Picture the most eclectic and engaging YouTube video you’ve ever seen that simultaneously enthralled and educated you.
Picturing it? Now forget it.
Here’s an idea: The PBS Idea Channel, hosted by Mike Rugnetta, is a hidden gem among channels such as Vsauce and Veritasium, and has the potential to change the way you look at media.
Top-notch educational channels are by no means rare, but even the quirkiness of Vsauce may leave a simultaneous craving for technology, art, or pop culture.
There lies the true beauty of Idea Channel. Every other week, viewers can expect one thing: a cohesive idea. Rugnetta connects the dots between the world and media simply because the connections exist. There is no agenda or underlying goal, just a celebration of the things people do and make.
This might sound a bit dull, but only on Idea Channel have I seen someone look at contemporary societal trends, ancient Chinese philosophy and Hollywood to reach the conclusion that Nicolas Cage is the embodiment of Taoism and YOLO.
One episode contemplates whether or not math is a feature of the universe or a human invention, while another declares Doctor Who to be a religion. Rugnetta approaches topics that might seem dull with a thoughtfulness and genuine enthusiasm that make you just keep watching.
The Idea Channel deserves praise for doing what seems impossible. The YouTube comment sections on its videos are an oasis on a website known for worthless and insulting comments. Commenters go so far as to write full-length essays on the subject, and Rugnetta incorporates some of the most interesting ones in subsequent videos.
Find out just what inspires these detailed discussions by checking out some of the episodes below.
Is Nic Cage the Intersection of YOLO and Taoism?
How Did Sherlock Holmes Pave the Way for 50 Shades of Grey?