#cellfie

[the-bio-babe]

But fist, let me take a cell-fie

[squeakadeeks]

i like your little germ guy can we see more of your little germ guy

cellfies

[butterflysnowflake]

thinking about how Wolf offers the Deetzes a selfie after the wedding scene again... (my first, much happier meta about this scene is here if you need a chaser after this post!)

(gif by @illiana-mystery )

he offers them a chance to get a selfie, but then proceeds to stand like three feet away and just. poses. This is a man who does not have the slightest grasp of what a selfie actually is and probably thinks they're CELLfies and not SELFies and that they're just any pic taken on a cell phone. and the thing here is: this seems like a funny "haha he's old and doesn't get technology" gag (and it's absolutely valid to read it as that!) but I think it's deeper than that, here's why so, Afterlife tech. We see in both movies it's vastly outdated and the entire establishment seems to function through what's described as Cassette Futurism , mainly Cold War era tech, with the most antiquated being seen onscreen in the first movie and then some slight updates to the tech in the 30+ years since we've checked in in BJBJ (progress!) however, we can tell at least some of the inhabitants there keep up to date on living world technological advances, which brings me to the next point of my thesis: Betelgeuse 100% understands cell phones, and he's been dead for 600+ years in contrast to Wolf's probably 30ish (going off my theory his accident was sometime in the late 80s based on the movie poster behind his desk). Which again makes sense in the context of everything- BJ has to keep current with the living world since as a bioexorcist, it's in his best interest to know how to exploit fleshbag tech to deal with his clients' problems with the living. We get two scenes showing he gets how cell phones function- the pop ups he sends to Lydia's phone, and the way he turns the influencers' cameras on them to trap them inside them in the beginning of the wedding sequence.

and I think the timing of the second instance is important: it sets up a contrast between Beej and Wolf and their grasp of current technology. Because Wolf, as opposed to BJ, doesn't really have any extremely compelling reason to stay up to date on tech, at least probably not as far as he's concerned. To paraphrase Metal Gear Solid, crime never changes (and he's not a cop, he's an actor, anyway) Sure, it probably wouldn't hurt for him to understand new tech, especially as new inhabitants come into the afterlife constantly, and there's bound to be a few criminals in every bunch, but more importantly, I think he chooses not to. Because acknowledging that in the world of the living, things have changed, tech has advanced, means he has to acknowledged the time he was from is as dead and gone as he is. Not in a regressive "bring back the good old days" way, don't get me wrong, but in a sense that he's clinging to his life and routines from before everything was so suddenly and cruelly taken from him in the grenade accident. He can't let go, it's all he's got to link him to who he is. If you look at his office set, it's full of his movie posters and props.

he's just surrounded by reminders of who he ACTUALLY is, and where he came from, and still carries himself like an Old Hollywood leading man, still uses outdated terms when he speaks, and practices his one liners in front of a mirror and uses cue cards when he's giving his team a briefing, because forgetting would mean dying not just physically, but completely for him. regardless of what theory about Afterlife civil service assignment you subscribe to, one thing is clear: he's being told he's something he's not (a cop) and the easiest way to not lose sight of that is to surround yourself with your old life, your reality, your truth. to the point he thanks Janet for reminding him he's an actor ("you keep me real" is possibly one of his most heartbreaking lines if you think about the implications of it and the way he says it.) and so staying with his routines, what's comfortable, and not feeling a need to keep up with modern times is for him a little act of rebellion against the bureaucracy that LITERALLY typecast him as something he actually isn't. in the end it's probably in the netherworld authorities best interests to break down the mind and spirit of their employees, because it keeps them from being able to eventually move on to the great beyond and needing replacement.

the best way to fight that, to resist being stuck in the box some paper-pushers decided you were going to be stuck in for 125+ years, is to just go about business as usual, just like you did before a grenade sent you into purgatory's waiting room. and like no, Wolf doesn't have the healthiest coping mechanisms (let's be totally real here no one in anything Beetlejuice does, that's why we love it all so much), but they're the ones that work for him and help him survive the crappy afterlife he's been dealt, while holding tightly to his link to the world of the living that keeps him at least somewhat sane. and what's a little maladaptive coping and weaponized incompetence if it all keeps you real in the end?

[tailoringtay]

Hey, Tay. Imagine if prisoners took their own mugshots. They'd be taking cellfies.

"................"

[michaelworthy25]

Cellfie📱📶🛜

[muffinpink02]

loss of memory!

if worst comes to worst my sister has offered me her spare bedroom in her apartment so i think ill be fine!! the only issue is my cats and transporting them 😣

is the tea/medicines helping? have u gotten any better at all

HA! I likeee that one!!

Ahhh okay good!! Omg no!!!! Is she far? What will happen? 🥺🥺

What do you call it when a prisoner takes his own mugshot?

A cellfie.

[221155]

📍☝️😂😂 ME HICE EL DÍA CELLFIE:/

HE HECHO UN DÍA CELULAR:/

Я СДЕЛАЛ ДЕНЬ/

[mrs-dr-reid]

If prisoners could take their own mug shots…

…They’d be called cellfies

Ha!!! That’s a good one!

[jenscx]

no joke is original bae. now LET ME PASS WITH THAT TIKTOK VID, LITERALLY THEE BEST ONE YET 😔

anyways, what do u call prisoners who take their own mugshots?

cellfies

sorry dont beg ! ❌ update 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

[arjunasearth]

~~Rooted, but flowing.~~

Source: arjunasearth.tumblr.com

[septhar]

#Cellfie 😎 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp-jEMRyqPYPMSFFkST6ik5NhJQMXVG96Q8Pds0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[amysterioussecret]

#Cellfie#selfiewrldschaumburg (at Selfie WRLD Schaumburg) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnvUoMxuUfgFJtmDMrIVp48uPKpJp3I76rLvZU0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[donttellmeyourewoke]

SMARTPHONE SELFIE OF SMARTPHONE

[coenieinafrica]

I had the honour of attending a Strand homecell last night and Grabouw “Mega Cell” tonight. Cells are getting ready to multiply. God is awesome! DM me if you want to join a Homecell no matter where you live. I can connect you to the relevant Pastors. We even have an online homecell for those living far away, so you basically don’t have an excuse😃 ⛪️💛 What is a homecell? I am glad you asked. It basically is church in the home. Friends and family celebrating Jesus and supporting one another. Btw strict social distance and masks applied. Only spouses touching each other as in this image. Otherwise all restrictions adhered to 😉 #HMCLL #cellfie #thebaycfc (at Strand, Western Cape) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWXeq95s-dq/?utm_medium=tumblr