# Video Essay — YouTube Long Format

> Argument + evidence + analysis. Cultural / artistic / philosophical commentary. 15-45 min typical.

## Format basics

- Length: 15-45 min typical (some longer)
- Aspect: 16:9
- Voiceover-driven
- Visual evidence (clips, images, archive)
- Argument-structured
- Citations / references

## Structure

```
0-2min   HOOK / THESIS
         Provocative claim
         Or compelling question

2-10min  CONTEXT / SETUP
         Background needed
         Define terms
         Establish stakes

10-30min ARGUMENT
         Evidence presented
         Multiple angles examined
         Counter-arguments addressed

30-40min DEEPER ANALYSIS
         Synthesis
         Pattern recognition
         Implication

40-43min CONCLUSION
         Argument restated
         Bigger picture
         Takeaway

43-45min CTA + REFERENCES
         Subscribe
         Sources mentioned
         Next video tease
```

## Sample 25-min video essay

```
"Why Coffee Is Political (And Why That's Important)"

0-2min: HOOK / THESIS
- Visual: coffee cup on a desk
- "The cup of coffee in your hand has more political history than
you realize. And understanding it changes how we should think about
trade, climate, and labor."
- Provocative thesis stated

2-7min: CONTEXT
- Brief history of coffee trade
- Origin (Ethiopia/Yemen)
- Colonial expansion
- Modern globalization

7-15min: ARGUMENT 1 — LABOR
- 60% of coffee workers earn less than poverty line
- Specific case studies
- Comparison to local prices
- Visual: workers in fields, then luxury cafes

15-22min: ARGUMENT 2 — CLIMATE
- Coffee zones shrinking due to warming
- Impact on producing countries
- Future scenarios

22-25min: SYNTHESIS
- Connect labor + climate + trade
- "This is not just coffee. It's the system."
- Implications for ethical consumption

25-27min: CONCLUSION
- Restated thesis
- Practical ethics: what to do
- Bigger picture (other commodities)

27-28min: CTA + REFERENCES
- Sources in description
- Subscribe for more
- Next: "Why bananas are political"
```

## Key principles

### Strong thesis
- Clear claim
- Provocative if appropriate
- Worth defending

### Evidence-based
- Sources cited (in description)
- Specific examples
- Data when possible

### Visual arguments
- Don't just talk
- Show evidence
- Archive footage, screenshots, charts

### Engaging delivery
- Calm authority
- Variety in pacing
- Music underscores arguments

### Counter-arguments
- Address objections
- Strengthens credibility
- Audience trusts more

## Sub-types

### Cultural critique
- Movies, music, internet culture
- Pattern analysis
- "Why X matters"

### Historical
- Events analyzed
- Context provided
- Lessons drawn

### Artistic analysis
- Specific work analyzed
- Creator's intent
- Audience response

### Social / political
- Issues examined
- Multiple perspectives
- Personal POV

### Tech / business
- Industry analysis
- Trend examination
- Future predictions

## Voice style

- Calm authority
- Conversational but considered
- Personal but evidenced
- Confident but not arrogant
- Acknowledging nuance

## Famous video essayists

- Nerdwriter (cinema, culture)
- Hbomberguy (long-form deep dives)
- Contrapoints (philosophy/politics)
- Wisecrack (philosophy)
- Lindsay Ellis (cinema/culture)
- Folding Ideas

## When to use

- Authority building in subject area
- Long-form audience attraction
- Awards / recognition aspiration
- Substack / Patreon audience growth
- Subject expertise showcase

## Common mistakes

- Weak thesis
- Disorganized argument
- No counter-arguments
- Insufficient evidence
- Boring delivery
- Too long (audience patience)
- No clear takeaway

## Production realities

- Heavy research time
- Significant editing (often 2-3 weeks per essay)
- Music licensing
- Footage gathering
- Visual variety essential
