Looking for educational, vloggy stuff to watch on YouTube
December 24, 2018 6:45 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for good, educational, DIY vloggers who cover academic (or academic-ish) subjects for a general (but bright) audience.
I like channels such as Philosophy Tube (philosophy and leftist theory), Religion for Breakfast (comparative religion), and Invicta (ancient history).
These channels have three things in common:
1. The creator has an academic and/or professional background in the subject they're covering – i.e., the knowledge they're sharing is based on a sustained and serious study of the subject, not Wikipedia.
2. They're doing it basically on their own, at home, without the support of a company or a university.
There are lots of similar channels from big publishers such as Vox. There are also things which are sort of solo ventures, but are highly scripted, produced, and monetized – things like Veritasium, CGP Grey, and some of John Green's videos.
I'm not asking for either of those things – they tend to be too dumbed-down, overproduced, and "YouTubey" for my tastes.
I'm looking for the vloggers who don't necessarily have fancy animated bumpers or original theme music, who do their own research and editing, and who rely on good information and engaging pedagogy (rather than gimmicks). Vloggers who have day jobs, and aren't making a living as "YouTube personalities".
3. None of them yell "WHAT'S UP GUYS" at me, ask me to "SMASH THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON", or jabber at a million miles an hour.
So: recommend more channels like this, please!
(I've also come across more eclectic channels that cover a potpourri of topics, such as Knowing Better, Not Exactly Normal, and Wendover Productions. However, I'm a liiittle more skeptical of these – I suspect that a lot of the content is based on surface-level Google research. Still, if you know of a good one, I'll check it out.)
Thanks!
I like channels such as Philosophy Tube (philosophy and leftist theory), Religion for Breakfast (comparative religion), and Invicta (ancient history).
These channels have three things in common:
1. The creator has an academic and/or professional background in the subject they're covering – i.e., the knowledge they're sharing is based on a sustained and serious study of the subject, not Wikipedia.
2. They're doing it basically on their own, at home, without the support of a company or a university.
There are lots of similar channels from big publishers such as Vox. There are also things which are sort of solo ventures, but are highly scripted, produced, and monetized – things like Veritasium, CGP Grey, and some of John Green's videos.
I'm not asking for either of those things – they tend to be too dumbed-down, overproduced, and "YouTubey" for my tastes.
I'm looking for the vloggers who don't necessarily have fancy animated bumpers or original theme music, who do their own research and editing, and who rely on good information and engaging pedagogy (rather than gimmicks). Vloggers who have day jobs, and aren't making a living as "YouTube personalities".
3. None of them yell "WHAT'S UP GUYS" at me, ask me to "SMASH THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON", or jabber at a million miles an hour.
So: recommend more channels like this, please!
(I've also come across more eclectic channels that cover a potpourri of topics, such as Knowing Better, Not Exactly Normal, and Wendover Productions. However, I'm a liiittle more skeptical of these – I suspect that a lot of the content is based on surface-level Google research. Still, if you know of a good one, I'll check it out.)
Thanks!
Numberphile, Computerphile.
I still think you'd like this despite the fact that it is funded by the British Museum: Curator's Corner .
Also funded by the Field Museum, but you might still like it: The Brain Scoop.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 7:52 AM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
I still think you'd like this despite the fact that it is funded by the British Museum: Curator's Corner .
Also funded by the Field Museum, but you might still like it: The Brain Scoop.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 7:52 AM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
ContraPoints (FPP) covers many topics of social and political interest very insightfully and informed by an academic philosophy background. Plus, she's really funny.
posted by XMLicious at 12:01 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 12:01 PM on December 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Run don't walk to Geography Now. The earlier countries (he's doing them all A-Z) are much lower production value but even the latest (Montenegro I think) is charming and DIY all around.
posted by nkknkk at 9:55 AM on December 25, 2018
posted by nkknkk at 9:55 AM on December 25, 2018
The History Guy: 10- to 15-minute videos on episodes from history, sometimes obscure and sometimes not. He's an affable fellow.
posted by underthehat at 11:12 AM on December 25, 2018
posted by underthehat at 11:12 AM on December 25, 2018
I think Brady Haran is your man. He’s a one man (plus a whole bunch of scientist / mathematician / academic people willing to be on camera) vlogging machine, only he stays (mostly) behind the camera.
Not only does he produce Numberphile & Computerphile as mentioned above (both of which are excellent) but a ton of other stuff as well.
posted by pharm at 2:25 PM on December 25, 2018
Not only does he produce Numberphile & Computerphile as mentioned above (both of which are excellent) but a ton of other stuff as well.
posted by pharm at 2:25 PM on December 25, 2018
(Brady himself doesn't really fit your requirements, but the people he films do & the videos are essentially filmed with the academics talking pretty much straight to camera in conversation with Brady & then edited into shape afterwards so I think the videos he makes might be the kind of thing you’re looking for.)
posted by pharm at 2:27 PM on December 25, 2018
posted by pharm at 2:27 PM on December 25, 2018
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posted by Mouse Army at 7:50 AM on December 24, 2018 [2 favorites]