The YouTube Thread
Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 2:10 pm
I know we have a Videos thread but I thought I'd start a generalised topic for interesting videos and/or channels we all watch on the old 'tube! I'd also like for this to be a place to discuss the ethics of said video giant from their hands off approach to moderation to controversies involving popular 'tubers. So, you know, [POLITICS]
Amongst my current channel recommends are:
Lindsay Ellis
Hands down my fav channel on YouTube, Lindsay dissects film and television through a number of critical lenses as well as talking about adjacent topics like product placement and Death of the Author.
Recommended starting point is her two part* look at The Hobbit trilogy and what went wrong. This nabbed her and her team a freaking Hugo nomination.
*or...is it?
Bon Appetit
I'm fairly new to these guys but have seen them recommended by so many others that I had to have a look. And they're great! It's a cooking and food based channel that has several regular section and personalities as well as many one off vids and recipes. The presenters are likeable and knowledgable and I'm looking forward to watching more.
I started with their Gourmet Makes series where chef Claire makes gourmet versions of cheap and nasty consumer products. A good starting point is her Gourmet Pop Tarts
Game Makers Toolkit
A long running series that delves into the multifaceted arena of game design. Mark Brown perfectly tows the line between entertaining and informative without ever being patronising.
His video on what makes a good game puzzle is excellent
Contrapoints
Natalie Wynn has been termed the Oscar Wilde of YouTube as she darts from controversial topic to controversial topic. She's grown in fame recently due to her videos being a notable source of de-radicalisation of previously far right young men, and her breaking down of issues surrounding trans rights.
Her fedora-wearing misogynist video is probably the preeminent video essay on that culture and is a fantastic entry point to her style:
Honourable Mentions
NoClip Former Gamespot/Giant Bomb journo Danny O'Dwyer's hugely succesful documentary series. The production values are top notch, the subjects interesting and the man himself watchable as get-out.
hbomberguy A more generalised channel, Harris Brewer tackles a wide range of topics from the alt-right to Ctrl-Alt-Delete. You've probably seen him from his Ben Shapiro/Aquaman clip that went viral recently
NakeyJakey He's not got much to say really but he's a master of the comedic edit and his videos are laugh out loud funny.
GRTube:
Of course, some of us fine GRcaders have also entered the lucrative world of YouTube CONTENT CREATION:
Vermilion's Vermilion Studios Lots of nicely shot travel footage and a bunch of information on currency collections!
DarkRula sees uploads of gaming related content based mostly on highlights of games Dark's been playing, such as the recently published video on Star Wars Battlefront EA 2