2012, here I come!

Now that we are almost a week into the new year, and as we wait for the holidays to make their prolonged exit and things to get back to normal, Carli’s Angels wants to give you something fun to chew on.  Enjoy loves, like I am my brie and diet coke.

As the year came to a close, many a media outlet was making attempts to cleverly synthesize all of the happenings in 2011.  The world experienced natural disasters, political upheaval, increasing pharma, etc.  The New York Times created a list of '75 things New Yorkers were talking about in 2011’, and by New Yorkers they mostly meant the Western World.  They likely cannot help their egocentrism so we can just let that one slide ;)

I noticed something while looking through this entertainment-meets-culture-meets-human-interest compilation: while there seems to be a very weak connection between the death of Bin Laden and Qadaffi and breakout movies like Bridesmaids, there was a cohesiveness to 2011 that cannot be denied.  The common thread seems to be a ‘fed-up, back to reality’ attitude, and what a breath of fresh air indeed. 

After a decade of war, Bin Laden is finally captured and killed.  While it’s hard to imagine that finding the most infamous man in the world in a relatively limited area could be such a feat, America and Bin Laden’s own people—tormented for years under his reign—have finally been granted that closure.  In our own political arena, the recent Iowa caucus results strongly hint at the desire to move away from a dual party system.  Ron Paul is the closest thing to a third-party candidate that has stood a likely chance of winning the nomination since what? 18blahblah…I’m no classical historian, but I know enough to realize the weight and excitement of his success for a country that keeps being promised change only to see regression if anything.

Art imitated life for myself and the rest of the nation in 2011.  The biggest movies of the year were all underdog stories that showcased the power of the human spirit.  Kristin Wiig was already the embodiment of modern physical comedy and self-deprecation for the sake of humor.  And then she was so believable as the late 20s/30-something trying to push through all of life’s setbacks to find the happiness she deserves.  Charlize Theron played a similar, albeit darker role in Young Adult; if you haven’t seen it yet I strongly suggest you do.  Theron’s climactic outburst in which she calls the wife of the man she’s still in love with after 18 years a ‘f**king bitch’ and then tells her she’s joking and sarcastically mocks her sweater, classic.  If someone has to look ‘unstable’ to mainstream society in order to express their frustration, it’s probably worth it.  While people may pretend to be shocked, the majority adores this behavior.  It’s natural and cathartic, and perhaps honesty and relatedness is what has been lacking until recently.  

Take the most popular new sitcoms for the 18-35 demographic: Two Broke Girls and New Girl.  Zooey Deschanel may have been trying too hard, okay she totally was but at least she isn’t Blake Lively.  Emma Stone gets my vote for best real girl/role model/talent of the year, because more than ever there is a premium placed on authenticity.

Stay tuned, because tomorrow I’m bringing you a Memphis-spin on 2011 and where it brings us for 20twelve. Xoxo