jonas fischer - portfolio

Burnout (2024)

Burnout

Found Footage Video Essay, 9:10 min.

The pursuit of freedom through technological progress is closely tied to a toxic masculinity that has dominated life on Earth and driven it to the edge of collapse. This documentary video essay examines this connection by exposing the desire for control and dominance over nature, along with its catastrophic consequences.

Burnout uses a collage of found footage to explore humanity's ambivalent relationship with fire. From early attempts to tame and harness this natural force, to its integration into machines and engines – symbols of freedom – and ultimately to its destructive power, the film reflects on progress, hubris, and the price of power.

The protagonists of the film are YouTubers, influencers, and other male representatives of the human species who share their lives with online communities. They take us on a journey into the abysses of male thought and action, offering a lens through which the history of humanity – and its potential downfall – can be traced.