to great effect. When you started just working on that sandwich mid intellectual monolgue, it was pretty glorious. Thank you Grace for all that you do!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you so much!! Glad the humour is paying off. Sometimes I cringe so much watching those parts back haha, so good to know it's doing something right :D

[@EyebrowCinema]

I don't know what isn't a video essay but you definitely make some of my favourites. I love the way your videos crack open a door to a mountain of thought and conversation and this one does so beautifully.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! :D

[@TheMovieSequelDude49]

I just wanna say that while this video is very intriguing and informative, I also found it very funny. I think your humor and the way you edit jokes in your videos are super underrated. I rarely have laughed as hard in "video essays" like I have in yours.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Ahh thank you so much! 😊

[@AccentedCinema]

As much as I love your videos (and they are my absolute favourites), I have to disagree. If an open-faced sandwich is a sandwich, then a hotdog has to be a sandwich.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Get out of my house!

[@pouncelygrin6699]

a hotdog is a hotdog sandwich... 🌭

[@sprinkles8560]

A hotdog is a taco

[@nosferathuns4715]

Missed your videos so much and what a great comeback this was! Made me genuinely happy

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!! I'm so glad :D

[@roaldkarlsen1840]

You're so freaking good at this Grace.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@HizzyHay]

Dismantle the genres of oppression! A hot dog IS a sandwich Shrek IS an anime Annoying Orange IS a Video Essayist Great video! I find it super interesting how genres put things in boxes and how confines we assign to genres can be played with based on expectations. As for video essays that’s a whole different ball game that is still in the midst of arguing about its rules

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@arthurkassabian2528]

Excellent video essay, and so meta in its analysis. Very post modern!! I think that the categorisation of genre, like much of categorisation in art and media, is driven by marketing imperatives. The creators of content want that content consumed however the consumer wants some understanding as to what, broadly speaking, experience they will have when consuming it. The genre gives a general impression signifying to the consumer what experience the content creators intended. It's like the concept of a graphic novel, it's basically a long form comic book. But if you called it a comic book people would automatically associate it with something not as serious.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Yes, see also: elevated horror lol

[@C0n0li0]

I love the attention to detail in this video! From the various visual gags (congratulations, you’re unemployable!) to the use of MS paint to represent our somewhat childlike desire for categories to the decision to record a section with your mouth full, the connection, flow, detail, and just straight up fun of this video is unparalleled :)

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you so much! :D

[@Soin3000]

Woo - thrilled to have you back! This channel is seriously good!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@torugolago]

It's been some time Grace, it's great to see you back

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@nelzar]

Everything on this channel, from the discussion to analysis to the presentation of everything through the highest quality of flawless editing, is perfect. Thank you, the effort doesn’t go unnoticed

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! :D

[@rowanlin6194]

It's amazing to see you back! This is literally my first comment in years of using youtube, and i just wanna say that these videos are the absolute best I love them so much i rewatch them a ton

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you so much! :D

[@Usbe27]

What an absolute treat to wake up and see a new WSGAT video, thank you as always for making these wonderful essays!!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@sweetpeabee4983]

I really enjoyed this video! It made me think about stuff, which I suppose the best videos should do. I come at this from the perspective of someone with more of a science background, so classifying and categorizing is kind of my bread and butter. Still, you inevitably run into a lot of situations where we might think about something as having a few main "end cases," but most real things are not fully or even well-characterized by any of them. It's honestly a whole lot more interesting that way imo! I feel like...as you say, we naturally create categories, and those categories are meant to serve us & our needs, not the other way around. When our categories fail us, we change them or try different ones.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! :D

[@jameswhitaker12]

Absolutely fantastic, welcome back!

[@ninaadadhvaryu1603]

Video Essay: what I have been using as ASMR for the last three years.

[@Doctor-Infinite]

Ah she has returned And with content as well Welcome back

[@justsomebabyghosts]

This comment reminds me of something said in the prophecy of King Arthur. Here Grace Lee has returned one again to save us all

[@Tuna47]

RIP every frame a painting, I will never unsubscribe

[@jaimie1938]

Good to hear from you again! This was a stellar video as always :)

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@jama1155]

OOOoooh, Grace “In the end, we self-perceiving, self-inventing, locked-in mirages are little miracles of self-reference.” ― Douglas Hofstadter, I Am a Strange Loop

[@albeyna]

Wow, I was just working on my thesis on film Genre theory and I just received the notification to this video, so I clicked and you started throwing these questions around about what is a genre etc. This made me feel super stressed as if my thesis is following me everywhere, I guess it does. ☠️ Great video though 👍🏼

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Hahaha, oh no! There is no escape

[@theecube1]

but when will they let theses on film be done *as* a film?

[@theecube1]

excuse me, but "select all boxes that contain a pipe" is FUCKING GENIUS

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@matiaslopez6144]

I love it when someone recognices that they secretely passionaly disagree with their own academic positions. Great video essay

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Haha :D

[@VamshiOhgs]

As someone who is just starting to make video essay-esque videos this was really helpful

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@MainelyMandy]

I just got so excited seeing you had a new essay up. Fantastic as usual!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Hehe thank you!

[@georgier9151]

Thank you for just, like, completely summing up my reasons for undertaking the PhD I've literally just started. I think I'm going to literally quote this in my first supervision.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@trevormcmahan4415]

this is INCREDIBLY good, thanks again!!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!!

[@DubiousConsumption]

I still don't understand why I couldn't upload to Vimeo. Immediately got hit with a "copyrighted material detected" and denied the upload. 😅

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

I got that too! But I have since put my spirited away one up there and that was fine

[@moose3471]

God please never stop making videos These are amazing and always make my day when I watch them

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@godribbon]

Your videos are so good every single time

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@bleachitwhite]

saw this notif and SCREAMED, i can’t wait to watch!!!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@TheGreatBusta]

Just rewatching this again because it's so good. I can't wait for more of your content, good things take time, so please take it, but DAMN the talent here is unquestionable.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Ahh thank you ☺ Really hoping to have this next video out this month 😬🤞

[@oyamampendu9467]

So worth me subscribing last year. What was all the wait

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Haha! Work, life and a masters lol

[@Selestrielle]

Outstanding editing!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@capybara1331]

I think alot of people disregard that video essays use their own visual language however even this classification won't apply to all video essays, classification is confusing. Great video Grace.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@AcolytesOfHorror]

great video essay! er, great video! welcome back!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Hehehe :D

[@murphytaylorsmith6053]

ugh you remain one of the funniest and most thought provoking video essayist on the 'tube! have been thinking about the rise and near ubiquity of the video essay so much recently so this was perfectly timed. thank you for your great work!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! :D

[@alonso9545]

I think this video game me the freedom I needed to start video essay creating. Thank you

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Everything is anything, go forth and make shit! :D

[@DeathAlchemist]

forgot if I commented, but great video. I have noticed over time that video essays kind of exist on an informative/explanative to artistic/emotional spectrum. Not to say the informative ones aren't art, but I think informative ones scratch a different itch than the artistic ones in a different way.

[@BronyKoN]

Wow, this is very well made. Great job 👍

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@JBantha]

Edutainment, in the video essay car: vroom vroom I'm on a car Artists, owner of what's actually an experimental video car: get off me car Edutainment: aww :(

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Hahaha excellent meme usage!

[@pascale473]

Wait, this is SO GOOD???????? Came across this because I'm about to finally tackle my first video essay (whatever that is :D) for uni... Thank you for this FIRE content, subscribed after like 30 seconds!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you, good luck! :D

[@robYT_]

Its been 5 months and for some reason this video still doesn’t have the millions of views it deserves. Gonna keep checking in every 5 months to see when it finally does

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Hahaha thank you :D

[@SparksV]

A new What's So Great About That? essay ! 😃 Great start to my day.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@zzez0077]

God dam i was waiting for you to come back. I am so happy you came right as i was struggling to get accustomed to college

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D Sorry to hear you're struggling with college, hope things get better soon! The beginning is always tough

[@zzez0077]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat Thank youu!!

[@cherrynorthful]

I was just thinking about your channel the other day - "hey, what's What's So Great About That? been up to? where are they? how are they doing?" and boy howdy is this video a fantastic answer to those questions

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Hehehe thank you! :D

[@JLocke0113]

"A way for me to territorially pee around what the edge of what might constitute me" 😂

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@Cheskaz]

Just watched your automated distopia video and it reminded me that you also made this absolute banger

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Hahaha, thank you!

[@k-majik]

I have the Batfink theme stuck in my head now

[@architnanda3736]

This is the perfect blend of art and ideas, of thought and images, of words and visuals. Perhaps, that's what makes it a 'Video Essay'. I looking at your channel with a sidelong envious glance. I wish I could make video essays like you. Are you an INTJ? ENFP here.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much ☺ yes I am an INTJ hehe

[@siliconvalleygirl6595]

Are you a mind reader? Because I just read Mary Devitt's "Generalizing about Genre's" for my grad class, and it is *exactly* what this video is about. The benefits of classifications, but how genre also destroys dichotomies and constructs situations, and a new theory of genre. How did you know???

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Haha I am all knowing!

[@RobTFilms]

This came up in my reccomended, I'm glad it did!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Cool! :D

[@DanaKishimoto]

I've fallen into this rabbit hole a year or so back and it got me thinking about 'youtube genres' in general. What characteristics does a video need to have in order to fall into a certain type and if someone is trying something new? what can they take away and still be classified in a certain genre over another or what that simply be a crossover between genres? In short though, this video has brought back a line of thought that I'll be indulging in for the next week or so once more. Cheers!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@Thirdtotheleft]

This is a good video and I am going to subscribe, binge all your videos in one day, and then be pleasantly surprised when you next upload in like December.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Good plan! :D

[@Thirdtotheleft]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat I've watched maybe five or so of your videos so far and I really like your editing style! It's very smooth and snappy and your writing is similarly focused and precise

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

@@Thirdtotheleft Thank you!! Yes, I try to cut out anything that isn't absolutely nesscarary haha

[@PercyNah]

DO NOT STARE AT THE ANGELIC CHEESE AND ITS BLINDING HALO! But seriously, so great to see you back!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

It will consume us all! :D

[@wildoesthings]

I wrote the Best Video Essays of 2020 list for Polygon in which I tried to outline my OWN taxonomy for what I chose to include and omit from the list, but I definitely think that 1. the essay is meant to be malleable and 2. most DO wind up being "art"

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

You have to whittle it down or you'll be there forever haha!

[@wildoesthings]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat and the comment section on the article will have even more "why didn't you include this thing that is absolutely not an essay?!" lol

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

@@wildoesthings Exactly! haha

[@ThirithCH]

Heh. You just made my day (okay, you and some good news I got today). Wonderful blend of rumination and goofiness.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! Congratulations on your good news :D

[@NoMoreCrumbs]

Welcome back! It's good to hear from you again

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@AngryPeopleStudios]

You are a treasure! Amazing video as always

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! :D

[@gnadalF773]

How to identify a (good) Video Essay Channel: Last video was uploaded more than 3 months ago

[@-Scrapper-]

Ok this might bel the best editing I have seen on KZbin. And I watch gmtk.

[@Nightshade_goblin]

Among other people, like Jacob Geller and Clark Elieson, you inspired me to tackle my first "serious" video essay (though it's not really getting any views hehe). Thank you for creating and putting yourself out there so others can learn and grow.

[@lentilsoup90]

This really helped me understand the drive towards categorization in popular culture w things like hogwarts houses/meyers briggs/astrology etc. I think i got the way capitalism used it to commodify social identities but I had never really understood the root of things in categorization's ability to be applied and reapplied in very expressive, constantly shifting ways.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@reelreviewdude5126]

Holy Shit! Did not expect a Ross Sutherland Stand-by for Tape Back-up reference🔥

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

I love it! I also talk about it in my Jaws video hehe

[@MiaJoBella]

Categorization as a path to discovery... I love that so much.

[@kingstarama5478]

I’m sure this wasn’t your intention, but as someone who came out as nonebinary this year I feel very affirmed by this video. “Rewriting this fiction” fricks me up. Love ur stuff💝

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

I'm so glad to hear that! :D

[@Resuarus]

I think your videos are art.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:)

[@Manus7100]

Our queen has returned

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

☺️

[@Ihateyoutube666]

OMG I was just thinking about your channel today. Glad to have another video!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@Hazelduff]

Thanks for both this short, insightful vid and sharing the absolute, objective truth about hotdogs and sandwiches!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Someone had to speak out against Big Hotdog!

[@a3aan240]

I do think christmas is indeed a video essay.

[@SocraTetris]

I had forgotten I subscribed to you, and am glad that I didnt unsubscribe yesterday! XD

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Haha :D

[@Supermunch2000]

Good lord how I've missed this channel...

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@vitocorleone3764]

Holy shit what great production

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@justsomebabyghosts]

You in a past video: “I don’t want to give “myself” to KZbin. They want more and more of me and I protest.” KZbin: mha ha ha ha ha! we have your hands now!!!!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Noooooooo!

[@leeharveydarke]

And that's what so great about What's So Great About That?

[@Aster_Risk]

Your video is an essay, and your video is an essay! Everyone's video is an essay! That is all I have to add to the discussion. :)

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Essays all the way down!

[@kefka-1994]

I am from Colombia. congrats, this is just amazing.

[@timothyjforster]

this was really very very very very very good

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!!

[@weluvjstar]

god these videos are exaclty why i started making these videos

[@user-bz8fg7lp3n]

I am very curious: was it hard to not mention Borges animal categorization in this thing ?

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

No it was easy. NO BORGES! I said to myself. The world has had enough

[@tedtorqueoholic3628]

Brilliant. As usual.

[@171QA]

Great video.

[@eidsongregory5795]

Grace have you ever seen Synechdoche, New York? i think its a good example of the question in regards to, regarding, what isn't this? Also wondering if you'll give Mark Danielewski's The Little Blue Kite a try? i'd like to know what you think of it in regards to unlingual? Where image must interfere in order to make a point . . . he has said that this book is for the tiniest of children and the oldest of adults . . . both sides of that divide have trouble doing language . . . please tell me more about this!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

I'm not familiar with either of those titles, I'll check them out! :) I'm sure I'll be up for a bit of Danielewski hehe

[@eidsongregory5795]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat thank you for letting me be so devoted to y(our) work

[@pouncelygrin6699]

7:16 well that got me hungry

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

🥪

[@frogpilledtoadcel773]

A video essay is everything that is a video but also an essay. Simple as that

[@DubiousConsumption]

Yessssss!

[@oyamampendu9467]

Here's somebody who gets there first and is happy with just being there

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@darknessguy4221]

I can't move on with your question 'is butt legs?'

[@captain_ravioli1514]

I wanna make video essays, how should I go about it. I don't wanna follow the formula bc it's arbitrary but I wanna make it easy to follow