Featuring a tatted and bleached-buzz cut Dylan O’Brien smoking winged weed joints and cringe-filled, like, social media slang is Hulu’s recently released film “Not Okay” - a satire that reflects the current state of millennials and the i-Generation in the digital age, particularly poking fun at influencer culture. The story follows wannabe social media influencer and desperate attention-seeker, Danni Sanders (played by Zoey Deutch), and her journey of how she shamelessly clawed her way to fame.
What I find hysterical is how the characters are based in the inevitably gentrifying neighborhood of Bushwick and its depiction of the people is hilariously accurate: iced coffees, leg tats, tote bags, fake Brooklyn accents, long acrylic nails, and thinking you’re the main character of a New York City rom-com. Bushwick has become a parody of itself, with companies such as ‘Hipster Bullshit’ that profits off the very millennial stereotypes of the neighborhood’s gentrified residents and Saturday Night Live writing a relatable skit that sheds light on how gentrification is changing New Yorkers.
Dylan O’Brien plays Colin, a weed influencer and cocky white dude from Maine covered in tattoo sleeves and wrapped in gold chains hanging loosely around his neck. He constantly takes selfie videos of him smoking a joint or vaping huge clouds of smoke or having girls lick his face for his verified Instagram handle and TikTok. I don’t know what Danii sees in him, but Colin is her big-time work crush at Depravity, a millennial magazine similar to The Cut and Buzzfeed, and she does everything to impress him...
Danni, with her desire for Colin’s attention, faked a writing retreat trip to Paris and used her photoshop skills to post photos of herself sauntering around the l’Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower whilst she sat in her messy room eating bags of chips. Until a terrorist attack hit Paris in front of the Arc and she was suddenly flooded with messages and DMs from her followers, thinking she was somewhat affected. She saw this newfound attention as an opportunity to project herself to notoriety and continued to scam those around her with her fake trauma.
Danni’s continued clownery as a “traumatized victim of terrorism” is a blunt reflection of the toxicity of social media and influencer culture: almost everyone on the Internet always has an agenda, which is to gain more followers and likes. You can see this from the way she befriended Rowan Aldren (Mia Isaacs), an anti-gun violence activist and school shooting survivor, and asked her to repost her story she published in Depravity and became involved in her advocacy efforts to end gun violence in America to make herself look more “woke”.
The emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement also brought up an influx of performative activism, such as the #BlackOutTuesday which drew criticism for its lack of effectiveness and virtue signaling. The “social media activism” that people participated in ended up pushing away important information for organizers and activists who are actually trying to make a difference and some even accused white people for participating to not seem “racist” and taking the focus off what the movement really started for, which was to advocate and support black artists in the music industry.
Similar to these performative allyship, Danni profits off of her “trauma” and, unremorsefully, the genuine activism of Rowan’s anti-gun violence advocacy efforts. Her desperation to be relevant is painful to watch, especially since she doesn’t realize how privileged she is as a white woman from a wealthy and well-connected family. Like Kendall Jenner, who received backlash for her involvement with a tone-deaf Pepsi ad and for claiming on Keeping up with the Kardashian that she “struggled” to find modeling jobs despite becoming one of the highest paid models in the industry. Oh, how it must be so hard for Kendall to travel all over New York and Europe to find a job. Sounds truly like a struggle.
Self-indulgent influencers and wannabes who think they’re the main character have turned into a culture that’s a byproduct of the toxicity of social media. Daily life has turned into a reality show where daily routines and recordings of events are published and shared online, everyone is conscious of their image and how they’re portrayed, and seeking attention has become a currency as content creation and influencing has turned into an economy. As a regular Instagrammer and writer myself, writing newsletters and making fun reels I’m also guilty of this self-indulgence - but what Gen-Z or millennial with a phone isn’t?
8.12.2022
Opening to Kate Dibiasky, a PhD candidate played by an unnoticeably pregnant Jennifer Lawrence, casually making toast and a cup of tea, singing the lyrics to "Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthin Ta F’ Wit" by Wu Tang Clan with a deadpan-ness that we see in Dibiasky throughout the film. She makes herself comfortable with her tea and snacks, and preparing the Subaru telescope for a casual viewing as part of her PhD studies, until she notices something. She's surprised. Happy. Excited. Terrified. A reaction which we see spread out as we continue.
Inspired by true events, "Don't Look Up" is an interesting summary of 2021, drawing a conclusion to one of the (truly) catastrophic year as of yet. From portraying the polarization we see in politics, to the juicy satire of the previous administration, this movie represents a huge aspect of this generation: the media landscape and how much it can influence everything.
The film started with a shocking discovery: a comet headed towards earth and with mathematical calculations, they only have six months left until impact, in which the comet will wipe out every known species on Earth to extinction. Kate Dibiasky and astronomy professor from Michigan State University Dr. Randall Mindy (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) who both discovered the comet are set out to convince the world to prepare for the apocalypse. Along with the help of Dr. Teddy Oglethorpe - who was portrayed by Rob Morgan - the head of NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office (and yes, that's a real place), they go on a journey that started with the government. Meryl Streep plays a cluelessly narcissistic and motivated woman president, Janie Orlean (who I think is based on Donald Trump), and Jonah Hill is her arrogant and spoiled son Jason Orlean, who is also the Chief of Staff (nepotism that is also familiar in the Trump administration), with whom Dibiasky, Dr. Mindy, and Teddy try to convince to do something. Similar to the reaction of COVID-19, it was met with skepticism and downplayed.
The way in which this apocalyptic event was treated as another piece in the game of politics and politicized throughout the movie, shows the greed and selfish motives of people. This can be evidently seen when we see the nation become divided - the satirical memes making fun of Dibiasky, TikTok videos denouncing the comet and calling scientists marxists, and hashtags that start a movement (#BlameKate, #DontLookUp). This is a representation of this generation and the current media landscape - a vast space of endless possibilities, allowing people the freedom to share their thoughts or ideologies. This power given to the public, although it's a democratization of information, it also trivializes events.
This is a hard-hitting satirical story that exposes basically us - you, me, the people we watch on TV, the celebrities we follow, the people we interact with on social media. We see it in today's social climate: politicians spreading propaganda, politicizing a pandemic that has claimed over five million lives, and seeing a a divide nation at war with each other. Celebrities attempting to be relevant by voicing their opinions on politics. Although we see some familiarity, seeing our reflection on our screens, we think we know what happens; but director Adam McKay does a great job in creating a sense of unpredictability and anxiety.
In the interview on The Daily Rip with Brie Evantee and Jack Bremmer (both portrayed with the wit and humor of cookie-cutter American anchors by Cate Blanchett and Tyler Perry), we see the shaky close up of Kate to absorb the anxiety she's feeling. The light behind her face so we see the shadows of her expressions that say "we're fucked". Another thing I really loved about the style of this director is the sudden and blunt transitions between the scenes, sometimes cutting off dialogue of the characters. We don't know what's going to happen. We don't know what we're going to expect. It truly captures how we're all feeling at these uncertain times.
This funny, terrifying, and thrilling movie encapsulates our experiences this past year through a painfully satirical observation of our society. In a way, it reminds us of how oblivious we all are of the gravity of the situations we're all facing - I've noticed how trivialized the pandemic has become, where people are so exhausted that seeing the death or case count is just another number they see on the screen. Like Manohla Dargis' thoughts, the people on earth aren't interested in saving their own planet. We're far from taking action and taking it seriously. The Climate Clock on 14th Street Union Square (that counts down the time we have left until the effects of climate change are irreversible) is just another photo opportunity for tourists in Manhattan, New York.
It's an interesting film that's worth the watch if you like to laugh and be entertained by Cate Blanchett's funny portrayal of a blonde, horny, and shameless news anchor with a low-key drinking problem, or Jonah Hill as the grotesque and perverted son, who is spoiled and childish, of a female president of similar manner. With a cast of variety and famous names (including Ariana Grande as the vapid but beautiful singer, Riley Bina, and Timothee Chalamet), you will relate to the storyline as it punches in a very familiar series of events, ending with an ending that will remind us of our impending doom.
If you saw the movie, what did you think of it? Do you agree?
12.26.2021
Museums are historically defined as the institution committed to preserving the evidence of humankind and the environment, according to the definition by Britannica. The majority hold the original artifacts that have existed and preserved from a century ago to millions. Although libraries differ in a nuanced way, in which they store and preserve books, they are similar in a way where they both hold the stories, experiences, and knowledge of humanity throughout time.
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I've had the pleasure of sauntering around this fascinating exhibition that is being held at Stephen A. Schwarzman building at The New York Public Library between 40th and 42nd on 5th Avenue. Thanks to the generous donation of $12 million from philanthropist, Dr. Leonard Polonsky, you can now see rare artifacts and historical items that will conjure your curiosities. "The exhibition exposes to the world, or the world that is willing or able to attend, the richness of the holdings of the library...which are extraordinary." Polonsky says in an interview conducted for The New York Public Library's website. From ancient religious texts, to the first drafts of some of the most notable novels in literature, here are some of the artifacts that truly intrigued me.
As a reader and fan of The New Yorker magazine, I was excited to see the original prospectus written by Harold Ross, who founded the publication in 1924 or 1925. Titled "The New Yorker" with their signature font, the drop caps and detailed, illustrative border with crinkles of the paper and coffee-coloured tone to show it's aging that showed that it's been through a lot - yet kept in good shape.
Through the cleanest glass I've ever seen stands the stuffed toys that inspired a story that was my whole childhood. I grew up watching the show and reading the books about Christopher Robin's adventures with Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, and Kanga. As a child, I've always seen the characters as how they were originally illustrated (the original illustrator was Ernest H. Shepard). To see the inspiration behind it all, the very items that began a story that influenced and was embraced by millions of children and adults, was truly an amazing experience.
I think one of the most decorative and beautiful books I've ever seen in my life is the Evangelie naprestol’noe (or the Altar Gospels). A golden cover with detailed engravings and embellished with gems and jewels, it is the book that highlights and holds the word of God to the highest standard. Bound by the Muscovite craftsmen (who were inspired by the French), it's a work of timeless art that anyone will marvel at.
Another favourite in the exhibit was Charlotte Brontë's portable desk. Foldable and filled with different compartments to store her inks and pens, it was mesmerizing to look at a piece of Brontë that she used to write letters and drafts of some her greatest novels in English literature. According to the place card, the box was opened in 1973, the first time thirty years after The New York Public Library had acquired it. After unlocking it, they found several keepsakes of Charlotte's, including memorial cards for her siblings, Branwell and Emily.
I was mesmerized by the illustration that the library displayed for Gaius Julius Hygenus's De astronomia. The book was opened to a page that had glowing illustrations of mythological creatures and a written manuscript that is a poem describing how the alignment of stars and planets governed the affairs between heaven and earth. Throughout the manuscript, he named 42 constellations and the gods and heroes associated with each of them.
If you ever have spare time and happen to be around 42nd and 5th Ave., I highly recommend going! When I discovered the exhibition online, they have timed free admission!! And since the Christmas market has opened in Bryant Park, it also makes a nice date or general day out with friends where you can walk around after a look around the library and get hot cocoa and eat delicious food, shop for Christmas gifts, or go ice skating.
The Polonsky Exhibition is the perfect place to marvel, learn, and delve into your curiosities. Get your free tickets, bring a friend, or even go by yourself as I did.
11.13.2021
6.02.2020
I've noticed the progress of female recognition where it's becoming more and more prevalent - from Cardi B's historic win at the Grammy's, to the women of the 116th Congress. Seeing their persistence and hard work, I hope to follow a similar path of achieving my dream and, therefore, inspire other young women like me! Here's to women and all their hard work!! 🍾
Catriona Gray (Miss Universe 2018) - To me, personally, Catriona Gray embodies the powerful feminine. Her beauty, elegance, and commitment to making a difference is a true inspiration to young women all over the world. From watching her interviews, she's articulate and intelligent with a cute and charming personality! As a bicultural Filipina, her story and experience in rediscovering her Filipino roots came through to my heart, which is why I chose her on my list.
Mary, Queen of Scots - After watching Saoirse Ronan play the role of Mary Stuart in her new film Mary Queen of Scots, I instantly fell in love with the historic Queen. Her persistence and drive to reclaim the throne of Great Britain certainly served, for me, as an incentive to become a strong-minded individual.
3.08.2019
I want to take a look at Vladimir Nabokov's classic (and my all time favorite) book, Lolita; I've included it in one of my reading lists, but it was only several months ago that I finally flicked through the last pages and finished the story. The reason why it's my favorite is because, through the unique and truly brilliant storytelling, I was so invested in the plot and the characters.
The story is written through Humbert Humbert's perspective. Humbert is the protagonist and unreliable narrator, who sometimes breaks the fourth-wall and speaks directly to the readers. As we read his thoughts and actions throughout the story, you're convinced at how much of a cruel creep he is for 'kidnapping' his landlord's twelve-year-old daughter and for his hebephillic nature towards preadolescent girls. But through Nabokov's skillful and aesthetic writing, you also see the passionate side of Humbert. The poetic descriptions of Dolores Haze shows us that's he's more than just in love but infatuated. The difference between morality and desire creates this internal conflict within Humbert - which is what makes this book, for me, so intriguing.
Now, whenever I read a book and then watch the adapted film, they never feel the same. For instance, when I watched The Lovely Bones directed by Peter Jackson, a film adaptation of one of my favorite books, I was disappointed. Although they got the visuals accurately aligned with my what I imagined from reading Alice Sebold's novel, they missed a lot of important details that it just didn't feel the same as the book.
Reading Nabokov's Lolita, I was captivated by the writing style: "Human life is but a series of footnotes to a vast obscure unfinished masterpiece.", "Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta." Some of the made up words, a little french, and use of clever wordplay is what captivated me. After finishing the book, I wondered how anyone would be able to replicate this genius onto the screen.
I don't think I ever got round to watching the 1967 adaptation, but I did watch the 1997 version with Jeremy Irons and Dominique Swain. I think Adrian Lyne, director, did a great job recreating the beloved the book - I thought the tasteful cinematography matched the aesthetic of Nabokov's writing, they added the tiny details mentioned in the book which I loved (for instance, the way she tiptoed and flattened herself against the doorway to allow Humbert to pass through in Part 2 Chap. 29), and I think Dominque Swain's portrayal of Lolita is almost accurate.
Overall, I feel that the film almost aligns with the book. However, I also think that they missed a lot of details which I think were important to revealing some of the characters - specifically Humbert. They hadn't included his previous marriage to Valeria nor his flings and affairs with prostitutes. For me, the film represented Humbert simply as the European intellectual with an obsessive fixation on pubescent girls. In my view, I felt that they didn't capture enough of his dark side so I couldn't feel that "internal conflict" that I discerned from reading the book (although, I think that was revealed at the end when he confronted Clare Quilty - who was a representation of desire which he's in conflict with).
Overall, as much as I adored the film, the book is in my favor. It's understandable that you can't pack every single detail into the movie, but because the story tends to be simplified for the screen, the film doesn't do complete justice.