pop culture
Epic love stories and relationships as depicted in pop culture, though it rarely turns out like that in real life.
The Evolution of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a date for sweethearts but that has been changing in recent years. It is becoming a very profitable day for retailers because of single folk as well as couples. In 2019, the National Retail Foundation estimated that two billion dollars would be spent on February 14th, 88 million flowers would be delivered and 8 million pounds of candy would be delivered. A portion of those sales is no doubt from single women who decided to treat themselves for this annual event.
By Cheryl E Preston4 years ago in Humans
Can We Stop Pretending that Going to Movies Alone Makes You Quirky
Searching the simple phrase "going to the movies alone" garners 748 million results, the first being an /r/AskReddit thread titled, "Is it weird to go see a movie alone?" Scroll a little farther and you’ll be met with headlines such as "An Evening Spent Going to the Movies Alone," "6 Rules for Solo Movie-Going," and "Forget Netflix: Going to the cinema alone is life’s greatest guilty pleasure." People are equal parts scared of going to the movies alone in fear of looking sad and lonely and invigorated by the concept of solitary cinema-going as though it makes us a cut above other moviegoers. The truth is that going to the movies by yourself won’t make the other people in the theatre laugh at you for being the poor sap with no friends, but it also won’t earn you a gold star on your manic pixie dream person checklist. I’m aware that taking advice on what is and isn’t quirky from a person who once got up early on a Sunday to attend a showing of Gone With the Wind, of which the only patrons were a handful of senior citizens, my $9 cup of frozen yogurt, and myself, might seem strange. Hear me out.
By kit vaillancourt5 years ago in Humans
Why Do People Ghost People?
Ghosting is a brutal practice, and there's no denying that. Psychologically speaking, the effects of rejection are magnified when you never get a reply back. It makes you wonder what you did wrong, and typically registers in your mind as a way that says you weren't even worth saying goodbye to.
By Sasha Konikovo5 years ago in Humans
Do Real Men and Women Cheat?
With human relationships, the ingredients of honor, honesty, trust, and genuine love come into making a healthy meal. But when that serving turns sour because of infidelity, mistrust, adultery, and dishonesty, the bitter end may be nigh. The common term “cheating” should have a connotation with it meaning that the cheater is actually cheating himself or herself. The other party (if their fidelity is intact) doesn’t have to be in the position of experiencing the cheat. It is the one who transgresses that should hold onto the mantle of their misdeeds.
By Skyler Saunders5 years ago in Humans
Closure with a Fictional Crush
I entered the room and felt uncertain about how to feel. I knew I should feel something, but I didn't really react much. There weren't knots in my stomach, there wasn't anticipation that caused time to molasses around me; there was just the my need to sit on the couch and take in the room around me. The fabric was so familiar enough for me to rub it fast enough to make my hand tingle. The pillows had a similar texture and had a design reminiscent of melted chocolate falling on beige parchment paper. The walls had moving images of a view from a cliff over an ocean. I wasn't exactly surprised by the fact that the images replaced paint or wallpaper. What did I expect from a room that was in the blur between reality and imagination?
By Monique Star5 years ago in Humans
Star-Crossed Lovers
Why do we see so many comparisons of modern day romances to Romeo and Juliet? The famous relationship, in arguably Shakespeare’s most well-known play, was a hurricane, leaving a trail of destruction in its path. After the young fools became romantically involved, Verona was riddled with street duels between the Montagues and Capulets, while Romeo and Juliet ultimately commit a double suicide in the name of “love.” Why would we use Shakespeare’s tragedy as a model to frame our relationships after? Perhaps our society is obsessed with glorifying unhealthy relationships.
By Gabby Cushman5 years ago in Humans
The Millennial Conviction: Confessions (*cough* Rant *cough*) of a Millennial
"Why, when I was your age...!""Get off that phone and look me in the eye, son! Shake my hand firmly!""The youth's got no respect for their elders nowadays.""That is a classic Millennial stereotype!"
By Journey Scribe5 years ago in Humans
Legends
Languages are sacred and have evolved through the centuries, sometimes for the better and certainly for the worse on occasion. When it comes to the downsides, one word being butchered in recent times is the corruption of the ‘legend’ description. Our understanding has been corrupted due to its adoption by morons who now attribute the title to any minor act. The word 'legend' is thrown about for the most common of achievements these days. Now, it's traditionally rare use when attached to an individual's tale of awesomeness has well and truly died. However, in contrast to it’s meaning fading altogether out of the English language, its use couldn't be rifer.
By Grayson Articles6 years ago in Humans
Asexual Representation in 'Bojack Horseman'
When I first started watching the Netflix original series Bojack Horseman I did not have high expectations. I was a little bit drunk and looking for some background noise while I painted. I did not expect to get genuinely invested in the characters. I thought I’d be able to leave the series proud of them, instead I was left with an overwhelming sense of dread at how real the characters were. For talking cartoon animals, they all had a way of connecting with the worst side of myself.
By Will Jackson6 years ago in Humans