(Don't) Know Thyself | Serial Experiments Lain Anime Discussion
Serial Experiments Lain is a psychological cult classic anime from the 90's, putting it in league with series like Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, or Elfen Lied. NGE is somewhat of an apt comparison; Lain's gift is taking the surrealism of Eva's final episodes, and training it into an entire series. While the plot may feel almost coded at times in the extreme oddity and surrealism, the anime makes a few things clear. One of those things is a crisis of self. Lain Iwakura takes on many forms throughout the series, and not just growth or development, but that within actual, distinct forms that she fights. Is she a regular girl? An angel? A devil? And what can we learn on the frontier of this extreme example of a fractured self? Well, let's see right now...
Music: YoungBerry Beats - Feeling Low ( • Feeling Low (Sad Lofi ... )
Another video on the same anime:
Perfect Design in SEL: • Lain's PERFECT Design ...
#Anime #SerialExperimentsLain #Lain #ProfessorViral
Пікірлер: 59
Why yes, I did do the "let's all love lain" scene like a madman. If you want more madness like that... Support us on Patreon to improve our content: www.patreon.com/professorviral Join our Discord for some more discussion: discord.gg/AfwXGKx Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date: twitter.com/Professorviral
@johnbash-on-ger
10 ай бұрын
Let's all love Lain!
I've known about this series since it first aired but never watched it or at least what I had seen I didn't remember. I loved the theme song though but hadn't thought about it in years. A couple of weeks ago I just started thinking about it and after listening to it my friend and I decided to binge watch the series. The past year I have been questioning my sense of self and have been asking people that knew me before if I've changed. I've been feeling isolated and having panic attacks. I related to that so strongly and rediscovering real connections and not just the ones online is what has been helping me with these struggles. I haven't stopped thinking about this anime. Now imagine this is the perception you have of me.
@ProfessorViral
2 жыл бұрын
If it helps, I can add more to your perception of me as well, to try and work around the limited time and connection that our lives and this platform allows. I feel very isolated a lot, and mostly by my own faults and fears. I'm prone to panicking over nothing at all, and always wonder how much of "me" has been lost. I guess this is all to say, even if what you said forms perception I have of you, I don't see it as one of weakness
Hmm I can see how this became a cult classic. Didn't understand it at first. I think others can't tell you who you are, they can only show one side or a small piece of you. What really shows who you are is you as well as the challenges you go through.
@ProfessorViral
2 жыл бұрын
The challenges is a good way to phrase it; how we react to things says a lot about who we really are. It's really about considering everything and weighing what matters. I guess changing what we want to and accepting what we don't? I'm not fully sure even after this; so hearing other takes from people is really what's going to finish this video. So, thank you : )
After reading the writer's blog in which he broke down the series episodes by episodes/ scenes by scenes, the points you made seems to align much with his own intentions when he wrote the scripts for the show. There was an interesting anecdote he made where he recalled his first time meeting the series director and asked him what he thinks of "Lain" (the show), and was given a respond of "Lain is sorrowful isn't it". He was lost for words for the specific wording that the director used, as he would have agreed with it had the director said something like "painful" or "pitiful", but the choice of words left him speechless at that moment.
@Leo-sd3jt
Жыл бұрын
Wait, what? Where are the blog posts located? What should I search for? Thanks in advance!
@monsieursoze4859
Жыл бұрын
@@Leo-sd3jt searching too for these here
I took a course in existentialism last year and my god do you ever explain the concepts of the self in a way that’s much more accessible to most people. It took me quite a long time to grasp some ideas of Jean Paul Sartres writings and I wish I found this video back then because you really do explain it well.
I feel like things are different now that I’ve watched this show. Lain is everywhere.
this is a completely different angle than any other video I've seen on Lain take. and it's so GOOD.
@ProfessorViral
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much : D
I've been into this anime since it came out when I was a teeanger and it's wonderful to see people still studying it and discussing it.
Re: facets of the self across time and change, it's worth to point out that when we're in a state of pain, when we have problems that we have caused in the past, and need to change, that change can't happen if you don't reconcile with the past self who presumably caused those problems. If we judge them, if we reject them, a part of our brain rejects the idea that their (aka our) problems should be fixed. If we see our past selves, and therefore ourselves as guilty, we'll behave as such, we'll think that we deserve those problems, because our internal image(s) have a huge influence on our behavior. We'll basically sabotage ourselves. But by accepting our past self, showing compassion to them rather than judging them, there will be one less huge obstacle to start an actual change. Moreover, we're also different versions of ourselves in our mind and in the present. Inerestingly enough, even back in 1985, Gazzaniga's neuroscience studies suggested that the mind is actually works like a society of partially independent sections that work together, but don't necessarily converge. Some of them don't have access to the language center, but are still there, a form of awaraness that it's suppressed. The typical example can be found in people with a split brain: the right brain can act unrelatedly to the left brain, it can write answers that are in disagreement with what the person says, it can perceive things and cause emotions unknowingly to the conscious mind--and when that happens the left brain usually tries to come up with a narrative to explain what's happening, without realizing it's totally wrong. Pre-7 children developing different parts of themselves to handle different situations (and feeling scared and out of their body when they feel anger--because they feel like they're a different person) are another example. DID continues that, where you have actual different people (alters) coexisting within a single body--usually a consequence of childhood trauma that prevents the different facets of a child's mind from merging. Regardless, the parts of our mind are distinct ways of being, with beliefs, goals, and roles, even without conditions like DID. They all emerged to protect the self and make it thrive, and basically represent strategies that we learned and worked for us in different situations. Feeling ok with yourself means precisely acknowledging all these parts, making sure that none of them is neglected and that they don't sabotage each other. When parts enter in conflict, life can become miserable, and whole parts of ourselves can be lost. A typical example are people who experienced trauma. The part who carries the memories and emotions of the trauma (as well as the perception that the danger still continues) can be exiled and suppressed (they're called exiles, can be associated to physical sensations when evoked) by the parts that take care of making the person function and protect them from the situation that caused the trauma (they're called managers). But in casting the exiles away from the self, you're casting away not just pain, but a piece of yourself. For example, a person who casts away an abused child exile, is often casting away creativity and enjoyment that come with childhood. From this viewpoint, a way to treat trauma starts with reassuring the internal systems that every part is welcomed ad every part -- even suicidal ones -- only formed to to protect the self in a past situation, even if now they seem to be threatening it. With putting fear and anger (and suppressing managers) on standby, and facilitate curiosity and self-reflection. Exiles are usually "freed" by reconstructing the scene of the trauma in the mind of the person, and having the "self" helping those exiles act or get away from the danger, making them feel safe in order to defuse the classic cause of truama: the perception that the danger of the situation that triggered it isn't over, that it will never end. What's more is that traumatized person can often see the various managers, exiles, and parts of self as physical people (example: a scared child).
I feel this so much man. I failed big time I never stuck to anything. I failed my my mission as a human being. The world was crueller than. I thought.
@sethery7826
3 ай бұрын
Hey I don’t know you but I’m sorry you feel like you failed your mission. You been alright?
"Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled. (The Kybalion)"
I just finished watching Lain today and I find it crazy how relevant it is in 2022. Great video 👍🏼
@ProfessorViral
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
ive never heard the english dub of this show until coming upon this video. a very interesting analysis of the show, though. i can relate to so much of what you say here. there are things you took out of this show that you wont find in other analyses. you should watch Boogiepop Phantom. dont let the title dissuade you. (but watch it subbed. not dubbed)
@ProfessorViral
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I actually have seen a bit of the new Boogiepop when it was airing, but I straight up forgot about it because only a couple episodes were out. I'll have to go back and check out whichever is regarded better
@tbxvividos
2 жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorViral the new one is very different from the original series. different story, made by a different studio. (i didnt finish the new one either) the original one is much better.
@Tasty_Tango45
Жыл бұрын
@@tbxvividos boogiepop phantom isn’t canon to the novels at all, but I somehow love it and the live action movie from 2000 much more than the newer series, but I would love a vid on it
"Play track 44."
@ProfessorViral
2 жыл бұрын
I love that the anime's famous quotes are just the most off the wall stuff
I just finished the last episode less than 5 minutes ago and holy shit, this anime was just madness and I loved every moment of it
At first, Arisu might have loved the idea only. But I think in time, she did grow to love the real Lain. I mean, she admited she was afraid of her. That she was beyond her understanding. But still, there was something that Lain's actions proved. She was more than a simple app. An app doesn't suffer from inner conflict or values love and connections. That's why she was willing to dive into Lain's world unlike the agent who saw Lain's suffering but did nothing. Because she truly loved Lain. If she didn't, she would have ran the moment she saw the real Lain.
Do you think you could make a video comparing "Serial Experiments Lain" with "AICO: Incarnation" ? I feel like the two stories have got a LOT in common with each other. Maybe you could even evolve it to a video talking about shows, games and movies that are more similar to "Serial Experiments Lain" than what people realize.
@Neotaku3
2 жыл бұрын
Lain is my spirit animal as well! :3
These different "versions" of lain reminds me of the theoretical psychology theory of 4 sides of the mind.
@ProfessorViral
Жыл бұрын
I can't say I know that one myself, I'll have to look into that when I have some time!
@SantanaBanana47
Жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorViral there is the ego, subconscious, unconscious, and superego
The discussion that various people create different versions of Lain reminds me of Luigi Pirandello's "Uno, nessuno, centomila"
Great video!
@ProfessorViral
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! : D
*Let's all love lain*
@ProfessorViral
Жыл бұрын
Let's all love lain
dude. Your videos deserve so many more views. I know I haven't actually watched a ton since I'm pretty new here, but your channel is what I wish there was more of on KZread.
@ProfessorViral
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, that means a lot. Of course I'd like to be bigger, but I'm also lucky to have what I do now!
Viewer number 205 tuning in.
@ProfessorViral
2 жыл бұрын
Much appreciated!
Huh. That makes sense. I always just assumed the 'walking home that one time' reference was just there as a way to establish the email came from the real Chise, not someone else spoofing their identity, by saying something only the two of them know about.
@ProfessorViral
Жыл бұрын
It very much could be and I just reading a lot into it. But I like to think everything can have that kind of meaning
@birdrun4246
Жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorViral I mean it's Lain -- there's no such thing as reading too much into it. Your theory makes a lot of sense of the series though, and it's not one I'd considered. Having Chise being the inciting incident does fit very well.
You are only a memory and I’m only the memory of somebody but not me. We are all connected.
It's not impossible to make people forget someone. Media memory holes information every day.
pretty sure that the 3rd toxic Lain was created by the "god" of the wired himself to play with lain
Lain is quite simply a great anime *^^*
Can you Talk About Kaitou Joker?
Present day. Present time. Lol
@ProfessorViral
Жыл бұрын
the only proper opening for such a series haha
@hairystyles4212
Жыл бұрын
merry christmas lmao
wait did you not watch lain in japanese?
@ProfessorViral
Жыл бұрын
No, the dub clips are cleaner, easier for me to take notes on so I can listen rather than reading, and allow me to play audio for people who listen rather than watch
.
This sucks you are wrong about everything
@ProfessorViral
Жыл бұрын
But am I even me?
@electronicbudder6047
Жыл бұрын
@rm2kking were you having a bad day and forgot to hold the door?