.The "Essayist Era" and especially its modern phase promised more insightful commentary. A better experience.
Instead, you got agitprop masquerading as commentary, sensationalist clickbait, and glorified hitpieces aimed at other content creators being their most visible legacy.
Instead, you got agitprop masquerading as commentary, sensationalist clickbait, and glorified hitpieces aimed at other content creators being their most visible legacy.
It's little coincidence that Dan Olsen set his sights on James Rolfe with that video, which for all its passive-aggressive pretentiousness, seems almost designed to discredit to AVGN era of YouTube.
Also no wonder Olsen's defenders still try to downplay this as "just" criticism.
Also no wonder Olsen's defenders still try to downplay this as "just" criticism.
Granted, the Essayist Era isn't without its positives.
@JennyENicholson shows that you can do longform content that's genuinely entertaining and in good faith.
Historytubers like @ArmchairHist meanwhile show that video essays can be done concisely and with nuance.
@JennyENicholson shows that you can do longform content that's genuinely entertaining and in good faith.
Historytubers like @ArmchairHist meanwhile show that video essays can be done concisely and with nuance.
Conversely, the likes of Moon Channel show how they can get away with pushing BS and propaganda (rather ironic given a popular vid of his), through long runtimes and sleight-of-hand. Exploiting how their audience would just take their word for it.
This all begs the question: what next?
Clearly, there's still life left in the Breadtube and outrage-baiting corners of video essay YouTube. But is it going to be drama content farms, or more of the same?
Or will it be the VTuber Era? Who knows?
Clearly, there's still life left in the Breadtube and outrage-baiting corners of video essay YouTube. But is it going to be drama content farms, or more of the same?
Or will it be the VTuber Era? Who knows?
Frankly, wouldn't mind seeing a return of the AVGN Era, or at least a worthy successor.
Failing that? Well...look below.
Failing that? Well...look below.
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