Thank you all for the blow up in views! I'm glad that this seems to be something that really spoke to quite a few of you, even if you haven't ever watched the show before, like the reception to this video has been kinda crazy reading all the feedback! If you wanna keep up with me outside of my channel I have a twitter which can be found here: twitter.com/lite_writes_
Diane's fluffy teen mystery books will pull similarly miserable girls out of the hard times, and make it easier to cope. Sometimes the damage inspires you to create a world softer than the one you were given. This doesn't make the art any worse. She's probably going to save more people with fluff, than with her "brave" traumatic book. I'm glad she moved past her ideological objection to feeling good.
Woah, I never thought of it that way but that's so true. Ivy is like the childhood friend that Diane didn't have when she was lonely and growing up as an outcast even in her aggressive family.
@@trafficcontrol2420 yeah but that’s what Horsin Around was for Diane &we see the mental turmoil that comes when she’s inevitably forced to grow away from that fluff. We see how much harder the tragedy of the world hits her because she’s experienced that cushion. I’m not saying that means she shouldn’t write it or that fluff shouldn’t exist for ppl in the show and in real life. It’s just not guaranteed to “save ppl” in the way Diane wants to. She could just be contributing to the same vicious cycle that she herself is still fighting to escape (intense ideological fantasies leading to intense disdain with reality and depression with your circumstances). It’s easy to see why she wouldn’t expect that to be her magnum opus, she probably thought she was essentially selling the same lies that she once bought “justice is served” “everything works out” “you can make your mark on the world if u just try hard enough”
@Littlestraincloud "Sometimes the damage inspires you to create a world softer than the one you were given" That's so true though! Definitely hits home for me; the trauma I experienced from an emotionally abusive relationship might have caused me to write a handful of soft but still relatively real couples in my own stories. And those are a ton of fun to write and draw for me.
One thing that I find genuinely uplifting about Diane's season 6 story is how she underestimated her mystery teen book. She wanted to create something dignified and come from a very personal place. However her teen novel she first saw as fluff and nonsense but it turned out to be something she was better at writing, and the best part is that it reached people inside more than she thought it would.
That's what kinda inspired me to make this to be honest! The feelings I had trying to make my other video were uttered aloud by Diane's journey here and it was a nice breath of relief to remind ourselves not too force creativity!
The way Sonny reacts to her writing makes it abundantly clear that she absolutely is drawing from her life experiences, and it very clearly affects him. It was so so so good.
Reminds me of how the creator of Sailor Moon said she was going through a really hard time when she created sailor moon, and how she wrote about sailor moon and her friends as girls she'd want to be friends with
Diane’s struggle with herself is vaguely similar to a lot of writers I see in the fanfiction community. I have seen these artists start off with the genre of angst and tragedy only to find themselves have more fun writing escapist self inserts. The trade off is interesting to see. They think they are too grown up to indulge themselves and feel like they have to write about deep stuff that has never been seen before, but then they realize they just want to have fun.
Fanfic wise I have enjoyed farces and shitposty comedies the most! I started writing almost ten years ago. I am glad more fanficers feel free to be themselves.
And then there's me, who genuinely loves writing angst, but ONLY if the characters get a happy ending. (I might still pull an "everyone dies" ending, but then there'll be an epilogue in heaven or something.)
Watching Good Damage is an awful experience for me because of how real it is. Every time in my childhood that I was facing adversity after adversity and never got a fucking break from bad thing, traumatic thing, torture #3, existentially terrifying trauma #4, I coped by jokingly saying “my college essays are gonna get me into wherever I want now”. I’m writing my college essays now. These words echo in my head. What will I do after I submit these essays and that trauma isn’t worth anything, and it just exists in all its awfulness? What was it all for? What if it’s too much, and not marketable enough to get me anywhere? Am I doomed? What this episode conveyed is *awful*. This is such a good show.
this portrayal of damaged artists is very connected to the creation of the posthumous image of van gogh. could u consider making a video about the myth of the “starving artist” (how all artists must suffer for their art)?
You know, you've definitely helped me frame my next video! I was struggling to see which angle to go from and this sounds about the right way to go! thank you :D
Van Gogh was exactly what I was thinking of during this video and the idea of "good damage"!! Hearing Van Gogh's life story has always been painful. I felt terrible for him, and it made me want to open a portal through time and give him a hug to tell him that things were going to be okay and that he is appreciated as a human being. But media constantly romanticizes his suffering, to the point that it's cruel. Media says that if you don't suffer horribly in life, you can't create amazing things. I'm a writer and illustrator, and I definetly suffered in my life (so deeply that I now have bad cases of anxiety and stress about the future) but I don't want people to suffer like I did just so they become good artists. Wishing pain and suffering on other people who don't deserve it is terrible, but unfortunately media insists on that idea, even if it does it subtlely.
Never seen Bojack Horseman, and had no idea what this video was about going into it, but the title sounded interesting so I watched. What a lovely and insightful video. You've created good work. But I just want to add, as one trauma survivor to another, that doing good work isn't what gives you value. You are inherently valuable as a person, and I hope you know that. I don't know you, never seen your channel before, but I just want to send you all the love and hugs.
I've gotten to know that over the years, thankfully, and thank youforyour kind words. Still, some old habits die hard and I'll just keep on doing my best to counteract them
Fun fact: The reason your brain blocks out certain events is because if it doesn't (until you're ready) it'll break your psyche and make you go into a coma or even have a psychotic break. 😁🤗 Also it IS okay to have "fun" while working through your trauma. Like writing a detective series instead of a heavy and serious book.
This was the episode that actually inspired me. In my late teens early 20s I went through a very unhealthy situation and thought I could write about it to help young people going through the same experience. But the problem with writing your trauma is having to ruminate over your worst days again and again, every time I stared at what I had written I would fall deeper and deeper . Art doesn’t have to be deep to be meaningful. Now I’m writing a goofier, much more light hearted story that feels exciting to make.
I think one thing fiction writers should keep in mind is that writing isn’t just about putting something deep, dark and profound into the world (though it can be), but about writing a story you want to see in the world. I think a lot of writers, especially ones who’ve dealt with trauma and injustice, get so enamored with the idea of making something meaningful out of it in some way, that they forget what writing is; storytelling. It’s about telling a story with the idea of engaging someone. Even autobiographies are stories, as they help you get to know a specific person. I’ve seen a lot of would be writers who are talented, but get so bogged down by limiting what they see as a valid story that they underestimate themselves. Some writers will erase good ideas and create a boring, unfocused mess and use the story to dump all of their trauma. Onision is this in the worst case; his books are essentially jerk off fantasies indulging in his own inadequacies and struggles rather than a coherent tale with themes and purpose, yet he tries to pass it as high art. And, to be fair, that’s still a valid form of writing, since some people write to cope with trauma. But if you want to write *professionally,* you’ve got to examine yourself and think “Why do I want to make this book? What story do I want to tell? Do I even want to tell a story?” As painful as it is to say, trauma doesn’t always make you more “creative”. Sometimes it makes it harder for you to do what you want. Diane’s “Ivy Tran: Detective” scene was extra poignant to me. I’m by no means a professional writer, but it’s kind of surprising to me how all of my potential stories that are really complex with detailed worldbuilding have been pushed to the wayside for really simple stories with happy endings. Sometimes the story in your head is a bit too complicated to tell, but you can share it in short, simple bursts.
I remember seeing the ‘stupid piece of shit’ episode, and it was relatable. Then, when I saw this one? Diane’s struggle with her self worth and the reflection of what is trauma that shaped her vs who she is at her core, through this sea of sketchy images ending in escapism? I didn’t have words for how much it resonates, and honestly I still don’t. Thank you for this video- it’s so well done, and I look forward to more content from you! Deep and dark or fluffy and fun :^)
Thank you for this incredible video. I feel like most of my life has been perpetually trying to sell my own trauma, as though that is the only meaningful content one can create. You're the first person I've seen who pointed out how unhealthy the memoirs were for Diane, even though she still slightly regrets it. Its a real eye opener.
I used to be creative for 1st half of my life... but not really. That creativity came from being in a horrible place for a long time so my brain was working hard to help me escape into wild fantasy worlds. Once I became helthier, I lost that creativity and I had to learn to let it go and not keep myself unhealthy just for the sake of remaining creative. But at first it was hard to let it go.
Im going through this right now and, I find myself struggling between getting to make music, or getting to be happy, I keep choosing to make at the sacrifice of me
I found this really well done. The explanations for some of the bits was really helpful. I'm a writer, but I think in images. It's so hard to get the things in my head to a page because I cannot draw to save my life, but I think through stories in an image or acting form.
Absolutely wonderful video, I've seen many essays on "Good Damage', but yours is one of the best, if not the best out there. Especially the part when you menton that the difference between you and Diane is thaat she's a creation of multiple writers who have to challenge their struggles in life though fictional character, that was just amzing. Really hope the algorithm picks this video up, you deserve much more views :)
As someone who's generally mentally healthy, I'm still not immune to the idea that good art requires a degree of suffering. When a script comes to me too easily and I'm able to pop out a video in a few days, I often think it must be bad or shallow because of that. The idea that art equals suffering is obviously way more harmful to people with trauma and mental health problems, but it just goes to show how deeply ingrained the cultural idea is.
It’s great to hear more people speaking about something I’ve only recently come to understand, your own life doesn’t need to follow a narrative and sometimes trauma and/or mental illness doesn’t necessarily make you more creative or better off long term the way media narratives tell us. Thank you for this great essay :)
I have a comic strip series that I update weekly. And right now I'm in such a downward spiral I can't come up with new fun strips. All my ideas come from a dark place and I try not to go there... I want to. But i know I shouldn't. I feel so much for this episode
Your video just popped into my recommendation. And I wanted to say, From audience member to creative, you did a good job about explaining your struggle in relation to the video, all while keeping your mental health in mind. I hope you’re doing well.
Diane’s struggle with writing about trauma is definitely something I can relate to. I’m not a pro writer yet, but I aspire to be one and, honestly, I admit I could never write about my hardships. Ever. They might become elements of a backstory for my characters, but there is inevitably a difference added to the mix. Nothing wrong with escapism or taking only elements of your story to create a character. Personally, I’m motivated when the few people who read my stuff say that it helps them feel better or distract themselves. Plus, Diane can still explore mature topics via Ivy Tran if she wants. Maybe Ivy also has to cut off a friend or maybe he dead father was not the idealized image she had in her memory. Maybe her mom starts dating and Ivy has to deal with the awkwardness of having a stepparent and maybe a stepsibling.
On RUclips, every now and then I will search for or YT will give me the clip of Ivy Tran: Mall Detective. It holds a special place in me - Probably cause I used to really want to write mystery novels as a kid, but creatively I've gone in a different direction in my writing (more of a modern fantasy gal now). This video hits the nail on my coffin of 1) why I love this show 2) My own creative struggles, especially as of late (standing at 9 project files with only 3 being worked on). Thank you for opening up and sharing your experience - I very much appreciate it.
I've seen a lot of analysis of Good Damage that skim over writing about personal trauma. Thank you for going deeper so writers like me can understand why we want to justify our trauma
You have no idea how much this video has helped me in the short span of time I watched it. I have been spending time mulling over how to start this project that was basically started because I wanted to make something beautiful out of my past bad experiences, but this video made me realize that I have just been making it harder for myself to write something I ACTUALLY enjoy this whole time. I know this wasn't the original video you planned, but much like Diane's girl detective book, it is so very great in its own way.
Dang it. This is my favorite episode of Bojack Horseman because it perfectly encapsulates my writing process (I kept wanting to write about nuns or the entertainment industry before I finally settled on a mock essay from the P.O.V. of a middle-aged orca). I ended up writing it out of a mixture of boredom and frustration that I couldn't yell about Hollywood foibles or tell a compelling story of a sisterhood of religiously indifferent Captain Planet nuns who fight demons because *GODDAMN IT, HOLLYWOOD COULDN'T KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS OR ITS STEREOTYPING OF NUNS* before it hit me that I couldn't finish either of them, just like Diane couldn't write about her "good damage." and ended up with Ivy Tran - in a way, Pearl Gilmore is my Ivy, and I'm happy for that. Now my orca book turns into a family of witches.
@@LiteWrites A whole lot of writers have fallen into the same trap, and to see this show so bluntly go through that is awesome. Also, my second book is about nostalgia and cheese! *bonk*
I'm a comic artist, and a lot of comic artists do diary comics. So I was between projects and thought "I'll do one about my life." The year I decided to do this, I got laid off from my job and had a long-term relationship end. I was spiraling by the end of the year. I ended the comic because it just reminded me of a traumatic time in my life. It's not available anywhere online and it never will be. Everything from then on is all metaphor, because telling it as it happened was too much for me.
Diane's character means a lot to me and I relate so so much to her, but in this episode especially. Trauma, mental illness, expectations both personal and societal, etc etc. It's really hard not to get stuck in that self destructive cycle, and you really brought out those great points and more in this video :,)
If it's of any consolation... I've been trying to write as well... But my emotions have been insane. And this video has successfully helped to pacify the little screaming infant of emotions inside me. Just enough for me to catch a breath before... Whatever comes next. So... Thank you.
All of what I wanted to say was already beautifully summarised by the other people in the comments, so I'll just second that and say: Your video is engaging and your skill to juggle your personal experiences with the theme of the video and coming to a satisfying conclusion is exceptionally well polished. Thank you for your wonderful insights! 💕
my favourite bit of the episode is that her detective series is so colourful and extravagant in her imagination but her memoir is confusing and badly drawn. it truly shows that it's the thing she was truly meant to write ugh i love bojack horseman everything about the show is perfect
Wow. This is a great video and I relate a looot to Diane’s character throughout this season. I’ve personally gone through my own trauma this year, and I’ve found myself trying to write about it a lot, in some attempt to contextualize or justify what happened. But I’ve realized that it just made me hold on to my misery, and I sat in my own despair instead of actually helping myself. I think Diane’s lesson is one I definitely need to learn, and I thank you for helping me connect the dots between her and myself. Great job :)
The scary thing about trauma is that it was all pointless, that you only lost things due to it. You can spend your life terrified that you missed out on opportunities that would have had without it, and learned nothing empowering or constructive or even lifesaving from anything you've endured. Experience means you can't be naive, yet it doesn't mean you have understood and isolated the personality traits, or social labels that made you vulnerable to exploitation. A.G.
That was freeing to hear "your trauma didnt happen for some special reason, it happened cuz the trauma-causer is an asshole." That just took away so much power from those people. Its not something that happened that added or took away anything from my value. Its something that happened because the people complicit are assholes, and that assholery is not my problem. Their reasonings and excuses aren't my problem. Thats so liberating, and I had thought of "well its their problem, how am I going to do good with my traumatic experiences" but I feel a lot better thinking "yeah, their bad behavior is not my problem, but my trauma doesnt impact my value. They dont have that power over me". Thank you, that was so refreshing and, just damn good, to write.
Wow, I'm so glad you made this video, I've never watched Bojack Horseman, didn't even know the show was this deep, but that's not what grabbed me- your insights into creative expression were exactly what I needed to hear at this exact moment.
I mean, if one didn't discover and/or challenged their identity while role-playing in World of Warcraft - had they actually role-played? Hopefully, we will get to see that video one day! An amazing perspective on Diane's character; keep up the good work, buddy!
Thank you so much for this video, I absolutely adore Diane as a character. Possibly my favorite fictional chatacter ever. Also to your last point, it makes me think a lot about how contestants in RuPaul's Drag Race are often treated. Very often, it seems the showrunner, RuPaul, thinks that everybody HAS to have a traumatic past in order to make good art, or to be "a good role model", or to be worthy of being considered a Drag superstar. It is somewhat inherent to the genre, as it is drag performance and it carries all sorts of socially-ostracizing baggage, but... that mindset is garbage! There have been multiple instances on the show's run where performers who were fortunate enough to be surrounded by love and acceptance, who perform some killer Drag (Jan being an example), end up getting dismissed as "fake" or "shallow" just because their life hasn't been a cavalcade of misfortune. It is such a stupid and infantile view of what makes art good, and I am always so bothered by how much the image of the "suffering artist" is embedded in our culture. Again, thank you for the video.
ngl this kinda hurt. i was sucked into the toxic 2014 tumblr mentioned here and it helped at the time. i felt like there was nothing about me not drenched in trauma and mental illness, so the idea of me being valuable for anything positive felt like a poorly disguised lie. i needed to feel like the pain and suffering was worthwhile in order to survive. and hooray! i lived! but now i'm 21 and trying to undo all of that fetishization of my own sadness. i feel like i have been trying to find a way to squeeze something out of my suffering so it feels "worth it" for so many years and i feel like i might not have anything left there. i think i've used up all the goodness of my damage. and the issue now is i don't know how to make anything creative without basing it around suffering in some way. i want to be happy! i do! i just don't really know how.
Okay, this seriously needs more views. Not to mention, you need more subscribers. I was watching this and towards the end I looked and saw it had not even 1k views, and I was enthralled as to how this could be. This is created in such a professional way that I assumed it was one of those other commentary videos with 100k watches!! This video essay was so beautifully written and easy to comprehend as someone who lives and acts similar to Diane herself. The way you analyzed Diane's lines about 'good damage' and came to the conclusion that it's really just damage was so powerful, even if it was already done in the show. To me, it seems like you've mastered discussing the material in the show while also reflecting onto yourself and the viewers, if that makes any sense. It was easy to follow those two topics at once and allow myself to apply both things to the other. I adore how Bojack Horseman allows us to dig deeper into our own psyche while also giving us a lens on life in the spotlight and its own affects on the brain. Every character is chock full of detailed writing, including minor characters we only see for a short amount of time. We are given many things to analyze and work with, if we choose to do so. You've demonstrated wonderful skills in this video and your take on Diane's writing career and her overall handle on trauma and living life as a traumatized, depressed human being. You gave Diane a purpose in the real world! The commentary on how us artists make art mostly for transaction really made me think about why I create art, or if I actually enjoy this medium I call a hobby. I appreciate you for opening this personal discussion! This whole video is filled with relatable notes and theories. Your summaries are phenomenal, and how you're reaching out to us in this video to help us relate to both you and the point you're trying to get across. Overall, I adore how you analyze and interpret the characters from this show, and I can only assume your interpretations from other series are just as impressive. The way I wrote this was probably super confusing since I'm notorious for going on indiscernible tangents, so I apologize for any confusion. (TLDR; you did good and made good points! lol) I'm so interested in checking out more of your videos, especially with an awesome starter like this!
Thank you so much oh my god! I'll admit that this is probably my favourite video of mine personally, and bojack horseman is still fairly fresh in my mind since I binged it during my first lockdown in the UK. I'm still trying to find my voice as a creator in terms of niche and style, and I think I'm slowly getting there, probably starting around my PIF/PSA video. But yes, I really appreciate the extensive feedback, I can only hope the algorithm stops hating me soon enough, this video seems to be my first little taste of it after all!
video essay for a show i've never watched recommended to me that i watched anyways and made me cry a little. your sub count surprised me a lot. i'm very glad this video found me. from one creative to another, thank you for this!
Hey man, I really appreciate this video. You give such a good perspective on everything related to Diane and her struggles, and combine that with your own into a sussinct description. As someone who also found themsel ves in mmorpg games online, I think it would be a cool video to watch, but you do what you need to!
Good Damage is my favourite episode of the show, and what's interesting to me is that a lot of people don't seem to feel the same way. I rarely ever see it grace people's favourites lists, instead going for the usual picks like Time's Arrow or The View From Halfway Down (not that those episodes don't deserve the praise they get, they really are brilliant). Maybe it kind of links in with the fandom's hatred for Diane, which I never really understood tbh, but it's a shame that this episode is almost ignored because of it. Anyway it's so great to see someone talking about it, and just Diane as a whole, I've seen both of your videos on her and I absolutely loved them!
ok i havent ever experienced an actual emotional gut punch before but the "your damage isnt interesting and you're unworthy of love" thing legitemately broke me for a second
This is a very niche thing but I can think of nowhere else to put it; the first time I saw the "Good Damage" episode I had just watched a bunch of Crazy Ex girlfriend music videos, and had also had a panic attack earlier due to running out of antidepressants. By the time I got to the episode it was 3am, so I decided it'd be the final ep of the night. So I finished the ep, and rolled over to sleep, but without my antidepressant, which is also a sleep aid, I was wide awake, and now I wasn't distracting myself with music or tv anymore, I was left alone with my thoughts to stew. So that's how I ended up awake at 4am rocking back and forth crying while my brain repeated "WHAT IF MY DAMAGE ISNT GOOD DAMAGE WHAT IF MY DAMAGE ISNT GOOD DAMAGE WHAT IF MY DAMAGE IS JUST DAMAGE" to the tune of Heavy Boobs from Crazy Ex girlfriend, which I can't listen to anymore bc it reminds me of that night 😂😂😂 (I'm doing way better now lol, it's just a really specific event that is hilarious but I can't tell it to anyone IRL bc they get worried about me)
Diane. Sad is the new fun. I think that’s art in general now, everything is a e s t h e t i c I miss the old days when we got feel good movies like every other week. Now we have to get media that is edgy, or “too real” I mean yes we get amazing things like Bojack and good damage. Even Bo Burnhams inside are phenomenal. But, as they say. Art reflects life. And it says so much about us.
i love this fucking video. you worded everything spectacularly. theres always this urge for me. i have to make art out of my trauma and damage. i want to make art that helps people as much as it helps me. i see other people making art about Their damage and it resonates with me. it gives me a frame of reference to analyze my own thoughts and emotions. this show does that for me too. and when i see what other people make i feel that i HAVE to do it too. i have to make something that helps people. i dont know whether i want to do it more for others or more for myself. this show hit the nail on the head for me. if i dont make something beautiful out of what happened to me then i suffered for NOTHING. its fucking idea that wont leave my head, if i make something beautiful out of my trauma then i can make art that will outlive me. should i die, people will remember that i was able to turn my agony into beauty. and that is such a dangerous idea for mentally ill people with suicidal ideation. amazing episode and amazing video. im excited to see more content from you!
I wanted to go into detail about how awesome this video is, but it made me think about something. Pixar literally just makes stories about their experiences and tell them through the lenses of their characters.
your analysis was amazing! I love BoJack Horseman, it is one of the most detailed and critical and realistic shows out there. and respect for being able to speak about your trauma. I also relate to Diane a lot. I wish everyone a guy out there and the strength to heal in your own way
I really liked your video! Its the first video of your channel that I watched and I am really surprised that this is still a small channel when it has so coherently constructed video essays. Anyway, the message that trama is just trauma and it won't amount to anything good necessarily I think is really powerful. It puts you in a position to look to the broader image when it comes to your life. You understand that all the trauma you have passed isn't going to result to anything good or bad and that means that it doesn't define you. When you look it that way, trauma is just a relic of the past that you happen to come across and now it shouldn't come with any negative emotions it's just experience for the future.
Honestly i've found that writing about fictional characters allows me to process some of my own problems better than actually writing about myself. Its this nice way of being able to look at them from an outside point of view so they don't hurt as badly. So I can honestly relate to Diane quite a bit in this aspect, and I think it just shows the many benefits about writing fiction
I’ve been in one of my worst creative slumps and watching this video in a way saved me. I don’t how it evoked such emotions in me but I wrenched my eyes out crying in a lot of scenes and I had to pause a lot. My eyes are still puffy and red as I type this. I’ve always related to and loved Diane but seeing the initial hate her character received I too felt misunderstood. This video was a great analysis on her development and will keep watching it. As a creative you don’t know how much I appreciated this work you’ve put up. Either the universe, or the RUclips algorithm, gifted me a lot of clarity and peace of mind through you. And for that I thank you. Wish you nothing but the best for your future.
Yeah, i must have missed it when you posted it initially, but i love bojack. You did an awesome job putting into words what it was about this episode that felt so familiar to my own experiences.
@@OutOfCharacters Oh awesome! I'm glad it translated for you! Luckily the source material has a lot to offer, though, so I found it easier to write this than what could have been the alternative
Very personal and thorough look into the writing of this episode and character. I could very much tell this was coming from a place of relating to her struggle and I actually had to pause the video half way through and sit there for a bit. GREAT VIDEO KEEP IT UP!
Thank you so much! I definitely did relate intensely, I don't think I would have made this if not for the same writer's block Diane had. Yet this thing ironically became my little Ivy Tran kinda thing, people seem to really like this one! :D
Thank you, this video was very helpful, this episode has stuck with me so much, as someone who is tormented by pass trauma, the need to try to make something good out of it is real, yesterday I over heard a work colleague talking about her sad traumatic life (she over share this with everyone), and someone told her to write a book, immediately thought of this episode, as once I had the same thought about my life, and just to realize pain is just pain, and trauma is just trauma.
as someone who has always related to diane, always loved this episode, and has been writing a whole lot of fiction specifically about/to cope with my trauma, wondering what worth it even has... this was super cool and interesting to think about. its reminding me that my more upbeat novel-in-progress still exists beyond it all, when i'm ready to get back there. this has been a really eye-opening and well-done video. not only are your insights very intelligent and true, but the way you scripted this video had like, very wonderful and whimsical prose. idk i liked it lmao. carry on
This episode floored me. I always related to Diane but that one episode felt so personal and it made me realize that sadly what happened to me, to Diane, happened and continues to happen to a lot of people, and that made me feel less alone. It's a bit of a shame that not a lot of people discuss this episode, so thank you for doing so, i really liked this.
Holy fuck I just realized how much Diane has in common with Bojack even with the scenes that clearly tells us they do have a lot in common. Bojack is a representation of what Diane could've been if she wasn't constantly trying to solve her shit. On the surface Diane looks like she fucks up just as much as Bojack, except Diane tries to improve constantly while also not trying to take shit from anyone. Take this. Bojack wanted to do it with Charlotte but knew he had no chance and he tried to do it with Penny, Diane almost had sex with Bojack even though Bojack refused but she didn't take it out and had revenge sex with anyone. Bojack pretty much killed Sarah Lynn with his selfishness, carelessness and inconsiderate tendencies, but Diane was extremely heart broken and changed huge plans with Guy to try and go to Bojack before he almost died in the swimming pool. She had so many problems similar to Bojack but unlike Bojack, she tried to solve it properly.
I enjoyed every second of this video and disappointed that there's not a lot views. This video deserves more recognition. I can only imagine how much work you put into it. After I finished watching "Bojack Horsmen" I knew that there was so many thing I need to analyze. Especially, Dianne's story. But I couldn't put all of thoughts into words and you did it brilliantly. Thanks you. It helped me a lot. P.s. sorry in advance for my mistakes. It's not often that I write in english.
❤ I really like the points you made! Thank you for discussing this chapter of Diane's life. I really like how respectfully you treated her growth as a character.
I think this goes beyond just creative endeavors. Everyone who has suffered want's to think that it all meant something rather than face up to the indifference of the universe.
the "i'm terrified of your expectations" is just like Bo Burnham's Kanye Rant. Aside from that this video is so cool, thanks for verbalizing this better than I ever could and kinda validating it, Also I'm glad you chose the healthy thing and stopped the other video
This was a great video, and you speak very well. Bojack Horseman is really hard for me to watch, and I'm glad I can consume the show through thoughtful secondhand sources like you
Theres something after watching this video that you may like Bo Burnham performance, "Cant Handle This" :) it may fit for you to watch its available on RUclips
i always thought diane vs bojack was supposed to be like, the two different responses to the same trauma and i cant really explain it. maybe its cus diane tries hides it while bojack makes no attempt to
this is so good!! I don't know why I never made the connection that Diane was struggling like Bojack to write her story in her words?? I love this video essay, subbed!
![a time in a life - bojack horseman [video essay]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/uncGzz3hayU/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you all for the blow up in views! I'm glad that this seems to be something that really spoke to quite a few of you, even if you haven't ever watched the show before, like the reception to this video has been kinda crazy reading all the feedback!
If you wanna keep up with me outside of my channel I have a twitter which can be found here: twitter.com/lite_writes_
Diane's fluffy teen mystery books will pull similarly miserable girls out of the hard times, and make it easier to cope. Sometimes the damage inspires you to create a world softer than the one you were given. This doesn't make the art any worse. She's probably going to save more people with fluff, than with her "brave" traumatic book. I'm glad she moved past her ideological objection to feeling good.
"Sometimes the damage inspires you to create a world softer than the one you were given."----Littlestraincloud! Phenomenal. That really hit home.
Kinda like how horsin around was for her
Woah, I never thought of it that way but that's so true. Ivy is like the childhood friend that Diane didn't have when she was lonely and growing up as an outcast even in her aggressive family.
@@trafficcontrol2420 yeah but that’s what Horsin Around was for Diane &we see the mental turmoil that comes when she’s inevitably forced to grow away from that fluff. We see how much harder the tragedy of the world hits her because she’s experienced that cushion. I’m not saying that means she shouldn’t write it or that fluff shouldn’t exist for ppl in the show and in real life. It’s just not guaranteed to “save ppl” in the way Diane wants to. She could just be contributing to the same vicious cycle that she herself is still fighting to escape (intense ideological fantasies leading to intense disdain with reality and depression with your circumstances). It’s easy to see why she wouldn’t expect that to be her magnum opus, she probably thought she was essentially selling the same lies that she once bought “justice is served” “everything works out” “you can make your mark on the world if u just try hard enough”
@Littlestraincloud "Sometimes the damage inspires you to create a world softer than the one you were given" That's so true though! Definitely hits home for me; the trauma I experienced from an emotionally abusive relationship might have caused me to write a handful of soft but still relatively real couples in my own stories. And those are a ton of fun to write and draw for me.
One thing that I find genuinely uplifting about Diane's season 6 story is how she underestimated her mystery teen book.
She wanted to create something dignified and come from a very personal place. However her teen novel she first saw as fluff and nonsense but it turned out to be something she was better at writing, and the best part is that it reached people inside more than she thought it would.
That's what kinda inspired me to make this to be honest! The feelings I had trying to make my other video were uttered aloud by Diane's journey here and it was a nice breath of relief to remind ourselves not too force creativity!
@@LiteWrites And not to take things too seriously. It's okay to have fun and laugh at ourselves.
The way Sonny reacts to her writing makes it abundantly clear that she absolutely is drawing from her life experiences, and it very clearly affects him. It was so so so good.
Reminds me of how the creator of Sailor Moon said she was going through a really hard time when she created sailor moon, and how she wrote about sailor moon and her friends as girls she'd want to be friends with
that comes across and I think that's what makes her work so easy to relate to for lonely girls/femmes with trouble making friends
Wasn't that a lie?
Unfortunately that was a lie. Still her series helped girls who felt weird or alone to feel seen.
Diane’s struggle with herself is vaguely similar to a lot of writers I see in the fanfiction community. I have seen these artists start off with the genre of angst and tragedy only to find themselves have more fun writing escapist self inserts. The trade off is interesting to see. They think they are too grown up to indulge themselves and feel like they have to write about deep stuff that has never been seen before, but then they realize they just want to have fun.
Fanfic wise I have enjoyed farces and shitposty comedies the most! I started writing almost ten years ago. I am glad more fanficers feel free to be themselves.
GOT DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!. - a fanfic writer
And then there's me, who genuinely loves writing angst, but ONLY if the characters get a happy ending. (I might still pull an "everyone dies" ending, but then there'll be an epilogue in heaven or something.)
Watching Good Damage is an awful experience for me because of how real it is. Every time in my childhood that I was facing adversity after adversity and never got a fucking break from bad thing, traumatic thing, torture #3, existentially terrifying trauma #4, I coped by jokingly saying “my college essays are gonna get me into wherever I want now”.
I’m writing my college essays now. These words echo in my head. What will I do after I submit these essays and that trauma isn’t worth anything, and it just exists in all its awfulness? What was it all for? What if it’s too much, and not marketable enough to get me anywhere? Am I doomed?
What this episode conveyed is *awful*. This is such a good show.
100 extra points for the alliterative Princess Caroline tribute ;) ;)
Aw yiss! :D
this portrayal of damaged artists is very connected to the creation of the posthumous image of van gogh. could u consider making a video about the myth of the “starving artist” (how all artists must suffer for their art)?
You know, you've definitely helped me frame my next video! I was struggling to see which angle to go from and this sounds about the right way to go! thank you :D
Van Gogh was exactly what I was thinking of during this video and the idea of "good damage"!! Hearing Van Gogh's life story has always been painful. I felt terrible for him, and it made me want to open a portal through time and give him a hug to tell him that things were going to be okay and that he is appreciated as a human being. But media constantly romanticizes his suffering, to the point that it's cruel. Media says that if you don't suffer horribly in life, you can't create amazing things. I'm a writer and illustrator, and I definetly suffered in my life (so deeply that I now have bad cases of anxiety and stress about the future) but I don't want people to suffer like I did just so they become good artists. Wishing pain and suffering on other people who don't deserve it is terrible, but unfortunately media insists on that idea, even if it does it subtlely.
Never seen Bojack Horseman, and had no idea what this video was about going into it, but the title sounded interesting so I watched. What a lovely and insightful video. You've created good work. But I just want to add, as one trauma survivor to another, that doing good work isn't what gives you value. You are inherently valuable as a person, and I hope you know that. I don't know you, never seen your channel before, but I just want to send you all the love and hugs.
I've gotten to know that over the years, thankfully, and thank youforyour kind words. Still, some old habits die hard and I'll just keep on doing my best to counteract them
Give it a watch bro changed me a lot
@@rooost9856 Yeah, I started watching it after seeing this video. Currently in Season 3.
@@itisdevonly oh god season 3
@@itisdevonly so how did that go for you?
Fun fact: The reason your brain blocks out certain events is because if it doesn't (until you're ready) it'll break your psyche and make you go into a coma or even have a psychotic break. 😁🤗
Also it IS okay to have "fun" while working through your trauma. Like writing a detective series instead of a heavy and serious book.
This was the episode that actually inspired me. In my late teens early 20s I went through a very unhealthy situation and thought I could write about it to help young people going through the same experience. But the problem with writing your trauma is having to ruminate over your worst days again and again, every time I stared at what I had written I would fall deeper and deeper . Art doesn’t have to be deep to be meaningful. Now I’m writing a goofier, much more light hearted story that feels exciting to make.
You don't need trauma to be an artist, you need insight. I don't remember where I heard this but it def changed my outlook on things.
I think one thing fiction writers should keep in mind is that writing isn’t just about putting something deep, dark and profound into the world (though it can be), but about writing a story you want to see in the world.
I think a lot of writers, especially ones who’ve dealt with trauma and injustice, get so enamored with the idea of making something meaningful out of it in some way, that they forget what writing is; storytelling. It’s about telling a story with the idea of engaging someone. Even autobiographies are stories, as they help you get to know a specific person.
I’ve seen a lot of would be writers who are talented, but get so bogged down by limiting what they see as a valid story that they underestimate themselves. Some writers will erase good ideas and create a boring, unfocused mess and use the story to dump all of their trauma. Onision is this in the worst case; his books are essentially jerk off fantasies indulging in his own inadequacies and struggles rather than a coherent tale with themes and purpose, yet he tries to pass it as high art.
And, to be fair, that’s still a valid form of writing, since some people write to cope with trauma. But if you want to write *professionally,* you’ve got to examine yourself and think “Why do I want to make this book? What story do I want to tell? Do I even want to tell a story?”
As painful as it is to say, trauma doesn’t always make you more “creative”. Sometimes it makes it harder for you to do what you want.
Diane’s “Ivy Tran: Detective” scene was extra poignant to me. I’m by no means a professional writer, but it’s kind of surprising to me how all of my potential stories that are really complex with detailed worldbuilding have been pushed to the wayside for really simple stories with happy endings. Sometimes the story in your head is a bit too complicated to tell, but you can share it in short, simple bursts.
"As long as you just keep going, that's ALL I will ever ask."
It's just nice to hear that.
I remember seeing the ‘stupid piece of shit’ episode, and it was relatable. Then, when I saw this one? Diane’s struggle with her self worth and the reflection of what is trauma that shaped her vs who she is at her core, through this sea of sketchy images ending in escapism? I didn’t have words for how much it resonates, and honestly I still don’t. Thank you for this video- it’s so well done, and I look forward to more content from you! Deep and dark or fluffy and fun :^)
Thank you for this incredible video. I feel like most of my life has been perpetually trying to sell my own trauma, as though that is the only meaningful content one can create. You're the first person I've seen who pointed out how unhealthy the memoirs were for Diane, even though she still slightly regrets it. Its a real eye opener.
I'm glad! I'm trying to avoid this pitfall too, and it's easier said than done.
Thank you for making this, I don’t see a lot of people analysing this arc of Diane in as much detail, and you did really well :)
Thank you for watching! I found it really weird how negatively Diane was received, I really resonated with her throughout honestly!
I used to be creative for 1st half of my life... but not really. That creativity came from being in a horrible place for a long time so my brain was working hard to help me escape into wild fantasy worlds. Once I became helthier, I lost that creativity and I had to learn to let it go and not keep myself unhealthy just for the sake of remaining creative. But at first it was hard to let it go.
Im going through this right now and, I find myself struggling between getting to make music, or getting to be happy, I keep choosing to make at the sacrifice of me
I found this really well done. The explanations for some of the bits was really helpful. I'm a writer, but I think in images. It's so hard to get the things in my head to a page because I cannot draw to save my life, but I think through stories in an image or acting form.
I'm glad it could help, I never thought of that!
@@LiteWrites you're welcome, and thank you.
I'm a writer aswell and I always like buy toys and I use them to Invision my character
You could always learn how to draw if you want
@@another_useless that's actually a great idea! I used to do that but then I moved from Legos to paper.
But...I can do both! Thanks!
Chicago is cold as shit. I knew he loved her when he gave her his coat; there is no other explanation. Again, Chicago is cold as shit.
Absolutely wonderful video, I've seen many essays on "Good Damage', but yours is one of the best, if not the best out there. Especially the part when you menton that the difference between you and Diane is thaat she's a creation of multiple writers who have to challenge their struggles in life though fictional character, that was just amzing. Really hope the algorithm picks this video up, you deserve much more views :)
Thank you for the high praise! I'm glad people seem to be resonating with this!
As someone who's generally mentally healthy, I'm still not immune to the idea that good art requires a degree of suffering. When a script comes to me too easily and I'm able to pop out a video in a few days, I often think it must be bad or shallow because of that. The idea that art equals suffering is obviously way more harmful to people with trauma and mental health problems, but it just goes to show how deeply ingrained the cultural idea is.
It’s great to hear more people speaking about something I’ve only recently come to understand, your own life doesn’t need to follow a narrative and sometimes trauma and/or mental illness doesn’t necessarily make you more creative or better off long term the way media narratives tell us. Thank you for this great essay :)
I have a comic strip series that I update weekly.
And right now I'm in such a downward spiral I can't come up with new fun strips. All my ideas come from a dark place and I try not to go there... I want to. But i know I shouldn't. I feel so much for this episode
Your video just popped into my recommendation. And I wanted to say, From audience member to creative, you did a good job about explaining your struggle in relation to the video, all while keeping your mental health in mind. I hope you’re doing well.
Thank you for watching! :D
Diane’s struggle with writing about trauma is definitely something I can relate to. I’m not a pro writer yet, but I aspire to be one and, honestly, I admit I could never write about my hardships. Ever. They might become elements of a backstory for my characters, but there is inevitably a difference added to the mix. Nothing wrong with escapism or taking only elements of your story to create a character.
Personally, I’m motivated when the few people who read my stuff say that it helps them feel better or distract themselves.
Plus, Diane can still explore mature topics via Ivy Tran if she wants. Maybe Ivy also has to cut off a friend or maybe he dead father was not the idealized image she had in her memory. Maybe her mom starts dating and Ivy has to deal with the awkwardness of having a stepparent and maybe a stepsibling.
On RUclips, every now and then I will search for or YT will give me the clip of Ivy Tran: Mall Detective. It holds a special place in me - Probably cause I used to really want to write mystery novels as a kid, but creatively I've gone in a different direction in my writing (more of a modern fantasy gal now). This video hits the nail on my coffin of 1) why I love this show 2) My own creative struggles, especially as of late (standing at 9 project files with only 3 being worked on). Thank you for opening up and sharing your experience - I very much appreciate it.
I've seen a lot of analysis of Good Damage that skim over writing about personal trauma. Thank you for going deeper so writers like me can understand why we want to justify our trauma
I actually think Bojack is a pretty optimistic show by the end.
This is magnificently written and produced! Hear, hear!
Thank you sir!
It’s rare that I comment on videos but I had to - this video absolutely rules, I’m so glad I found it
Thank you so much! :D I've seen your videos recommended to me a few times now so it's kinda crazy that you're commenting!
You have no idea how much this video has helped me in the short span of time I watched it. I have been spending time mulling over how to start this project that was basically started because I wanted to make something beautiful out of my past bad experiences, but this video made me realize that I have just been making it harder for myself to write something I ACTUALLY enjoy this whole time.
I know this wasn't the original video you planned, but much like Diane's girl detective book, it is so very great in its own way.
Dang it.
This is my favorite episode of Bojack Horseman because it perfectly encapsulates my writing process (I kept wanting to write about nuns or the entertainment industry before I finally settled on a mock essay from the P.O.V. of a middle-aged orca).
I ended up writing it out of a mixture of boredom and frustration that I couldn't yell about Hollywood foibles or tell a compelling story of a sisterhood of religiously indifferent Captain Planet nuns who fight demons because *GODDAMN IT, HOLLYWOOD COULDN'T KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS OR ITS STEREOTYPING OF NUNS* before it hit me that I couldn't finish either of them, just like Diane couldn't write about her "good damage." and ended up with Ivy Tran - in a way, Pearl Gilmore is my Ivy, and I'm happy for that.
Now my orca book turns into a family of witches.
Ironically this video is my Ivy Tran too I feel, people really liked this video it would seem!
@@LiteWrites A whole lot of writers have fallen into the same trap, and to see this show so bluntly go through that is awesome.
Also, my second book is about nostalgia and cheese! *bonk*
I'm a comic artist, and a lot of comic artists do diary comics.
So I was between projects and thought "I'll do one about my life."
The year I decided to do this, I got laid off from my job and had a long-term relationship end. I was spiraling by the end of the year.
I ended the comic because it just reminded me of a traumatic time in my life. It's not available anywhere online and it never will be.
Everything from then on is all metaphor, because telling it as it happened was too much for me.
Diane's character means a lot to me and I relate so so much to her, but in this episode especially. Trauma, mental illness, expectations both personal and societal, etc etc. It's really hard not to get stuck in that self destructive cycle, and you really brought out those great points and more in this video :,)
If it's of any consolation... I've been trying to write as well... But my emotions have been insane. And this video has successfully helped to pacify the little screaming infant of emotions inside me. Just enough for me to catch a breath before... Whatever comes next. So... Thank you.
All of what I wanted to say was already beautifully summarised by the other people in the comments, so I'll just second that and say: Your video is engaging and your skill to juggle your personal experiences with the theme of the video and coming to a satisfying conclusion is exceptionally well polished. Thank you for your wonderful insights! 💕
Thank you for the feedback! Hopefully I can keep this up for future videos, and maybe revisit bojack; it clearly had an effect on me!
my favourite bit of the episode is that her detective series is so colourful and extravagant in her imagination but her memoir is confusing and badly drawn. it truly shows that it's the thing she was truly meant to write ugh i love bojack horseman everything about the show is perfect
Wow. This is a great video and I relate a looot to Diane’s character throughout this season. I’ve personally gone through my own trauma this year, and I’ve found myself trying to write about it a lot, in some attempt to contextualize or justify what happened. But I’ve realized that it just made me hold on to my misery, and I sat in my own despair instead of actually helping myself. I think Diane’s lesson is one I definitely need to learn, and I thank you for helping me connect the dots between her and myself. Great job :)
Oh wow, thank you for your kind words! I think i hold Diane a similar way, so this won't be the last of her on this channel haha
The scary thing about trauma is that it was all pointless, that you only lost things due to it. You can spend your life terrified that you missed out on opportunities that would have had without it, and learned nothing empowering or constructive or even lifesaving from anything you've endured.
Experience means you can't be naive, yet it doesn't mean you have understood and isolated the personality traits, or social labels that made you vulnerable to exploitation.
A.G.
That was freeing to hear "your trauma didnt happen for some special reason, it happened cuz the trauma-causer is an asshole."
That just took away so much power from those people. Its not something that happened that added or took away anything from my value. Its something that happened because the people complicit are assholes, and that assholery is not my problem. Their reasonings and excuses aren't my problem. Thats so liberating, and I had thought of "well its their problem, how am I going to do good with my traumatic experiences" but I feel a lot better thinking "yeah, their bad behavior is not my problem, but my trauma doesnt impact my value. They dont have that power over me". Thank you, that was so refreshing and, just damn good, to write.
Wow, I'm so glad you made this video, I've never watched Bojack Horseman, didn't even know the show was this deep, but that's not what grabbed me- your insights into creative expression were exactly what I needed to hear at this exact moment.
*Major spoilers for Bojack Horseman*
Me: panics
Me: remembers I've seen Bojack Horseman more times than I can count
I mean, if one didn't discover and/or challenged their identity while role-playing in World of Warcraft - had they actually role-played? Hopefully, we will get to see that video one day! An amazing perspective on Diane's character; keep up the good work, buddy!
Thank you so much! I think I'll eventually do that script when I finally find the words for it :)
Thank you so much for this video, I absolutely adore Diane as a character. Possibly my favorite fictional chatacter ever.
Also to your last point, it makes me think a lot about how contestants in RuPaul's Drag Race are often treated. Very often, it seems the showrunner, RuPaul, thinks that everybody HAS to have a traumatic past in order to make good art, or to be "a good role model", or to be worthy of being considered a Drag superstar. It is somewhat inherent to the genre, as it is drag performance and it carries all sorts of socially-ostracizing baggage, but... that mindset is garbage! There have been multiple instances on the show's run where performers who were fortunate enough to be surrounded by love and acceptance, who perform some killer Drag (Jan being an example), end up getting dismissed as "fake" or "shallow" just because their life hasn't been a cavalcade of misfortune. It is such a stupid and infantile view of what makes art good, and I am always so bothered by how much the image of the "suffering artist" is embedded in our culture.
Again, thank you for the video.
ngl this kinda hurt. i was sucked into the toxic 2014 tumblr mentioned here and it helped at the time. i felt like there was nothing about me not drenched in trauma and mental illness, so the idea of me being valuable for anything positive felt like a poorly disguised lie. i needed to feel like the pain and suffering was worthwhile in order to survive. and hooray! i lived! but now i'm 21 and trying to undo all of that fetishization of my own sadness. i feel like i have been trying to find a way to squeeze something out of my suffering so it feels "worth it" for so many years and i feel like i might not have anything left there. i think i've used up all the goodness of my damage. and the issue now is i don't know how to make anything creative without basing it around suffering in some way. i want to be happy! i do! i just don't really know how.
Okay, this seriously needs more views. Not to mention, you need more subscribers. I was watching this and towards the end I looked and saw it had not even 1k views, and I was enthralled as to how this could be. This is created in such a professional way that I assumed it was one of those other commentary videos with 100k watches!!
This video essay was so beautifully written and easy to comprehend as someone who lives and acts similar to Diane herself. The way you analyzed Diane's lines about 'good damage' and came to the conclusion that it's really just damage was so powerful, even if it was already done in the show.
To me, it seems like you've mastered discussing the material in the show while also reflecting onto yourself and the viewers, if that makes any sense. It was easy to follow those two topics at once and allow myself to apply both things to the other.
I adore how Bojack Horseman allows us to dig deeper into our own psyche while also giving us a lens on life in the spotlight and its own affects on the brain.
Every character is chock full of detailed writing, including minor characters we only see for a short amount of time. We are given many things to analyze and work with, if we choose to do so. You've demonstrated wonderful skills in this video and your take on Diane's writing career and her overall handle on trauma and living life as a traumatized, depressed human being. You gave Diane a purpose in the real world!
The commentary on how us artists make art mostly for transaction really made me think about why I create art, or if I actually enjoy this medium I call a hobby. I appreciate you for opening this personal discussion! This whole video is filled with relatable notes and theories.
Your summaries are phenomenal, and how you're reaching out to us in this video to help us relate to both you and the point you're trying to get across.
Overall, I adore how you analyze and interpret the characters from this show, and I can only assume your interpretations from other series are just as impressive.
The way I wrote this was probably super confusing since I'm notorious for going on indiscernible tangents, so I apologize for any confusion.
(TLDR; you did good and made good points! lol)
I'm so interested in checking out more of your videos, especially with an awesome starter like this!
Thank you so much oh my god! I'll admit that this is probably my favourite video of mine personally, and bojack horseman is still fairly fresh in my mind since I binged it during my first lockdown in the UK. I'm still trying to find my voice as a creator in terms of niche and style, and I think I'm slowly getting there, probably starting around my PIF/PSA video. But yes, I really appreciate the extensive feedback, I can only hope the algorithm stops hating me soon enough, this video seems to be my first little taste of it after all!
video essay for a show i've never watched recommended to me
that i watched anyways
and made me cry a little.
your sub count surprised me a lot. i'm very glad this video found me.
from one creative to another, thank you for this!
Hey man, I really appreciate this video. You give such a good perspective on everything related to Diane and her struggles, and combine that with your own into a sussinct description.
As someone who also found themsel ves in mmorpg games online, I think it would be a cool video to watch, but you do what you need to!
Thanks for watching! Eventually I'll get around to the MMORPG essay, it'd be quite a fun one to make when I have the right frame of mind for it!
Good Damage is my favourite episode of the show, and what's interesting to me is that a lot of people don't seem to feel the same way. I rarely ever see it grace people's favourites lists, instead going for the usual picks like Time's Arrow or The View From Halfway Down (not that those episodes don't deserve the praise they get, they really are brilliant). Maybe it kind of links in with the fandom's hatred for Diane, which I never really understood tbh, but it's a shame that this episode is almost ignored because of it.
Anyway it's so great to see someone talking about it, and just Diane as a whole, I've seen both of your videos on her and I absolutely loved them!
ok i havent ever experienced an actual emotional gut punch before but the "your damage isnt interesting and you're unworthy of love" thing legitemately broke me for a second
This is a very niche thing but I can think of nowhere else to put it; the first time I saw the "Good Damage" episode I had just watched a bunch of Crazy Ex girlfriend music videos, and had also had a panic attack earlier due to running out of antidepressants. By the time I got to the episode it was 3am, so I decided it'd be the final ep of the night.
So I finished the ep, and rolled over to sleep, but without my antidepressant, which is also a sleep aid, I was wide awake, and now I wasn't distracting myself with music or tv anymore, I was left alone with my thoughts to stew.
So that's how I ended up awake at 4am rocking back and forth crying while my brain repeated "WHAT IF MY DAMAGE ISNT GOOD DAMAGE WHAT IF MY DAMAGE ISNT GOOD DAMAGE WHAT IF MY DAMAGE IS JUST DAMAGE" to the tune of Heavy Boobs from Crazy Ex girlfriend, which I can't listen to anymore bc it reminds me of that night 😂😂😂
(I'm doing way better now lol, it's just a really specific event that is hilarious but I can't tell it to anyone IRL bc they get worried about me)
Really good video!
Thank you so much :D
The realization that this video *is* your Ivy Tran: Food Court Detective was sooo satisfying. Very nice essay :)
I can't believe you don't have more subscribers, this was such a fantastically constructed video. You're definitely my new favourite video essayist
Oh, wow thank you so much! ❤
Diane. Sad is the new fun.
I think that’s art in general now, everything is
a e s t h e t i c
I miss the old days when we got feel good movies like every other week. Now we have to get media that is edgy, or “too real”
I mean yes we get amazing things like Bojack and good damage. Even Bo Burnhams inside are phenomenal.
But, as they say. Art reflects life. And it says so much about us.
i love this fucking video. you worded everything spectacularly.
theres always this urge for me. i have to make art out of my trauma and damage. i want to make art that helps people as much as it helps me. i see other people making art about Their damage and it resonates with me. it gives me a frame of reference to analyze my own thoughts and emotions. this show does that for me too. and when i see what other people make i feel that i HAVE to do it too. i have to make something that helps people. i dont know whether i want to do it more for others or more for myself. this show hit the nail on the head for me. if i dont make something beautiful out of what happened to me then i suffered for NOTHING. its fucking idea that wont leave my head, if i make something beautiful out of my trauma then i can make art that will outlive me. should i die, people will remember that i was able to turn my agony into beauty. and that is such a dangerous idea for mentally ill people with suicidal ideation.
amazing episode and amazing video. im excited to see more content from you!
why doesn't this have more views? This is a great video!
I wanted to go into detail about how awesome this video is, but it made me think about something. Pixar literally just makes stories about their experiences and tell them through the lenses of their characters.
your analysis was amazing! I love BoJack Horseman, it is one of the most detailed and critical and realistic shows out there. and respect for being able to speak about your trauma. I also relate to Diane a lot. I wish everyone a guy out there and the strength to heal in your own way
Watching this while struggling to finish a piece of writing/art/work crew say I
Best video on 'Good Damage' I've watched so far!
I really liked your video! Its the first video of your channel that I watched and I am really surprised that this is still a small channel when it has so coherently constructed video essays. Anyway, the message that trama is just trauma and it won't amount to anything good necessarily I think is really powerful. It puts you in a position to look to the broader image when it comes to your life. You understand that all the trauma you have passed isn't going to result to anything good or bad and that means that it doesn't define you. When you look it that way, trauma is just a relic of the past that you happen to come across and now it shouldn't come with any negative emotions it's just experience for the future.
Thank you for watching! I'm glad that you could take something from my video, too!
What is this subcount? It should be so much higher
Thank you so much!
yes??
Ur writing when it shows BLARN on the cup and her work clothes is impeccable, I watch it again just to realize what happened. Great video
Wow this is honestly one of the best analyzations of Diane I have seen
Thank you so much :D
Honestly i've found that writing about fictional characters allows me to process some of my own problems better than actually writing about myself. Its this nice way of being able to look at them from an outside point of view so they don't hurt as badly. So I can honestly relate to Diane quite a bit in this aspect, and I think it just shows the many benefits about writing fiction
I’m going to try this
What a fantastic and eye opening video, genuinely thank you so much for making and sharing!
I’m crying. I needed this. Thank you ❤️
I’ve been in one of my worst creative slumps and watching this video in a way saved me. I don’t how it evoked such emotions in me but I wrenched my eyes out crying in a lot of scenes and I had to pause a lot. My eyes are still puffy and red as I type this. I’ve always related to and loved Diane but seeing the initial hate her character received I too felt misunderstood. This video was a great analysis on her development and will keep watching it. As a creative you don’t know how much I appreciated this work you’ve put up. Either the universe, or the RUclips algorithm, gifted me a lot of clarity and peace of mind through you. And for that I thank you. Wish you nothing but the best for your future.
I'm so glad my RUclips recommended sent me your way!! Diane is my favorite character and your video was a really good take on her and her art!
This gave me more than adequate dopamine (even some Serotonin at the end) - great video
Happy to provide the dosage in exchange for your viewership ;D
This episode is one of my favorite pieces of art. This video did it justice!
Oh, thank you! I'm glad I could do it justice, it's one of my favourites too!
Thank you for the PC-esque alliteration! It did not go unnoticed.
Very well made, and super insightful!
Thank you for watching, man! :D
Yeah, i must have missed it when you posted it initially, but i love bojack. You did an awesome job putting into words what it was about this episode that felt so familiar to my own experiences.
@@OutOfCharacters Oh awesome! I'm glad it translated for you! Luckily the source material has a lot to offer, though, so I found it easier to write this than what could have been the alternative
i was not expecting project sekai bgm in a bojack video haha
Very personal and thorough look into the writing of this episode and character. I could very much tell this was coming from a place of relating to her struggle and I actually had to pause the video half way through and sit there for a bit. GREAT VIDEO KEEP IT UP!
Thank you so much! I definitely did relate intensely, I don't think I would have made this if not for the same writer's block Diane had. Yet this thing ironically became my little Ivy Tran kinda thing, people seem to really like this one! :D
Thank you, this video was very helpful, this episode has stuck with me so much, as someone who is tormented by pass trauma, the need to try to make something good out of it is real, yesterday I over heard a work colleague talking about her sad traumatic life (she over share this with everyone), and someone told her to write a book, immediately thought of this episode, as once I had the same thought about my life, and just to realize pain is just pain, and trauma is just trauma.
as someone who has always related to diane, always loved this episode, and has been writing a whole lot of fiction specifically about/to cope with my trauma, wondering what worth it even has... this was super cool and interesting to think about. its reminding me that my more upbeat novel-in-progress still exists beyond it all, when i'm ready to get back there. this has been a really eye-opening and well-done video. not only are your insights very intelligent and true, but the way you scripted this video had like, very wonderful and whimsical prose. idk i liked it lmao. carry on
Heavy surprised at the subcount, excellent work
This episode floored me. I always related to Diane but that one episode felt so personal and it made me realize that sadly what happened to me, to Diane, happened and continues to happen to a lot of people, and that made me feel less alone. It's a bit of a shame that not a lot of people discuss this episode, so thank you for doing so, i really liked this.
Phenomenal video! Well made and quite detailed, which is highly appreciated. Thank you.
Thank you! :D
Holy fuck
I just realized how much Diane has in common with Bojack even with the scenes that clearly tells us they do have a lot in common.
Bojack is a representation of what Diane could've been if she wasn't constantly trying to solve her shit. On the surface Diane looks like she fucks up just as much as Bojack, except Diane tries to improve constantly while also not trying to take shit from anyone.
Take this. Bojack wanted to do it with Charlotte but knew he had no chance and he tried to do it with Penny, Diane almost had sex with Bojack even though Bojack refused but she didn't take it out and had revenge sex with anyone. Bojack pretty much killed Sarah Lynn with his selfishness, carelessness and inconsiderate tendencies, but Diane was extremely heart broken and changed huge plans with Guy to try and go to Bojack before he almost died in the swimming pool.
She had so many problems similar to Bojack but unlike Bojack, she tried to solve it properly.
I enjoyed every second of this video and disappointed that there's not a lot views. This video deserves more recognition. I can only imagine how much work you put into it. After I finished watching "Bojack Horsmen" I knew that there was so many thing I need to analyze. Especially, Dianne's story. But I couldn't put all of thoughts into words and you did it brilliantly. Thanks you. It helped me a lot.
P.s. sorry in advance for my mistakes. It's not often that I write in english.
this was such an amazing video, you truly have a way with words
❤ I really like the points you made! Thank you for discussing this chapter of Diane's life. I really like how respectfully you treated her growth as a character.
Thank you for sharing your parallel story.
I relate to Diane and the creative process as well, as holding the same expectations to share my story
I think this goes beyond just creative endeavors. Everyone who has suffered want's to think that it all meant something rather than face up to the indifference of the universe.
the "i'm terrified of your expectations" is just like Bo Burnham's Kanye Rant. Aside from that this video is so cool, thanks for verbalizing this better than I ever could and kinda validating it, Also I'm glad you chose the healthy thing and stopped the other video
Thank you for this! I didn't realise he did something in a similar vein, I recently watched Inside too, which was pretty good!
Thank you for this video and reminding me about the episode and its message with your own take. Keep up the good work :D
This was a great video, and you speak very well. Bojack Horseman is really hard for me to watch, and I'm glad I can consume the show through thoughtful secondhand sources like you
Theres something after watching this video that you may like Bo Burnham performance, "Cant Handle This" :) it may fit for you to watch its available on RUclips
This is the second time I've had this comparison, so I gave it watch and...well, yeah, that's a fair comparison!
@@LiteWrites its the way you perceive the relationship between artist and audience as a whole kinda aline with his performance, so yea :D
i always thought diane vs bojack was supposed to be like, the two different responses to the same trauma and i cant really explain it. maybe its cus diane tries hides it while bojack makes no attempt to
I didn't know why I rooted for Diane so much but you just explained it
I am just gonna sit here and wait for your channel to blow up
Quality content, mate
this is so good!! I don't know why I never made the connection that Diane was struggling like Bojack to write her story in her words?? I love this video essay, subbed!
Feel like I've been going through a life long artist block, I never liked Diane, but I relate to her on the depression and the struggle making art.
Yo tell me why this is the first video I find of yours and it brings me to tears. I love love love your take on this episode 💓
This video is beautiful and so clearly well thought through. Would've loved the WoW video too if you ever make it lol
Dianes name pronunciation : Die-ahn
Litewrites Diane pronounciation:Diyahn
Edit:This essay was amazing! Good job!!