10 Things that I love and even I declare being a sucker for…

You know what I really, really hate? Create labels for groups of people.

That’s right, when it comes to classify people for their tastes, beliefs of whatever, It just sickens me. Why people call you a hipster just because you hate extremely popular things? You are no different than a guy who loves following trends and “apparently” doesn’t like to think like an “individual”. Even that word makes little sense now. In this world nobody is unique when it comes to things that people enjoy like movies, shows or any kind of entertainment.

“Being number 1It's like being number 16, only even more people kiss your ass.”
-Kurt Cobian

For example, If I were a fan of Star Trek, the last thing I want is people referring to me as a “Trekkie”, because when that happens, people associate me with stupid, dated and unoriginal stereotypes that you see in shallow 2-dimensional TV series like the Big Bang Theory (By the way, I don’t hate that show, I just found it too formulaic sometimes), and because of that, I refuse to use labels like Trekkie, Metalhead, Hipster or Otaku, partly because I’m not any of these things.

But that does not mean that I hate everything in this world. I also love things like movies, shows, music and food. But I don’t want to annoy everybody around me shouting my devotion to those things. I want to enjoy it by myself instead of try to convince the others, and that’s why I have certain disdain for people who use labels as a form of identity. If this world were a Sitcom, those people would be poorly-written characters.

Now let’s move on to the main theme of this post: The things that I love the most and I celebrate in a list.

10-Create lists: Surprising, Huh? I´ve always been organized when it come to classify things in order to indicate what are my favorites. Not because I want the people know what I prefer the most, I just like the concept of create a competition between my favorite things. It makes me appreciate the stuff I love even more.

9-Documentaries: Either Infotainment or serious investigation, documentaries are the most enjoyable form of learning that I had. It’s so admirable the way that filmmakers use this medium to not only educate and inform, but also create art. For example, when you see a documentary about sea creatures, the magic is in the way they film by showing us the beauty, inviting us to be part of this experience while we learn about it. Like in a movie, the same way you create a story with characters you supposed to believe can sympathized with, it’s how you connect with the things showed in a documentary.

8-Gothic Artwork: A lot of people like to think that gothic is a person who always talks about the pain or how cruel the world has been done. Or I think those were the emos, I’m not sure. But the thing is that when it comes to art, the gothic style is awesome. The way they create a dark, depressing environment that, for the most part is based in dark colors, sharp forms and blurry backgrounds is so nice to watch. In fact, when I was a kid, my favorite Disney movie was “The Hunchback of Notre dame” because the gothic art style in the music, the backgrounds and the story. The same thing I can say about Tim Burton’s movies.

7-90’s Cartoons: First I thought it was nostalgia, but then I realize that I’m too cynical for that. I mean, it’s not only the fact that is something from the past, but the way these people managed o get away with a lot of stuff that in previous decades would have been unthinkable. The reason I mention this, is because when you grow up, your sense of humor changes. And things you found funny in the past now are just simple memories, but when you re-watch a 90’s Cartoon, and if you’re a 90’s kid like me, you realize that the jokes that you don’t get it or don’t found especially funny are hilarious now. Like the cartoon grew up with you and create a feeling of confidence between the followers and the show.

6-Juvenile Humor: I don’t consider myself the most sophisticated person in the world, but I do not consider a fan of Happy Madison productions either. I just love juvenile comedy whet it’s done right. I like shows like South Park who relies in off color humor the same way I like to read books about other cultures. The main reason I defend this kind of comedy it’s because makes people laugh hard. And just like Charles Chaplin said: “A day without laughter is a day wasted”. And if you try to deny that jokes involving shocking value made you laugh your ass off, then you’re a phony. But, it’s not just the humor, but also the way it’s used. When you make a penis joke, can be funny the first three times, but it gets old really quick. But if you use it in a context that generates a specific reaction, the joke gets more value.

5-Alternative Rock: Again, beyond the nostalgia, it’s the way these people connect with their followers. Either the grunge with their heavy sound and sad lyrics, or the Brit pop with their catchy tunes and optimistic attitude, the rock in the 90’s managed to gave an entire generation a reason to be alive in this world. The way they challenged the conventions of rock n’ roll, and their fight against the domination of the mainstream over their music, a lot of them reacted in their own way. Some of them broke up, some just decide to change the system entirety while were famous and some others just release what they want without thinking in what the others would say. DIY.  

4-Stanley Kubrick movies: This man was so cool that I needed to get him his own category. I don’t how he did it. There’s something about the way he directs, the angles he use, the long shots that create an uncomfortable atmosphere that is so unique that you can guessed that is Kubrick by watching just one scene. And the writing, it’s just perfect. Everything about the plot, the characters and the resolutions are so cold and calculated that makes you feel like you were there, not as a character, but as Kubrick himself. I’m a sucker for Kubrick’s cinematography.

3-Experimental films: When a movie goes beyond that just entertain you, but also challenge you to accept unpleasant realities through the strangest ways imaginable, you came across with an experimental film. A type of movie that doesn’t care what you think about it, a film that creates his own world, his own rules and invite you to reflect about anything. I love this kind of movies because their sense of self-reflection. It’s like finish in a place that you’re not supposed to be, where you live a changing-life experience and survived. That’s the experience I enjoy the most. I know that other people don’t like it because they prefer to see movies as simple entertaining, and that´s fine, no problem with that. But if you ask me, films must be an entertaining and unique experience, and the most unique and entertaining thing that comes to my head in moments like those are experimental films.

2-Meta jokes: If there was a reason to put “create lists” on this list, it’s because the more Meta my humor is, the more I feel that I’m evolving and moving forward. Everything it’s laughable in this world, even the comedy itself. That ubiquitous way the comedy works allow so many possibilities for all the funny people out there. Meta-humor it’s not restricted by standards or rules of comedy, it creates their own style while pay homage to others, and in the same time it mocks them. The reason I love Meta humor it’s because creates a sense of self-awareness about us. It’s the way we can comprehend the world and try to improve ourselves. Philosophical, cynical and self-referential, the Meta-humor is our biggest accomplishment as human beings.

1-Internet Reviewers: And just when I though there was nothing funny or original about the Internet, I came across with a man called Nostalgia Critic, with the premise of analyze films, making fun of them to entertain the millions of anonymous users that praise cynical dark humor combined with social interaction with the entertainer himself. There’s a lot of Reviewers like him, so go and check it. You won’t regret it.

And that was my list of things that I love. I hoped you have enjoyed and good night and take care.