The worst men you know say it about Patrick Bateman. For a manic pixie dream girl, it’s a Fiona Apple song. When you find that piece of media, character or niche thing that resonates with every fiber of your being, it’s not just self-identification — it’s “literally me.” If you’re itching to learn more about who we are at the Arts Desk beyond our beautiful headshots and bios, check out one of these recommendations. They’re the closest you’ll get to seeing into our souls.
BuzzFeed Video
A part of me died when writer and actor Quinta Brunson announced she left BuzzFeed in 2021. As a deeply annoying, chronically online person, my dream job circa 2016 was being a BuzzFeed Video producer — to me, its Los Angeles office was Disney World. I’ve wasted at least a year’s worth of watchtime obsessing over The Try Guys trying drag or Ladylike painting with their period blood, and I don’t regret a damn thing. I knew the entire staff by name at one point, resulting in maladaptive daydreams where I’d cruise around with Steven Lim and Andrew Ilnyckyj to see what restaurant price range was “Worth It” and return to terrorize my coworkers with the Samyang Buldak 2x Spicy ramen. At the height of BuzzFeed’s channels, everyone was a closeted comedian eager to test the limits of the corporate card, and as someone with a still-kicking Snapchat private story and an immense ego, I know I would’ve done numbers on there.
— Dani Biondi, Arts Editor
Charlie Kelmeckis from “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
Allow me to dampen the mood for a moment. When I first read, and later watched, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” my middle school self felt represented by Charlie in ways previously unimaginable. Beyond his appreciation for The Smiths and close bond with his high school English teacher, Charlie’s adolescence, as troubling as it was, felt like a mirror image of my own. I also had mental health struggles, an enormous amount of angst and a crippling obsession with Emma Watson. While I like to think I’ve let go of at least some of my more pretentious and neurotic qualities, the film version of Charlie’s story still sits in my Letterboxd top four because I can’t help but feel like I’m watching myself every time I hit play.
— Skylar Boilard, Arts Editor
Martin Kratt from “Wild Kratts”
I grew up loving superheroes and school, so it’s no wonder I loved “Wild Kratts.” The educational animated PBS Kids series follows a fictionalized version of zoologist brother duo Martin and Chris Kratt as they save the animal kingdom using creature power suits that allow them to mimic animals’ abilities. Fighting villains like evil CEO Zack Varmitech and unethical chef Gaston Gourmand with passionate altruism and badass superpowers, Martin’s tenacity mirrors my own. But I most relate to him in his role as an older brother: The enthusiastic way he exchanges quips with Chris reminds me of the snappy rapport my own younger brother and I share. What’s more, his transformation into a lion, my favorite animal, is sick as hell. As a blond-haired, blue-eyed animal lover myself, I look up to Martin Kratt to this day.
— Leo Field, Film & TV Editor
“Solar Power” by Lorde
Maybe it’s not flattering to compare myself to Lorde’s most critically panned album, but I’ve felt a deep kinship with the misunderstood, sun-kissed record since its 2021 release. Exploring the seasons of life through escapism, “Solar Power” romanticizes the beauty of the natural world across tracks like “Oceanic Feeling” and “The Path.” As someone who’s spent a good portion of life quietly existing in sand and oceans, the album captures that exact feeling with maturity and poise. From critiques of modern wellness culture to lingering existential dread, “Solar Power” manages to bring to life thoughts I’ve always had but never had the ability to express. And yes, I still wish every day I could “throw my cellular device in the water,” just as Lorde invites us in the title track.
— Amelia Knust, Music Editor
Disney reprises
My high school yearbook quote was “Never let them know your next move,” so if there’s any concept that represents me, it’s the Disney reprise — the comeback that gives you chills when your guard is down. A reprise is a reuse of a previous song with adjusted lyrics that reflect how the story advances, ranging from emotional shifts to devastating plot twists. Take “Mother Knows Best (Reprise)” when Mother Gothel reveals she’s been evil all along, or “For the First Time in Forever (Reprise)” where Anna and Elsa are fighting and then bam — Elsa accidentally strikes Anna with ice. You never really see those moments coming, even if they were subtly foreshadowed 50 times before. That’s the way I like moving through life: sprinkling a little spontaneity here and there to keep people on their toes. If life is a performance, then I am Belle, Moana and Ariel powerfully singing the reprises that spice things up.
— Rhea Kohli, Fine Arts Editor
“UNHhhh”
My purpose in life was to be given 15 minutes to monologue about a random topic and interrupt anyone who tries to get a word in — just like drag queens Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova in their YouTube web series, “UNHhhh.” And the similarities don’t end there! Like Trixie and Katya, I am also gay, incoherent and frequently looking a mess. Want to hear what I have to say about doll hoarding or walking children in nature? You’re in luck, mama, because I don’t need a blonde wig or questionable fashion choices to talk your ear off. I have watched all 229 episodes of “UNHhhh,” and have thus reached a level of delusion where I consider Trixie and Katya my close personal friends and will pause the video to get my two cents in, too. Make no mistake: If I were a drag queen in my late 30s, I would be sitting right between the duo in front of their iconic green screen for a truly generational kiki.
— Chantal Mann, Performing Arts Editor
Contact the Arts desk at [email protected].