Also, Burnham's air conditioner is set to precisely 69 degrees throughout this whole faux music video. And she's with us now to tell us more about it. ", "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. Thematically, it deals with the events of 2020, rising wealth inequality, racial injustice, isolation, mental health, social media, and technologys role in our lives. "This show is called 'what.,' and I hope there are some surprises for you," he says as he goes to set down the water bottle. His new Netflix special Inside was directed, written and performed all inside one room. We see Burnham moving around in the daylight, a welcome contrast to the dark setting of "All Eyes on Me." Not only has his musical range expanded his pastiche of styles includes bebop, synth-pop and peppy show tunes Burnham, who once published a book of poems, has also become as meticulous and creative with his visual vocabulary as his language. ", "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? I don't know exactly how it tracks his experience, Bo Burnham, the person, right? Bo Burnhams Inside: A Comedy Special and an Inspired Experiment, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/01/arts/television/bo-burnham-inside-comedy.html. On June 9, Burnham released the music from the special in an album titled Inside (The Songs), which hit No. But by using this meta-narrative throughout the whole special, Burnham messes with our ability to know when we're seeing a genuine struggle with artistic expression versus a meticulously staged fictional breakdown. Hes bedraggled, increasingly unshaven, growing a Rasputin-like beard. Bo Burnham defined an era when he created Inside. At various points, the gamer is given the option to make the character cry. Something went wrong. But I described it to a couple of people as, you know, this looks like what the inside of my head felt like because of his sort of restlessness, his desire to create, create, create. HOLMES: Right. Burnham starts spiraling in a mental health crisis, mentioning suicidal ideation after lamenting his advance into his 30s. 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. Mid-song, a spotlight turns on Burnham and shows him completely naked as a voice sings: "Well, well, look who's inside again. The scene cuts to black and we see Burnham waking up in his small pull-out couch bed, bookending the section of the special that started when him going to sleep. Self-awareness does not absolve anybody of anything.". HOLMES: It felt very true to me, not in the literal sense. He also costarred in the Oscar-winning movie "Promising Young Woman," filmed in 2019. He doesn't really bother with any kind of transitions. 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. Mirroring the earlier scene where Burnham went to sleep, now Burnham is shown "waking up.". But now Burnham is back. 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. It's a heartbreaking chiding coming from his own distorted voice, as if he's shaming himself for sinking back into that mental state. It has extended versions of songs, cut songs, and alternate versions of songs that were eventually deleted; but is mainly comprised of outtakes. Bo Burnham: Inside is a devastating portrait of the actor-director-singer-comedian's dysfunctional interiority and 2020's unyielding assault on mental and social health. You know, as silly as that one is, some of the other ones are more sedate. That's what it is. WebA Girl and an Astronaut. I've been singing that song for about a week NOW. So for our own little slice of the world, Burnham's two time spans seem to be referencing the start and end of an era in our civilization. See our analysis of the end of the special, and why Burnham's analogy for depression works so well. Teeuwen's performance shows a twisted, codependent relationship between him and the puppet on his hand, something Burnham is clearly channeling in his own sock puppet routine in "Inside.". WebBo Burnham: Inside is by far one of the riskiest and original comedy specials to come out in years. 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. (The question is no longer, Do you want to buy Wheat Thins?, for example. The special is hitting an emotional climax as Burnham shows us both intense anger and then immediately after, a deep and dark sadness. Hiding a mysterious past, a mother lives like a nameless fugitive with her daughter as they make hotels their home and see everyone else as a threat. And I think that's what you're getting here. The title card appears in white, then changes to red, signaling that a camera is recording. Thank you, Michel. So in "Inside," when we see Burnham recording himself doing lighting set up and then accidentally pull down his camera was that a real blooper he decided to edit in? Thank you so much for joining us. That quiet simplicity doesn't feel like a relief, but it is. All rights reserved. "You say the ocean's rising, like I give a s---, you say the whole world's ending, honey it already did, you're not gonna slow it, heaven knows you tried," he sings. WebBo Burnham is more than a comedian he's a writer-director-actor who first went viral in 2006. The clean, tidy interior that first connected "Inside" with "Make Happy" is gone in its place is a mess-riddled space. People experiencing depression often stop doing basic self-care tasks, like showering or laundry or brushing their teeth. Burnham is an extraordinary actor, and "Inside" often feels like we're watching the intimate, real interior life of an artist. Burnham reacts to his reaction of the song, this time saying, Im being a little pretentious. It's conscious of self. of the internet, welcoming everyone with a decadent menu of options while disco lights twirl. Burnham reacts to his reaction to his reaction to his reaction, focusing so intently on his body and image that he panics, stops the videoand then smiles at his audience, thanking them for watching. He takes it, and Burnham cries robotically as a tinny version of the song about being stuck in the room plays. The penultimate song, "All Eyes On Me," is the best in the whole special, in this writer's opinion. When we saw that projection the first time, Burnham's room was clean and orderly. He takes a break in the song to talk about how he was having panic attacks on stage while touring the "Make Happy" special, and so he decided to stop doing live shows. "You say the whole world's ending, honey it already did, you're not gonna slow it, heaven knows you tried. In this case, it's likely some combination of depression/anxiety/any other mental disorder. According to a May 2021 Slate article, the piece was filmed at Bo Burnhams Los Angeles guest housethe same room used for June 2016s Are You Happy? and the closing shots of the Make Happy special. This special spoke to me closer and clearer than Ive ever felt with another person. It's self-conscious. He has one where he's just sitting on a stool with an acoustic guitar describing our modern world. Now, you heard me struggling to describe what this is, so help me out. And many people will probably remember his 2018 movie, "Eighth Grade." ", He then pulls the same joke again, letting the song play after the audience's applause so it seems like a mistake. Well, well, buddy you found it, now come out with your hands up we've got you surrounded.". My heart hurts with and for him. "Inside" kicks off with Burnham reentering the same small studio space he used for the end of "Make Happy," when the 2016 Netflix special transitioned from the live stage to Burnham suddenly sitting down at his piano by himself to sing one final song for the at-home audience. 1 on Billboards comedy albums chart and eventually climbed to No. Instead of working his muscles at open mics or in improv, Burnham uploaded joke songs to the platform in 2006. jonnyewers 30 May 2021. and concludes that if it's mean, it's not funny. Having this frame of reference may help viewers better understand the design of "Inside." On the Netflix special, however, Josh Senior is credited as a producer, Cooper Wehde is an assistant producer, and a number of people are credited for post-production, editing, and logistical coordinating. Now, the term is applied to how viewers devote time, energy, and emotion to celebrities and content creators like YouTubers, podcasters, and Twitch streamers people who do not know they exist. A college student navigates life and school while dealing with a unique predicament he's living with a beautiful former K-pop sensation. Parasocial relationships are neutral, and how we interact with them is usually a mixed bag. As we explained in this breakdown of 31 details you might have missed in "Inside," Bo Burnham's newest special is a poioumenon a type of artistic work that tells the story of its own creation. The final shot is of him looking positively orgasmic, eyes closed, on the cross. The whole song sounds like you're having a religious experience with your own mental disorder, especially when new harmonies kick in. In the same way that earlier vocal distortion represented God, the effect on his voice in "All Eyes on Me" seems to signal some omniscient force outside of Burnham. He's freely admitting that self-awareness isn't enough while also clearly unable to move away from that self-aware comedic space he so brilliantly holds. Went out to look for a reason to hide again. But, of course, it tangles that right back up; this emotional post was, ultimately, still Content. As he shows in this new sketch, he's aware at a meta level that simply trying to get ahead of the criticism that could be tossed his way is itself a performance sometimes. 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.". A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio (John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris) onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy. / Are you having fun? The crowd directions are no longer stock pop song lyrics; now, the audience understands them as direct orders to them from Burnham. Web9/10. He's the writer, director, editor, and star of this show. You know, I was not, you know, I was alone, but I was not trapped in one room. Its horrific.". The song begins with a fade in from back, the shot painfully close to Burnhams face as he looks off to the side. "I'm criticizing my initial reaction for being pretentious, which is honestly a defense mechanism," he says. Audiences who might not read a 1956 essay by researchers about news anchors still see much of the same discussion in Inside. Daddy made you your favorite. A gift shop at the gun range, a mass shooting at the mall. All Eyes on Me also earned Bo his first Grammy win for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 2022 Grammys. Feelings of depersonalization and derealization can be very disturbing and may feel like you're living in a dream.". 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. In White Womans Instagram, the comedian assumes the role of a white woman and sings a list of common white lady Instagram posts (Latte foam art / Tiny pumpkins / Fuzzy, comfy socks) while acting out even more cliched photos in the video with wild accuracy. "), Burnham sang a parody song called "Sad" about, well, all the sad stuff in the world. This is when the musical numbers (and in-between skits) become much more grim. While he's laying in bed, eyes about the close, the screen shows a flash of an open door. Remember how Burnham's older, more-bearded self popped up at the beginning of "Inside" when we were watching footage of him setting up the cameras and lighting? The tension between creator and audience is a prominent theme in Burnhams work, likely because he got his start on YouTube. 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. Burnhams online success and an awareness of what kind of his audiences perceived closeness made the comedian key to one of the most prominent discussions in a creator- and influencer-driven era of media: the idea of parasocial relationships. It's prison. Please enter a valid email and try again. Bo Burnham: Inside, was written, edited, and directed by the talent himself and the entire show is shot in one room. he sings as he refers to his birth name. Simply smiling at the irony of watching his own movie come to life while he's still inside? It's wonderful to be with you. The piece also highlights Bos anxieties with becoming older and his legacy as a comedian. Right after the song ends, the shot of Burnham's guest house returns but this time it's filled with clutter. Its easy to see Unpaid Intern as one scene and the reaction videos as another, but in the lens of parasocial relationships, digital media, and workers rights, the song and the reactions work as an analysis for another sort of labor exploitation: content creation. Yes, Bo Burnham posted a trailer via Twitter on April 28, 2021. Burnham's earlier Netflix specials and comedy albums. ", The Mayo Clinic defines depersonalization-derealization disorder as occurring "when you persistently or repeatedly have the feeling that you're observing yourself from outside your body or you have a sense that things around you aren't real, or both. The special is available exclusively on Netflix, while the album can be found on most streaming platforms. MARTIN: And it's deep, too. 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. The voices of the characters eventually blend together to tell the live Burnham on stage, We think we know you.. It also seems noteworthy that this is one of the only sketches in "Inside" that fades to black. It's an instinct that I have where I need everything that I write to have some deeper meaning or something, but it's a stupid song and it doesn't really mean anything, and it's pretty unlikable that I feel this desperate need to be seen as intelligent.". And he's done virtually no press about it. Might not help, but still, it couldn't hurt.". "And so today I'm gonna try just getting up, sitting down, going back to work. "Robert's been a little depressed," he sings (referring to himself by his birthname). The battery is full, but no numbers are moving. LINDA HOLMES, BYLINE: Thank you, Michel. For fans who struggle with panic attacks (myself included) its a comfort to see yourself represented in an artist whose work you respect. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. In his new Netflix special, Inside, Bo Burnham sings about trying to be funny while stuck in a room. And notably, Burnhams work focuses on parasocial relationships not from the perspective of the audience, but the perspective of the performer.Inside depicts how being a creator can feel: you are a cult leader, you are holding your audience hostage, your audience is holding you hostage, you are your audience, your audience can never be you, you need your audience, and you need to escape your audience. "And I spent that time trying to improve myself mentally. But it doesn't. BURNHAM: (Singing) Start a rumor, buy a broom or send a death threat to a Boomer. But on the other hand, it is lyrically so playful. Look at them, they're just staring at me, like 'Come and watch the skinny kid with a steadily declining mental health, and laugh as he attempts to give you what he cannot give himself. It's like Burnham's special has swallowed you whole, bringing you fully into his mind at last. "The quiet comprehending of the ending of it all," is another of Burnham's lyrics in this song that seems to speak to the idea that civilization is nearing collapse, and also touches on suicidal ideation. The fun thing about this is he started writing it and recording it early on, so you get to see clips of him singing it both, you know, with the short hair and with the long hair - when he had just started this special and when he was finishing it. The global pandemic and subsequent lockdown orders of March 2020 put a stop to these plans. Likewise. Transcript Comedian and filmmaker Bo Burnham used his time alone during the pandemic to create a one-man show. Once he's decided he's done with the special, Burnham brings back all the motifs from the earlier songs into "Goodbye," his finale of this musical movie. BURNHAM: (Singing) The live-action "Lion King," the Pepsi halftime show, 20,000 years of this, seven more to go. All Eyes on Me takes a different approach to rattling the viewer. WebBo Burnham's new Netflix comedy special "Inside" is jam-packed with references to his previous work. Similarly, Burnham often speaks to the audience by filming himself speaking to himself in a mirror. They Cloned Tyrone. 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. The label of parasocial relationship is meant to be neutral, being as natural and normal and, frankly, inescapable as familial or platonic relationships. "I don't know that it's not," he said. Disclosure: Mathias Dpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member. And I don't think that I can handle this right now. And did you have any favorites? 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. At the start of the special, Burnham sings "Content," setting the stage for his musical-comedy. . 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. There's no more time left to add to the camera's clock. The aesthetic telegraphs authenticity and vulnerability, but the specials stunning final shots reveal the misdirection at work, encouraging skepticism of the performativity of such realism. The song brings with it an existential dread, but Burnham's depression-voice tells us not to worry and sink into nihilism. The flow chat for "Is it funny?" "Got it? It is set almost entirely within one room of his Los Angeles guest house, the same one shown in the closing song of the June 2016 Make Happy special, titled Are you happy?.
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