Posts

What's The Point of Strong Female Leads With No Plot?

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 Welcome to the 21st century, where movies now include female characters as leads and give them prominent and pivotal roles. They are no longer damsels in distress, and they aren't standing in the background while the male characters indulge in lengthy monologues. They are strong, resilient, are backed by writers who totally know how to portray a strong, independent woman. Or do they? Let's face it, no matter which century we find ourselves in, female characters in movies are stereotyped as shallow, selfish, and clumsy women who constantly need to be aided. Their careers are limited to either kindergarten teachers or personal assistants, or some obscure executive who needs to visit a small town to close down a business. The movies are not about her career. It is about what truly matters in her life: a family with kids. Okay, so there's nothing wrong with that. A woman can choose to have a family and be a housewife, and build a home. But it is the lackadaisical writing that ...

What's The Point...of Emotional Clickbait?

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  Your favorite content creator has dozens of funny and relatable videos. Their life seems perfect. They know so many people. They are being invited to exclusive events. They are sponsored by big brands.  Anyone who is coming up with a new product or service wants an Influencer to boost their sales. Before you know it, the Influencer is meeting celebrities, living in expensive apartments, and eating exquisite food.  But that is when their followers begin to dwindle. They are no longer relatable to a large population of people. There are some who like the ‘rags to riches’ story, but chances are the Influencer was already wealthy to begin with, based on the large villas they shoot videos in, and the props and equipment they use. So it is usually a ‘Rich to Richer’ story.  So how can one keep their followers fixated on their channel? By exploiting emotions, of course.  One minute, the Influencer is going to a fancy event, and in the next, they set up a “crying vide...

What’s The Point of Tapping On Every Single Object?

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Once upon a time, people used ASMR videos to find calm and to lull themselves to peaceful sleep. With so much going on around in the world and in their lives, they desperately sought a helpful mechanism that would minimize the anxiety they felt.  The ASMR videos were helping people all around the world relax and breathe. The gentle sounds of whispering, crinkling or squishing sounds would soothe many which is why these videos gained popularity.  Unfortunately when things become too popular, a lot of people start doing it to, you know, follow trends and gain more viewers. And then what happens to the one thing that was designed to soothe our nerves? You guessed it! ASMR videos have now moved on to become annoying.  Not all of them. Luckily, there are a few creators out there who still value the tradition and try to invoke a calm response in their viewers. While others have resorted to turing this into a travesty.  Seriously, what is with the overly-painted talons tapp...

What's The Point...of Putting Coffee in the Class System?

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  Coffee isn’t just a hot beverage that gives you that morning fuel to get the day’s work done. It’s a status symbol. Tell someone you are a coffee drinker, and they are automatically impressed.  Because coffee isn’t just a beverage. Yes, I already said that, but it bears repeating. And here’s why: your choice of beverage determines your personality. If you drink coffee, that means you need the caffeine. It means you lead such a busy life that you need that extra energy just to cope or make it through the day. Your workload is so heavy that without coffee, you would collapse.  Tell anyone you’re a tea drinker and you may just notice a subtle scoff. Tea is considered a relaxing beverage. People automatically assume you are sitting all prim and proper in a chair, with a plate of accompaniments on the table, and having a social event. Biscuits and savouries, anyone?  So yes, coffee is highly regarded in the modern world as the drink of active people. The busy people. Pe...

WHAT'S THE POINT OF... Songs Based On Breakups?

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  Remember when there used to be songs about facing and overcoming challenges, loving someone unconditionally, and having faith, because that is the only thing that can get you through life? Yeah, those were the good old days. They were the songs that we could either dance to, or exercise to, or help us relax. The lyrics were almost poetic , their meaning profound. Just listening to these songs helps us feel motivated to keep going. Or at the very least, offered comfort when we were down.  And now we have these songs about breakups . Let me correct that…the artist’s breakups. It barely relates to the common folks, us, anymore. It’s all a gossip column given a tune and an obscure music video. Songs are no longer about finding motivation; it has become a game about guessing which ex the artist is singing about.  The song, no matter how boring it is, goes viral because of what it represents: a clue to the celebrity that the artist has dated in the past. Conspiracy theory vid...

What's The Point...of Sequels?

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  Another hit movie. Another box office success. Another critically acclaimed feature. Another opportunity for the studio executive to milk more out of it.  And that’s when a sequel is born.  But that is also when disappointment is born. In most cases.  How many successful sequels can you name? You probably used only one hand. Now let’s talk about the disappointing ones. How many do you remember? Did you have to use your toes and someone else’s fingers and toes as well? Most sequels are not even needed. We see the protagonist get their happy ending in the first movie. The fans loved it and began working on fanfiction based on what they believed happened after the events of the movie. The studio executives begin to think, why not cash in on this. The movie is a hit and has a solid fanbase. Why not give the fans what they want? You know what the fans don’t want? A stale story that drags until the end. They don’t want the protagonist to go through similar events of the ...

What's The Point Of Family If They Exploit You

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Blood is thicker than water, but what if that blood demands constant sacrifice? Family is supposed to be your foundation for growth. The people who are always there for you, who lift you up, and support you. They are the ones who celebrate your wins, lend a shoulder when you are down, and pick you up when you can’t bring yourself to do it on your own.  But when the very people meant to be your anchor push you down until you’re barely afloat, are they still your family? Family always comes first. It is an unspoken emotion that is etched into our minds. But when it becomes a rule that you need to follow, that is when you realize that you have stopped becoming a person for them. You are no longer an individual or a family member to them.  You’re just someone they can constantly exploit.  It’s not about what they’re doing for you, or about working together as a synchronized unit. No, you’re just someone, a catalyst that can make them grow.  The exploitation and manipulat...