I’ve fallen in love with a television show so obstinately antithetical to classic narrative structure that it may as well be a different species of entertainment altogether.
You've not got this entirely right. The great thing Martijn is building is not the cabin, but himself. You say there's no character development and we don't care about Martijn personally, but that's the actual golden ticket. When people like Martijn share elements of their life like this (his cabin project) online they're giving other people a chance to become emotionally invested in the outcome and the person foremost. Through the camera lens, it's a chance to feel, to give a damn. Human connection (even asymmetrical) is the engine of YouTube (and all good stories). The beginning, middle, and end you say he hasn't got in his episodes, it is very much there over short chapters between videos, between the short stays of random guests (each as they find the place, and then leave, in some way affected), and over the larger story arc of his life. There's a million little stories being told across many facets of this project (each chicken has its owns story, the turn of the seasons, the leaves, a story itself). The pace of the overall project and the video edit just has to be slowed down enough to let the viewer see that (that's perhaps the real magic of "slow TV," to appreciate the smaller plot points of life, to imbue meaning in the everyday). People are watching to invest themselves in his human story, for a time here on the Italian mountainside. Martijn lets them care, that's all it takes as an artist. The viewer wants to love you, to feel something; you must not impede them. And I won't say he's "dressed like a peasant," he's quite careful with his appearances, to marvelous effect in my view. Among the many captivating features of Martijn's work, he seems to have an innate sense for the cinematography, the shot composition and movement, the lighting, even basic sound design, and his physical frame/posture tells a story itself. We are watching the wear and tear of life, each day with new work, life is worn into this man's frame, his form evolved. We watch him handle tools to varied effect, the intensity and frustration of growing tired over the day, the throwing down of a hammer in exhaustion. In the small motions of his being, I find the greatest story to witness. I am grateful. He's a graphic designer learning to (sometimes incorrectly) build/re-fit a cabin; that willingness to be slightly vulnerable as he learns how to do this work is part of the appeal. As well, it must be noted, Martijn's videos, with the many young guests, often men, who show up to lend a hand in the build, show us something communal and fraternal, and reflect a broader ambition of his (felt by many), for the hours of his labour to be emotionally rewarding in a way that is increasingly lost to humans (sitting in offices, staring at screens), "to be tired in his hands," I think is how he expressed it at one point. His appeal, is that we are all yearning for something, Martijn is doing for himself to find that peace, and we are all immensely fortunate to be given this chance to observe the movements of him and the hours of his life though such beautifully crafted visual portraits. You can't make TV like this, just as the clothes don't make the man, it's something already within him (and you'll see that in every frame of motion).
And as you said at the end, it is the artist's vision (or perhaps nature struggling to find expression, rather than always a singular vision) that makes great work. You've not fallen in love with a TV show, we've all fallen in love with this man.
Not exactly similar, but I always point to The Great British Bake Off (aka Baking Show) as an example of something different, that I yearn for more of, that has met with success in the US market. It is reality TV competition sans conflict. It is peaceful and fun. The contestants help each other and are happy for each other and build friendships. Someone wins, and it's very exciting for them. Nobody gets mad, nobody fights. The hosts engage in wholesome banter. Maybe somebody earns a handshake!
Somehow it manages to be very engaging, even addictive, while also remaining extremely pleasant at all times. I feel better and more relaxed after having watched it, not drained or agitated.
One of my favorite programs ever is Alone in the Wilderness where selfmade footage of Dick Proenneke building a cabin by hand in Alaska was combined into a “documentary”. I never get tired of it.
Wow. The scenery is stunning and you were not exaggerating; he doesn’t even say what he is doing or why most if the time. We are just along for the ride.
I could see myself watching this simply for the experience of peace.
We canceled main stream tv during the Great Pause in 2020 and never looked back. We have a couple of streaming services and that is more than enough.
I crave slow and purposeful existence over the mundane droning of drama and politics.
Walk somewhere else, Martijn and take me with you. 🥰
You've not got this entirely right. The great thing Martijn is building is not the cabin, but himself. You say there's no character development and we don't care about Martijn personally, but that's the actual golden ticket. When people like Martijn share elements of their life like this (his cabin project) online they're giving other people a chance to become emotionally invested in the outcome and the person foremost. Through the camera lens, it's a chance to feel, to give a damn. Human connection (even asymmetrical) is the engine of YouTube (and all good stories). The beginning, middle, and end you say he hasn't got in his episodes, it is very much there over short chapters between videos, between the short stays of random guests (each as they find the place, and then leave, in some way affected), and over the larger story arc of his life. There's a million little stories being told across many facets of this project (each chicken has its owns story, the turn of the seasons, the leaves, a story itself). The pace of the overall project and the video edit just has to be slowed down enough to let the viewer see that (that's perhaps the real magic of "slow TV," to appreciate the smaller plot points of life, to imbue meaning in the everyday). People are watching to invest themselves in his human story, for a time here on the Italian mountainside. Martijn lets them care, that's all it takes as an artist. The viewer wants to love you, to feel something; you must not impede them. And I won't say he's "dressed like a peasant," he's quite careful with his appearances, to marvelous effect in my view. Among the many captivating features of Martijn's work, he seems to have an innate sense for the cinematography, the shot composition and movement, the lighting, even basic sound design, and his physical frame/posture tells a story itself. We are watching the wear and tear of life, each day with new work, life is worn into this man's frame, his form evolved. We watch him handle tools to varied effect, the intensity and frustration of growing tired over the day, the throwing down of a hammer in exhaustion. In the small motions of his being, I find the greatest story to witness. I am grateful. He's a graphic designer learning to (sometimes incorrectly) build/re-fit a cabin; that willingness to be slightly vulnerable as he learns how to do this work is part of the appeal. As well, it must be noted, Martijn's videos, with the many young guests, often men, who show up to lend a hand in the build, show us something communal and fraternal, and reflect a broader ambition of his (felt by many), for the hours of his labour to be emotionally rewarding in a way that is increasingly lost to humans (sitting in offices, staring at screens), "to be tired in his hands," I think is how he expressed it at one point. His appeal, is that we are all yearning for something, Martijn is doing for himself to find that peace, and we are all immensely fortunate to be given this chance to observe the movements of him and the hours of his life though such beautifully crafted visual portraits. You can't make TV like this, just as the clothes don't make the man, it's something already within him (and you'll see that in every frame of motion).
And as you said at the end, it is the artist's vision (or perhaps nature struggling to find expression, rather than always a singular vision) that makes great work. You've not fallen in love with a TV show, we've all fallen in love with this man.
Not exactly similar, but I always point to The Great British Bake Off (aka Baking Show) as an example of something different, that I yearn for more of, that has met with success in the US market. It is reality TV competition sans conflict. It is peaceful and fun. The contestants help each other and are happy for each other and build friendships. Someone wins, and it's very exciting for them. Nobody gets mad, nobody fights. The hosts engage in wholesome banter. Maybe somebody earns a handshake!
Somehow it manages to be very engaging, even addictive, while also remaining extremely pleasant at all times. I feel better and more relaxed after having watched it, not drained or agitated.
One of my favorite programs ever is Alone in the Wilderness where selfmade footage of Dick Proenneke building a cabin by hand in Alaska was combined into a “documentary”. I never get tired of it.
I would enjoy this.
In a similar vein, I turned on the Live Jellyfish Cam on Youtube for my mom with Alzheimer's and she was rapt for an hour:
https://www.youtube.com/live/rJ6_1-E_CLU?feature=share
Wow. The scenery is stunning and you were not exaggerating; he doesn’t even say what he is doing or why most if the time. We are just along for the ride.
I could see myself watching this simply for the experience of peace.
We canceled main stream tv during the Great Pause in 2020 and never looked back. We have a couple of streaming services and that is more than enough.
I crave slow and purposeful existence over the mundane droning of drama and politics.
Walk somewhere else, Martijn and take me with you. 🥰
Right? It's just a gorgeous way to spend forty or so minutes every week.
On that last point - about the artistic process - this piece is one of the best things I have read: https://sub.davidoreilly.com/p/imitation-i