May 13 15

I am kind of, sort of in love with the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. It’s funny, it’s smart, and I find myself nodding in agreement more often than not. The one about American Idol ending was so completely on point. I like the full episodes, the small batches, and I especially love the “what’s making us happy this week” part at the end of each episode. I guess you could say that I’m a fan.

Last week I listened to one of my most favourite episodes yet. The front end was about The Avengers: Age of Ultron, which I actually thoroughly enjoyed. We were invited to a sneak preview of the movie the day before it was widely released. The kids were pretty pumped when I surprised them with the news. Well, two were pumped and one was more, “YOU CAN’T MAKE ME GO SEE A MOVIE AND EAT POPCORN AND CANDY!” because that’s what after-school-almost-ten-years-old is like.

Screen Shot 2015-05-13 at 6.02.04 PM

 

They made so many points that I agreed with. Also, a lot of the point that this 9-year-old boy’s review agreed with. The best part of the movie was everyone trying to lift Thor’s hammer. Why does Thor wear a bathrobe? Why is a guy who is basically just Katniss Everdeen on par with the other Avengers? LET’S TALK ABOUT THE TWINS.

But it was the back half of the episode that really got my attention.

It could probably be titled: Why DO people really hate Nickelback that much? Or Gwyneth Paltrow? Or U2? Or James Cameron? Or Zach Braff/Garden State/The Shins?

Or Selfie Sticks? 

It was about pop culture pariahs. Basically, those people, characters, bands, shows, movie, odds and ends in pop culture that you just love to hate, even if you may not even know why you hate them so much.

I hate Shia LaBeouf. I find photos of people’s nails (and feet! and food they are eating!) on instagram maddening. I loathe Midge from Mad Men almost as much as Dana Brody from Homeland. I can’t stand anything Nicolas Cage does. I despise Max and Ruby. People drinking fruit and vegetables gives me the heebie-jeebies. I cringe at the sight of Comic Sans. I wish the term “ALL THE THINGS” (or all the anythings) could be eradicated from everyone’s internet-speak.

I love to hate a lot of things and most of them are irrational. I realize this. And yet, here we are. My pop culture pariahs. Everyone’s got ’em. Go on, tell me yours. (I showed you mine…)

The funny thing is that now I’m finding myself sticking up for all of the things that people hate.

What’s so bad about Gwyneth Paltrow? Who cares of James Cameron wants to shout that he’s the king of the world? Joshua Tree is a kick-ass album. And don’t even get me started on Garden State (which is a great movie) and Zach Braff (who is my spirit animal) and The Shins (who sing one of my most favorite songs to ever be — Pink Bullets)

Which brings me to the selfie stick. Which my Italy trip and I will defend FOREVER.

selfie-stick

 

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  1. I love James Cameron. And Zach Braff. And you make a good point about the selfie stick. You can see so much more of the background rather than just yourselves! i didn’t even think about that before. I just saw a guy videoing himself in a colour run and thought it was the most ridiculous thing ever. And I guess you can get more people in the photo that way, can’t you? Ok, I’m on board.

    Comment by Jen Wilson on May 13, 2015
  2. I totally admit that sometimes they look ridiculous. But I’m telling you, we got some amazing shots and didn’t have to worry about giving someone our camera and trying to communicate in Italian (which we don’t speak) I will treasure these pics forever! I have no guilt at all!

    Comment by ali on May 14, 2015
  3. Logic!

    Comment by Jen Wilson on May 14, 2015
  4. I totally want a selfie stick! For the same reasons!

    I feel like I have a soft spot for all these things! I mean, I’m sure there are plenty that I hate, but I will continue to drink all the wine and love all the things and think that some people are just the WORST! 🙂

    Comment by Kristabella on May 14, 2015
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