James MacDowell
jamesmacdowell.bsky.social
James MacDowell
@jamesmacdowell.bsky.social
'The Lesser Feat' on YouTube. Warwick University film/media scholar & video essayist. Researching YouTube aesthetics, irony & intention. Unionize. Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thelesserfeat6298
There were very few living artists to whom I’d apply the term “genius” without question; Lynch was one of them. Sharing one of my favourite photos in tribute: Lynch, Waters & Big Boy.
January 18, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Reposted by James MacDowell
I was pointed in the direction of this interview with @lewisgoodall.com - it's very indicative of what's going wrong with politics.

Of course this isnt one person or podcasts fault but it's very revealing of why we get the politics we've got.

youtu.be/1Gy2sTZY6Ds?...

🧵/10
Lewis Goodall reacts to the insanity British politics in 2024 | Podcast #107
YouTube video by PoliticsJOE
youtu.be
December 30, 2024 at 12:47 PM
Reposted by James MacDowell
Thrilled to appear on the Sight and Sound list for the Best Video Essays of 2024 with @jamesmacdowell.bsky.social for our essay, ‘Autofictional Authenticity’ (intransition.openlibhums.org/article/id/1...). In great company too!

www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-so...
The best video essays of 2024
From film festivals to TikTok, our annual poll showcases 183 unique video essays nominated by 47 international voters.
www.bfi.org.uk
December 18, 2024 at 5:27 PM
November 28, 2024 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by James MacDowell
For new Bluesky friends, here's a little self-promo, for my new book. It explores the metamodern sensibility as it's been occurring in the arts and pop culture since 2000-ish. Nicely, I've been hearing that it is both accessible for regular readers and meaningful to academics. amzn.to/4eeuHLN
Say Hello to Metamodernism!: Understanding Today's Culture of Ironesty, Felt Experience, and Empathic Reflexivity
Say Hello to Metamodernism!: Understanding Today's Culture of Ironesty, Felt Experience, and Empathic Reflexivity [Dember, Greg] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Say Hello to Metamodernism!: Understanding Today's Culture of Ironesty, Felt Experience, and Empathic Reflexivity
amzn.to
November 22, 2024 at 6:41 PM
Reposted by James MacDowell
Forthcoming 2025 with @plutopress.bsky.social, written with @kaiheron.bsky.social and @kmilb.bsky.social

Radical Abundance: How to Win a Green Democratic Future.
November 21, 2024 at 1:59 PM
Currently experiencing that feeling when your friend gets some extremely relieving news, making you belatedly realise how hyper-anxious you’ve been for them 🥲
a man in front of a green chalkboard with the word yes on it
ALT: a man in front of a green chalkboard with the word yes on it
media.tenor.com
November 19, 2024 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by James MacDowell
Are you a film & media scholar who wants to learn how to make video essays? Applications for the two-week June 2025 workshop Scholarship in Sound & Image at Middlebury College in Vermont are now open. Come be a videocamper and spread the word!
Scholarship in Sound & Image
Workshop on Videographic Criticism
sites.middlebury.edu
November 18, 2024 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by James MacDowell
New here -

Followed by lots of academic/video essay people, so here’s my work page: warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/sca...

And here’s a link to a video essay @jamesmacdowell.bsky.social and I collaborated on this year: intransition.openlibhums.org/article/id/1...
Autofictional Authenticity: Bo Burnham’s Inside, Netflix Comedy and YouTube Aesthetics
A close analysis of the Netflix comedy special Bo Burnham: Inside (2021). This video essay explores Inside’s ambivalent aesthetics of ‘authenticity’ and self-reflexivity via comparis...
intransition.openlibhums.org
November 14, 2024 at 8:23 AM
Feel like a really interesting pairing with ANORA would be Ophuls' CAUGHT. Actually, RECKLESS MOMENT too...
November 15, 2024 at 9:55 AM
My latest video essay is an adaptation of a work-in-progress article, 'YouTube, Autofiction & Self-Performance'. A long-belated, sort-of-sequel to my 'Notes on YouTube Art', it focuses mainly on blurred lines between fiction/nonfiction in the work of @contrapoints.bsky.social. Link below...
November 13, 2024 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by James MacDowell
There wasn't a good list of accounts related to video essays - so I made this starter pack! Who did I miss? Who do you know who should join Bluesky to share & talk about video essays?
go.bsky.app/PtthhCc
November 10, 2024 at 3:58 PM