The arts are a mirror. As times have changed and culture along with it, the projects and focuses of the entertainment industry have changed to reflect them.
In particular, one way our favorite movies, shows, and music have adapted is by including the “real life” experiences that were previously left out. Where movies were dismissive of different identities, now they have expanded their casts. Where songs painted a gilded image of the good life, now they are more raw and real. Where shows a few decades ago were insensitive to mental health struggles, now they weave them in in a way true to real life. These are big steps forward and something that many viewers and listeners find cathartic and relieving; seeing your intimate struggles portrayed on a screen can make you feel seen and recognized.
Another genre of entertainment that I notice has emerged is things that are meant to simply be a source of joy– and goodness knows we all need it! One song that went viral on Tik Tok recently was Stephen Sanchez’s “Until I Found You,” a song he wrote and produced to feel like it was made for love, contentment, and good old-fashioned slow dancing in the kitchen. What could be more smile-inducing than that?
Ted Lasso is a show that leaped straight into the hearts of all who pressed play. With the title character, Ted Lasso, being a kind, caring, and genuine individual invested in the lives of his new team, it’s hard not to be inspired by his speeches and silly jokes.
Though they may not be thought-provoking or the highest quality of movies, I can’t help but love a good Hallmark production. When things get stressful, it’s comforting to see the familiar arc played out in some cozy town where there is always a happily ever after. Rom-coms, family movies, and old classics fall into this same category for me, as they are all a cinematic warm hug when I need to see something a little less gloomy than what’s in my head.
The feel-good genre may not be making any big moves, but it does offer a window into something brighter when a mirror isn’t what you need at the moment.
Find that simple, guilty pleasure movie or song that lets you breathe a little bit when it comes on and play it shamelessly. You deserve it!