long-form content is alive and well (four things friday, vol 3)
four things of the week: video essays on depressed vampires, disney-like strippers, the limitations of "black joy" cinema, and the necessity of problematic romance novels.
FOUR THINGS FRIDAY! Every week, I’ll pop into your inbox with a four-item list of things I’ve enjoyed or endured over the past week. Sometimes it’ll be recommendations or miniature reviews; other times, it’ll just be my random musings. Enjoy!
I won’t do much talking (or, I suppose, typing) in this week’s installment, mainly because the videos speak for themselves. If you're looking for unique medium-to-long-form content created by people passionate enough about film and/or literature to not only share what they love but also critique what they don't, look no further. Whether you agree or disagree with them, it doesn’t matter—the videos will make you think!
1. Bloodsucking Misery: On Depressed Vampires
Much like how I like to engage with my media and how I like to shape my reviews through this newsletter, Yhara Zayd uses their personal experiences as a lens through which to discuss film. In this video, they explore their childhood struggle with undiagnosed depression and how it shaped their perception of vampire media and its preoccupation with grief, ennui and the struggle of immortality.
Watch the video here.
2. Why Anora is the Disney Princess We Need
In this video, Broey Deschanel not only discusses Anora (2024) but also delves into The Florida Project (2017), Tangerine (2015) and other works by Sean Baker centered around sex workers. Broey Deschanel explores the recurring themes throughout Baker’s films, focusing on his portrayal of marginalised subcultures and how he highlights both the benefits and dangers of using fantasy as an escape from reality.
Watch the video here.
3. The “Black Joy” Paradox
Pillboy uses this video to present a seemingly controversial argument: they claim that asking for "Black Joy" cinema to combat the exploitation of Black trauma in Hollywood is unhelpful. Instead, they argue that strong, well-rounded storytelling should encompass the entire spectrum of Black experiences. In addition to this argument, they also recommend several indie films written by and centered around Black people, so be sure to check it out if you're looking to add new films to your watchlist.
Watch the video here.
4. The Unknown Pleasures of “Problematic Romance”
BookTok is often seen as a space where female readers binge-read heterosexual dark romances that feature themes of violence and toxicity despite the central “romantic” relationship. Rather than dismissing this trend outright, bazazilio presents several arguments for why this form of literature exists, even suggesting that, in many ways, it’s perfectly valid for fiction to be the vehicle used to explore these taboos.
Watch the video here.
If you have any video essays that you love, I would love to check them out! Seriously, send me the links. A solid video essay is as good as gold!
Happy watching, and I’ll see you next week!
