Halloween, Gen Z Humor, and being #ChronicallyOnline
Double, double toil and trouble! Halloween décor may still feature cackling witches, black cats, and howling ghosts, but this common whimsical imagery of October’s spookiest holiday no longer translates to costumes – at least for the masses.
Once traditional Halloween garb (pirates, princesses, and pumpkins, oh my!) cowered against costumes tailored to pop culture references a decade ago but today, mainstream outfits for Halloween night (and weekend) have taken on a new life. Costumes, like the wearers, reflect the ever-present Internet culture that has folded seamlessly into our lives and reframed our sense of humor, and minds.
Whether you call it being chronically online, or a victim of ‘brain rot,’ this year’s most viral costumes need a particular sense of humor to understand. Instead of seeing a parade of Wednesday Addams or vampires, you may see multiple Rayguns, the infamous Australian breakdancer, Timothée Chalamet ala SNL ala Troye Sivan, or even Moo Deng, Thailand’s slipperiest celebrity.
@voguemagazine By the way, if you plan on being #TroyeSivan for #Halloween ♬ original sound – Vogue
Takeaways
You must be fluent in Internet speak, or have a Gen Z friend close by, to understand the unique sense of humor that has inspired the looks of Halloween 2024. Retailers like Spirit Halloween and Amazon seemed to have access to a magic ball when predicting the memes that would rule this season but even with that, creativity knows no bounds when it comes to online references.
Halloween is now a digital-first holiday. The noticeable shift to social media-savvy costumes reflects a desire for attention and exclusivity. Oh, you don’t understand that the person in the neon green bat mask is actually Brat-man, as inspired by Charli XCX’s Sweat Tour? You must not be in on the joke, or culturally relevant.
While the evolution of Halloween fits may be confusing, trends in well, costume trends, have always been part of the holiday. Homemade faded into store-bought, scary turned to sultry. It’s still cool to dress up as Glinda or Elphaba from Wicked, but dressing up as Stephen Nedoroscik’s pommel horse (the apparatus, not the Olympian himself) is much much cooler.
At the end of the day, Halloween is an opportunity to play pretend as someone or something else. Staying chronically online aside, holiday goers should dress for confidence, whether that be a deeply layered meme or an iconic figure. Retailers and accessorizers can do their best to predict what abnormality will be trending for the year’s go-to costume, but no matter what, no outfit is too basic or wild of a choice.
Written by: Lauren Champigny
The Washington Post faces pushback for presidential endorsement heel turn
The upcoming presidential election looks to be one of the most consequential (and divisive) moments in US history, with dire warnings of the dangers of a second Trump presidency casting a pall over a race that pollsters view as a dead heat. As a result, The Washington Post made headlines last week after its publisher and CEO William Lewis made the decision not to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, prompting subscribers to cancel and staff to resign.
Takeaways
While The Washington Post claims that its decision marks a return to its pre-1976 roots of non-endorsement, the timing implies other motivations (or fears). Doing so despite the outlet’s detailed reporting of the risks of a Trump presidency amounts to a betrayal of established precedent at a time where the nation’s trajectory may be decided by a small portion of the electorate. After years of warning the public that “democracy dies in darkness,” lacking accountability at a time like this is akin to turning off the lights.
Written by: Joe Birdsall
Will New Theme Park Kickoff Epic New Era?
NBCUniversal has recently begun selling tickets and taking resort reservations ahead of the opening of their latest theme park endeavor, Epic Universe, at the Universal Orlando Resort.
@universaldestinations JUST ANNOUNCED: Five immersive worlds. One amazing theme park. Universal Epic Universe opens 2025 at Universal Orlando Resort. #EpicUniverse ♬ original sound – Universal Destinations
Scheduled to open just before Memorial Day 2025, the theme park will feature rides and attractions based on popular entertainment properties ranging from Harry Potter and Nintendo to How to Train Your Dragon and classic Universal Monsters including Dracula. The latest entry from Universal kicks off another chapter in the so called “Theme Park Wars” between Universal and the industry leading Walt Disney Company.
Takeaways
Disney has enjoyed a clear edge over its top competitor. According to a report from TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index, Disney owns the top four most visited theme parks in North America and eight of the top 10 most visited theme parks in the entire world. In 2023, Disney World welcomed over 48 million guests to Orlando while Universal welcomed less than half with 19.7 million customers visiting its properties.
However, shifting consumer priorities and preferences coming out of the pandemic have observers wondering if Epic Universe might finally help break through the Disney dominance.
Disney has no question built an empire in central Florida with its four theme parks, two water parks and more than 25 resort hotels featuring some of the most well-known intellectual property and attractions in the world. The opening of Epic Universe and supporting hotels brings Universal’s total to three theme parks, a water park and 11 total resort hotels. It’s clear Universal is serious about competing in the region and taking the fight directly to Disney.
The opening of a new theme park in Orlando is not only an exciting time for theme park fans but also an exciting time for marketing professionals keeping a close eye on how the rivalry unfolds in the coming years and any larger trends that can be identified.
The added capacity from a new theme park should help Universal see a significant increase in attendance at its Orlando Resort. What remains to be seen though is if Disney World sees a decrease in attendance at its parks. This might indicate consumers are cautious and have a limited travel budget to work within and have to choose one resort or the other. A decrease in Disney World attendance might also be an indication that consumers are growing tired of their offerings and the well-publicized costs of a Disney vacation and are looking elsewhere for newer and more cost-effective experiences.
With the countdown to opening day on, we’ll see if it’s truly the start of an epic universe for Universal.
Written by: Michael Nothnagel
Hollywood and the World of True Crime
Decades after their life sentences for killing their parents, Lyle and Erik Menendez might get a second chance at freedom. Renewed interest from Netflix’s true crime series and a documentary, along with celebrity support and shifting views on abuse victims, have reignited their case. Could Hollywood’s spotlight lead to their release?
Takeaways
The potential resentencing of the Menendez brothers is a positive development that underscores the powerful impact of media and public opinion on the justice system. Hollywood’s renewed focus on their case demonstrates how storytelling can drive meaningful change and influence legal outcomes. It’s a hopeful reminder that our society is capable of change and that the voices of many can make a difference in the pursuit of justice.
Written by: Lauren Johnson
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