As I write this, it is in the midst of a multitude of collective crises and personal life changes as a full-time student teacher. One thing that I have learned to be true is that I need to take breaks when I can or else I will suffer from severe burnout. Real breaks. “Doomscrolling” on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook in bed is not a break. Doing revisions on a lesson plan is not a break. These things are hard for me to disengage from when I am not actively attending to other things that are school or work related, yet they still tax my brain in a similar way. Being ADHD, it can be hard to slow down without falling asleep, and simply sleeping does not always prevent burnout as I feel like I have no time for myself. For this reason, I typically try to watch a calm or comforting movie or show and eat a small dessert before turning in for the night. I know that the last time that I made a post like this, it was for specifically LGBTQIA+ content. Some of the recommendations below do fit the bill for that, but I did expand the criteria for this post to current media that has been making me feel good lately. tJoe Pera Talks With You (2018-present; Available on Adult Swim, HBO Max, and Hulu) Joe Pera, a fictionalized version of the real-life comedian played by himself, has a soft-spoken and sweet albeit mildly off-beat charm about him. It is a stark contrast to the often chaotic, obscene, and absurd animated series that air on Adult Swim. The series is set in a small Michigan town in which Joe is a middle school choir teacher who narrates his life and inner thoughts. Some episodes are simply about his day trips to get breakfast at a diner or shopping for groceries, though a loose narrative is woven throughout the series. After my partner suggested it to me, I found myself quickly becoming attached to Joe and his loved ones through the most mundane things that occur. The first season has far fewer highs and lows than the second season does, but a lot of subtle build up is done to get there. I would say that the third season is a nice blend of the first two while also having its own unique and unpredictable traits about it. Most of the episodes are nice to rewatch or have on in the background while I do other things, such as “Joe Pera Talks You Back to Sleep.” In that one and many others, Joe tends to go on various tangents which are supported visually onscreen, providing almost an ASMR-esque effect since his voice is very soothing. Even when more complicated situations occur around him or even involving him later on, at no point was I afraid that something too mentally taxing or traumatic would occur. I would definitely recommend checking it out sometime if you want to try something that’s a little different and sweet. Our Flag Means Death (Premiered in 2022; Available on HBO Max) I will try my best to convey how and why I love this series so much currently without spoilers, but it was the ways in which it surprised me that won me over. Though I have been a lifelong pirate fan as well as having viewed Taika Waititi’s work favorably in the past few years, I was reluctant to get too excited over the idea of Our Flag Means Death at first. Between the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and the series Black Sails, mainstream media involving piracy piqued my interest enough, but never left me feeling all that intrigued or satisfied. (The exceptions to that rule were the children’s films Hook and Muppet Treasure Island, of course!) In my view, Waititi and his team took everything enjoyable from what had already been done and then proceeded to also subvert many narratives. Race, sexuality, gender, and class are not shied away from and affect the ensemble of characters in different and intersecting ways, making them relatable and whole. People of color navigate the racism of the mainstream society they are criminals in, multiple main and recurring characters serve as solid LGBTQIA+ representation, and those from different socioeconomic backgrounds exchange perspectives. These factors could be troubling to some viewers, but I found that this series was surprisingly trauma-informed in its handling of many of the characters’ stories. While the series is mostly a comedy and does that well, the way in which the characters all handle trauma from the hardships in their lives is a major part of the first season. Watching some of the interactions between friends and lovers, some of which were previously rivals, was surprisingly beautiful to watch play out! I have very high hopes that this series will not disappoint in the future, which isn’t something that I get to say often!
Their songs from my childhood included “No One” and “Rush,” though “Chemicals React” was my favorite since I’ve always been a bit of a romantic. Eventually, years passed without me having thought about them entirely. This wasn’t out of spite, but instead for probably thinking that either I had outgrown them or that they stopped making music. Goodness, I was wrong about both! Under serendipitous events, one of my best friends invited me to their concert during my spring break and I all too happily obliged! Naturally, I took to relistening to some familiar tracks from my childhood while also discovering plenty of newer content. While the duo did take a hiatus for a few years, they had a comeback in 2015 and have been actively recording and touring since then. Most of their newer work is mellow and heartfelt, while other tracks are more like experimental EDM. A few of my favorites that I found in preparation for the concert are “Pretty Places,” “Slow Dancing,” and “Joan of Arc On The Dancefloor.” Once the time of the concert rolled around, I knew that no matter what they played, I would have a great time. Again, my expectations were blown out of the water! The environment of the concert was remarkably inviting and warm. I credit that largely to Aly and AJ as people and who they draw to their shows. To my luck, they even threw in a few songs from their Disney days, which caused many of their fans to either go wild or tear up (myself included). Beyond the music, they also took time to openly support and encourage those attending to donate to the organizations the TREVOR Project and To Write Love On Her Arms. In my view, these two have held up well for over a decade and I don’t think that it is due to nostalgia alone. If you haven’t heard of them before or, like me, haven’t revisited their work in a while, I would highly recommend checking them out!
- Bek
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January 2024
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