Finally got around to writing the essay that I originally wanted to write about 28 Years Later last year. I'm glad that I waited though, since Bone Temple gives copious supporting evidence for everything that I wanted to say about the first film. Check it out if you like, though I think this one will end up being a video if you feel like waiting around for it. thebarkingyears.substack.com/p/28-years-later-the-…
If there’s anything that Stranger Things could be said to truly be about, it would have to be nerd culture. All of the important characters are considered to be freaks and losers by their peers but we the audience are meant to understand that, really, they are superior to all the normal people because, rather than defining themselves by the trivial and mundane identity markers like their jobs or their roles as a husbands or mothers, they have forged their identities around the consumption of or participation in various pop culture properties and fandoms: D&D, pop music, movies, video games, and so on.
In the world of the show, this makes them losers and freaks, but in the world of today, it just makes them normal, which is ironic since so much of the show is about how being normal is bad and lame. And I guess that is the greatest irony of the show is that it the way that it works is by encouraging the normies of today to look back on and look down on the normies of 1985 or whatever *for being normies*.
Nearly a year ago, I posted a video so controversial and unpopular that shortly after putting it up, I unlisted it because I was concerned that it might be killing my channel analytics. Then I kind of forgot about it. But recently, I went back and watched that video...and I really like it, particularly the latter half. I think it's one of the better things that I've written for this channel, and regardless of how it's received, I want it to be back out into the world, even if only as a middle finger to the algorithm. So without further ado, I present my long-deferred defense of Avatar.
Ayo, what's up guys? I'm trying to be more consistent about putting stuff up on my substack. This time it's an essay about the political Left's latest attempt to thread the apparently exceptionally tricky needle which is NOT alienating massive swathes of young men, and why it is going to fail yet again. If straight unfiltered political stuff isn't your jam, no worries, probably the next thing I put up will be back to media analysis. Anyway, here's the link: open.substack.com/pub/thebarkingyears/p/when-it-co…
While I'm in this posting frenzy, I listened to a conversation with some pretty savvy youtubers talking about how to grow a channel and they mentioned that making your videos more immediately recognizable to the people who like your content is a pretty important strategy, so I've been rethinking my thumbnails. I like my current logo A LOT, but maybe it's not the most visibly distinct thing. So what do you guys think of these options. Any fans or do you prefer the original?
What's up, friendies (friendos?). So being the bunch of elite media connoisseurs that you are, I presume that some (many?) of you may not have seen the viral media powerhouse, Kpop Demon Hunters. I'm actually kind of surprised that I've seen it myself. But I did see it, and as a person who thinks about culture, I found that I had some things to say about it. Obviously, those things will make more sense if you've seen the flick, but it's not required. AAAAND if enough of you check it out and leave a like/comment, there's a chance that this one could break containment and just maybe...get in front of a bunch of super stans who will turn the comment section into an absolute sewer, which is frankly my favorite thing about putting up videos :) So let's see if we can make that happen! Anyway, let me know your thoughts as always and thanks for watching.
Next video is out! For fans of Ari Aster, this one covers his latest work, Eddington. I'll go ahead and warn you, I had to do a lot of fidgeting with filters to get this thing past the bots, but if you want to see these videos in their original (and generally visually superior) format, those always appear a day or two early on Patreon, www.patreon.com/TheBarkingYears.
The Barking Years
Finally got around to writing the essay that I originally wanted to write about 28 Years Later last year. I'm glad that I waited though, since Bone Temple gives copious supporting evidence for everything that I wanted to say about the first film. Check it out if you like, though I think this one will end up being a video if you feel like waiting around for it.
thebarkingyears.substack.com/p/28-years-later-the-…
16 hours ago | [YT] | 11
View 1 reply
The Barking Years
Heyo, guys. New article out! This one is basically my "here's the last thing I ever want to have to say on this subject" essay.
open.substack.com/pub/thebarkingyears/p/bullsht-an…
Next one is going to be an analysis of the 28 Years Later saga up to this point--that one may become a video.
1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 10
View 2 replies
The Barking Years
Heyo, folks. New article out. This one's been brewing in the back of my mind for a while. Might not be everyone's thing, but check it out if you like.
thebarkingyears.substack.com/p/but-have-you-tried-…
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 15
View 3 replies
The Barking Years
New article out. Stranger Things is wrapping up and it inspired me to think back on the series, what went wrong and what might have gone right.
open.substack.com/pub/thebarkingyears/p/stranger-t…
1 month ago | [YT] | 12
View 3 replies
The Barking Years
If there’s anything that Stranger Things could be said to truly be about, it would have to be nerd culture. All of the important characters are considered to be freaks and losers by their peers but we the audience are meant to understand that, really, they are superior to all the normal people because, rather than defining themselves by the trivial and mundane identity markers like their jobs or their roles as a husbands or mothers, they have forged their identities around the consumption of or participation in various pop culture properties and fandoms: D&D, pop music, movies, video games, and so on.
In the world of the show, this makes them losers and freaks, but in the world of today, it just makes them normal, which is ironic since so much of the show is about how being normal is bad and lame. And I guess that is the greatest irony of the show is that it the way that it works is by encouraging the normies of today to look back on and look down on the normies of 1985 or whatever *for being normies*.
1 month ago | [YT] | 10
View 9 replies
The Barking Years
Nearly a year ago, I posted a video so controversial and unpopular that shortly after putting it up, I unlisted it because I was concerned that it might be killing my channel analytics. Then I kind of forgot about it. But recently, I went back and watched that video...and I really like it, particularly the latter half. I think it's one of the better things that I've written for this channel, and regardless of how it's received, I want it to be back out into the world, even if only as a middle finger to the algorithm. So without further ado, I present my long-deferred defense of Avatar.
1 month ago | [YT] | 12
View 3 replies
The Barking Years
Ayo, what's up guys? I'm trying to be more consistent about putting stuff up on my substack. This time it's an essay about the political Left's latest attempt to thread the apparently exceptionally tricky needle which is NOT alienating massive swathes of young men, and why it is going to fail yet again. If straight unfiltered political stuff isn't your jam, no worries, probably the next thing I put up will be back to media analysis. Anyway, here's the link:
open.substack.com/pub/thebarkingyears/p/when-it-co…
1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 13
View 5 replies
The Barking Years
While I'm in this posting frenzy, I listened to a conversation with some pretty savvy youtubers talking about how to grow a channel and they mentioned that making your videos more immediately recognizable to the people who like your content is a pretty important strategy, so I've been rethinking my thumbnails. I like my current logo A LOT, but maybe it's not the most visibly distinct thing. So what do you guys think of these options. Any fans or do you prefer the original?
2 months ago | [YT] | 4
View 6 replies
The Barking Years
What's up, friendies (friendos?). So being the bunch of elite media connoisseurs that you are, I presume that some (many?) of you may not have seen the viral media powerhouse, Kpop Demon Hunters. I'm actually kind of surprised that I've seen it myself. But I did see it, and as a person who thinks about culture, I found that I had some things to say about it. Obviously, those things will make more sense if you've seen the flick, but it's not required. AAAAND if enough of you check it out and leave a like/comment, there's a chance that this one could break containment and just maybe...get in front of a bunch of super stans who will turn the comment section into an absolute sewer, which is frankly my favorite thing about putting up videos :) So let's see if we can make that happen! Anyway, let me know your thoughts as always and thanks for watching.
2 months ago | [YT] | 3
View 0 replies
The Barking Years
Next video is out! For fans of Ari Aster, this one covers his latest work, Eddington. I'll go ahead and warn you, I had to do a lot of fidgeting with filters to get this thing past the bots, but if you want to see these videos in their original (and generally visually superior) format, those always appear a day or two early on Patreon, www.patreon.com/TheBarkingYears.
Anyway, hope you like the vid!
3 months ago | [YT] | 2
View 0 replies
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