Why Wendigoon video essays are the best form of media to ever exist

 What do cryptids, folk tales, biblical fanfictions, various media icebergs, bad Creepypastas from circa 2000, historical events, true crime, and Blood Meridian have in common? Aside from being common pandemic-era interests, these topics have all been covered at some point in a Wendigoon video. Isaiah Nichols is the man behind this Youtube channel that explores hundreds of topics in a similar vein as those previously mentioned. While Wendigoon is famous for his “iceberg” videos and explorations on online horror stories like Creepypasta and the SCP foundation, his style of content is kind of overlooked when it comes to literary media. 

We all know the human attention span is decreasing with the rise of short-form videos. Probably the saddest part about this attention span loss is the decline of the video essay. If you’re unfamiliar with video essays, my best advice is to simply imagine an hour-long Youtube video of some guy in his bedroom, discussing a really niche topic and throwing in his own interpretations. Sometimes you get two guys, and this sets up plenty of banter (my favorite part about the Wendigoon and Meatcanyon podcast Creepcast. Not a video essay, but it’s in the same vein). 

Anyways. Though unassuming, the video essay has a lot to offer. My main focus, of course, is on Wendigoon, but that’s just because he’s great (and one of the OGs). So why exactly should you take way too much time out of your day to watch or listen to one of these?

1. You can consume videos while doing something else. Though not technically “video,” these kinds of essays also frequently come in podcast form if you’re not able to watch a screen. There’s no need to sit down and read a book or “real” essay.

2. None of the topics you’re going to learn about have any real stake in your life. You’re not studying for a test or a paper. Sometimes you can learn about something real like books or movies or history. Sometimes you can learn way too much information about FNAF lore. It’s all good for your mind, stupid or not.

1. So many of these exist that you can probably learn about anything you want (unless it’s really, really weird. If that’s the case, they make websites for that, you freak).

3. Compared to a purely educational piece of writing, a video essay has so much personality that is added by the speaker. It makes the whole thing way more exciting, enthralling, and (usually) funny. 

4. Watching one isn’t a completely mindless activity. As opposed to a movie or show or whatever, there’s some thought going on in your mind when you watch a video essay. However marginal, there’s definitely more brain activity happening—which is never not beneficial for any of us brain-dead idiots. 

All in all, the video essay is probably one of the most overlooked forms of media in existence. Even if it sounds stupid, you might want to check it out. Just look up any topic you’re interested in and give it a try while you work on something boring or cook a meal or something. 

Let me know if I should do a video essay on video essays gang 🙏

Oona