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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Trauma turned TikTok: Does Gen Z take it too far? By Mackenzie Zent Staff writer
As one of the youngest current generations, Gen Z is known for many things, one of which is making jokes out of serious topics. From current events to mental health, nothing is off limits. This trend has really taken off on social media, especially on TikTok. Gen Z wastes no time in filming a video for a TikTok when there is a major current event or political matter happening in the world. Usually, these videos are making a joke out of the situation, adding humor to it to make viewers laugh. While scrolling on TikTok, users flip between seconds-tominutes-long clips ranging from dance trends to videos taken in-
side of active war zones. This transition is incredibly jarring, but users have become used to it. Additionally, the coverage on the app allows users to learn about major events as they are unfolding from diverse perspectives. Recently, there have been many videos on fear of being drafted into the war in Ukraine. Many Gen Z women have made jokes about their true place being in the kitchen and doing the housework to avoid the draft. While this may seem like slight internalized misogyny, it is just to make themselves and others laugh during such a heightened state of tension in the world. This is one of the biggest reasons Gen Z makes jokes out of serious subjects: to make hard situations easier.
Gen Z was born into and grew up in a post-9/11 world, and many of us graduated high school and entered college during a global pandemic. These circumstances are not normal, and when the whole world seems to be going up in flames in front of you, what more can you do than try to make yourself feel better about it? We are living in a time period where nothing is certain for the future. The pandemic has been happening for two years, and sometimes it can feel nearly impossible to see the end. High school and college experiences have been forever altered, and there have been many events people have missed out on. By making jokes on social media and laughing at a reality that no one could have possibly pre-
dicted, it helps bring the generation together and share similar experiences. If everyone is going through something together, it makes everyone else feel less alone. These events are happening in the most formative years of people’s lives; it is natural to develop humor as a coping mechanism. Perhaps Gen Z does this to feel like they do not have to deal with the repercussions of serious world and political events. For many people, the war in Ukraine, political issues and mental health can be scary, and they need to find a way to deflect what is really going on. By making jokes and memes, it might make some of these things easier to deal with and digest. To look at the big picture, this way of thinking and acting is harmless. A lot of these events are diffi-
cult to talk about and deal with, so if making jokes about them makes it easier, then that should not be a problem. This is not done by any means to belittle or invalidate serious topics but rather to consume them in a familiar way. That being said, it is understandable if not everyone agrees with using humor to cope with serious situations; everyone processes things differently. Most of Gen Z has a great sense of humor, and it is nice that people can come together online through shared experiences and hopefully feel a little less alone. This aspect of Gen Z is something that has allowed the youth to cope with harsh realities, so meme culture is incredibly important to the group identity of the generation.
2021 films to be awarded at Oscars By Emma Coppolo A&E editor
The 94th Academy Awards will commence March 27, at the Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center in California to commemorate the film achievements of 2021. The awards are always an incredible display of celebrity fashion and socialization, but this year’s movies ensure a tight race. “The Power of the Dog” has an unbelievably star-studded cast. It features talents such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons. Cumberbatch is nominated for “Actor in a Leading Role” for his portrayal of rancher Phil Burbank. Based on Thomas Savages’ novel, the film follows Phil exercising his fear-mongering behavior to scare off Rose (Dunst), brother’s (Plemons) wife. The film has already generated quite the buzz after winning several Critics’ Choice Awards and Golden Globes. The American Film Institute has already named “The Power of the Dog” as one of 2021’s best films, and a solid performance Sunday is expected. Steven Spielberg’s take on “West Side Story” was one of the most anticipated movies of 2021 for several reasons. Firstly, the original 1961 version is an absolute classic. Its main star, Rita Moreno, the original Maria, appears as Valentina in Spielberg’s version.
Contributed Photo
Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain as Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”.
The cameo tied together the 1961 and 2021 stories in an interesting and effective way. The film garnered controversy when Ansel Elgort was cast. Following sexual assault allegations years prior, many believed that Elgort was an inappropriate choice for the role of Tony. Regardless, the timeless story of the Sharks and Jets, gangs at odds during a time of culture
clash in New York City, won viewers’ hearts once again. It has nominations in several categories, including Ariana DeBose as “Actress in a Supporting Role” and Spielberg himself for “Directing.” If all of its nominations are clinched, “West Side Story” could seriously sweep some major awards at the Oscars. Andrew Garfield is nomi-
nated for “Actor in a Leading Role” for his portrayal of Jonathan Larson in “Tick, Tick… BOOM!” The film depicts the playwright’s struggles in New York City as he tries to craft a successful play. This biopic is filled with celebrity cameos from the Broadway world and fantastic music. Garfield’s dedication to the film undeniably stoked much
of its success. The parallels between his performance and actual film of Larson performing are eerily similar. Additionally, Garfield learned to sing specifically for this role. His performance is absolutely stellar, and his achievements in the past few years in the film industry have been incredible, as well. While he is matched against some of the biggest names in the industry for the award, he is certainly one to watch. Jessica Chastain is nominated for “Actress in a Leading Role” for her performance in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” This biopic examines the rise and fall of Jim (Andrew Garfield) and Tammy Faye Bakker’s televangelism empire. The couple is now infamous, but the film works to show all aspects of the eventual spiral. Chastain’s performance is absolutely incredible, and she looks shockingly similar to the woman she portrays. Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh are nominated for “Makeup and Hairstyling” for their work on the film. “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” is bound to be an underdog this Sunday. Whether watching it for the fashion, interviews or awards, you should absolutely tune in this Sunday at 8 p.m.
