Doechii stood on the Grammy stage, gripping the award like she was still convincing herself it was real. The crowd roared, but for a moment, it all faded. She wasn’t here by accident.
In the age of TikTok and Instagram, Gen Z has turned self-expression into a shopping spree, quickly becoming known for their obsession with aesthetic trends, often broken down into “cores.” But what happens when your self-worth depends on what “core” you identify with? Let’s take a closer look at how these micro-trends are reshaping identity and driving a dangerous cycle of overconsumption.
Regardless of the items, collecting is an action fundamental to the human experience. Why do we collect and what does it say about us? I fell down a deep rabbit hole pondering over this question and I am happy to share my findings with you.
Images and videos flash before your eyes until one catches your attention: your friends at a bar, seemingly having fun. You see lots of smiles, but there’s one thing missing—you.You declined the invitation to that outing a few days prior, and right when the anxiety is supposed to hit, you feel nothing.
