The Genius of Disco Elysium's Portraits

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  • čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
  • 00:00 Kim and Jean
    02:14 Other Portraits
    07:35 Harry's Archetypes
    09:31 Meaning and Accidents
    11:20 The Artist - Alexander Rostov
    A video about the art of Disco Elysium, and the character portraits in particular.
    CC available
  • Hry

Komentáře • 472

  • @JamrockHobo
    @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +1799

    - SPOILER - One thing I skipped:
    Kim's portrait is Harry's perspective on him from when he wakes up from a specific event later in the game:
    "*Sunrise, parabellum*," the lieutenant says. He's in the middle of a freshly cleaned room, with the fan above his head like a halo. His face is covered in bruises."

    • @coolfish420
      @coolfish420 Před 3 měsíci +1

      I think the white circle can also be seen as Kim's hidden sympathies for the communards. White is associated with the communards in-game, and I think the disc hewing so close to Kim's mind isn't a coincidence given what we learn about his sympathies in game. The bomber jacket, Aces High/Low... there's something there under the Moralist shell.

    • @webberdontstarve7017
      @webberdontstarve7017 Před 3 měsíci +5

      You mean on the boat at area 2?

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +192

      no, in his room in the whirling, after the tribunal

    • @alentjanestetico3014
      @alentjanestetico3014 Před 3 měsíci +89

      Thank the innocences that you didn't sleep on that detail, I was about to be quite saddened by the lack of mention.

    • @kodachromeraccoon5448
      @kodachromeraccoon5448 Před 3 měsíci +50

      LETS GOOOOOOOO That’s what I think separates it from Dolores. I see people say it’s reminiscent of Harry deifying someone else but Dora is something in Harry’s mind, with a super colorful portrait that really contrasts with Kim’s I think. Kim is physically there with him. None of the skills say he has a halo, that’s the narration (which I suppose you could argue is still through Harry’s lens but I digress) I just think it’s really cool that you as the audience are shown such a detail from the beginning. I love this game a normal amount (speaking of portraits, I totally think inland empire is the hole in the universe and I have proof I swear)

  • @AcmeMonkeyCompany
    @AcmeMonkeyCompany Před 3 měsíci +2699

    Haha that Kim portrait in the background on the news is like a pleasant jumpscare

    • @rticante
      @rticante Před 3 měsíci +231

      So a "surprise"?

    • @JB-xl2jc
      @JB-xl2jc Před 3 měsíci +183

      ​@@rticanteTequila surprise? Wait. Sunrise. Wait. Sunset. I... wait.... Mr Evrart is helping me find my gun.

    • @PlanetaryPluto
      @PlanetaryPluto Před 3 měsíci +43

      ​@@JB-xl2jc more like helping you find your words.

    • @tenyearsinthejoint1
      @tenyearsinthejoint1 Před 2 měsíci +9

      Kim is THE homie

    • @Columbine621
      @Columbine621 Před 2 měsíci +16

      It's so funny lol. Just straight up Kim's portrait lol

  • @areallybigdwarf4560
    @areallybigdwarf4560 Před 3 měsíci +1962

    Kim's portrait burned a shadow image on my monitor and even now, years after, i can still see the ghostly white circle that surrounds his head and just quite make out the frame of his glasses.

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +322

      he's telling you to get off the PC :)

    • @comradeclown3403
      @comradeclown3403 Před 3 měsíci +425

      @@JamrockHobo”I know you’re gaming, detective, but we really need to get back to the case.”

    • @omarfejzic2981
      @omarfejzic2981 Před 3 měsíci +21

      That’s beautiful

    • @EinFelsbrocken
      @EinFelsbrocken Před 3 měsíci +20

      Legend has it only playing Pinball 3D for several hours consecutively will make him disappear again 😱

    • @broblerone413
      @broblerone413 Před 3 měsíci +20

      @@comradeclown3403 lmao i read this in his voice, i can practically hear the quotes he would put around the word 'gaming'

  • @yumabaeza8851
    @yumabaeza8851 Před 3 měsíci +1283

    I think I might be an idiot, I never realized Measurehead's Babe had Measurehead in the background

    • @blehh_mae
      @blehh_mae Před 3 měsíci +91

      when i realized it i had that response when you like, find something thats not supposed to be there in a picture, like an empty room and then you see a scary face or something
      kinda funny i think

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +356

      if you look closely you see him in her name too

    • @Safiyahalishah
      @Safiyahalishah Před 3 měsíci +19

      I never did either, my sister pointed it out in her own playthrough after I had finished mine and I was like what the fuck

    • @broblerone413
      @broblerone413 Před 3 měsíci +3

      i only noticed it on my second playthrough. it kind of scared me lol

  • @RobbieRothschild
    @RobbieRothschild Před 3 měsíci +758

    Harry shaved and not smiling is honestly kind of harrowing

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +234

      if i was a law a biding citizen of revachol and that harry would traffic-stop me, i would say my last prayers

    • @dclqworm
      @dclqworm Před 3 měsíci +72

      my one soft reset other than death was when I tried shaving the mustache. It was awful and I could not live with that face for the rest of the game

    • @eclipserepeater2466
      @eclipserepeater2466 Před 3 měsíci +7

      He is a *professional*.

    • @Nice_Tree
      @Nice_Tree Před 3 měsíci +102

      ​@@dclqworm I've shaved a mustache and removed the expression in both of my playthrough. It's painful, extremely painful, but I see it necessary. Both mustache and smile seem very fake to me. That's a mask, not a real joy. Sad shaved Harry is a real man and everything else is a destructive coping mechanism. He must see who he really is, and only then he can start healing. I hope he'll return both smile and mustache in the future, but with real joy this time

    • @krunch3444
      @krunch3444 Před 3 měsíci +26

      @@Nice_Tree I don't see it that way. Even if it is fake I don't see it as destructive, but hopeful. Fake it til you make it type thing. It's how I live my life, as a willfully ignorant optimist. I feel like it increases my volition stat.

  • @theogy576
    @theogy576 Před 3 měsíci +1027

    I like the fact that Cuno and Half Light have the same pose. Likewise Titus and Authority. You can probably find more similarities.

    • @e1221
      @e1221 Před 3 měsíci +86

      Measurehead and authority as well

    • @joaoassumpcao3347
      @joaoassumpcao3347 Před 3 měsíci +145

      @@e1221 There was a post about that on tumblr I believe? A couple of years ago. Iirc it's Measurehead with Logic, Kim with Composure (his profile), Klaasje with Perception, Soona with Shivers, Evrart with Suggestion, and Dolores Dei with Empathy. One could also say Kim is Inland Empire because of the halo. And of course, Cuno with Half Light and Titus with Authority.. It's a pretty interesting thing to think about tbh

    • @bigburd875
      @bigburd875 Před 3 měsíci +32

      Kim and composure, measurehead and logic (ironically)

    • @tbotalpha8133
      @tbotalpha8133 Před 3 měsíci +70

      @@bigburd875 You can be completely logical and still go astray, if your premises are unsound and you never stop to re-examine them.

    • @harrisonfackrell
      @harrisonfackrell Před 3 měsíci +78

      Measurehead is completely logical. But, as the Logic skill description states, he is also "very proud and thus susceptible to intellectual flattery." His worldview is internally-consistent, but he can't see beyond it to realize that the premise on which he's operating is bullshit.

  • @hatientacetlen4246
    @hatientacetlen4246 Před 3 měsíci +627

    Tiktok playing subway surfer to give more visual stimuli to occupy viewers: Dumb.
    Jamrock Hobo putting litterall jingling keys on screen: Based.

    • @broblerone413
      @broblerone413 Před 3 měsíci +14

      fr it actually helped lmao. it made me feel like a toddler but at least i paid attention

    • @exhaustedgoblin6352
      @exhaustedgoblin6352 Před měsícem

      I would be offended if I hadn't just read the text about the 2024 brain and still looked off to the horizon, only to be pulled back by the keys

  • @TheKingProto
    @TheKingProto Před 3 měsíci +174

    One neat thing about Jean's portrait is that his face's details are also blurred slightly, which ties into Harry not recognizing him for 90% of the game.

  • @albarca5084
    @albarca5084 Před 3 měsíci +136

    Having a portrait of Kim hanging on the wall as a Saint icon to protect the area is such a funny yet cool and kinda accurate thing to do

  • @hsvfanjan17
    @hsvfanjan17 Před 3 měsíci +587

    00:32 Sarah Zhang is the wife of Justin Keenan, one of Disco Elysium's writers. So that might be why there's his picture in their home :) iirc there was an interview here on CZcams where one of the interviewers told him there was Kim's portrait on TV and he answered that it's because that was his wife on TV

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +132

      I did not know that!

    • @hsvfanjan17
      @hsvfanjan17 Před 3 měsíci +65

      @@JamrockHobo hm, I keep posting the interview but my reply always gets deleted. Let's hope it stays like this:
      It's not on YT but on a GDC talk instead, at around the 57th minute.
      Search for it with the title GDC Podcast Live! Hosted by Gamasutra feat. Disco Elysium writer Justin Keenan

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +41

      @@hsvfanjan17 found it, thank you!!

    • @catloaff
      @catloaff Před 3 měsíci +4

      WHAAAAAAAAAA

    • @critiasdetested4749
      @critiasdetested4749 Před 3 měsíci +10

      i did not know that either that's crazy! always thought she was just a scientist who happened to be really into disco elysium as well

  • @chysandzain7303
    @chysandzain7303 Před 3 měsíci +225

    The fact that the art doesn't only act as set dressing for the game, but it is such an essential element of Disco Elysium really got me. I first discovered DE because of the ridiculously beautiful fan art I've seen of it, and after playing the game as an artist myself I understood why. It's really not a hyperbole when I say DE changed the way I make art and living life in general. It is screaming at you that art is what's moving the world forward despite everything.

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +16

      I didn't even get to the point that it inspired such an ridiculous amount of fanart. true!

    • @broblerone413
      @broblerone413 Před 3 měsíci +7

      yes!! as an artist DE's been such a huge inspiration to me. I really love seeing impressionist-style paintings being applied to a medium like video games, since I used to be really into more 'traditional' art (i practically grew up on it, and impressionism is my favorite) before I switched to learning artstyles that would better suit the kinds of jobs I'd want and are in higher demand nowadays. It's really inspirational to see how those two worlds can be combined, and it's given me a new appreciation for both painting and video games.
      seeing some fanart for it was what got me to play it too lol

    • @sonyblank1487
      @sonyblank1487 Před měsícem

      Technically, according to the DE world, art and all thought is accelerating the pale. In our own world, yeah.

  • @ShockedTaiLung
    @ShockedTaiLung Před 3 měsíci +375

    I love how your own portrait can change throughout the game

    • @ijustreview
      @ijustreview Před 3 měsíci

      I like how every possible change just makes you look even more sad and pathetic

  • @oscarlove4394
    @oscarlove4394 Před 3 měsíci +176

    i love how you describe the three portraits
    the intellectual harry is isolated from the world. He knows but does not _feel_ it.
    the sensitive harry is the opposite, he's extremely connected. he doesn't know much but he _feels_ a lot.
    physical is once again completely unique. He's neither isolated nor connect, but he _emenates_ into the world. He doesn't know but he makes himself known, he doesn't feel but he makes himself felt.
    You can even see this in the general gameplay, intellectual and sensitive harry interact with the world by observing and judging it, either the hard reality or the complex social world it contains, physical harry however progresses not by _observing_ but _interacting_ with the world.

  • @SquidGangRiseUp
    @SquidGangRiseUp Před 3 měsíci +168

    Measurehead's portrait might be my favorite because it's so abstract and uncanny, like you approach this wall of a man and instantly know at some level that he is NOT human. He is purely a threat, an obstacle. Don't expect to reason with him or extract useful information.

    • @muslimpucci
      @muslimpucci Před měsícem +5

      tfw you can reason with him and extract useful information

  • @latifoljic
    @latifoljic Před 3 měsíci +95

    One portrait I really like is the one of the girl who works at the convenience store. She has these completely blurred out eyes that seem obscured by her hat. It reminds me of when I used to be a teenage store clerk. Much of the time my personality was completely surpressed by an impersonal professional mask. But behind the yellow blending you can see one eye, sharp and observant. Observing, judging, but not caring.
    Also the yellow from her hat that is obscuring her eyes is also forming what looks like a wisp of smoke coming from the top of her head. Maybe this yellow is like Roy's yellow, and she's high at work? It would certainly explain the covered eyes. I remember being stoned as a store clerk, I'd hide my eyes too out of fear that the redness would alert everyone that I was stoned lol. Maybe I'm projecting too much but that's what I think of it anyway.
    Great video btw Hobo

    • @gavinjasper98
      @gavinjasper98 Před 3 měsíci +5

      The blue ‘smokey’ shapes kinda look like a jester’s hat to me!

  • @connoremery9521
    @connoremery9521 Před 3 měsíci +85

    One thing I've noticed that I don't see a lot of people talking about is how yes, all of the union men have the white and red portrait background, however, Evrart's portrait has the white and red flipped. I'm fairly certain this signifies him being on top of everyone else in the organisation, setting himself above and apart from the average member of the unwashed masses but still being a clearly marked and proud part of their organisation

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +13

      Yeah I too dont think that it symbolizes him going against the union members interest. It's just him being the boss

    • @InternetHydra
      @InternetHydra Před měsícem +2

      Well, to feed into the idea of his inverted colors represent that his role in the group is warped and wrong: everyone else believes and contributes to the cause but he uses and manipulates it, and them, for his own personal gain. It's a perversion of the cause. It's like that political statement of a national flag being flown upside down, declaring something is wrong with the nation.
      And spinning off of that, there's another character who parallels that upside down look. The Deserter. His colors are also upside down to represent his namesake, how he ditched his comrades when they needed him the most and hid away afterward instead of working to get it back going. Which ties into the big difference between the two: The lack of red. His color is dark, representing his cause being long lost and obliterated. He is worse then Evrart.
      It you reject the idea of the upside down representing corruption, then it's a signifier of him formerly being a Political Commissar, comparable to Evrart's role as the boss of the union.

  • @spencerfair7505
    @spencerfair7505 Před 3 měsíci +143

    5:35 The colors on Dolores Dei’s portrait- the purple, yellow, red, and blue- are all taken from the colors of Harry’s skills. It’s part of showing that she is just another weapon his mind is using against itself- having overwrote her, betrayed her, and become all the more powerful for it.

  • @hypocriticalrat3607
    @hypocriticalrat3607 Před 3 měsíci +75

    About Jean portret. There are square halos in some regious depictions. Jean's halo became black, full with bad thoughts, it's is still a halo. While Jeand indeed more edgier, he still cares deeply about Harry. He was with Harry for a long time and it left a mark.

    • @emjay9688
      @emjay9688 Před 3 měsíci +17

      Square halos were traditionally painted around the heads of still living persons, bishops or emperors and the like. Although I don't think that particular distinction was taken into account with Kim and Jacques (Kim doesn't seem to have been a ghost, after all!). Soft & protective vs angled and harsh seems to be the right take on those.

  • @eeyuup
    @eeyuup Před 3 měsíci +108

    I love Egghead and Tiago the most.
    Egghead with his goofy expression, his nonsensical phrases, his boundless hope and genuine love for his crew are perfectly present in his portrait.
    Tiago the Crab Man looks mysterious, his body looks as if it has become one with the wooden beams of the church itself, which he very well may have with how weird the universe of Elysium truly is.

    • @googoogajoog1334
      @googoogajoog1334 Před 3 měsíci +1

      Tiago specifically looks to me like a marble statue, hidden up in the shadows of the attic.

    • @Nice_Tree
      @Nice_Tree Před 3 měsíci +2

      ​@@googoogajoog1334 I think marble don't fit him. Wood is much better. He carved some sculptures of church wooden supports and we could say Tiago become one of this statues himself

  • @greenyxd7298
    @greenyxd7298 Před 3 měsíci +216

    Encyclopedia (Challenging: Success):
    Dolores Dei 5:18 . Her lungs are visible. Incredibly intimate. today not so much since the invention of the x-ray; During the Victorian times having a picture of your insides taken was exposing you in a way that was worse than being naked on a busy street.
    I think the writers where inspired by the novel "The Holy Mountain". Trapped in a clinic in the mountains for tuberculosis, a love interest gives the protagonist - despite its rational purpose - a picture of her lungs, revealing her flesh to a man who cannot treat her medically.

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +39

      It's one of my favourite novels and I never thought about that connection. That's great!

    • @PaprikaParade1
      @PaprikaParade1 Před 3 měsíci +1

      im sorry but i cannot find this novel thru google, it only shows From The Holy Mountain book about some christians or whatever, do u have a link or any tips how to find this novel?

    • @greenyxd7298
      @greenyxd7298 Před 3 měsíci +9

      @@PaprikaParade1 you won't find it, because it's actually called "The Magic Mountain" by Thomas Mann

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +6

      I didn't even notice that they didn't use the right name haha. I have an old GDR version that says it's illegal to circulate it in western Germany. really cool

  • @danielhollick1708
    @danielhollick1708 Před 3 měsíci +42

    Thank you for the jangling keys, milord

  • @Adrian-mk9vr
    @Adrian-mk9vr Před 3 měsíci +84

    3:16 MEASUREHEAD JUMPSCARE
    (seriously, how did I never notice him in the background of his groupie's portrait...)

  • @FalconCooper
    @FalconCooper Před 3 měsíci +154

    Great video ! The one who had the most impact on me was Ruud Hoenkloewen's. First of all, you are already surprised to see there is one more mercenary, but then you see his portrait which I feel like is one of the most unique. With only shades of white, black and grey, not only I think he is the only character who is not showing his face but he is also looking directly at you. You can't see what is behind that facemask. The shape of the mask creates a sort of mix bewteen a skull and a scarecrow. You immediately know this guy is a threat, someone you can't reason with and shit is really about to go down. I remember just staring at his picture when it came up, trying to understand what I saw.

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +35

      a really alien presence, absolutely

    • @EDFHLFLFF
      @EDFHLFLFF Před 3 měsíci +1

      I always thought he looked like that one mercenary from star wars the clone wars

    • @artic2312
      @artic2312 Před 3 měsíci +17

      The helmet really makes him seem like a grim reaper figure. Death personified.

    • @blehh_mae
      @blehh_mae Před 3 měsíci +8

      i really like how it makes it Feel like youre looking up at him even though its more or less face-level, the lighting makes it seem like youre metaphorically below this foreboding threatening figure

    • @broblerone413
      @broblerone413 Před 3 měsíci +2

      @@artic2312 that's exactly what i thought when i saw him for the first time! he looks like Death itself, and completely inhuman

  • @willroth7521
    @willroth7521 Před 3 měsíci +68

    I love this video so much. As a legally blind person all of this stuff went completely over my head so basically thank you for letting me appreciate all the work they put in to these portraits:)

  • @simondigruber2111
    @simondigruber2111 Před 3 měsíci +16

    When I first stumbled on random gameplay of Disco Elysium on youtube, I noticed Harry's portrait and felt like I instantly knew what he was about. And having experienced the game for myself now I was amazed how much of Harry's character the artist was able to convey in a single portrait.

  • @adislavchev
    @adislavchev Před 3 měsíci +40

    Alexander is a treasure that must be protected, creating such amazing visuals while barely having the tools to learn the art. Great video Hobo!

  • @Linkzcap
    @Linkzcap Před 3 měsíci +34

    8:13 his head is literally in the clouds, you can see an image of it nearly blended in with the blue and white background

  • @Wezla
    @Wezla Před 3 měsíci +72

    Great video, love this type of discussion!
    To add to the discussions on backgrounds: I never noticed Sileng's background being so much like Joyce's. It seems a little more 'corrupt' like a poor imitation of Joyce's. It's been a minute, but isn't Sileng that kind of hustle culture ultraliberal that's chasing a story he's been sold? Makes sense that he'd want to immitate Joyce.

  • @nano9285
    @nano9285 Před 3 měsíci +41

    Surprised that you didn't mention how the pose of several portraits are based on skills (or the other way around). Most noticeable with Measurehead/Authority and Cuno/Half Light

  • @francesgardner7070
    @francesgardner7070 Před 3 měsíci +19

    egg head’s portrait always makes me think he’s an elf or something

  • @laultimarebanada
    @laultimarebanada Před 3 měsíci +25

    I'm making a dnd campaign with my bf. Me having played the game and him in still haven't finished. I want to make a portrait of my character in this style and though I'd say I know how to draw good enough, I've hardly took into account what I want to express with my art. This made me understand much more the true meaning of making that art, and honestly, it is cool looking.
    Thank you for the Disco Elysium content, this game is so rich on it's components, I'll be seeing the rest of your vids now.

  • @JamrockHobo
    @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +416

    Do you have a favourite portrait, or a headcanon that goes with one?

    • @udram47thelowercaseguy
      @udram47thelowercaseguy Před 3 měsíci +16

      i like tiagos

    • @Doctor_Straing_Strange
      @Doctor_Straing_Strange Před 3 měsíci +24

      I love Dolores Dei's portrait, and Tiago's portrait, Measurehead is also a classic

    • @limcw6092
      @limcw6092 Před 3 měsíci +18

      Half light is my favourite, it looks exactly Just how I imagined it

    • @dialectiks
      @dialectiks Před 3 měsíci +16

      i love the fash harry aesthetics. he starts combing his hair there. i wish he could look like that without the fash lol

    • @forestsavior
      @forestsavior Před 3 měsíci +27

      I think it would be a tie between Kim and Egg Head. That pseudo-halo framing Kim's dead-serious face just utterly completes the character every time he speaks. It's straightforward, but extremely effective. He is instantly understood and instantly appealing.
      Egg Head's luminous glory mostly serves to underscore the absurd Scooter memes pouring out of his mouth, but it also underscores what a hopeful character he is. Even if he could stand to engage a few more brain cells when he's workshopping new shoutouts (please don't turn him into a fascist/Moralist), it's great to see how much he actually cares about his friends and his vision of anodic music as a tool to bring people together and heal his damaged world.
      He's like a poorly molded knock-off Donald Duck night-light in a dark, dingy room -- extremely absurd, but a reassuring presence nonetheless.

  • @derpherpblerp
    @derpherpblerp Před 3 měsíci +25

    Kim is our babygirl saint

  • @chronosoviy_tor4
    @chronosoviy_tor4 Před 3 měsíci +100

    4:23 While the portraits of all the other union members have white and red in the background, in Evrart's portrait these colors are flipped, showing that his interests and position are actually the opposite of the interests of the union he exploits.

    • @boserboser6870
      @boserboser6870 Před 3 měsíci +32

      I will say theres an interpreation of everat. That he's pretending to be corrupt so captital thinks he's someone who can be controled.
      Nothing is more convenient to the corruption in moralintern than someone who can be bought.
      He does still disregard the lives of others however

    • @varsoonhks3211
      @varsoonhks3211 Před 3 měsíci +23

      After several playthroughs, I've concluded that Evrart does have Martinaise's best interests at heart.
      He just sees the only way to get there through his corrupt methods.

    • @AlexSmagula
      @AlexSmagula Před 3 měsíci

      i thought that it was flipped because you wouldn't be able to see the red so well if it wasn't

    • @shraka
      @shraka Před 3 měsíci +4

      Interesting that you think his interests are the opposite of the rest of the union, given the subjective nature of the game.

    • @eclipserepeater2466
      @eclipserepeater2466 Před 3 měsíci

      Regardless of if that's true or not, it would certainly be Harry's first impression.

  • @nomukun1138
    @nomukun1138 Před 3 měsíci +8

    "Thank You Kim for not calling my Harry a idiot + having a little dance with him
    Your a real one
    X"

  • @catherinewoods6598
    @catherinewoods6598 Před 3 měsíci +9

    One of my favourite details about the Union's portraits, was the fact that Evrart's background was the polar opposite to the Hardie Boy's, subconsiously telling the player, that even though they might be a part of the same organization, they use extremely different methods to get what they want (its also a reference to the fact that Titus control's the "militant" wing of the Union).

  • @blehh_mae
    @blehh_mae Před 3 měsíci +11

    honestly i never thought of the portraits as harrys perspective or symbolism of their personality, but now that ive heard it like that it makes complete sense
    i always sorta wondered why some portraits were so weird and convoluted or just hard to see what the character actually looks like

  • @MrGemHunter
    @MrGemHunter Před 3 měsíci +11

    9:30 Personally I think Physical Harry isn't emanating light, but breaking though it, smashing though the background like he smashes though the world

  • @calebterr8877
    @calebterr8877 Před 3 měsíci +16

    The drunk's pottait awed me. I thought it was great when i first met him. You put it so well, its like hes melting to the background of the portrait. Thanks for sharing this ❤

  • @bleachedink
    @bleachedink Před 28 dny +2

    The booth at EGX, my partner wrote the first note and stuck it to the wall, which in turn prompted LOADS of people to stick up their own, it was such a cool thing to see it grow throughout the day!

  • @pendantblade6361
    @pendantblade6361 Před 3 měsíci +7

    The mercenary portrait is probably my favorite one in the game, the hairs on my skin stood up when I saw it and when I hear him speak.

  • @BanBootlicking
    @BanBootlicking Před 3 měsíci +32

    1:02
    *Composure doesn't break when calling him a slur
    *Mentioning icebreaker
    "ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE?!"

    • @tbotalpha8133
      @tbotalpha8133 Před 3 měsíci +16

      Kim's used to slurs. The depths of Harry's nonsense are a heavy novelty.

    • @AutieZo
      @AutieZo Před 3 měsíci +1

      Kim had been putting up with way too much of Harry's nonsense before that point

  • @2ndBowlOfWarp
    @2ndBowlOfWarp Před 3 měsíci +16

    Спасибо тебе за твои мысли, дружище. Это очень хороший ролик, особенно когда осознаешь те вещи, который ты не заметил сам.. игры это и правда искусство

  • @googoogajoog1334
    @googoogajoog1334 Před 3 měsíci +6

    One little detail about the union that I'm surprised you didn't mention is the fact that the red and white are inverted for Evrart. It's an interesting touch.

  • @yeshua7238
    @yeshua7238 Před 3 měsíci +9

    In regard to the elctrochemistry portrait, it’s drawn with a battery that fills itself with skill points when you use drugs to raise it past the cap.

  • @teddyjohnson7527
    @teddyjohnson7527 Před 3 měsíci +12

    This is a truly impressive video. It gave me a lot to consider not just about Disco Elysium but about art in a broader sense as well. You're an excellent writer.

  • @lisamcrad5799
    @lisamcrad5799 Před 3 měsíci +3

    Also out of all the dockworkers, Evartt is the only one for where the colors are flipped. Sort of a visual signal that he’s the one on top and is bending the rules to his advantage.

  • @dclqworm
    @dclqworm Před 3 měsíci +5

    Thanks to everyone who keeps the discussion of DE alive, it is profoundly important to me and so many !

  • @rockomundo
    @rockomundo Před 21 dnem +1

    As a self taught artist trying to get more into painting and sketchy digital art playing through this game and checking out all the artwork has been such an inspiration!
    And it's true, it may look sketchy and wonky, but it's really hard work to get right.

  • @sputnik5676
    @sputnik5676 Před 3 měsíci +5

    Thank you for making this video. Disco Elysium is a profound multimedia experience and specific discussion of its art direction is deeply needed

  • @localguru7190
    @localguru7190 Před 3 měsíci +4

    I watched this video after I had to deal with some really heavy shit and you've got the perfect voice for this. I feel a lot more relaxed now than I did before. Thanks for that.

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +1

      my voice is by far the element of the video that I'm the least confident about, so that is really nice to hear! :)

  • @Fuckalope-cm5dk
    @Fuckalope-cm5dk Před 3 měsíci +4

    Just got an actual art degree from this video

    • @JamrockHobo
      @JamrockHobo  Před 3 měsíci +1

      czcams.com/users/shortsNreHOj3abEk

  • @bonaquador
    @bonaquador Před měsícem +1

    Damn, this is a great analysis. It's the exact type of video I would have made, if no one else had done it. Glad I got to be the one viewing this time.

  • @chrislink73
    @chrislink73 Před 3 měsíci +3

    This was an interesting and thoughtful commentary on the character portraits, which I hadn't spent enough time considering. Well done.

  • @c4r439
    @c4r439 Před 3 měsíci +7

    Absolutely fantastic video, thank you for making it. I'm a design student and although my knowledge isn't really the best, just by looking at the portraits I'm amazed at how much they can convey, directly or indirectly. Although even you have said you aren't knowledgeable with art, I think all the comments hit the nail on the head or at least quite close to it. Just one thing that I really love about them is how color and color theory is applied, one of the main examples being with the Physique Skills. The deep red colors along with the fleshy, sometimes "pained" expressions on them made it all look so good. I also didn't know about Alexander Rostov's influences and reasons for his art to be like that. Even he seems to consider it "flawed", or result from lack of actually being able to study it, and looking at it now with that knowledge it really becomes noticeable. Not to diminish his work though, it's impressive and quite vibrant. It's nice that an style that surged like that became so strikingly noticeable. It really elevated Disco Elysium. Again, great video and great interpretations of the portraits!

    • @Cibershadow2
      @Cibershadow2 Před 3 měsíci +1

      I'd go so far as to say the way he views his art is largely how Disco Elysium itself wants to be viewed. Flawed and simplistic behind a veneer of fantastical, unique brilliance. A tilted house with the best decorations you've ever seen. Even the story of his art reflects the stories of the game's writers from what I've gathered, with that feeling of a real post apocalypse.

  • @brookemcgill3385
    @brookemcgill3385 Před 3 měsíci +2

    Wonderful video as always. Seeing a new video from you is such a treat.

  • @Ironwolf-pm7zs
    @Ironwolf-pm7zs Před 2 měsíci +4

    I remember looking at Gary's portrait as being a clean looking proud man and seeing his model as a ragged and balding guy made me laugh.

  • @angrycat1232
    @angrycat1232 Před 3 měsíci +2

    excellent analysis, thank you so much for uploading this

  • @elizabethk007
    @elizabethk007 Před 3 měsíci +2

    I love these types of videos, there is so much you can read from just the character portraits

  • @Brunoenribeiro
    @Brunoenribeiro Před měsícem +1

    Alexander Rostov and Jen Zee are the GOAT of indie games' art field

  • @cosmicamente6165
    @cosmicamente6165 Před 3 měsíci +4

    incredible video, loved it, thanks for the jingling keys.

  • @karanbharat1951
    @karanbharat1951 Před 3 měsíci +2

    This makes me wanna go play and over-analyze every single character portrait as much as I can!!! man Disco Elysuim's art is just beautiful.

  • @Krranski
    @Krranski Před 3 měsíci +4

    This was spectacular. The art was what drew me deeper into the game (though I had heard it was an awesome game beforehand). The title screen alone gave me shivers. But the art helped me connect to the world and characters like no other game has.

  • @Danny-ns8sl
    @Danny-ns8sl Před 3 měsíci +2

    Wow, great commentary! Thanks, you've helped me appreciate Disco Elysium even more than I already have. Please make more of these :D

  • @PunkRockBuddha
    @PunkRockBuddha Před 3 měsíci +2

    Fantastic video, this is a great analysis, and has so many interesting pieces of information given quickly. These portraits have so much depth.

  • @iamdaboss13
    @iamdaboss13 Před 3 měsíci +2

    What a wonderful video essay - thank you, I enjoyed very much!!

  • @Ask4This
    @Ask4This Před měsícem +1

    The meaning and accidents part is very well done.

  • @rinarina6247
    @rinarina6247 Před 3 měsíci +2

    I live for when I discover a video essay of this quality in the wild from a channel I've never heard of before

  • @whirlingincosmos
    @whirlingincosmos Před 3 měsíci +6

    Amazing video as always, I particularly enjoyed your discussion on Egghead's portrait, he became one of my favourite characters instantly on my first playthrough :D

  • @the_shaq_attack
    @the_shaq_attack Před 3 měsíci +8

    This is a bit on the nose but I wonder if the black rectangle is also supposed to be symbolic of a "black box" y'know, a flight recorder. Jeans role in the story is to sort of be Harry's bridge back to who he was before the events of the game, or at least that's how I saw him by the time I finished the game; So I wouldn't be surprised if the black rectangle shape was chosen for this reason, after all it could've been a number of other extremely sharp shapes. It could just be me over analyzing, but it's certainly an interesting thought!

    • @hypocriticalrat3607
      @hypocriticalrat3607 Před 3 měsíci +1

      Also there are square halos in religion. And while Kim's halo is white, protective, Jean has black, negative halo, but nonetheless it's still halo. In the end Jean cares about Harry

  • @adamyohan
    @adamyohan Před měsícem +1

    I'm glad you're making these videos.

  • @theminesweeperguy5617
    @theminesweeperguy5617 Před 3 měsíci +1

    INSTANT LIKE ! Clear and concise analysis,i can't praise this enough !

  • @astorbarnes9690
    @astorbarnes9690 Před 3 měsíci +2

    What a wonderful analisis, makes me think in the characters in a total new manner, congrats!

  • @PhantasmASMR
    @PhantasmASMR Před 2 měsíci +1

    Ya know the thing about the jingling keys with the insightful dialogue really turns this videos itself into an art piece

  • @eclipserepeater2466
    @eclipserepeater2466 Před 3 měsíci +2

    It's interesting to think that with this art style and making the portraits first, then letting that inform the characters, an art mistake or fluke can end up changing the entire reality of the game's story.

  • @dixTheory
    @dixTheory Před 3 měsíci +4

    Amazing video, thank you for sharing! I stumbled upon Aleksander Rostov's ArtStation page before but now I'll have to look at his art again in more detail.

  • @ThatJamesPerson
    @ThatJamesPerson Před 3 měsíci +1

    This was a tremendously keen analysis. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

  • @philosopher_dirtbike
    @philosopher_dirtbike Před 3 měsíci +2

    Great video, very insightful!

  • @FlymanMS
    @FlymanMS Před 3 měsíci +2

    Thank you for this video and for reminding me of the love I have for this game and the feelings it made me feel.

  • @JoshDoVids
    @JoshDoVids Před 24 dny

    This video is honestly incredibly enriching and rewarding.

  • @rrrrrrrachel
    @rrrrrrrachel Před 3 měsíci +1

    my favourite read on the portraits is that visual calculus is a result of the dry cerebral focus of encyclopedia, combined w conceputalisation's visual flair - and you can see it in the work, VC is a fusion of the other two

  • @MrKumaraPie
    @MrKumaraPie Před 3 měsíci +2

    Excellent analysis, thanks for sharing! :)

  • @likesoundtoheaven
    @likesoundtoheaven Před 3 měsíci +2

    I never know what you shall post about next, but all does this game a great justice.

  • @donlasagnotelamangia
    @donlasagnotelamangia Před 3 měsíci +2

    Beautiful video, lots of food for thought!

  • @rileymitchell3510
    @rileymitchell3510 Před 3 měsíci +2

    I really enjoyed this, thanks!

  • @equleart
    @equleart Před 3 měsíci +2

    that was an awesome video! great thoughts

  • @katiekate77
    @katiekate77 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Phenomenal analysis! I never realised the portraits hold so much meaning.

  • @broblerone413
    @broblerone413 Před 3 měsíci +2

    When I first played Disco Elysium, I just knew I'd be spending a ton of time analysing the art from the moment I saw the first three build type paintings. The shape and color language in the portraits is so incredibly fun and interesting, I found myself looking forward to meeting new characters just to be able to find out what their portraits looked like. Egghead's gotta be one of my favorites, particularly the updated version of his portrait. The way he radiates glowing energy towards the ceiling just looks really cool. It makes you want to join in on his party lol
    I see a lot of people analysing the game's writing, but after reading the art book I found myself wanting more analyses of the art itself. I already had my own ideas on the portraits, but I had a hard time putting a lot of those ideas into words. Besides, I love to get different perspectives on these things.
    Awesome video, it was cool to be able to hear someone else's ideas on the subject! Some of the things you mentioned I hadn't even thought about before (like the connection between Joyce's and Siileng's portrait backgrounds).

  • @Mahawww
    @Mahawww Před 3 měsíci +2

    Great work as always!

  • @Alastor5678
    @Alastor5678 Před 2 měsíci +3

    I love the video the script, the performances, the editing, very good. I just finished the first round and I already want to replay it. Will you make a video about skill portraits? I would really like to see your interpretation and I haven't seen a single video about it.

  • @LavoniaSantaella
    @LavoniaSantaella Před 3 měsíci +1

    Kim's portrait burned a shadow image on my monitor and even now, years after, I can still see the ghostly Kim-circle haunting me - guess I've been Kim-possessed!

  • @bowser8817
    @bowser8817 Před 3 měsíci +2

    I was up all night waiting for this one

  • @gingerwhale871
    @gingerwhale871 Před 2 měsíci +3

    Really great video!

  • @Cookedmaruchan
    @Cookedmaruchan Před 3 měsíci +2

    This might be one of the best videos of all time, god damn

  • @customercareskeleton
    @customercareskeleton Před 3 měsíci +2

    Fantastic video. Loved it.

  • @fluffmamon
    @fluffmamon Před 3 měsíci +5

    Another detail I really love about Gary's portrait is that the background of his portrait depicts his cryptofascism. The white lines on the blue in front looks like it's trying to cover up the golden background behind it. The blue and white being Joyce's background which stands for Ultraliberalism and the golden background standing for Fascism as it's the same as Harry's when he becomes Icebreaker in the Fascist Vision Quest. Fascism trying to mask itself as Liberalism.

  • @timblighton6216
    @timblighton6216 Před 3 měsíci +2

    This was fascinating thank you!

  • @HolyC-xs2zj
    @HolyC-xs2zj Před 3 měsíci +2

    Great work, bro! Thanks

  • @bartolomeus441
    @bartolomeus441 Před 3 měsíci +2

    Beautiful essay, it made me appreciate Disco Elysium's artstyle even more

  • @nat68446
    @nat68446 Před 3 měsíci +1

    love this video sm. id love to hear ur interpretation of the many other portraits