Tuesday 29 December 2015

Best of youtube -- Thought-provoking and captivating stuff

The year is slowly closing like a creaky, rusty old shutter. I sit here, look back and think of things I watched this year. I published a list of highly recommended Foreign films 5 days ago. Time for another list. In this era of sequels and reboots you should have seen that coming.

Do you like boring speeches by intellectuals? Well, I don't like them either!! Do you like the shouting fests organised by the so called news channels (AKA the hour of the fretting and fuming ?) Please say NO.

Is there a middle-ground? Is there content that is neither mind numbingly boring nor mindlessly, blood curdlingly TRP friendly? Yes, there is!!

To prove my point I have prepared yet another year end list. A list of mentally stimulating, "Food for thought" kind of stuff in Youtube.  I will now post a list of some thought provoking stuff in youtube. These were not necessarily posted in youtube this year, it is just that I saw them this year.

Don't get intimidated by the lofty subject matters that they are tackling. They all are interesting, absorbing and stimulating. Not a single one of them is boring

1. Every Frame a Painting by Tony Zhou: This guy posts video essays on Cinema. A channel that I adore. Art of cinema analysed like never before. In a world full of dull and derivative content, and  this is such a breath of fresh air. Insightful, entertaining and very informative. It is like a guided tour of cinema.

2. Justice with Michael Sandel: If you thought that lectures are sleep inducing and dull think again! This is a series of lectures by Michael Sandel in Harvard. He talks about things like what Justice is, what the moral choices can be. It is one of the most popular courses in Harvard and you will know why once you watch it. Fascinating, thought-provoking, engaging and truly educational stuff.

3. Those who complain about the lack of good content in channels like Times now and NDTV must switch to Rajya Sabha TV. This might seem like to switching to unglamorous ART films after watching Farah Khan's films. Go for it if you think that such a switch would be good! I especially recommend the following:
Interview with Salim Khan on his life and screenplay writing. This is a part of an interview series called Guftagoo. Irfan Saab's Hindi/Urdu is so pleasing. And the people interviewed really have things to say that are worth listening. Watch other interviews also.
Tarkash with P Sainath: An eye-opener on how topics like rural India and poverty get ignored by the media. Gripping and moving.This is a part of another interview series called Tarkash.
Interview with Rajendra Singh on water conservation. Another great one about rivers and other water bodies. Part of the Tarkash series.

4. Nerdwriter: This guy makes very interesting video blogs/essays on very interesting topics. Always stimulates the brain, you always end up saying, "I got to learn something new". Give it a try.

5. Michael Greene on the concept of GDP. I have always felt that measuring the success of a country by GDP was a wrong idea. This man so articulately nails the point home about why it is so. Humourous and thought provoking.

6. Tarek Fatah on India and Pakistan: A critical view of Pakistan. Intellectual, piercing and forthright.  Indians will love this one. You will also learn so many things. I just did not want this one to end.

7. MJ Akbar on India and Pakistan: Almost on the same topic but a completely different perspective. Intellectual and thought - provoking.Worth listening to.

8. Gurumurthy on Indian financial models: Journalist Gurumurhty's lecture about Indian economy and financial models. This was delivered as a lecture in an IIT. Astounding, thoughtful and such an eye-opener.

9. INK talks: I am yet to watch most of their videos. This is an Indian version of TED talks. Looks very interesting.

10. Baloney detection Kit by Michael Shermer: How to detect bullshit? How to differentiate between valid claims and conspiracy theories? How to sift through the bogus claims and reach truth? Michael Shermer gives a set of tools.

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