Like Stories of Old — searchable YouTube transcripts & AI Q&A

Modern Film Criticism has a Problem

Modern film criticism's obsession with interpretation—uncovering hidden meanings, symbols, and politics—limits our direct experience of cinema, argues the speaker. Drawing on Susan Sontag's 'Against Interpretation' and Ruby Justice Thelot's 'new critic's disease,' he contends that this habit reduces art to content and ignores the sensory, stylistic experience. He advocates for an 'erotics of art' that prioritizes form and feeling over hermeneutics, using the Backrooms movie as a case study of how interpretation can overshadow aesthetic engagement.

The Ryan Gosling Movie That Became Every Guy's Personality

This video explores how the movie "Drive" became a personality for young men by tapping into the "emerging adulthood" phase of identity exploration.

Can the Male Still Gaze?

This video examines the concept of the male gaze in cinema, its historical context, and whether it's still possible for male creators to depict desire and attraction in a scrutinized world.

I Watched MAGA's Favorite Movie

This video analyzes "Citizen Vigilante," a controversial film embraced by the far-right for its depiction of violence against immigrants and its anti-establishment message.

Why a Christopher Nolan Movie Always Ends Like That

Christopher Nolan's movie endings are complex, using thematic statements complicated by plot twists and unresolved problems to leave audiences thinking.