Pop Culture Pulse Sep 2024: Dopamine Menus, Black Myth: Wukong, & Analogue Alphas
Our Pop Culture Pulse is a monthly download of the buzziest cultural developments, emerging fandoms and audience trends. This month, we investigate the joy-filled dopamine menus on TikTok, the appeal of smash-hit Chinese AAA game Black Myth: Wukong, and the strategy behind A24’s new picture book of movie recommendations for Alphas.
Social Media & Internet Culture: Dopamine Menus & Fighting Brain Rot
Gaming: Black Myth: Wukong & ‘Soulslike’ Complexity
Entertainment: A24’s Print Film Guide for Alphas
TikTok is filled with posts about creating dopamine menus – personalised, often handwritten lists of low-lift, intentional activities designed to generate hits of happiness. Rather than being the latest iteration of internet culture’s rampant toxic wellness, these lists are positioned as anti-‘brain-rot’ devices, helping people click off, “touch grass”, and re-engage in life beyond their feeds.
TikTok is filled with posts about creating dopamine menus – personalised, often handwritten lists of low-lift, intentional activities designed to generate hits of happiness. Rather than being the latest iteration of internet culture’s rampant toxic wellness, these lists are positioned as anti-‘brain-rot’ devices, helping people click off, “touch grass”, and re-engage in life beyond their feeds.
Summary
Social Media & Internet Culture: Dopamine Menus & Fighting Brain Rot | TikTok is filled with posts about creating dopamine menus – personalised, often handwritten lists of low-lift, intentional activities designed to generate hits of happiness. Rather than being the latest iteration of internet culture’s rampant toxic wellness, these lists are positioned as anti-‘brain-rot’ devices, helping people click off, “touch grass”, and re-engage in life beyond their feeds. |
Gaming: Black Myth: Wukong & ‘Soulslike’ Complexity | China’s first ever AAA game, single-player action role playing game Black Myth: Wukong (BMW), has become one of the most successful new releases in recent years, selling 10 million copies in its first three days of sale in August. A milestone for China’s international gaming reputation, the game’s high difficulty level and punishing environment signal strengthening appetites for challenging entertainment. |
Entertainment: A24’s Print Film Guide for Alphas | American children and teens spend an average of 84 minutes a day streaming content on YouTube (Statista, 2023). In a bid to expand kids’ entertainment consumption beyond the algorithms of streaming platforms – and to enrich their media literacy – American independent production company A24 has released Hey Kids, Watch This! – a printed illustrated film guide tailored to children and their families. |
Pop Culture Pulse Sep 2024: Dopamine Menus, Black Myth: Wukong, & Analogue Alphas
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