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Week 12 - Social Media for Good

In 2020 Australia captured the world’s attention with news of raging bushfires across the continent and the devastation that followed. As the fires raged on and the world looked on in horror, social media users realised the power they held within their devices to help the already tragic situation from becoming any more tragic than it already was.

But before that, a bit of backstory. Australia is located within the Southern hemisphere of the world, but I’m sure you already knew that. But did you know that countries within the Southern hemisphere are more prone to fires due to their dry environments and the blazing hot sun? It’s widely known that Australia is prone to bushfires in general, with the country usually being equipped to handle them to their best ability. The problem was climate change worsened the condition exponentially. The burning of fossil fuels has been driving up temperatures across the globe and this, coupled with Australia’s increasing weather temperatures and decreasing rainfall levels in 2019, led to the country issuing a catastrophic fire danger rating for the first time since the rating system was established back in 2009. (Climate Council 2019)

By early 2020, Australia was well into bushfire season and the country was suffering as a result. Over six million hectares of Australian soil had been set ablaze, with the total affected area growing to twenty four million hectares. Smoke from the fires even travelled as far as New Zealand, and was expected to circle the globe. On top of that it was estimated that up to 1.5 billion wild animals may have perished in the fires, with Australia’s tourism industry taking a $1.8 billion dollar hit. That’s bigger than the entire economy of Guinea-Bissau, which boasts a population of over 2 million people. (Beat 2024)

It was here that social media users jumped into action. Pictures like this viral image by photographer Matt Abbott became the face of the bushfire crisis, now aptly dubbed “Black Summer” due to all the smog. 

That wasn’t all. Pictures of the sky turning yellow over New Zealand and videos of various local rescue groups attempts at saving animals went viral across social media without needing any signal boosting from major publications. (Sokolov 2020) The absolute shock the visuals struck in the hearts of people spoke louder than any news article could and inspired numerous people to start crowdfunding efforts as soon as the chance arose.

Australian comedian Celeste Barber initially took to Facebook with the aim of raising thirty thousand dollars to help people in New South Wales in dealing with the bushfires and their aftermath. By the end of it, she had raised up to fifty thousand dollars with over 1.2 million people donating. (Maguire 2020) On the flip side, regular people were doing their part too. Aside from sharing news, updates and just generally spreading awareness on the issue around, some even took matters into their own hands and started crowdfunding donations through some…rather unconventional means.

Then 20-year old Instagram model Kaylen Ward, who was later given the moniker “Naked Philanthropist”, began offering nude photos of herself in exchange for any proof of donations to a series of Australian charities that would benefit bushfire relief. Despite her account eventually being taken down, just four days after her tweet went viral she had helped raise almost seven hundred thousand dollars and inspired other sex workers to jump on the trend to raise even more money for the cause. (Gorman 2020)

In a time where indifference is at an all time high, this coming together as seen on social media during the Black Summer crisis is proof that despite all the negative aspects social media has when used correctly it can do insane amounts of good. 

References

Beat, M H 2024, Studies still uncovering true extent of 2019-20 Australia wildfire catastrophe, Mongabay, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://news.mongabay.com/2024/03/studies-still-uncovering-true-extent-of-2019-20-australia-wildfire-catastrophe/>. 

Climate Council, 2019, THE FACTS ABOUT BUSHFIRES AND CLIMATE CHANGE, Climate Council, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/not-normal-climate-change-bushfire-web/>. 

Gorman, A 2020, Instagram model raises $700,000 for Australia fires with nude photos before account deleted, The Guardian, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/07/instagram-model-australia-fires-naked-philanthropist-kaylen-ward-raises-700000-selling-posing-nude-photos-selfies>. 

Maguire, D 2020, Celeste Barber has raised millions to help with the bushfire crisis. What happens to that money?, ABC News, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-09/celeste-barber-bushfire-donations-fundraisers/11852588>. 

Sokolov, M 2020, Social media as a force for good: the case of Australian bushfires, The Drum, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2020/02/17/social-media-force-good-the-case-australian-bushfires>. 

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Week 11 - Trolls Everywhere

Trolling. We hear it everywhere nowadays, especially online in certain spaces like gaming. But while some trolling can be seen as just harmless fun between friends, in a way that is understood by all parties to be something funny, a lot of times it is done with malicious intent in mind in order to bring the receiver down. 

So what exactly is a troll? A troll is essentially Internet slang for a person hiding behind an online alias that intentionally tries to instigate conflicts, hostility or even just plain ol arguments within an online community. Trolls often target areas of the Internet where people, and by extension them, can express their thoughts and views freely. Most of the time it's the comment sections on forums, chat rooms or even under Youtube videos that end up being their typical breeding ground. (The Now: What is Trolling? n.d.) Oftentimes trolls use inflammatory and derogatory language to provoke an emotional response from the people they’re targeting, which ultimately ends up disrupting what is otherwise a cheery and civil discussion. So what can we do about it? Surely the answer isn’t to just leave social media entirely right?

Of course not. Here are five ways to curb online trolls that everyone can implement in their online life to make being online a little more bearable (McCoy 2021):

Don’t Engage: Avoid responding to trolls to prevent giving them the emotional reaction they seek.

Utilize Moderators: Invest in a moderation team or use moderation tools to manage and enforce policies against trolls.

Demand Evidence: Calmly ask trolls for facts and sources to counter their unsubstantiated claims, often leading them to back down.

Respond with Kindness: Address hate with kindness, as it can defuse trolls who are looking for a fight.

Block, Ban, or Report Trolls: Use platform tools to block, ban, or report persistent trolls to stop their abusive behavior.

References

McCoy, J 2021, 10 Effective tactics to defeat Internet Trolls, SearchEngineJournal, viewed 11 June 2024, <https://www.searchenginejournal.com/defeat-online-trolls/323439/.>. 

The Now, n.d., What is Trolling?, The Now, viewed 11 June 2024, <https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/thenow/what-is-trolling/1/>.

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Week 10 - All This...For a Cat???

When you think of Animal Crossing New Horizons, what comes to mind? Soft, calming music? Friendly neighbours who give you presents just for saying hello? A life filled with peace of mind and financial freedom the likes of which you could never even dream of having in real life because capitalism is-

Moving on...Surely when you see an image like this:

You don’t think of seedy blackmarket trading and obsessive fans all in the pursuit of one cat, right?

Some context first; Animal Crossing New Horizons follows you, the player character, playing as yourself as you escape to a deserted island in order to create your very own island paradise filled with flora and fauna and loads of friendly villagers alike. (Nintendo n.d.) It’s truly the epitome of the ideal life many of us wish to lead. Speaking of villagers though, as you expand your island and carefully curate it to your liking you’ll be approached by in-game villagers also seeking to get away and live on an island paradise with you as their mayor. And that’s where it all started.

This is Raymond.

A smug little cat villager dressed in business attire, you have to admit he is kinda cute. He’s also one of the hardest players to get within the ACNH universe. You see, Raymond can only be gotten through either by buying his Amiibo cards, which are sold in random packs of three so it’ll be ages before you actually get him, or by just sheer blind luck and determination with visiting other islands and hoping, praying you run into him. With over 100 different villager options though, you’re hard pressed either way. (Megarry 2024)

You can however, get your friends who already have him to trade him to you for a small price. With how rare he is though, and with so few players having him, it started an underground black market of trading between online players. Prices to get Raymond skyrocketed, with users who already did have him charging ludicrous prices to those who wished to buy him. It was truly a dark time in the once cheery community. However, good always wins in the end..somehow?

For a short period of time, the Internet was flooded with people sharing their own tips and tricks to get Raymond without needing to go through scalpers. The entire community came together to help one another through the use of online forums like Quora and various Animal Crossing related wikis all to get this particular cat. Now while I don’t necessarily see the hype behind a cat in a suit (please don’t kill me I have a family), I can enjoy the touching display shown within the community to help one another. 

References:

Megarry, D 2024, How to get Raymond in Animal Crossing New Horizons, Dexerto, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.dexerto.com/animal-crossing/how-to-get-raymond-animal-crossing-new-horizons-1803378/>. 

Nintendo, n.d., Animal Crossing™: New Horizons, Nintendo, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/animal-crossing-new-horizons-switch/>.

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Week 9 - Is That Really What I Look Like?

Let’s face it, that one dog filter is pretty fun to use

But with the constant rise of social media filters like those found on Instagram, what can be said for our self esteem? And what are these filters doing to our perception of self given how prevalent they are in everyday life? 

Right now on Instagram you can find a filter for virtually anything. Want to make your pics look like they came straight out of the hit 2007 movie Twilight? Yep, you got it. Cat ears, clown noses, the possibilities are endless thanks to the thousands of filter presets available. But while no one is getting body dysmorphia from seeing themselves with devil horns, the same can’t be said about beauty filters.

Beauty filters rely on artificial intelligence in order to reimagine a user's face in real time and tap into their “pretty privilege”. In other words the filters enhance what good features a user has and hide away any potential insecurities a person may have about their face. Or rather, they give them new ones to feel self conscious about. (Hunter 2023)

A study done in 2021 found that over 90% of participants aged 18 to 30 used beauty filters in order to edit their photos into seeming “perfect”. The same majority claimed to feel extremely pressured to look attractive as they compared themselves to their peers on social media. And the result from this is even bleaker. Over 75% reported that they feel they can never live up to the person in the pictures posted online with 60% stating this made them feel depressed as a result. (Jantz 2023) Other research also found that young people with low self esteem and negative views on their body were more likely to use filters in a bid to feel better about themselves. 

However, as we all know, this is counterintuitive as it further reinforces their negative beliefs that their appearance, and by extension themselves, aren’t good enough or worth it. (Well 2023) Worse, the age to do so is getting younger. In conjunction with their “Self Esteem Project” back in 2020, Dove found that 80% of girls would have downloaded a filter or used an app to alter how they look, all by the age of 13. (Dove 2020) An interesting phenomenon has also risen in recent years due to beauty filter misuse known as “Filter Dysmorphia”. A subset of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), filter dysmorphia worsens when individuals believe that various cosmetic procedures can make them resemble their filtered images and thus cure their self esteem issues. This can involve minimally invasive procedures like fillers and Botox, to more extreme measures like nose jobs and Brazilian butt lifts. (Sadati & Radanfar 2022)

So what can we do now? For one, it’s important to recognise that beauty is ever evolving. Look at the beauty standards from the 40s or 50s and compare them with those of today. Were those people not considered beautiful for their time? The same can be said for us in the today and now. With the speed at which the standard of beauty evolves, and the use of AI gets more prevalent, maybe the best thing we can do is simply love ourselves just a little bit more.

References

Dove, 2020, Kids' Self Esteem, Dove, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.dove.com/us/en/dove-self-esteem-project.html>. 

Hunter, T 2023, Should women use beauty filters online? We all have opinions., The Washington Post, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/09/20/beauty-filter-criticism-benefits-tiktok/>. 

Jantz, G 2023, How Social Media Filters are Impacting Our Mental Health, The Center - A Place of Hope, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.aplaceofhope.com/how-social-media-filters-re-impacting-our-mental-health/>. 

Sadati, MS & Radanfar, R 2022, ‘“Filter dysmorphia”: an Emerging Phenomenon in Cosmetic Dermatology’, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, vol. 22, no. 3. 

Well, T 2023, The Hidden Danger of Online Beauty Filters, PsychologyToday, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-clarity/202303/can-beauty-filters-damage-your-self-esteem#:~:text=Other%20research%20finds%20that%20young,and%20behaviors%20start%20quite%20early.>. 

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Week 8 - The 13 Times I Disappointed My Parents (but not really)

When you hear the words “Body Modification” what comes to mind?

Something like this?

Truth be told, body modifications have become a lot more normalised and a lot less jarring in recent years with the rise of social media. (I would know) This has come with both good, and bad results. What more, they aren’t such a new fangled fad that all the kids are partaking in to anger their parents. Oh no, body modification as a whole actually has a rich and intricate history with many forms being deeply rooted in various cultures.

Take scarification for example. For most of us, getting a scar is something we aim to avoid. It’s why we’re advised not to pick at scabs in order to prevent scarring. However, some tribes in Africa such as the Dinka and Nuba tribe of Sudan and the Yourba tribe of Nigeria use scars as a form of beautification and identification. The deeply intricate and ritualistic practice involves cutting along the skin with various sharp tools depending on the kind of scar that needs to be formed. The wounds are then filled with a variety of substances in order to form the keloids as they heal in order to complete the scarification process. (Oyedokun, 2024)

Even locally within Malaysia lies a deep history with body modifications, particularly within East Malaysia. Indigenous tribes such as the Iban and Dayak communities have been practising tattooing as a sacred and integral part of their cultural heritage long before many of us were born. There’s even been evidence of ancient tattooed human remains found at archaeological sites within Borneo. For these tribes tattoos were seen as symbols of identity, social status and spiritual protection. (Flynn 2024) This sentiment has carried on into modern times with a resurgence of interest in traditional Bornean tattoos both locally and internationally. This revival is where social media starts to come into play, with much of it being fueled by the desire to preserve cultural heritage and showcased to the masses online to promote better understanding of this ancient practice.

Aside from that, social media has had a massive effect on how we as a society view body modifications. In comparison to my parents' time, nowadays body modifications are everywhere and on virtually everyone in a bid to maintain self-identities and be distinctive from one another. Social media has also had an effect on how individuals perceive the pain that comes with body modification practices such as tattoos. (Henriques & Patnaik 2020) With how common and easy it is to find inspiration and like minded people showcasing their tattoos online, it removes some of the scare factor associated with getting them done and encourages people to do their research in a non judgemental space before committing to the act.

Okay enough academic stuff, now onto the fun and personalised part of the post; my experience with body modification 🤩

For the longest time growing up, I saw tattoos as this thing only bad people got (whatever that meant). And me? I was as nerdy and as much of a goody-two-shoes as can be. Me? Getting a tattoo? I would never.

And then I got online and actually started learning about tattoos and realising that not all tattoos were like the ones I’d seen in movies. Tattoos could be deeply personal works of art that could hold incredible significance to the wearer, and even increase their self esteem and confidence. Is that scientifically proven? No. Is it true for me? 100% As of writing this I have around 13 tattoos and am planning on getting my 14th very soon. See, that explains the title. And while yes, my parents were shocked and confused and slightly horrified when I first started getting them in 2021 I mean my dad even suggested I just get them done as paintings instead and decorate my room, over time they’ve warmed up to the idea. They’ve even helped me design tattoos that I wear proudly every day, so in a way they’re complicit.

Throughout my journey with getting tattoos I’ve noticed a steep incline in my self-esteem. For one, looking in the mirror wasn’t as hard as it used to be. Getting body modifications actually helped me be more confident in who I am as a person. What does this have to do with the blog post? No idea, I just wanted to talk about my tattoos.

And yes, I know social media and body image can have a pretty toxic relationship and I promise I’ll get to that in the next post but for now I’ll leave you with a picture of my most recent tattoo and the hopes that this has helped shine a different light on body modification to show that they aren’t all that scary after all.

References

Flynn, Z 2024, Exploring the Cultural Significance and Evolution of Borneo Tattoos, TrueStoryDesign, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.truestorydesignhi.com/post/exploring-the-cultural-significance-and-evolution-of-borneo-tattoos#:~:text=The%20indigenous%20tribes%20of%20Borneo,social%20status%2C%20and%20spiritual%20protection.>. 

Henriques, M & Patnaik, D 2020, Social Media and Its Effects on Beauty, Beauty - Cosmetic Science, Cultural Issues and Creative Developments, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/73271>. 

Oyedokun, O D 2024, Exploring the Ancient Art of Scarification: Tradition, Beauty, and Identity in African and Aboriginal Cultures, Africa Rebirth, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.africarebirth.com/exploring-the-ancient-art-of-scarification-tradition-beauty-and-identity-in-african-and-aboriginal-cultures/>. 

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Week 7 - Slow Down! Your Clothes aren’t Going Anywhere

Nowadays, it’s pretty common to see terms like “fast” and “slow” fashion thrown around, especially if you’re as chronically online as I am. But despite spending 90% of my time online, it even took me a while to fully understand what fast fashion is, and how slow fashion can help offset some of the harm caused by fast fashion. And thus came this blog post, wherein I’m going to break the whole concept of fast fashion down, explain what it is and what makes it so bad, and finally what we can do to curb it (Psst! That’s where slow fashion comes in!)

So what exactly is fast fashion? Fast fashion is essentially low-priced but stylish clothing that moves quickly from designers to retail stores in order to keep up with the ever changing fashion trends. Oftentimes these clothing items are inspired by styles presented at prestigious events like Fashion Week, or those worn by celebrities. (Hayes 2024) What this does is allow mainstream consumers like you and I to purchase trendy new looks at an affordable price whenever we want. Seems pretty good right? 

Of course there’s a catch, this post wouldn’t exist if there wasn’t. As it turns out, having clothing so readily available at such a low price comes at a massive expense of the environment. One of the biggest current polluters of the world’s clean water supply are the cheap and highly toxic textile dyes used by fast fashion clothing manufacturers. And then there’s the textile waste. Oh boy. 

Fast fashion essentially encourages what is now known as “Throw-away culture”, a phenomenon born from the speed at which trends emerge coupled with the relatively low shelf life fast fashion goods have. (Rauturier 2023)  Anyone who’s bought from Shein knows exactly what I mean. Not only does this foster a constant need for consumers to shop more and more in order to stay on top of trends, it also means that a lot of clothes are simply just thrown away instead of being reused or repurposed. And the result? For Malaysia alone that meant over 432,901 tonnes of textile waste alone. (Harinderan 2023)

Now that we know what fast fashion and its harms are, let’s dive into slow fashion. Essentially the opposite of fast fashion, slow fashion brings about an awareness and approach to fashion with a heavy emphasis on the processes and resources needed to make that particular item of clothing. It also advocates for buying clothing that will last longer, aka quality over quantity, and prioritizes fair treatment for all parties involved along the way. (Hill 2023) 

And the best part about slow fashion? It costs literally nothing to join in! That’s right, you don’t need to buy anything to be a part of this growing movement, in fact you don’t have to buy anything at all! Check out these handy tips on how to make the shift to slow fashion (Vito 2022)

Tip 1: Repair and Take Care

Instead of opening up your laptop and heading straight for your usual online shopping site the next time your shirt has a hole in it, opt for basic sewing and destaining videos in order to get more wear out of your clothes.

You could also extend the lifespan of your clothes by following the care instructions, and yes I’m talking about those weird symbols on the tags that most of us cut off because it’s a sensory nightmare. Scratchiness aside, those little tags can actually do wonders for making your clothes look newer for longer. For example, did you know that you’re only supposed to wash your Levi’s once every 10 years? (Unzipped Staff 2018)

Tip 2: Shop Secondhand

We as Malaysians are extremely lucky, we have thrift stores literally everywhere. From huge chains like Jalan-Jalan Japan, JBR Bundle and 2nd Street, to smaller more curated boutiques like Shimokita Space, to even just exchanging your clothes with your friends and family. The goal is to get more life out of the clothes you already own, be it in your own hands or the hands of someone else.

Tip 3: Think before you Shop

Let’s be real; Do you really need that new dress? Do you just have to cop the latest designer tee? Chances are, no, you really don’t. In many countries across the world somewhere between 50%- 80% of people’s wardrobes are unused. So the next time you feel the itch to shop, check your closet first. Your overfull closet will thank you, and so will the planet. But let’s say you actually do need to shop. What now? With big chains like Shein, HnM and Zara all being serious contributors to the fast fashion industry, where else can you go?

Well for one, thrift shops. Didn’t you read the earlier tip? Another option is to shop and support local creators. Oftentimes, they’re the ones using high quality fabrics with a longer shelf life, easily recyclable materials like single-composition fabrics, or natural fibers like bamboo that biodegrade easily and pose less harm to the environment. Don’t know where to start? I got you covered. Here are some local options here in Malaysia with some seriously cute clothes if I do say so myself.

And there you go! Now you have no reason to claim ignorance the next time someone quizzes you on fast fashion. You also have everything you need to know in order to avoid it and do your part in keeping the environment safe and clean for years to come. Happy shopping!

References

Harinderan, K 2023, Waste Management In Malaysia: Generate Less, Separate More, BusinessToday, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.businesstoday.com.my/2023/12/06/waste-management-in-malaysia-generate-less-separate-more/#:~:text=Fabric%20waste%20made%20up%203.1,the%20fabrics%20cause%20water%20pollution.>. 

Hayes, A 2024, Fast Fashion Explained and How It Impacts Retail Manufacturing, Investopedia, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fast-fashion.asp>. 

Hill, M 2023, What Is Slow Fashion?, GoodOnYou, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-slow-fashion/>. 

Rauturier, S 2023, What Is Fast Fashion and Why Is It So Bad?, GoodOnYou, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-fast-fashion/>. 

Unzipped Staff, 2018, The Definitive Denim Care Guide, Levi Strauss & Co., viewed 10 June 2024, <https://www.levistrauss.com/2018/04/20/definitive-denim-care-guide/#:~:text=Wash%20Cold.&text=Washing%20with%20cold%20water%20protects,your%20wallet%20and%20the%20environment.>. 

‌Vito, F 2022, Explainer: What Is Slow Fashion and How Can You Join the Movement?, Earth.Org, viewed 10 June 2024, <https://earth.org/what-is-slow-fashion/>. 

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Week 6 - A #CancelCulture Crisis (TW - Sexual assault and abuse)

Nowadays whenever someone does or says something wrong, be it defending a convicted criminal or something much more trivial, the first instinct a lot of people on the internet have is to “cancel them” In recent years the term “Cancel Culture” grown ever more prominent, with nearly everyone who uses the internet regularly being familiar with this term. But what is “Cancel Culture”, and is it actually useful?

The basic dictionary definition of “Cancel Culture” is defined as “the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.) In simpler terms, cancel culture is a collective boycott done by the masses or common-folk like you and I directed towards something or someone after a perceived wrongdoing. It’s also a phenomenon that happens primarily on its birthplace, the internet, and is usually used to shed light on something horrible that has happened for the purpose of seeking justice for the victims or prevention from it happening again.

Social media has also been pivotal in cancel culture’s rise. When we think about some of the prominent “cancellations” that pushed cancel culture into the forefront of everyone’s minds and vocabulary, disgraced celebrities like R. Kelly, Louis C. K. and Kevin Spacey usually come to mind given their various sexual assault and abuse crimes were heavily talked about when cancel culture was becoming prominent. (Lo-Booth, 2024) Hashtags like #MuteRKelly were plastered across social media, an incident which can be considered a success for cancel culture and what it stands for.

Born in 2017 and popularized in 2018, #MuteRKelly was a campaign launched by two grassroots activists seeking to put him behind bars for his numerous crimes. And these crimes weren’t new either. For years rumors of his abhorrent conduct towards young black and brown children and especially young women were circulating with numerous attempts being made to draw attention to them but to no avail. However, in the eve of a concert R. Kelly was set to have in Atlanta, the hashtag was launched and quickly morphed into an international campaign to bring R. Kelly to justice. (Barnes, 2021) And it worked! In June of 2022 R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his crime of using his celebrity status to sexually abuse children and women. (Savage, 2023)

Now while that’s all well and good, there have been times cancel culture has backfired spectacularly. Remember earlier when I mentioned Louis C.K.? In 2017 he was hit with allegations from five different women who accused the comedian of masturbating in their presence as well as committing other sexually inappropriate acts towards them. While he previously denied the allegations ultimately C.K. admitted to his wrongdoings and spent the next five years laying low in the media’s eye whilst still selling out dozens of comedy shows. And then he won a Grammy. (Jones, 2022)

In 2022 C.K. took home the Grammy for “best comedy album” from the 64th Grammy awards beating out five other nominees. Naturally the internet was in uproar, but this isn’t the first time cancel culture has resulted in a temporary solution to a much bigger problem. Musicians like Micheal Jackson and yep, even R. Kelly, saw their music streams increasing despite decades of cancellations for their misdeeds. (ProCon, 2020) 

So is cancel culture worth it? Well, yes. But also no…You see it depends on the context of the cancellation. When cancel culture is applied to a serious crime, like say sexual assault, then it’s absolutely worth it and even necessary. Yes streams for R, Kelly’s music did increase but he’s also in jail now and that’s partly thanks to cancel culture. However, the line gets blurred when the crime isn’t as clear cut as that. 

In a world where social media condenses complicated social issues into minute-long exposes, something as complicated as human nature gets turned into a black or white issue where if you aren’t on the side of the cancellation it automatically makes you a bad person. In turn what this does is it discourages discussions, when in actuality a nuanced discussion is sometimes all that’s necessary. (Dudenhoefer, 2020)

At the end of the day, maybe that’s what we should all practice going forward. Encouraging discussions and actually listening to what’s being said in those conversations. 

References

Barnes, K. T. 2021, R. Kelly Has Finally Been Silenced. Let’s Keep It That Way, Time, viewed 6 May 2024, <https://time.com/6102538/r-kelly-conviction-mute/>. 

Dudenhoefer, N. 2020, Is Cancel Culture Effective?, University of Central Florida, viewed 7 May 2024, <https://www.ucf.edu/pegasus/is-cancel-culture-effective/>. 

Jones, D. 2022, Louis C.K. Crawls Out of Cancellation, Wins a Grammy and Triggers a Backlash, KQED, viewed 7 May 2024, <https://www.kqed.org/arts/13911520/louis-c-k-crawls-out-of-cancellation-wins-a-grammy-and-triggers-a-backlash>. 

Lo-Booth, M 2024, Cancel Culture: What Is It and Why Should I Care In 2023?, Vice, viewed 6 May 2024, <https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy35jm/cancel-culture-meaning>. 

Merriam-Webster, n.d., Cancel culture, Merriam-Webster, viewed 6 May 2024, <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cancel%20culture>. 

ProCon, 2020, Is cancel culture (or “callout culture”) good for society?, ProCon, viewed 7 May 2024, <https://www.procon.org/headlines/is-cancel-culture-or-callout-culture-good-for-society/>. 

Savage, M. 2023, R. Kelly: The history of his crimes and allegations against him, BBC, viewed 7 May 2024, <https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40635526>.

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Week 5 pt 2 - Reality TV Ranking

I’ll be honest, I watch a lot of reality tv. And I mean A LOT. 

I, together with my dad who secretly loves drama and scandals as much as I do, have more or less exhausted Netflix’s reality competition section. And we’re versatile too, watching shows on topics like glass blowing to wilderness survival to even drag queens. 

With that in mind, I’ll be dissecting the 10 most recent reality tv shows I’ve watched including what I liked/disliked about them, what the most outrageous moment was (in my opinion) as well as how I’d rate the show out of ten. You know what, and just for fun I’ll put down my dad’s ratings too.

Oh, and this goes without saying but there will be spoilers in this post so you’ve been warned. I’ll try my best to stay spoiler free but no promises. Let’s go!

Blown Away

Starting our list we have Blown Away, a Canadian competition show that centres around glassblowing. Running since 2019 with their 4th season airing on Netflix on the 4th of March 2024, the show follows 10 talented glassblowers as they tackle weekly challenges that put their skills and artistry to the test.

What I Liked: The glassworks themselves. Each and every episode produced masterful glass pieces that absolutely blew me away (pun intended). Some of my favourite pieces thus far include an egg with chicken legs, a grotesque looking flower and a strikingly realistic looking syringe and gumdrop combo.

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/blownawayseries/

What I Didn’t Like: It can get a little stale after a while. Despite how nerve-wracking each episode can get with how fragile the glassworks are, after four seasons of this you start to get used to it. The episode starts, a bunch of people drop their glassworks mid-creation, there’s a panic with some tears shed, somehow everyone pulls through with a half decent creation by the end of it.

Most Outrageous Moment(s): Nothing per se

My Overall Rating: 6/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 6/10

The Mole

Right from the get-go the premise had my dad and I hooked. Originally from the early 2000’s, the American reality game show moved from ABC to Netflix in 2022 with its reboot. The show follows 12 contestants working together for a cash prize that they can add on to with each challenge the group wins. However, one of them is actually a secret plant by the producers whose only goal is sabotage, a Mole. 

What I Liked: The premise itself. You see, neither the contestants nor the audience know who the Mole is right until the very last episode. And the Mole will do whatever it takes to sabotage the group, decrease the prize pot and avoid getting caught by any means necessary. Each week there’s an elimination where the contestants have a chance to vote on who they think the Mole is, and countless shady challenges set to cause distrust and disunity between the remaining contestants.

What I Didn’t Like: How wrong my guesses were. This one’s purely personal, I have nothing against the show at all I just couldn’t believe how continuously wrong my dad and I were in our guesses. I mean we even bet money on it!

Most Outrageous Moment(s): The amount of sabotages and downright shady behaviour between the other contestants. Like in hindsight I get why the Mole is sabotaging things, but the rest of you? Purely to throw each other off the scent of the Mole and get one another eliminated.

My Overall Rating: 8/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 6/10

Rupaul’s Drag Race

A trailblazer in its own right, Rupaul’s Drag Race is a show about drag queens that first aired in 2009 and has been going ever since. The premise itself is simple: groups of drag queens compete against each other in various challenges to win the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” as well as a cash prize of a hundred thousand dollars. Whilst the show is originally from America the show has since launched multiple spin-offs and sister series in a variety of countries across the globe.

What I Liked: The lip syncs. Not only have they introduced (or rather re-introduced) me to countless new and old songs, but the performances by the drag queens fighting to stay on the show are truly something spectacular. You can feel the raw emotion being conveyed by the queens as they embody every last word of the song and these lip syncs have resulted in moments that the fandom still bring up til today.

What I Didn’t Like: The judging can be...questionable at times. But then again, after 16 seasons, 9 all-star seasons, franchises in 14 different countries and a partridge in a pear tree there’s bound to be questionable judging moments on who “should’ve won” or “should’ve gone home”

Most Outrageous Moment(s): The entire show is outrageous in its own special way. As someone who's seen almost every season of this, there isn’t one single moment from a particular season that stands out or trumps over another. Though if I’m really being honest, picking someone up mid-lip sync is kinda insane.

My Overall Rating: 8/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 6/10

Outlast

Outlast is a reality show centred around wilderness survival in the harsh Alaskan wilderness. 16 contestants compete against the extreme cold, potentially dangerous animals and worst of all; each other in order to win a prize of one million dollars. 

What I Liked: The indomitable human spirit is real. Watching the 16 contestants fight tooth and nail to survive in the Alaskan wilderness with little outside help was a feat in and of itself. And then there’s just how innovative people can be when push comes to shove. From crafting weapons from their surroundings, I mean one guy made an entire ghillie suit from scratch. In case you’re wondering what that looks like…

What I Didn’t Like: As much as I hate to admit it, the show reeks of overproduction. Some of the “dramatic moments” that they showcased were just too good to be true but then again it’s hard to say whether they were true or not given how insane human beings can be.

Most Outrageous Moment(s): The contestants themselves are NUTS. Neither my dad nor I remember how we ended up watching this in the first place but we’re both pretty sure it’s because we ran out of reality shows to watch on Netflix…Regardless, neither of us can get this show out of our heads after what we saw. From people needing to be airlifted back to the mainland because they haven’t had a bowel movement in weeks to teams purposely setting other teams shelters on fire, every now and then my dad and I question who greenlit this whole thing

My Overall Rating: 5/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 7/10

Next in Fashion

Running for two seasons between 2020 and 2023, Next in fashion follows aspiring fashion designers competing in weekly challenges for-okay I think you guys get the point; all of these shows are a bunch of people competing for a cash prize. In this case, its two hundred fifty thousand dollars as well as their own clothing line with Net-A-Porter.

What I Liked: The sheer creativity of the contestants when it comes to their clothes is worth noting, and that’s just what they’re wearing during the episode. Watching this has really helped me find my own fashion sense and understand clothes on a deeper level, as did the next show.

What I Didn’t Like: NIL

Most Outrageous Moment(s): Nothing actually. In comparison to pretty much everything else on this list this one’s pretty tame.

My Overall Rating: 8/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 8/10

Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star

From fashion we now move on to makeup. Glow-Up is a British reality show that’s been airing on BBC since 2019 with its sixth season premiering on the 10th of April 2024. We haven’t seen the sixth season yet, but if it’s anything like the previous five seasons we’re in for a treat.

What I Liked: Once again, watching the contestants interpret the various challenges to the highest creative degree has been thoroughly enjoyable. Furthermore, given how the challenges touch upon different aspects and areas of makeup it’s taught me a couple things that even I can apply to my daily makeup routine. That and all the horror makeup, love horror makeup.

What I Didn’t Like: Again, there’s not much to dislike about this. The contestants, while quirky in their own right and occasionally emotional, aren’t that bad of people. 

Most Outrageous Moment(s): In an “Outrageous in a good way” moment that goes beyond words, here’s my favourite look from every season

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/glowupbbc/

My Overall Rating: 9/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 9/10

Squid Game: The Challenge

Remember back in 2021 when Squid Game first premiered and everyone was like “Oh I could win this no sweat”? Yeah well this show said “Prove it”. Obviously the stakes here aren’t as high as the fictional show I mean nobody actually dies here, but the cash prize and other premises stay about the same as the original.

What I Liked: You can’t fault the set design here. Aside from looking near identical to the original, the atmosphere itself really lends a hand to making it feel like the real thing. I also found the “death” sequences kinda funky with hidden ink packs exploding beneath the eliminated contestants clothes. 

What I Didn’t Like: The show itself had nothing wrong with it, like I said earlier the set design is near perfect and extremely well done. It’s just…doesn’t this feel like we’re missing the entire point of the original Squid Game series? There’s an entire debate about capitalism that belongs somewhere in here, but unfortunately that’s not the aim of this post. Regardless, something about watching this show left a sour taste in my mouth and I still feel kinda icky for finishing the entire thing.

Most Outrageous Moment(s): The whole show itself is outrageous just from a moral standpoint. Aside from that, the twists and turns the show takes along its course coupled with the sheer drama of it all kept us on the edge of our seats throughout with multiple instances of my dad and I turning to each other in confusion? Shock? Horror?

My Overall Rating: 5/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 5/10

The Apprentice: One Championship

My dad insisted I add this one in. Across two seasons 10 challengers compete in a series of high stakes business and physical challenges all for a chance to win what is possibly the most valuable prize in this entire post: Getting hired by ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. 

What I Liked: The show is full of strong female representation, with many of the challenge wins being spearheaded by the female contestants. Aside from that the show is chocked full of business acumen and gave me quite a good insight into what my future might be if I choose to go into advertising and marketing in the future. I’d highly recommend anyone interested in business or advertising to watch this.

What I Didn’t Like: Dad’s gonna have my head for this but despite the show teaching me a lot about business acumen and how to hold my own in the cutthroat advertising world, the show can get a little…boring…at times…Sorry dad.

Most Outrageous Moment(s): I still don’t know whether this was a purposeful move on the producers part but “somehow” the challenge schedule was left out in the open and one of the contestants used that to cheat. They were caught rather swiftly however, as they tried to recruit more people into their scheme and got ratted out instead.

My Overall Rating: 8/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 9/10 

Is It Cake? (Make bigger later)

Running for three seasons since 2022, Is It Cake follows cake artists challenged to make hyper-realistic cakes to fool a panel of judges.The contestants also have a chance to win additional money each episode if they are voted the most realistic cake.

What I Liked: You can’t deny the pure artistry that this show contains. As an avid baker myself, being able to turn a simple chocolate cake into a hyper-realistic rubber duckie is nothing short of impressive.

Image Credits: Netflix

What I Didn’t Like: The host and his constant bad jokes really makes the show hard to watch after a while. That and the whole premise can get a little boring after a while.

Most Outrageous Moment(s): Episode 1 we’re introduced to a cake artist who does such a good job that we’re sure they’re gonna win the whole thing. Episode 2 and they get eliminated. WHAT?!

My Overall Rating: 5/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 5/10

Physical:100

Set in Korea, Physical:100 follows 100 contestants from various professions ranging from athletes to actors to arborists that all have one thing in common: peak physical condition and prowess. Over the course of the show they will compete against one another and slowly the numbers get culled til there’s just one last person standing.

What I Liked: Now hear me out.

Alright all jokes aside, I really liked watching the challenges especially in the second season. Seeing the different strategies the contestants employed within their teams to tackle the brutal physical challenges coupled with the genuinely quite wholesome sportsmanship shown was really refreshing to see.

What I Didn’t Like: For a show centred around finding the “perfect physique” by challenging its contestants physical attributes such as balance, agility, or even endurance, many of the challenges seem to be centred solely around strength and only strength. It’s impossible to compare the strength of a bodybuilder versus that of a gymnast, just as it would be impossible to compare their agility. 

Most Outrageous Moment(s): It happens every single time, you think someone has an easy journey to the finals and then they overestimate their competitors and end up losing big. This entire show is like a constant reminder not to get too cocky

My Overall Rating: 9/10

My Dad’s Overall Rating: 8/10

And that concludes my ranking! Hopefully this post has given some of you out there an idea on what to watch next hehe

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Week 5 - Sasaeng: The Scary Kpop Superfans

In today’s day and age it’s rare to find someone who isn’t a part of some fandom. Be it in the world of gaming, music, pop culture, you name it; there’s a fandom for it. I'm even a part of a few fandoms out there, with the most recent being Physical:100 after binging watching the latest season on Netflix. Since diving headfirst into the second season I've since watched both seasons in a matter of days for uh, research purposes...and I can say I'm definitely a fan

This comes as no surprise given how important and integral digital communities are in the online world. Being a part of a digital community, or in this case fandom, opens the viewer up to a world of support and like-minded people without traditional barriers such as location or language differences interfering. Fandoms also allow viewers to form connections with each other by fostering a sense of belonging. (Monk, 2023) After all, nobody likes to feel excluded. 

That being said, we’re not here today to talk about the good side of fandoms, no that'd be boring. Instead, I’d like to introduce all of you reading to a small subsection of Kpop fans that blur the lines between fan and foe. They’re called Sasaengs. 

Sasaengs, or sasaeng fans as they are sometimes called, are obsessive fans who engage in obsessive and borderline criminal behaviours specifically towards Korean idols and celebrities. The name itself comes from the Korean words “sa” meaning private and “saeng” meaning life, with sasaengs main goal being to get recognized by their idols by any means necessary. (Tamondong, 2021)

Given the fact that the world has gone digital nowadays it’s become increasingly easy for sasaengs to gain private and personal information about their Kpop idols and invade their privacy to the max. This leads to sasaengs going to extraordinary lengths such as stealing or breaking into the homes of their idols. (Valle, 2023) There’s even such a thing known as “sasaeng taxis”, a method used by sasaengs to follow their beloved idols to their scheduled activities or personal commitments. These taxis are not cheap either, charging upwards of $600 a day and have no qualms breaking a barrage of traffic rules if it means the sasaeng gets to follow their idol around and make themselves known to their idol. (Mathew, 2021)

Before we go any further let me make one thing clear; I’m not a Kpop fan. For the longest time I’d never even heard of sasaengs let alone the downright insane incidents they’ve caused over the years as I’ve come to find out while researching for this blog. So here’s a list of the 5 craziest ones I’ve found:

Number 1: Persistent Stalking

As of 2019 a German fan by the Twitter handle @Josh1994 has been consistently stalking and harassing Nayeon, who is a member of the girl group Twice. Despite her management taking action to protect Nayeon from her stalker, in 2020 the fan has remained persistent in his stalkerish behaviours. (Chung, 2021)

Number 2: Airport Grabs and Street Chases

BTS is one of the most famous Kpop groups around, and while this has given the group a plethora of success it has also resulted in some significant drawbacks. In 2016 whilst filming in Sweden the group stopped to dine at a local cafe only to get chased by fans whilst leaving, while just a year earlier the group was mobbed by fans at an airport. (Koreaboo, 2021)

Number 3: Attaching Tracking Devices to Vehicles

In 2021 Kpop group ATEEZ discovered illegal tracking devices attached to the group’s business vehicles leading to the group’s record label launching a blacklist system to keep track of fans found guilty in these sasaeng incidents. (Bowenbank, 2021)

Number 4: Secret Recordings, Crossdressing Fans and Attempted Kidnapping

Members of EXO, another popular Korean boyband, just can’t seem to catch a break. From installing cameras and microphones in a hotel gym and some of the members rooms, to sasaengs shaving their heads and crossdressing as boys to share the same bathroom with the group, it makes you wonder what these sasaengs could do if they used their talents for good. And then there’s the attempted kidnapping case where sasaeng fans rented a van identical to the group’s business vehicles which was thankfully thwarted by the group’s manager. (Koreaboo, 2018)

Number 5: A Letter Written in Menstrual Blood

Yeah this ain’t it chief. I almost didn’t want to put this one in but if I had to read it so do you. Because I’m merciful though, I’ll keep it short for all of our sakes. In 2009 boyband member Taecyeon of 2PM received a letter written in a fan's menstrual blood and sprinkled with their pubic hair. To make it worse, the sasaeng later posted proof of it online. (Rameninmybowl, 2009) Yeah I’m gonna go take a shower now…

In conclusion, while absolutely insane this level of obsessive fan behaviour is not a new phenomenon. Singers John Lennon and Selina were both respectively murdered by disgruntled fans, while in more recent years artists like Ava Max and Bebe Rexha have been hit by fans throwing items on stage during their concerts. In all honesty, they deserve better. 

Whilst it is true that a good majority of fans are like you and I, it’s fans like these who give fandoms a bad name. It's more important than ever that we remember that these people we call ourselves fans of are human too and deserve our respect.

References

Bowenbank, S. 2021, ATEEZ’s Record Label Threatens Legal Action After Tracking Devices Are Found on Group’s Vehicles, Billboard, viewed 6th May 2024, <https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ateez-label-legal-action-tracking-device-9653081/>. 

Chung, J. W. 2021, 5 K-pop idols who were victims of sasaeng fans: Blackpink’s Jennie got a billboard ad asking her for a date, while Twice’s Nayeon has been stalked by ‘Josh1994’ since 2019, South China Morning Post, viewed 5th May 2024, <https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3155816/5-k-pop-idols-who-were-victims-sasaeng-fans-blackpinks>. 

Koreaboo 2018, 13 Extremely disturbing stories of Sasaeng fans that went too far, Koreaboo, viewed 6th May 2024, <https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/13-disturbing-stories-sasaeng-fans-went-far-1/>. 

Koreaboo, 2021, September 3, 8 of BTS’s distressing encounters with Sasaengs who went too far, Koreaboo, vieweds 5th May 2024, <https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/btss-distressing-encounters-sasaengs-went-far/>. 

Mathew, A. 2021, Sasaengs: The dark and threatening side of K Pop fan community and its effect on idols, PinkVilla, viewed 7th May 2024, <https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/sasaengs-dark-and-threatening-side-k-pop-fan-community-and-its-effect-idols-935109>. 

Monk, E. 2023, Why is Community so Vital in a Digital World?, Learning and Performance Institute, viewed 9th May 2024, <https://www.thelpi.org/why-is-community-so-vital-in-a-digital-world/>. 

Rameninmybowl, 2009, 2PM’s Taecyeon receives bloody note sprinkled with pubes, Allkpop, viewed 7th May 2024, https://www.allkpop.com/article/2009/11/2pm-taecyeon-scarlet-letter>. 

Tamondong, H. 2021, What Is A 'Sasaeng'? A Guide To South Korea's Toxic Fan Culture, Cosmopolitan, viewed 7th May 2024, <https://www.cosmo.ph/kloka/kpop/south-korea-sasaeng-fan-toxic-culture-a4575-20210115-lfrm>. 

Valle, M. 2023, HISTORY OF K-POP: SASAENG FANS, The Kraze, viewed 7th May 2024, <https://thekrazemag.com/latest-updates/2023/11/1/history-of-k-pop-sasaeng-fans>.

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Come one, come all, welcome to my page <3

I'm JJ, I'm old enough to be legally on here, and some of my hobbies include cafe-hopping and baking. This blog is solely to document my upcoming MDA20009 assignments in relation to our weekly classes.

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