Why? Why? Why? Why? Hand! Hand! Hand-hand!

May 4, 2013 10:40 PM

What am I? WHAT AM I? WHAT IS THIS? WHAT AM I DOING? WHAT IS HAND? (what is slyt)
posted by boo_radley (22 comments total)

An absurdist allegory in which the puppets represent the futility of the "adult" world.

really
posted by not_on_display at 10:52 PM on May 4, 2013

Well...I watched the whole thing...it was hard...half way through, before the boy got fed-up, I was there...I loved the ending, worth watching the whole thing...reminded me of 14 month old Humans.
posted by QueerAngel28 at 10:53 PM on May 4, 2013

That cue from the "Home Alone" soundtrack doesn't not trigger an insane rush of nostalgia.
posted by eugenen at 10:56 PM on May 4, 2013 [1 favorite]

Interesting, seems the dolls are perdurantists or stage theorists, they do not believe their hands, or even selves, Are single objects that endure through time but instead represent a discrete temporal part of an object or are created anew each moment. For them, the hand they had or the self they were a minute ago is not the same one they perceive now.

I wouldn't put up with that shit either.
posted by Ad hominem at 11:00 PM on May 4, 2013 [5 favorites]

You have now found yourselves trapped in an incomprehensible maze.
posted by Nomyte at 11:04 PM on May 4, 2013

Home Alone with Kafka
posted by stbalbach at 11:09 PM on May 4, 2013 [3 favorites]

I'm guessing I lost something by trying to watch it without the sound on. (It's really hard to read puppet lips.)
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 11:09 PM on May 4, 2013 [2 favorites]

not_on_display: "the puppets represent the futility of the "adult" world."

the puppets represent the futility of the "adult" world.
posted by boo_radley at 11:09 PM on May 4, 2013 [1 favorite]

The top comment and the comment it's a reply to are fantastic.
posted by grapesaresour at 11:15 PM on May 4, 2013

I swear this is a double, because it's been around so long. Still incredibly rad and classic. Thanks for the reminder!!
posted by lazaruslong at 11:15 PM on May 4, 2013 [1 favorite]

"Hey, love the vid, I am also a living doll and I just started my own channel. I intend to add new content every day, movie and music reviews and much more. Check it out and let me know what you think"
posted by Ad hominem at 11:25 PM on May 4, 2013

That was pretty glorious. The kid was a good actor, as child actors go.
posted by painquale at 12:14 AM on May 5, 2013

I showed this to my 6-month-old and he starting jumping (in his jumper) more excitedly than I have ever seen him, every time the puppets started in with the "Hand! Hand!" bit.

I think I have a new distraction for when he's getting stroppy.
posted by forza at 12:43 AM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]

I'd like to see Chomsky explain how "Denzel Washington" got in there.
posted by aesop at 12:48 AM on May 5, 2013 [6 favorites]

Why do the muppets know words like what, why is, that, doing, are, you etc, and have the capacity to ask questions of existential absurdity and angst, but are unaware of words such as hand, jump, hide and the like?

Does this mean that the horror of existence is more basic to the human condition than knowing the names of objects in everyday life?
posted by Pyrogenesis at 1:13 AM on May 5, 2013 [3 favorites]

Are they still doing that hand thing?
posted by sonascope at 3:44 AM on May 5, 2013 [4 favorites]

that creeped me the fuck out
posted by angrycat at 4:24 AM on May 5, 2013

They speak too good English not to know who they are.
posted by Obscure Reference at 6:09 AM on May 5, 2013

I think you chose a very good title
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 9:34 AM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]

I thought this was the dumbest thing I'd ever seen until the four minute mark and then I laughed so hard I cried.
posted by Veritron at 10:37 AM on May 5, 2013

Pyrogenesis: "Why do the muppets know words like what, why is, that, doing, are, you etc, and have the capacity to ask questions of existential absurdity and angst, but are unaware of words such as hand, jump, hide and the like?

Does this mean that the horror of existence is more basic to the human condition than knowing the names of objects in everyday life?"

Look, you know how your parents always told you to blow out your candles in one breath? Now you know why. Now you know.
posted by boo_radley at 11:06 AM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]

I thought this was the dumbest thing I'd ever seen until the four minute mark and then I laughed so hard I cried.

RIGHT? I was patiently waiting to see if it got funnier, then BAM, every single babysitting annoyance/horror/misstep I've ever experienced, all wrapped up in a few minutes.

If it weren't for the unpleasant, unfunny, unnecessary use of "retarded" toward the end, I'd love this and be sharing it enthusiastically. That's a shame.
posted by Elsa at 12:40 PM on May 5, 2013 [2 favorites]