S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Tells the Story of Today's Ukraine, not Russia (Obviously)
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- Опубликовано: 23 ноя 2024
- For those who have played the Stalker games, you may not have realizes that you have been told the story of today's Ukraine. Despite this, many have gone into zone with the impression that they're enjoying a russian experience; often being referred to as "russian Fallout." While modders from russia have been very important for the growth of the franchise, it is the lore, setting, and life in the zone that has set the foundation of the Stalker games, a foundation that is uniquely Ukrainian, not russian.
Of course, the projection of russian influence over Ukraine is what has lead to this incorrect presupposition, and while a decade ago a friendly clarification would have settled the issue, because of current events, namely russia not leaving Ukraine the F alone, it has become a much more delicate topic that needs udnerstanding.
My attempt with this video is to facilitate to mostly western audiences an understanding of the Ukrainian identity that makes STALKER what it is and how its culture today is represented in the games, and how future events were foreshadowed.
It's time to appreciate Stalker as the Ukrainian masterpiece it is, and while comparisons with Fallout are welcome and make for interesting discussion, attributions to russia are absolutely not.
![[DRAGON BALL LEGENDS REVEALS ＆ STUFF] LEGENDS FESTIVAL 2024 Special Edition Part 1](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mV5bGIswTtQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Damn man you got it all right
Які люди
All I have is my curiosity and the desire to do the truth justice; Giving a false narrative is my biggest fear, so thanks for commenting, it helps keeping me honest. I take it you're much better informed than I am ;)
Слідан, таке відео можна і трішки попіарити. Треба віддячити за це відео!) Адже пояснювати такі речі за кордоном дуже важливо!
@@knivesjugglingkid1178 вже зробив )
@@felix4049 найкраще його творіння
For someone who only has 5 videos, your content is already really enjoyable and interesting, keep up the good work man
yea this dude rocks, i subbed instantly after all of them xd, he also reminds me somewhat of dj peach cobbler in a way
Very impressive how you managed to release these detailed and well-researched videos in such a short amount of time. Good job, keep it up :)
As a Ukrainian, a fan of a stalker and a resident of the occupied territory, who has lived in conflict all his life and is immersed in the history and politics of his country, I can say that this is excellent material.
I express my sincere gratitude and respect for such a detailed and deep analysis of the game from a position that even my compatriots do not touch. Good job man ✌
Slavic brothers must stop killing each other, as a Croatian this conflict is similar to our own war for independence and that makes me sad as we only destroy our potential and our grudged make us nothing but puppets to either side.
@@deadset15-hrvavik17 Tell Russia to GTFO then. This was entirely their doing. "Brothers" don't dictate what economies they can align with for their own prosperity, "brothers" don't invade and annex territory, "brothers" don't launch cruise missiles at energy infrastructure to make them freeze in the winter without electricity, "brothers" don't grind cities to dust like Mariupol, Bakhmut, etc, "brothers" don't create mass graves, "brothers" don't do massacres like they did in Bucha, so on, so forth.
There is no "puppet" here. It is absolute buffoonery to "both sides/either sides" this conflict. Russia is the aggressor, plain and simple. Any other spin on this is Russian apologia. Don't even put Russian people and Ukrainian people in the same sentence. In Ukraine, Yanukovych sent freaking IFVs to crush the protestors. You know what the protestors did? They burned those vehicles with Molotov cocktails before they could crush the barricade. At the end, Yanukovych fled to Moscow. Ukrainians have a fighting spirit, Russians do not. They are NOT the same people and NEVER WILL BE. One is a society that is young, and trying to find its place in the world. The other is a centuries old death cult empire that is rotten to the core.
The absolute rot that is Russian society has allowed Putin to remain in power unchecked for more than a decade. Ask any of them, they will answer "oh I'm not interested in politics", or "I support Putin". This is the MAJORITY. This is their entity. They are not interested in politics, but in the end, politics took an interest in them in the form of fertilizers for Ukrainian soil. They deserve it.
Like Zelenskyy famously said, "Without X, or without you? WITHOUT YOU!" Brothers... what a joke
@@ashfields9273 just because a government is against a nation doesn't make the people not brothers, thus is family infighting for stupid reasons
Also edit: Ukraine has the right to defend its land. И если ты в Украине, удачи друг Славянский
@@deadset15-hrvavik17 you're wrong, it's not putin war or something like that. It's russians war against ukrainians.
@@deadset15-hrvavik17 russians are not brothers for us Ukrainians. After thousands of years of: exiles, etc. you are not brothers.
"suck my monolith"
Monolith soldier: * unpins grenade* 💀
oh yeah? **unpins grenade of my own**
I'm from Ukraine. And I really enjoyed your video! Thank you!
As a Ukrainian myself and yet a fellow gamer and stalker for life fan, very grateful for your work. I am really touched. I wish there were more critical thinking ppl such as you. My respect goes to you.
I don't know what side to believe, but no one deserves to die over conflicts between the USA and Russia.
We Slavs need to sit down and unite some things but keep some things seperate.
Pozdrav iz Hrvatske (Хорватии)
@@deadset15-hrvavik17 nah bro, USA got nothing to do with that. Study history, we hsd wars with russia for long time, even before USA was a thing. It's a cultural difference between us. Also technically russians aren't slavs at all. Their blood is more mongoloid, than slavik.
@@knivesjugglingkid1178 Kazan and those regions in Siberia, not the Western Russian area which accounts for most of the population. Also until now there wasn't ever really a true conflict with you unless you count Cossacks as the Ukranian state, in fact Ukraine has had more problems with the PL commonwealth in that regard. The only time i can remember a Ukranian state being attacked before this was during the Russian Revolution but let's be honest that Ukraine was made as a German puppet to abuse food resources.
Your nation has the toughest of histories and due to oppression you have less of a made national identity, but you are making one right now and there is nothing wrong with that, same as we did in Croatia. We had similar enemies and oppressors, and every Ukrainian man and woman I have met here are good people, even if heavily nationalistic it is understandable why, i love all Slavic brothers and wish only for the end of these stupid conflicts over clearly defined things set by the international community that they refuse to ever fix because they are scared of great powers.
Good luck to you, moj Ukrajinski brate
@@knivesjugglingkid1178
Well said. I join you
@@deadset15-hrvavik17 seems like you didn't understand a word from the video
part of what makes stalker such an amazing game is the fact that all of its history interlinks with the past and the future. From a novel, to a movie, to the names of the people behind them (andrew tarkovsky). The factions are so easily now replaceable with their real-life counterparts. And everything the game showcases is in part inspired by what is really happening. Makes you forget your supposed to be playing a game, not a reminder of whats happening right now
I'm Mexican but I have to thank you for this video, as quality content is getting scarce in this platform. It's well structured and nuanced, it's easy to understand and I love that you're putting things in their place. I really hate it when people think Russia and Ukraine are the same and, thus, are interchangeable, which is effed up.
On another note: I hope Ukraine wins the war 🙌❤️
As a Russian myself I never tought that someone can think that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a Russian game or game about Russia. You got it all perfectly right and, as a title of a video says - it's obvious. Cossacks is a Ukrainian game too because GSC Game World is a Ukrainian company. Also Metro 2033 series is Ukrainian game too because 4A Games is a Ukrainian company, created by GSC ex-employees. Ukrainian game developers are just have crazy people that create masterpieces. It's strange that someone can say these games give you "russian" experience (Okay, maybe Metro does the scene is Russia after all, but we are not talking about Metro 2033) but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. gives you Ukrainian or, if I can say so "post-soviet" expirience. Phew. Quite a lot of words, with my bad knowledge of English language. I'm sorry if i did a lots of mistakes. But I think a gave you my point of view. Oh and also. So many Ukrainian guys in coments. If you see this - please. Know that there is still a small (well a little bit more than small. we just can't do anything) amount of Russians that wasn't brainwashed by propoganda. Good luck guys and may the sky above your head be peaceful. Hope this nightmare ends soon.
Well, welcome to western perceptions. The languages and cultures are too similar for many average people to differentiate without familiarity (even today, there were infamous cases of ukrainians being harassed because they were confused with russians), and everything soviet was labeled as russian
@@cdru515
What I find weird is people thinking that EVERYONE in a country is aligned politically.
If my country (Brazil) ever went to war, you bet that would millions of people against it and millions in favor of it, and millions who would probably not care.
my man you are brainwashed by propaganda you just dont realize it...
You have been brainwashed by propaganda and it’s pretty clear. It wasn’t Russian propaganda though. It was a propaganda from the countries you’ve never been to, and you don’t know nothing about - you just think that everywhere is better than Russia. So your problem is not your government- your problem is your ignorance
They say that because both games are based on Russian novel/story.
I have read all of roadside picnic, the original version. I fail to see where the Soviet propaganda is. If anything, I would call it anti-soviet. It details authoritarianism pretty explicitly and many lines can be drawn straight back to Russia and it's regulation of borders knowledge etc... In the newer versions there is even a list of the things that the Soviet publishers tried to take out because it would make them look bad.
was going to comment the same thing. The book is very anti-soviet and wasnt even published for a long time until they made some changes to make it more appropriate for soviet era consumption but the newer versions of the books explain what was changed and you can read the unedited versions today
I have not read the book but I’ve also read the author wasn’t anti-Soviet and he was still a communist. Even communists can have disagreements sometimes. It can seem alien to a liberal because most liberals just subscribe to the ideals of their liberal party. But communism has criticism and self-criticism as a core practice.
З усіх згадок про українську культуру та контекст Сталкера це найбільш влучне що я бачив (поза українським простором). Дуже хороша робота! Дякую. Сподіваюсь що це відео побачить більше людей, яким було б корисно освіжити своє бачення контексту гри та моєї країни. Героям слава!
які люди
Здоров був брате :)
хелло від підписоти
Firstly, sowwy for my Engrish.
Oh mate, what a video! It was surprising to find here such a DEEEP insight into my country's philosophy, history, politics, and circumstances. You've done a very great deed for the Stalker series and Ukrainians in general with this clarification of cultural confusion. Often I see Russians trying to monopolize the achievements of people from other nations. Still, because of people like you, it is possible to preserve the roots of all the different cultural "products". Appreciate your work!
I'm glad to have hopefully done justice to the truth. All I have is my curiosity and access to information, my biggest fear is being wrong and misguiding the truth so thank deeply you for watching and commenting!
Russians love cultural appropriation, their whole identity is based on that, unfortunately
The Stalker himself as a mythological symbol is our modern equivalent of the old Ukrainian Cossack.
“Ukrainian Cossacks” fought for Russian empire so careful what you are talking about, or they gonna mobilise u and send you to the frontlines
As a Ukrainian dude, I want to say thank you for telling the truth, it's nice to know that a person who is so far from our region knows and understands so much about us
You're all fools, you don't even have your own language, 90% of your language is literally Russian, read some actual history that doesn't just come from your own propaganda driven state
@@pwnyourass22"The languages are 90% the same", you say?
Where's the Russian Past Continuous Tense? Oh wait - it doesn't exist. In reality they're 62% lexically similar, like German and Englidh.
As Ukrainian i am not into free market stuff and i have few objections. Volya (freedom) faction are anarchists, not liberals. Democratic axe party is irrelevant in Ukraine and is conservative, not liberal, they hate gay people and migrants, etc, think of them as republicans. Both Russia and EU exploited and plundered Ukraine. Monolith then is more about EU, because they lure with "prosperity", but actual reforms they told us to do only worked to exploit ukrainians. Abolishing labour rights, privatization, land privatization, etc. But when we had proposed tax on capital which leaves Ukraine then EU and IMF screamed "NO" and was about to put sanctions on us (like refusing loans). And the same thing is doing russia, in 1991 both of them bought off many of our factories during privatization and just sold it for parts because it was quick money and it eliminates possible competition. I dont like the framing of EU as exactly "good guys", they initially was planning to leave Ukraine to die. Merkel and such was doing business with putin for all those years and many politicians in EU support putin even during this invasion.
Many people in Ukraine are frustrated with how hypocritical and cynical EU is. We gave up nukes for this? Really? And now they say they cant sustain this much support for us. I am not diminishing their help, i am frustrated with all the politics involved in all of this.
The ussr was not the same after Stalin.
@@Skulltaro what do you mean by that? are you saying it was better?
I know that this video is one-year old. But Jesus Christ, it is one of the best things I've seen on RUclips. Superb analysis. If I could put ten thumbs up, I would!
Man, I'm happy to be one of your first 500 subs. Blowing me away with the quality, especially for such a new channel. I see no reason at all why you couldn't be one of the top video essay creators in gaming. TO THE MOON WITH YOU!
Thanks for spending your time watching these vids :D means the world to me.
This is a very well thought out and explained video. As an artist and writer that does everything from tattoos, books, game quest and environment dialog/design - there are many times that I step back and start to see patterns and meaning in the things I've made that were so obviously linked to aspects of my life and past/present experiences. I never really noticed it before I had started seeing a therapist who was also an artist and had learned about the psychology of art. When tackling deeper issues she would sometimes have me draw certain objects, or have me bring in work I'd been doing. Some of the ways I subconsciously inserted into things was kinda wild. There were also a lot of details and deep seeded things that seemed to come to light through my work.
I only describe this because there are so many times that I hear someone say, "Just because those things line up doesn't mean they're true. I highly doubt the writer was thinking about all these things when they wrote the story". There usually isn't any arguing with this opinion either, because they simply choose not to believe how active the subconscious mind is in our moment to moment decisions and actions. But honestly, there is so much that we still have to learn about these parts of human consciousness. I'm blabbering now though. ADHD lol
What a wonderful video, pretty interesting thoughts. Thank you for explaining the situation in Ukraine from your point of view. As a Ukrainian, I am very grateful to you.
We, Ukrainians, need more western influencers like you to spread the truth like this
Thank you
I'm a Ukrainian stalker player. I hadn't even thought about it from that angle. Thank you for the video!
Btw, about monolith guys, i don't think that in 2007 there was a question about russians and their fanaticism and all this context was a subject for discussion for everyday life of an ordinary citizen. Times were just different. And yes, it's a fact that there always was people that wanted distance themselves from russia, like people that cared about the national identity but again, not a discussion on daily basis in minds of ordinary people and definitely in other context - more like cultural. So, i guess it's just a lucky coincidence. But now it's different times and if this same game would see the light today, people in russia would say how russophobic it is, and how it's an allegory on Z-zombies and supporters of war.
This video is incredibly moving. I am glad that a foreigner is sharing such important information for an English-speaking audience
Дякую за відео! Дуже приємно, що люди з далеких куточків світу починають розуміти, що українці - це не росіяни, і що Сталкер - українська гра! Дякую за освітлення цієї теми в англомовному сегменті RUclips .
Best stalker video I’ve seen on RUclips (maybe second to SsethTzeentach’s video). The video draws was great connections to the reality that inspired the games motifs. I learned more about Ukraine post-Soviet growing pains and the history behind the current conflict than I did Stalker. Great video
BTW, "Duty" kinda represents russians in stalker, in Ukrainian localization they speak russian, and almost every in-game anekdote about "Duty" is modified ukrainian anekdote about russians
Didn't know the stuff about the origin of jokes about Duty. A confusing part of the ukrainian dub, on that note, is that the Military still speaks in Russian
great vid! (though, minor correction, roadside picnic was technically a piece anti-soviet writing disguised within something the government at the time of its publication (circa 1970, I believe it was 1971 to be exact) considered "acceptable". It's a very long story and there's more to it than that of course, {and I do not currently have access to my copy of the book) but the updated translation (made by olena bormashenko) makes it a bit clearer and the foreword by ursula leguin explains it quite well, it's a very good read) I'd try my best to explain why but I haven't read it in a few years so the details escape me.
This video was so insightful! I've never seen anyone bring up the real-life analogues to STALKER's factions, especially with such detail. I feel like I have a much stronger grasp on the history and culture involved in these games I adore. It really makes me appreciate this series. Thank you so much for your hard work.
I was born and live in central Ukraine, and watching this video was shocked that there are people in the West who understand our lives so much, I am like all my familiar fans of the stalker and I am glad that our favorite series of games is popular not only in Ukraine, I don't even know what to add because you said everything in this video, thanks for the really important content
Your channel deserves way more subs! You videos are so well made and I can't wait for more Stalker content. Keep it up 🔥
someone who is not ukranian just did a video which i wanted to see for a long time nice work man
Thanks for making the video, dude!
Tremendo video man. Es relativamente sutil como gsc toma inspiración de la situacion sociopolítica de su país para incluirlo en su juego pero lo explicaste de una manera excepcional. Muy buen video man.
Gracias a ti por mirar los vids :D
espero poder seguir creando contenido que puedas disfrutar.
Shout out from NCD. This is what I call "earned a sub" kinda video. I feel you're mostly a stalker channel about mods and everything but personally I would love to see this kind of video about other games, not quite review but rather a nice retrospective that gives me yet another look into an oldie goldie. I really enjoy other interesting looks into a work I enjoyed to see what other ways people have looked at it and some of them almost improve the experience retrospectively. Anyway hope to see more of you.
I hope ALL westerns would watch your video
ESPECIALLY BEGINNING!!!!
You are the one who helps others to understand us. Thanks a lot.
I didn't think about this thing with factions and politis before,but it really makes sense,ty for the interesting video
Everything just makes so much more sense thank you so much for this amazing video
Great video, commenting for YT algorithms so that more people see it. Cheers from Ukraine, thanks for making this
Wow, you leave me speechless! I was too young and hadn't had a computer when this game was released. And I haven't played it after. But I was starting to be interested in our history, and how our state became what it is now. So this topic is fascinating. And you get the point on 100%. Now we can feel proud to be ourselves. And I want to thank you for this video. Excellent job!
По-перше дякую за відео та те, що проаналізував з такого боку. Це цікаво, як житель України кажу дякую, та хочу сказати, що в деяких моментах ти досить таки правий, особливо про фракції борг, чисте небо та одиночки, але стосовно моноліту та свободи не досить влучно, адже багато описуваних тобою моментів виникли після виходу гри (якщо знати що шукати, то завжди знайдеш, так уж ми всі влаштовані).
Свобода порівнюється з анархістами та батьком Махном, тут я погоджуюсь, але аналогом в сучасній Україні не має та не може бути, бо анархістів завжди використовували під час революцій, а потім як приймається нова влада, вони стають загрозою для держави, бо ніколи не зможуть стати частиною системи (демократична сокира є проектом старих політичних партій). Моноліт я вважаю, треба розглядати в значно широкому розумінні, їх можна було б вважати за малоросів, якщо Осознание, було б представниками Російської Федерації. Дозволю собі поділитися своїм баченням моноліту.
Зона уособлює в собі взаємодію науки та Бога, навіть не побоюючись назву зону таким собі інформаційним Богом із машини. Моноліт в світі гри уособлює в собі міф про Бога, котрий виконує твоє бажання, що насправді є сонцем для Авеля, котре спалює крила коли той до нього наблизиться. Як на мене монолітовці є проявом бажання людства наблизитись до невідомого, котре зазирнув у очі безодні, більше не може мати свою ідентичність. Він буквально стирає всі кольори, не важливо ким ти був до моноліту, ти всеодно станеш білим. Ціль моноліта є захист Зони, навіть якщо вона і нав'язана та їм промили мізки (хіба можна сказати, що члени інших фракцій самостійні у виборі мети та їм теж не промили мізки агітація, мова, віра чи інше?). Уся спроба сталкерів вирушати у центр зони до моноліту схожа на спробу зміни ядра суспільства та усієї зони, та нав'язування своєї парадигми світобачення та як наслідок зміни світу. Та навіть якщо вони зможуть обманути смерть та дійти до своєї мети, вони всеодно залишаться людьми і не зможуть протистояти зоні ( Богу, природі, вставте свою назву). Як на мене боротьба монолітовців та сталкерів схожа на боротьбу Бога та науки, віри, релігії , будь-чого. Чи іншими словами це боротьба істинного і того як ми бачимо істину. Сам по собі моноліт це як ідол істинності, котрий навіть коли був зруйнований всеодно має вплив, тінь від нього буде присутня у кожного з нас.
Саме тому порівняння моноліту з малоросами чи як наслідок смерть української ідентичності не є доцільним, оскільки малороси будуть мати свою ідентичність, навіть якщо не будуть служити Росії. Якщо так порівнювати то можна сказати, що моноліт це привид радянського союзу, котрий хоче захопити ліберальний демократичний світ, та встановити бінарний, а краще одинарний світ де будуть тільки товарищи. Якраз Осознание буде партійна верхівка, що як Ленін лежить в склянках і віддає накази своїм рабам - зомбі комуністам. Це все притягнуто за вуха, але непогано звучить теж.
Я завжди бачив гру не як боротьбу фракцій чи їх ідей, а боротьбу людини і невідомого. Бажання людей збиратися в ватаги, їх взаємодія буде на другому плані, бо на першому це ти і світ, де світ це дещо більше ніж ти можеш усвідомити.
Можу цілком свідомо заявити, що порівнювати фракції та політичні партії хоч і можна через аналогії, але не є доцільним, бо політичне життя моєї батьківщини, складає з себе боротьбу двох полюсів заходу та сходу, але це відбувалося під час гучних заяв обидвох таборів та тихого розкрадання державного (народного) майна/ родовищ корисних копалин. Демократія досить добре служить цієї меті.
Дякую за увагу, Героям Слава. Дякую автору за розкриття теми України, як на іноземця деякі деталі дуже влучні.
Thank you Andrey for your insight. It is deeply appreciated. I do concern myself with getting things wrong because I'm afraid of misleading people for it, so your comment is very welcomely keeping me honest. I find your understanding of the monolith is very rich because you look to see it from the inside out, as my perspective is obviously from the outside in, with all the factions. It'd be interesting to find any point where our ideas intersect.
In regards to Freedom, I did run into Nestor Makhn in my research but settled with representing the quasi-anarchical beliefs of libertarianism and classical liberalism (in western terms) that the Democratic Axe represents. My goal was to find parallels in today's Ukraine and the STALKER games that people like me who are outsiders of Ukraine can look to as a way of understanding where those ideas have ended up in present-day Ukrainian society, even if their manifestations in the present are found in organizations younger than the games. In other words, I'm confident that people who sympathize with Freedom would be very interested in someone like Yuri Hudymenko. I hope you don't find that slight deviation hurtful for when it comes to helping outsiders of Ukraine like me see Freedom as a part of Ukraine, as of course, I don't intend to lecture Ukrainians about their own society and beliefs.
Thank you very much for you comment. It has certainly been a very fruitful read for me.
@@cantgameright 💜
@@cantgameright Дякую за вашу працю. Ваші відео задають питання, на котрі досить цікаво шукати відповідь.
І ця відповідь, дає змогу проаналізувати своє бачення на світ.
I belive peapole call it russian fallout becuse someone from east says "russian" they mean everything that was part of soviet union
Btw metro 2033 seems closer to fallout than stalker so they are dumb both ways
yeah I won't doubt the people, even the languages sound similar so it was easy to mistake it for Russian fallout
I rarely comment on RUclips, but I just wanted to say I appreciate seeing someone else bring attention to these parallels to Ukraine's history in the Stalker franchise. I've never seen anyone else draw these sorts of connections (besides the military, which is often simplified as just being Ukrainian views towards the army itself at the time) until now.
2:07 it's soooo true, i laughed so hard. Living in Spain, i heard so many times "ey ruso" even after i told them that "soy Ucraniano". "Dile algo en ruso" or "como se dice en ruso" - this was the usual words to start a conversation with me. And honestly it didn't offend me at that time like probably it would now. The russian authorities, propaganda and their muppets, did everything so that normal people distanced themselves from them and did not want any associations with them.
Honestly, thank you for your caring. I'm surprised how much you know about my country, it's not usual for western people. Even some Ukrainians know less. I'm gonna try and learn more about Dominican Republic in it's sixties.
Glad to see more content for a series I'm just getting into. Good work all around
i’m very excited for the adventure that awaits. proud of you and happy to be here
Played STALKER games like 5 time, never thought about that in this perspective, and im living here lmao. Thanks for the video!
Amazing video
here before your channel blows up in popularity
Interesting. I did always wonder why the military are bad guys in SoC but seem alright in CoP.
didnt some of the npcs speak russian in the original trilogy though? maybe thats why they think its russian.
So you must be from England, because you're speaking English.
@cantgameright yeah basically lol people see AK, vodka and hear Russian they'll automatically think Russia because it's more historically relevant and a big player on the world stage. And the fact that many Ukrainians speak Russian in Ukraine, probably not so much anymore though
How does this man make better videos with less than 1k subs than people with over one million. Just goes to show subs don't mean anything.
The brain scorcher today just so happens to emit on the same frequency as Russia Today.
Indeed
"лыыы расея плахая там диктатура там прапаганда!!!!"
You are doing a great service to stalker artists and stalker enjoyers as well as Ukrainians and us outsiders. Keep up the good work.
dude you are amazing, great video, great voice and material feed. Just subscribed, greetings to you from the city of Uzhhorod in Ukraine. Thanks again for your work, looking forward to more videos!!
Узххород? Таке місто існує?
@@isdfrssdjr ні, є тільки Вужмісто
Considering that in the Ukrainian localization, the Duty faction speaks Russian, it's really funny (in a good way) that you compared them to Ukrainian nationalists. And "Freedom" is literally a decipherment of the Ukrainian trident. However, your perspective on the Stalker trilogy is very fresh and makes me think. Thank you very much for your work, I turned on this video expecting to see another cheeki breeki meme video, but I found a really cool analysis 👍
@@jacksmiling07 I did think about it a lot, but if you consider that the main Ukrainian militant nationalist groups emerged in the East of the country and were originally russian-speaking as well as heavily outfitted by zenitco, it's almost duty's self fulfilling prophecy. I have Ukrainian friends from the east that painted a picture that the russian language was never really considered a pledge of allegiance to russia but rather a higher tier language, the same language that the elites and oligarchs spoke back then. It's also why Duty speaks it, elitism.
@@cantgameright You know, it really makes sense. Returning to USSR where higher education was exclusively in Russian. Russian language, as evidence of elitism in the post-soviet space, paradoxically suits Duty.
Great video, thank you this and for diving so deep.
I saw your vidos when you had literally 2 subscribers...and you already have 400+ of them, I want to congratulate you on this, I wish you good development this year and more subscribers. with love from Ukraine
I definitely gonna reshare this with friends. Thanks for your work!
Thanks for making this video man
Wow! That's what every gamer that consider himself a Stalker fan should know! Thank you for such deep research, really new info on Stalker series for me
As a person who has taken classes on Soviet literature and specifically soviet sci fi, I can pretty confidently disagree that the roadside picnic was a red propoganda. Why, I can get in great detail but one thing I always say is the following: if you think a piece of literature from the Soviet times is propaganda, you are only 50% right. The reason behind that is a lot of authors during the USSR would mask their stories as propongan so they could get published. Underneath the surface, you can actually see a huge commentary on 1) the socioeconomic status of an average citizen of the USSR 2) the family dynamics in the USSR 3) the blocking of external ideas, etc. Tarkovskys movie Stalker, based on the novel (and I think the movie that gave burth the usage of the word Stalker) is a movie I woukd recommend everyone to watch at least twice IN A ROW(sit through it!).
Interesting thing about the Strugatski brothers who wrote Roadside Picnic: When they were younger, they were pro-Communism and their work does have Soviet propaganda. Later in their lives however, they began to see through its cracks and heavily criticize it (i.e. The Doomed City). To reduce Roadside Picnic to Soviet propaganda is doing it heavy injustice since the main themes are more philosophical and humanist than political (Also because the protagonist is a rebellious criminal with no love for authority). It deals with our inner desires, our morality and empathy, and most of all: existentialism. How significant are we in this cosmos? There is some Communist symbolism in the book, but it is far from the main theme imho and the critical reader should be able to recognize it. I'd recommend the book, its a pity to shun something just because of political prejudice. Even the developers of the game must have loved the book, to make a game based on it.
15:00 you are damn right about people being shy about carrying ukrainian culture. People were shy to even speak ukrainian, because there was a russian empire and then soviet stereotype that only stupid villagers speak ukrainain unlike people in cities.
villages speak almost exlusively ukrainain (those that I visited at least). I was ukrainain speaker as a kid till about 3rd grade when we moved to a larger city where I become russian speaker. Now I dont speak russian again (except when talking to russians I am still in contact with)
Alo, what is that cool mod that you have played on the background (seemingly shadow of chornobyl campaign?)
Someone has clearly not read Roadside picnic or atleast not the afterword by Boris Strugatsky
I know all about the publication issues the book had in the Soviet Union, but they weren't about the themes that were portrayed in the book. The issues came with the Soviet government having a problem with the book making Stalkers, who are criminals and say bad words, main characters. However it's hard to argue that the literature itself is not the other side of the coin if compared to books like Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell... Orwell of course had free speech. So yes, I have read Roadside Picnic and if you listen carefully I said that it contains Leninist themes and one could argue that the literature is propagandistic. Key word being "argue." If you take into account the definition of propaganda: a piece of information, often biased or misleading, that supports a political ideology or cause.
In the exact same way that a communist sympathizer could consider the literature of 1984 and Animal Farm western propaganda, so can someone argue for Roadside Picnic being propagandistic. Of course, the book's troubles with publication are only ironic; that the party would consider Roadside Picnic and its critiques of capitalist comforts as potentially unhelpful to the collective because its main characters break laws. I appreciate the comment, it keeps me honest. But hopefully my answer encourages you to change your mind :)
I am amazed at how well you acknowledged everything that happens in Ukraine and its culture. Thanks for spreading the word.
This is just... Wow. I'm an ukrainian and my guy, you really opened my eyes on this my favourite game from THIS perspective. Definitely subscribe and like and I'm looking for further videos!
This video is nothing short of a masterwork. Wow, I was skeptical of your takeaways at the beginning but I am thoroughly convinced now.
Makes me want to play through the original series again...
I watched this whole video then saw the subscriber and view count. Your videos have a very, VERY polished sheen about them. Really nice
Absolute gold, I summon the powers of the RUclips algorythm so this video reaches more people.
So it was you who did it? Thanks a lot. It has been a blessed experience so see so many people come and enjoy the content in the channel so far :D
Fantastic video, keep making more
omg, this is so good material, it's incredible. i finished the trilogy last year for the first time, but i couldn't help but feel that it all was very relevant, these familiar narratives, bloodthirsty goals and soulful companies. but you have captured all the associations so deeply and transcripted verbally so accurately that provided me insites about some of the factions like clear sky and freedom. the historical part is so accurate too, I'm amazed.
thank you for your passion, for your work and support of our people!
Героям Слава!
Bro... I have never think about this that way...
I love your videos :D
Not only was Chernobyl not fully evacuated, the other three undamaged units of the ChNPP continued to provide clean, reliable and voluminous power to the entirety of Ukraine until the early 2000's when political pressure from Germany made Ukraine shut down perfectly good reactors.
As a Czech guy I say: Yeah seems like sth the Krauts would do lol
watching this now. with stalker 2 coming out on the 20th. and the fact that the monolith are no longer a faction in the new game... interesting.
I don't comment on RUclips at all, but people need to watch this video from recommends. Thank you a lot for such big work
This is the real truth! Thank you for enlightening people!
Wow! Monolith are Russians blinded by the Wish Granter.... As a person from that region this really fits. I wonder if it's just reflective of reality naturally or intentionally put in by the devs.
I know the Metro series has these parallels intentional and you can see them clearly, but I never thought of Stalker in this way at all.
Monolith and Malorus only sound similar to foreigners tho. Here you're seeing things.
That’s insane!
Thank you. I’m sorry for spotting your channel so late, but thanks to slidan (the guy who commented your video bout a month ago, and also mentioned your channel in his recent video), I can follow you and say Thank you! Much love from Kyiv bro, never stop doing what you’re doing! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🇺🇦
If i am not mistaken, the pool was used up until late 90s by local workers.
As a Ukrainian, I thank you for that. Your knowledge of the situation in Southern Europe is impressive. It is interesting how you compare Duty with Azov, because Azov was formed in 2014. But I understand your point.
I got SOC when I was 15 and it was the hardest game I played to this date but because of the atmosphere I kept going. I think it was the first time ever I was exposed to an expression of the slavic soul. Later I followed the Euromaidan protests with great interest even though I had no proper understanding of the situation. After the russian aggression escalated I met a couple Ukrainians and became good friends with some who explained the struggles of the ukrainian identity to me in great detail and a lot of passion.
Life sometimes is weird, what was "just" a game turned out to some kind of a hinge towards new perspectives, appreciation, solidarity and relating. Slava ukraini
Awesome breakdown man. Im currently doing a 100% vanilla play through on all the games. Definitely look at the game in a new light now. Great video man. New subscriber.
Man i knew i did a good decision subscribing to you. Keep it up.
Thank you for understanding
Wow , just how you got all of it so right ? Like, how do you know all of this ? you know even heraldry ! literally my face 😮😯😲😳🥺 through the entire video
Wow. Personally I never asked myself what was the idea factions and their colors in STALKER games, like Duty, Freedom or Clear Sky, and the idea that those could be based on real life kinda blew my mind.
I am really amazed with your researches. Now i w8 for more of your videos
In STALKER clear sky wee have destroyed bridge and "Tuzla" station
This is a reference to ruzzian agression on Tuzla island in 2004
I apologize for the necroposting, but when I watched this video, I must admit that your understanding of the political and historical situation in Ukraine is exceptional. Almost everything in the video makes perfect sense.
However, there are some points worth paying attention to. This whole story with Duty went completely in the wrong direction.
The fact is, according to stalker lore, Duty is a militarized organization that is partially funded and has direct ties to *Russia*. They carry modern Russian weapons (not even Soviet but Russian), have a cult of discipline and order, and use the military code that is an important part of Russian beliefs in the paramilitary organizations. They also deliberately speak Russian, even in the Ukrainian dubbing. The red and black flag has a radically opposite meaning in Ukrainian culture, in this case, the color scheme is just a coincidence. In the picture of the stalker's world, Duty is more likely Russian separatists and insurgents who want to annex and control the zone, imposing their own rules and regulations. Azov is a good example of a militarized structure in Ukraine NOW, but it appeared in response to Russian aggression, opposing military power and discipline to Russian one. As of 2007, there were no full-fledged military organizations in Ukraine, but there were more than enough of them in Russia. Ukrainian nationalists, held patriotic educational camps on the topic of guerrilla warfare, as was the case for the last hundred years. They despised the army, both Russian and Ukrainian, as it was seen as a successor of the Soviet, occupational army.
Your view of Freedom as liberals and leftists makes perfect sense, but the red and black flag suits them better since the OUN and the UPA literally fought for freedom while using guerrilla tactics, not a full-fledged military machine. NATO guns, as a symbol of the chosen worldview, sniper rifles as the best weapon of the partisans - this is what Freedom really is. Fighters for the freedom of the territory from the tyrannical (Russian) regime, which is represented by the Duty faction.
In other words, the war between Freedom and Duty is not a war of Ukrainian liberals against Ukrainian nationalists, but a war of Ukrainian liberals/nationalists against Russian mercenaries and insurgents.
I feel seen, thank you ❤
Playing the first few games for the first time, just watching some content on them. This is going go totally change my outlook on the story. Great content!
Yo this video was eye opening. You have some awesome insight. I hope your channel does better. If you ever create a discord community I would love to join
Best fuckin STALKER commentary bar none. You're smashing it dude.
Also about Freedom and Duty as allegories, Freedom mostly uses western/NATO firearms while Duty favors Warsaw Pact firearms.
Hey man, you made an unspeakably good video. I don't know if the Ukrainian situation can really be compared all that much the Dominican Civil War, though. On the other hand, you did write a thesis about it, so you probably know more than I do.
Thanks for that, about the civil war thing, It wasn't a comparison, it was to illustrate that every democracy has growing pains that can be pointed to no matter how small your country is.
@@cantgameright Thanks for replying! You're a real one for reading comments a year after you post a video. Thanks for clarifying.
Also, here's hoping the heat doesn't cook you alive. I don't know where you live, but here on the North coast it regularly almost reaches 40 degrees. I swear man, burner anomalies are colder than the weather is right now.
15:00 You are Dominican? Love your videos man, and this Reflection you made on STALKER is really good, i showed it to my Ukranian friend and he loved it
Hugs from Euskadi, Spain!! (Im Dominican too i just lived in Spain since i was barely 1)
What an AWESOME video. I'd like to see more like this
Congrats on the 100 subs, btw that is a interesting thing, I never really thought deep into the parallels with the in game factions and the real life groups, either way, love your content :)
yay, a new video! have been enjoying the ones you have made so far!