The video explores the concept of "liminal spaces" - transitional areas that evoke a sense of unease and disorientation. The host discusses three internet mysteries that are connected by this theme: a woman who found an abandoned mall in her Airbnb, a man named Javier who claims to be the last person on earth in an alternate universe, and the concept of "The Back Rooms" - a hypothetical realm that exists outside of our reality. The host delves into the psychology and cultural significance of liminal spaces, citing examples from horror movies, TV shows, and personal experiences. Ultimately, the host reveals that Javier's story is actually a TV production and the abandoned mall is a real location in Florida, but the concept of liminal spaces remains a fascinating and thought-provoking topic.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Javier is a Spanish creator who posts videos of deserted places, including department stores, supermarkets, and football stadiums.
2. Javier claims to have woken up in a hospital in Valencia on February 13, 2027, and found that every human on Earth had disappeared.
3. Javier's videos show him exploring empty buildings and streets, and he claims to be in an alternative universe.
4. The concept of liminality, or transitional spaces, has been explored in media and pop culture for years.
5. The phrase "liminality" was created by Arnold van Gennep in his book "Rites of Passage" released in 1908.
6. The back rooms are a concept that refers to a reality adjacent to ours, where people can accidentally "no clip" into and become trapped.
7. The back rooms have a distinct aesthetic, featuring yellow wallpaper, fluorescent lights, and endless corridors.
8. A series of short videos by Kane Parsons explores the concept of the back rooms and liminal spaces.
9. The videos show a group of kids shooting a student film, but one of them falls into the back rooms and becomes trapped.
10. The back rooms have become a crowdsourced concept, with fans contributing to the lore and creating their own stories and levels.
11. The concept of liminality has been used in horror movies, such as "The Shining" and "It Follows".
12. The Apple TV series "Severance" uses liminal spaces as a backdrop for the entire series.
13. Javier's account on TikTok is actually a media project with the city of Valencia, and he has access to empty buildings and streets due to filming permits.
14. The young lady who discovered an abandoned mall in the basement of her Airbnb is actually staying in a hotel that shares a building with the Ocean Walk Mall in Hollywood Beach, Florida.
15. The Ocean Walk Mall is a "dead mall" that is still open but largely unused.
16. The concept of liminality is not just physical, but also emotional, and can refer to transitional moments in life, such as graduating from high school or moving to a new city.