Category Essays

The Commodification of Loneliness

If you’ve been on the New York City subway in the past week, chances are you’ve seen advertisements for something called Friend. These ads don’t give you much to go on besides a few vague if not friendly statements, such…

The Riyadh Comedy Festival Discourse

A few days ago,  I saw various advertisements for the latest elaborate Saudi exhibition, the Riyadh Comedy Festival, presented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and organized by state-owned entities, Sela, and the General Entertainment Authority. Given the eye-watering finances…

YouTube Journalists

If you’ve spent any time on YouTube recently, you’ve most likely come across a video titled something like, “I WENT TO THE MOST GHETTO PLACE IN AMERICA” with some pasty white guy on the thumbnail, mouth agape as he’s surrounded…

Schrödinger’s American

A few months ago, I accompanied my father to his U.S citizenship interview at 26 Federal Plaza. Had this happened a year ago, it probably would’ve been an afterthought to me, and I wouldn’t have gone to this; After all,…

In Defense of “Brainrot”

Something happened to “meme culture” in 2024. Sure, the genre of media had never landed a highbrow respect, but last year it felt like it was pushed down a peg. As Gen Z gazed queasily upon a world of increasing…

Original Movies Aren’t Dead

In 2016, The Nice Guys was released to praise from both critics and audiences. Starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, this noir-inspired mystery seemed to offer everything moviegoers claim to want: originality, sharp writing, and a story that doesn’t feel…

A Concert I Tried to Enjoy

Three nights ago, my family and I saw The Lumineers play at Citi Field, where I found myself wretchedly alone in a crowd of 30,000. My father loves bands like this because he’s old. Their music makes him feel hip…