Using cinematic tools other comics overlook, the star (who is also the director, editor and cameraman) trains a glaring spotlight on internet life mid-pandemic. Burnham brings back all the motifs from the earlier songs into his finale, revisiting all the stages of emotion he took us through for the last 90 minutes. Burnham says he had quit live comedy several years ago because of panic attacks and returned in January 2020 before, as he puts it in typical perverse irony, the funniest thing happened.. Open wide.. It feels like the ending of a show, a climax, but it's not. But before that can register, Burnham's eyes have closed and the special transitions to the uncannily catchy song "S---," bopping about how he hasn't showered in nine days or done any laundry. And now depression has its grips in him. Like most of Burnhams specials, it includes comedic songs and creative lighting effects. All Eyes on Me also earned Bo his first Grammy win for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 2022 Grammys. His 2014 song Repeat Stuff and its music video parodies how boy bands and other corporately-owned pop stars prey on young fans desire to feel loved by writing songs with lyrics vague enough anyone can feel like it was written specifically about them. He is leaving it to speak for itself in terms of what it says about isolation and sadness. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Now, hes come a long way since his previous specials titled What. and Make Happy, where his large audiences roared with laughter Oops. Bo Burnhams Inside: A Comedy Special and an Inspired Experiment, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/01/arts/television/bo-burnham-inside-comedy.html. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. I have a funky memory and I sometimes can't remember things from something I've watched, even if it was just yesterday. Each of the songs from the first half of the special are in line with Burnham's earlier Netflix specials and comedy albums. From the very beginning of "Inside," Burnham makes it clear that the narrative arc of the special will be self-referential. Disclosure: Mathias Dpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member. But during the bridge of the song, he imagines a post from a woman dedicated to her dead mother, and the aspect ratio on the video widens. Released on May 30, 2021, Bo Burnham wrote, recorded, directed, and produced Inside while in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Similarly, Burnham often speaks to the audience by filming himself speaking to himself in a mirror. When that future-Burnham appears, it's almost like a precursor to what he'll have shown us by the end of the special: That both he, and his audience, could never have known just how brutal the next year was about to be. Like he's parodying white people who think that by crucifying themselves first they're somehow freed from the consequences of their actions. One comment stuck out to me: Theres something really powerful and painful about, hearing his actual voice singing and breaking at certain points. Please enter a valid email and try again. Hes been addressing us the entire time. he sings as he refers to his birth name. Viewer discretion is advised. MARTIN: This special is titled, appropriately enough, "Inside," and it is streaming on Netflix now. The song is like having a religious experience with your own mental disorder. Tell us a little bit more about that. Went out to look for a reason to hide again. Netflix did, however, post Facetime with My Mom (Tonight) on YouTube. Self-awareness does not absolve anybody of anything.". I got so much better, in fact, that in January of 2020, I thought 'you know what I should start performing again. Not in the traditional senseno music was released prior to the special other than a backing track from Content found in the trailer. All rights reserved. Burnham quickly shifts from the song to a reaction video of the song itself in the style of a YouTuber or Twitch streamer. The video is an hour-long edit of footage that was deleted from the making of Inside. He tries to talk into the microphone, giving his audience a one-year update. Burnham skewers himself as a virtue-signaling ally with a white-savior complex, a bully and an egoist who draws a Venn diagram and locates himself in the overlap between Weird Al and Malcolm X. Self-awareness does not absolve anyone of anything, he says. That's when the younger Burnham, the one from the beginning of his special-filming days, appears. There's also another little joke baked into this bit, because the game is made by a company called SSRI interactive the most common form of antidepressant drugs are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, aka SSRIs. He is not talking about it very much. In this case, it's likely some combination of depression/anxiety/any other mental disorder. Some of this comes through in how scenes are shot and framed: its common for the special to be filmed, projected onto Burnhams wall (or, literally, himself), and then filmed again for the audience. HOLMES: Yeah. Today We'll Talk About That Day ", When asked about the inspiration for the song, like if people he knew thought he was gay, Burnham said, "A lot of my close friends were gay, and, you know, I wasn't certain I wasn't at that point.". WebStuck in a passionless marriage, a journalist must choose between her distant but loving husband and a younger ex-boyfriend who has reentered her life. "Got it? This sketch, like the "White Woman Instagram" song, shows one of Burnham's writing techniques of bringing a common Internet culture into a fictionalized bit. "And so, today, I'm gonna try just getting up, sitting down, going back to work. Accuracy and availability may vary. Exploring mental health decline over 2020, the constant challenges our world faces, and the struggles of life itself, Bo Burnham creates a wonderful masterpiece to explain each of these, both from general view and personal experience. You know, as silly as that one is, some of the other ones are more sedate. For fans who struggle with panic attacks (myself included) its a comfort to see yourself represented in an artist whose work you respect. The picturesque view of sun-soaked clouds was featured in "Comedy," during the section of the song when Burnham stood up and decided that the only thing he (or his character in the song) could do was "heal the world with comedy.". For all the ways Burnham had been desperate to leave the confines of his studio, now that he's able to go back out into the world (and onto a real stage), he's terrified. The special is available exclusively on Netflix, while the album can be found on most streaming platforms. Burnham spent his teen years doing theater and songwriting, which led to his first viral video on YouTube a song he now likely categorizes as "offensive.". Its a lyrically dense song with camerawork that speeds up with its rhythm. Maybe we'll call it isolation theater. But then the music tells the audience that "he meant to play the track again" and that "art's still a lie, nothing's still real.". That his special is an indictment of the internet by an artist whose career was born and flourished there is the ultimate joke. This is a heartbreaking chiding coming from Burnham's own distorted voice, as if he's shaming himself for sinking back into that mental state. A part of me loves you, part of me hates you / Part of me needs you, part of me fears you / [. A gift shop at the gun range, a mass shooting at the mall. Theres a nostalgic sweetness to this song, but parts of it return throughout the show, in darker forms, one of many variations on a theme. [1] Created in the guest house of Burnham's Los Angeles home during the COVID-19 pandemic without a crew or audience, it was released on Netflix on May 30, 2021. But on the other hand, it is lyrically so playful. Later in Inside, Burnham thanks the audience for their support while holding them at knifepoint. That quiet simplicity doesn't feel like a relief, but it is. When we see it again towards the end of the special, it's from a new camera angle. But the cultural standards of what is appropriate comedy and also the inner standards of my own mind have changed rapidly since I was 16. After about 35 minutes of candy-colored, slickly designed sketch comedy, the tone shifts with Burnhams first completely earnest song, a lovely indie-rock tune with an ear worm of a hook about trying to be funny and stuck in a room. This is the shows hinge. WebBo's transcripts on Scraps From The Loft. Likewise. It's wonderful to be with you. Its a feat, the work of a gifted experimentalist whose craft has caught up to his talent. Sitting in the meeting room, not making a sound becomes the perceived 24/7 access fans have to DM you, reply to you, ask you questions. Most sources discuss fictional characters, news anchors, childrens show hosts, or celebrity culture as a whole. I'm talking to you, get the f--- up.". All Eyes on Me takes a different approach to rattling the viewer. For the album, Bo is credited as writer, performer, and producer on every song. I think you're getting from him, you know, the entertainment element. If we continue to look at it from the lens of a musical narrative, this is the point at which our protagonist realizes he's failed at his mission. And its easier to relax when the video focuses on a separate take of Burnham singing from farther away, the frame now showing the entire room. Burnham spoofs a PewDiePie-like figure a YouTuber who narrates his playing of a video game with a dead-eyed smugness, as shown in an image at the bottom-right corner of the screen. When Burnham's character decides he doesn't want to actually hear criticism from Socko, he threatens to remove him, prompting Socko's subservience once again, because "that's how the world works.". You can tell that he's watched a ton of livestream gamers, and picked up on their intros, the way the talk with people in the chat, the cadence of their commentary on the game, everything. On May 30, 2022, Burnham uploaded the video Inside: The Outtakes, to his YouTube channel, marking a rare original upload, similar to how he used his YouTube channel when he was a teenager. In the song Problematic, Burnham sings about his past problematic behavior, asking the audience, Isnt anyone going to hold me accountable? The specials intermission looks like a clear view into Burnhams room, until Burnham washes a window between himself and the viewer an explicit, but invisible, boundary between creator and audience. "You say the whole world's ending, honey it already did, you're not gonna slow it, heaven knows you tried. Don't overthink this, look in my eye don't be scared, don't be shy, come on in the water's fine."). He was only 16. The first comes when Burnham looks directly into the camera as he addresses the audience, singing, Are you feeling nervous? But before that can register, Burnham's eyes have closed and the special transitions to the uncannily catchy song "S---," bopping about how he hasn't showered in nine days or done any laundry. But Burnham is of course the writer, director, editor, and star of this show. "That's a good start. And finally today, like many of us, writer, comedian and filmmaker Bo Burnham found himself isolated for much of last year - home alone, growing a beard, trying his best to stay sane. But then the video keeps playing, and so he winds up reacting to his own reaction, and then reacting yet again to that reaction. HOLMES: It felt very true to me, not in the literal sense. But usually there is one particular voice that acts as a disembodied narrator character, some omniscient force that needles Burnham in the middle of his stand up (like the voice in "Make Happy" that interrupts Burnham's set to call him the f-slur). Now we've come full circle from the start of the special, when Burnham sang about how he's been depressed and decided to try just getting up, sitting down, and going back to work. Other than Fred Rogers, Bo Burnham is one of the most cited single individual creators when discussing parasocial relationships. It's a quiet, banal scene that many people coming out of a depressive episode might recognize. Thank you so much for joining us. Photograph: Netflix Its a measure of the quality of Inside 1.0 that this stuff could end up on the cutting-room floor. In recent years, he has begun directing other comics specials, staging stand-up sets by Chris Rock and Jerrod Carmichael with his signature extreme close-ups. At the beginning of "Inside," Burnham is not only coming back to that same room, but he's wearing a very similar outfit: jeans, T-shirt, and sneakers picking up right back where he left off. "Problematic" is a roller coaster of self-awareness, masochism, and parody. You can stream "Inside" on Netflix now, and see our ranking of all 20 original songs from the special here. Copyright 2021 NPR. "They say it's like the 'me' generation. But he meant to knock the water over, yeah yeah yeah, art is a lie nothing is real. The song brings with it an existential dread, but Burnham's depression-voice tells us not to worry and sink into nihilism. The song begins with a fade in from back, the shot painfully close to Burnhams face as he looks off to the side. How does one know if the joke punches down? For those who are unaware, Bos real name is Robert Burnham. He's self-evaluating his own visual creation in the same way people will often go back to look at their Instagram stories or posts to see how it looks after they've shared it. "Healing the world with comedy, the indescribable power of your comedy," the voice sings. ", "I do not think my intention was homophobic, but what is the implicit comedy of that song if you chase it all the way down? And I think the pandemic was a time when a lot of people were in this do I laugh or cry space in their own minds. The question is now, Will you support Wheat Thins in the fight against Lyme disease?). A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Bo Burnhams Inside begs for our parasocial awareness, Sign up for the He's showing us how terrifying it can be to present something you've made to the world, or to hear laughter from an audience when what you were hoping for was a genuine connection. WebBo Burnham: Inside is by far one of the riskiest and original comedy specials to come out in years. "The poioumenon is calculated to offer opportunities to explore the boundaries of fiction and reality the limits of narrative truth," Fowler wrote in his book "A History of English Literature.". It's progress. LINDA HOLMES, BYLINE: Thank you, Michel. Comedian and filmmaker Bo Burnham used his time alone during the pandemic to create a one-man show. Burnham reacts to his reaction of the song, this time saying, Im being a little pretentious. Well, well, buddy you found it, now come out with your hands up we've got you surrounded.". While he's laying in bed, eyes about the close, the screen shows a flash of an open door. I hope to see you inside at some point. "), Burnham sang a parody song called "Sad" about, well, all the sad stuff in the world. After more sung repetitions of get your fuckin hands up, Burnham says, Get up. That's a really clever, fun little rhyme in this, you know, kind of heavy song. WebA Girl and an Astronaut. He slaps his leg in frustration, and eventually gives a mirthless laugh before he starts slamming objects around him. A distorted voice is back again, mocking Burnham as he sits exposed on his fake stage: "Well, well, look who's inside again. Feelings of depersonalization and derealization can be very disturbing and may feel like you're living in a dream.". During that taping, Burnham said his favorite comic at the time was Hans Teeuwen, a "Dutch absurdist," who has a routine with a sock puppet that eats a candy bar as Teeuwen sings. Went out to look for a reason to hide again. And then, of course, he had previous standup comedy specials. I was not, you know, having these particular experiences. It's a reprieve of the lyrics Burnham sang earlier in the special when he was reminiscing about being a kid stuck in his room. And that can be a really - if you're not very good at it, that kind of thing, where there's a balance between sort of the sarcastic and ironic versus the very sincere can be really exhausting. ", "On September 17, the clock began counting down from seven years, 103 days, 15 hours, 40 minutes and seven seconds, displayed in red," the Smithsonian reported. Burnham reacts to his reaction to his reaction: Im so afraid that this criticism will be levied against me that I levy it against myself before anyone else can. The video keeps going. Anything and everything all of the time. Likewise, the finale of Burnhams next special, Make Happy (2016) closes in a song called Handle This (Kanye Rant). The song starts as him venting his hyperbolically small problems, until the tone shifts, and he starts directly addressing the audience, singing: The truth is, my biggest problem is you / [. An astronaut's return after a 30-year disappearance rekindles a lost love and sparks interest from a corporation determined to learn why he hasn't aged. WebA biotech genius tries to bounce back from the depths of grief with help from his son, who works to escape his dads shadow and save the family business. Still, its difficult not to be lulled back into, again, this absolute banger. Its a visual that signifies a man exposing himself, until you realize hes in a spotlight. Right after the song ends, the shot of Burnham's guest house returns but this time it's filled with clutter. HOLMES: Thank you. In the song, Burnham specifically mentions looking up "derealization," a disorder that may "feel like you're living in a dream. But now Burnham is showing us the clutter of the room where "Inside" was filmed. My heart hurts with and for him. The penultimate song "All Eyes on Me" makes for a particularly powerful moment. See our full breakdown of every detail and reference you might have missed in "Inside" here. And many people will probably remember his 2018 movie, "Eighth Grade." And did you have any favorites? The piece also highlights Bos anxieties with becoming older and his legacy as a comedian. Still terrified of that spotlight? Burnham watching the end of his special on a projector also brings the poioumenon full circle the artist has finished their work and is showing you the end of the process it took to create it. Back in 2010, Burnham appeared on Showtime's "The Green Room," a comics round table hosted by Paul Provenza. BURNHAM: (Singing) Start a rumor, buy a broom or send a death threat to a Boomer. In this time-jumping dramedy, a workaholic who's always in a rush now wants life to slow down when he finds himself leaping ahead a year every few hours. The whole video is filmed like one big thirst trap as he sweats and works out. Burnham's growth is admirable, but also revealing of how little we expect from men in the industry. HOLMES: I liked a bunch of the songs in this, and a lot of them are silly songs about the things that his comedy has already been concerned with for a long time, right? Partway through the song, the battery icon switches to low and starts blinking in warning as if death is imminent. It's as if Burnham knows there are valid criticisms of him that haven't really stuck in the public discourse around his work. I feel very close and intimate with him in this version. But, of course, it tangles that right back up; this emotional post was, ultimately, still Content. His new Netflix special Inside was directed, written and performed all inside one room. Transcript Comedian and filmmaker Bo Burnham used his time alone during the pandemic to create a one-man show. It moves kind of all over the place. Might not help, but still, it couldn't hurt.". At the forefront of this shift has been Bo Burnham, one of YouTubes earliest stars, who went on to make his own innovative specials with satirical songs backed by theatrical lighting and disembodied voices. Poioumenon (from the Greek word for "product") is a term created by author Alastair Fowler and usually used to refer to a kind of metafiction. It's a quiet, banal scene that many people coming out of a depressive episode might recognize. Now get inside.". Then he moves into a new layer of reaction, where he responds to that previous comment. Other artists have made works on the wavelength of Repeat Stuff, but few creators with a platform as large as Burnhams return to the topic over and over, touching on it in almost all of their works. Parasocial relationships are neutral, and how we interact with them is usually a mixed bag. But, like so many other plans and hopes people had in the early months of the pandemic, that goal proved unattainable. HOLMES: Yeah. And you know what? Its called INSIDE, and it will undoubtedly strike your hearts forevermore. of the internet, welcoming everyone with a decadent menu of options while disco lights twirl. Burnhams eyes are sharply in focus; the rest of him faded out subtly, a detail you might not even notice with how striking his eyes are. Burnham slaps his leg in frustration and eventually gives a mirthless laugh before he starts slamming objects around him. Though it does have a twist. I like this song, Burnham says, before pointing out the the lack of modern songs about labor exploitation. The vocal key used in "All Eyes On Me" could be meant to represent depression, an outside force that is rather adept at convincing our minds to simply stay in bed, to not care, and to not try anymore. It's a heartbreaking chiding coming from his own distorted voice, as if he's shaming himself for sinking back into that mental state. The final shot is of him looking positively orgasmic, eyes closed, on the cross. And while its an ominous portrait of the isolation of the pandemic, theres hope in its existence: Written, designed and shot by Burnham over the last year inside a single room, it illustrates that theres no greater inspiration than limitations. BURNHAM: (Singing) Could I interest you in everything all of the time, a little bit of everything all of the time? Known as "Art is a Lie, Nothing is Real," there's a bit Burnham did at the start of his 2013 special "what." Toward the end, he appears completely naked behind his keyboard. According to the special, Bo decided he was ready to begin doing stand-up again in January 2020, after dealing with panic attacks onstage during his previous tour, the Make Happy Tour of 2015-2016. But it doesn't. Whatever it is, NPR's Linda Holmes, host of Pop Culture Happy Hour, has reviewed it, and she liked it. And the very format of it, as I said, it's very much this kind of sinister figure trying to get you interested. Inside takes topics discussed academically, analytically, and delivers them to a new audience through the form of a comedy special by a widely beloved performer. Let's take a closer look at just a few of those bubbles, shall we? Simply smiling at the irony of watching his own movie come to life while he's still inside? And like those specials, Inside implores fans to think about deeper themes as well as how we think about comedy as a genre. The frame is intimate, and after such an intense special, something about that intimacy feels almost dangerous, like you should be preparing for some kind of emotional jump scare. Doona! And it portends and casts doubt on a later scene when his mental health frays and Burnham cries in earnest. "Trying to be funny and stuck in a room, there isn't much more to say about it," he starts in a new song after fumbling a first take. That cloud scene was projected onto Burnham during the section of "Comedy" when Burnham stood up right after the God-like voice had given him his directive to "heal the world with comedy." He points it at himself as he sways, singing again: Get your fuckin hands up / Get on out of your seat / All eyes on me, all eyes on me.. Bo Burnhams 2021 special, Inside. Burnham wrote out: "Does it target those who have been disenfranchised in a historical, political, social, economic and/or psychological context?". And it has a real feel of restlessness to it, almost like stream of consciousness. It's a hint at the promised future; the possibility of once again being able to go outside and feel sunlight again. One of those is the internet itself. True, but it can deepen and clarify art. newsletter, On Parasocial Relationships and the Boundaries of Celebrity, Bo Burnham and the Trap of Parasocial Self-Awareness.. Down to the second, the clock changes to midnight exactly halfway through the runtime of "Inside.".
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