Primitive Technology

Primitive Technology is a YouTube channel run by John Plant. Based in Far North Queensland in the Australian state of Queensland, the series demonstrates the process of making tools and buildings using only materials found in the wild. Created in May 2015, the channel has gained over 10.3 million subscribers and over 944 million views as of January 2021.

"Primitive technology" redirects here. For early uses of technology, see History of technology.
Primitive Technology
Personal information
NationalityAustralian
EducationBachelor of Science
Websiteprimitivetechnology.wordpress.com
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2015–present
Subscribers10 million
Total views930 million
100,000 subscribers 2015
1,000,000 subscribers 2016
10,000,000 subscribers 2020
50,000,000 subscribers
Updated: 11 February 2020

Background

Plant describes his subject as a hobby,[1] and he "lives in a modern house and eats modern food".[2][3] He stated in a comment on a January 2018 video that he owns the land on which he films the videos.[4] He states on his website that he has no Aboriginal ancestry and has not received training from the Australian Army.[1]

In a correspondence with Michelle Castillo of CNBC in 2017, Plant stated that he was in his mid 30s. He also said he went to university and received a Bachelor of Science degree from James Cook University at Cairns Campus but "didn't do anything with it",[5] and instead worked stints in soil testing, at a pottery shop, and at a powder-coating factory before mowed lawns for a living while going out into the bush in his spare time to practice his hobby.[3][6] He stated his affinity for subsisting off of nature began at a young age. When he was 11 years old, he would make huts by a creek behind his house using only natural materials.[5][7][8]

Description

Each video guides viewers through the progress of one or more projects demonstrating the techniques and methods he uses to create tools or buildings.[9] As he explains on his blog, he builds "completely from scratch using no modern tools or materials", only using what he can source from his natural environment, such as plant materials, clay, soil, and stones.[2][10] Episodes of the series contain no speaking, and only minimal ambient sound. Text descriptions of actions on-screen appear in the closed-caption feature.[9][11][12]

History

Blog

In June 2015, John created the Primitive Technology Blog on WordPress. That blog was a primary source of his videos through August 2018 when he posted the "Iron Prills" Video, whereupon John moved exclusively to YouTube.

YouTube channel

Plant created the Primitive Technology channel in May 2015. The first video was uploaded on 1 May 2015. Since that time, each of his videos has garnered millions of views. The channel amassed 5.4 million subscribers and 350 million views by September 2017,[5] increasing to 8.7 million subscribers and 615 million views by September 2018.[13] As of October 2019, the channel has 9.9 million subscribers and 804 million views.

For the first two years of the channel's existence the man in the videos remained anonymous. In June 2017 he identified himself as John Plant when he complained to Facebook that his videos were being stolen as a result of people reposting them on the website, and that the practice had cost him thousands of Australian dollars.[14]

Book

Plant has authored the 192 page, illustrated, hardcover book Primitive Technology: A survivalist's guide to building tools, shelters, and more in the wild (ISBN 9781984823670), being published by Clarkson Potter on October 29, 2019. The book is "a practical guide to building huts and tools using only natural materials from the wild" containing "50 projects with step-by-step instructions on how to make tools, weapons, shelters, pottery, clothing, and more".[15][16]

Hiatus

John Plant has been inactive on YouTube since December 2019. On May 28, 2020 a Reddit post explaining where John has been was posted. It states that John is doing well and everything is fine.[17] The post also states that John is currently taking a break from YouTube because he is working on a project for a cable network.[18] It is currently unknown when John will return to his YouTube channel.

References
  1. Mooney, Paula (21 February 2016). "Primitive Technology' YouTube Guy Gets 31 Million Views: What's The Name Of Shirtless, Silent Australian Man In The Videos?". Inquisitr. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  2. "Primitive Technology Wordpress blog 'About' page". Primitive Technology website. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  3. Pierpoint, George (27 August 2018). "What is 'primitive technology' and why do we love it?". BBC News.
  4. "Primitive Technology's highlighted reply". Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  5. Castillo, Michelle (15 September 2017). "How a YouTube star gained 5.4 million followers by mimicking the Stone Age". CNBC. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  6. Hill, Sam (28 October 2019). "This YouTuber Amassed Millions of Fans Building Huts by Hand". Outside Online. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  7. Staff writer(s) (2 October 2017). "Primitive Technology auf YouTube: Technik-Tipps aus der Vorzeit". Der Spiegel.
  8. Staff writer(s) (28 September 2017). "Nackter Oberkörper und zwei geschickte Hände: Steinzeit-Handwerker wird zum Youtube-Star". Aargauer Zeitung.
  9. Kahn, Jennifer (1 December 2016). "Letter of Recommendation: 'Primitive Technology'" – via The New York Times.
  10. "'Youtuber' primitivo: Internet se rinde al canal de este 'McGyver' prehistórico". El Mundo.
  11. De Brito, Sam (8 July 2015). "Who is that mysterious bushman?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  12. Stephens, Chase (5 April 2016). "Watching This Guy Build A Hut Using Purely Primitive Technology Is Mesmerizing". The Daily Wire. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  13. Bridge, Mark (1 September 2018). "Stone Age skills are YouTube smash hit". The Times.
  14. Michael, Peter (3 June 2017). "Caveman YouTube neolithic skills sensation accuses Facebook of theft". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 23 September 2017.(subscription required)
  15. "Primitive Technology by John Plant". www.penguinrandomhouse.com. Penguin Random House. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  16. "Booktopia - Primitive Technology". Booktopia. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  17. "Primitive Technology". Net Worth Spot. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  18. "An update on Primitive Technology". Retrieved 31 May 2020.
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