JUNE ‘25
curated by Jahrell TeodoroDirected by Gregg Araki
The film “Mysterious Skin,” directed by the inspiring filmmaker Gregg Araki, is a coming-of-age drama released as an indie film in 2004. The film, known for its rawness and representation of the alienation generation, resonates deeply with me because of how it dives right into the complexities of childhood sexual abuse, and how it is coped with differently. The representation of sensitive themes gives this film a sense of authenticity as it presents them in a way that impacts the audience, leaving a lasting impression as the film progresses.
Watching this film countless times and studying the journeys of the two main protagonists, Neil and Brian, as they grow into young adults, this film is a perfect exploration of how identity and trauma challenge the ideas about memory and sexuality, especially in the context of childhood trauma that regresses the personal growth of the two characters. It also examines how those who were inflicted with that abuse further cope with it as they age.
Through Neil and Brian's journeys, where Neil can not forget this trauma, whereas Brian is trying to piece together what happened to him as a kid through suppression, it takes a deep dive into the layers of trauma and how they cope with it. The film shows the audience how Araki’s raw, poetic language can accentuate the themes depicted in the movie in an uncomfortable but comfortable way.
Photographed, Edited and Directed by Anthony Nguyen
This photo series, ‘Guilty Pleasure,’ crafted by Anthony Nguyen, a photographer and creative director based in LA, photographed a series that captured the sense of teenage rebellion by exploring the casualty of everyday pleasure. Looking through these collections of photos, I found it inspiring and admirable as each image perfectly depicts the temptations and emotions that young teenagers experience and face through their day-to-day lives. From substance use to partying, and even to sexual intimacy, many of the themes captured by Nguyen offer a glimpse into their mind, where the media tends to glamourize and romanticize these experiences, further influencing the younger generations.
This project made me feel a sense of nostalgia, and for some reason, I started to reminisce. In my early years of perplexity, disobeying rules for my selfish benefit, and having vulnerability of teenage rebellion, all these feelings came flooding back in a rush. It made me realize how personal, yet universal, my experiences are because everyone has a complex life just like mine. The candid imagery set by Nguyen creates a story that reminds the audience about the cultural norms we face and the youth defiance that seeks that authenticity. Through his photography, he showcases how these cultural norms stifle self-expression. Youth culture deserves to be seen from all perspectives, the good, bad and ugly.
It makes me fall in love with how art in any form can create something seen as chaotic and degenerate, be something so beautiful, as we get a glimpse into that lifestyle that others may not understand.
Directed by Coralie Fargeat
Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the 2024 horror sci-fi film was another piece that resonated deeply with me. The film starts out with a fading celebrity, Elizabeth Sparkle, who yearns to be brought back into the spotlight, to be glorified again. However, as she ages and is deemed not beautiful enough, she gets offered this injection, and things take a nightmarish turn.
To me, this film focused on a theme I found quite interesting: the perception of beauty. The Substance portrays beauty and repulsion, where it challenges the traditional standard regarding aging. This standard constantly distorts how other societies perceive what is beautiful or not and makes them consider their identities and sense of worth in a culture that highly favours people who are deemed “beautiful”. I deeply enjoyed this film, and it resonated deeply with me in terms of how I see myself and put into my creative work. For me, symbolism is really big in my writing. Having that rawness, like Araki or Fargeat, gives so much flavour and allows the readers to fully immerse themselves in my writing. Being able to challenge these stereotypes allows me to see them from all perspectives. I want my work to resonate with my audience and leave a lasting impact on them to think about.
Media as a whole is something that has become so popular and so important. In this day and age, it shapes our lives and determines how we and others may view our lives and the world around us. As someone who constantly digs themselves into many different forms of media, the media acts as a mirror. It reflects our reality, often giving access to young adults a space where they can have a voice or a platform. However, with all that media has to offer, it often pressures youth culture. Having that constant exposure to curated lifestyles, dealing with the never-ending trends, and adhering to unrealistic expectations or idealized standards can become overwhelming for young adults.
With an audience that still has a developing brain and cannot comprehend how little it may affect them, the media plays a big role in the lives of young adults, which is why it is so important to give youth culture that authentic representation. It’s like a duality where the media is complex. Its impact can be empowering to people, and spark that creative freedom; however, it can also misshape our perceptions of the world and dig people so deep into a loophole of “what-ifs,” and their perception of themselves that they cannot find their way out.