.

On May 29 in the Louvre Museum a climate change protestor smeared cake on the Mona Lisa while dressed as an elderly woman. He was able to sneak a cake with the help of the wheelchair that he used as a part of the cover. His initial idea was to firstly break the bulletproof glass and then proceed to smear a painting but that didn’t happen... The French activist said that his intention was to force people to think about the planet and people who destroy it.  To be honest, it’s hard for me to understand how destroying a famous painting with a cake is supposed to help save the planet. I get the message “think of the earth” was to mean how we are all getting upset over a beloved painting instead of worrying about climate change. But I can’t say that I support what he did. His idea of promoting environmental awareness isn’t what anyone is going to remember about this incident. source: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/mona-lisa-cake-attack-paris-b2090236.html...

 The new virus monkeypox has been spreading for a couple of weeks in different parts of the world. It is proven that the illness originated from Africa and it spreads quicker than doctors and WHO have accepted. But the good news is that a virus isn’t deadly or hard to overcome. However the main goal for WHO right now, is to control the outbreak of monkeypox and try to stop it as a whole.  At the time when most people thought that the pandemic had stopped, the new virus appeared. We have really bad luck, don't we? Although, there are zero cases in Poland (for now) it’s only a matter of time when it comes to us. And after 3 years of dealing with coronavirus, I’m just hoping that people will act properly. As for now people should educated themselves, listen to doctors and do not trust false information which is spreading all over the Internet (which suggested is a gay disease) source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/28/monkeypox-outbreak-could-be-just-the-peak-of-...

The #MeToo movement has been receiving a pretty noticeable backlash since the start of the Amber Heard and Johnny Deep’s trail. Suddenly, the so-called imperfect victim, as people like to call Heard, now became the number one public enemy. In the trial, in which Deep is trying to save his good name some pretty heavy executions come up which are serious for both parties.  The #MeToo movement was and still is so revolutionary and pivotal in our society. So it’s disgusting to see what it’s happening at the moment. Even though people tend to take Deep’s side and treat him as some kind of godly creature, he is still human and so is Heard. They both made some mistakes and now they’re taking responsibility for it. But in my opinion nobody should be allowed to have a voice in the matter and say that Heard is lying and she deserves everything bad in the world. Female accusers are still treated as if they are lying and this case shows how much more learning people need to have. source: https...

In the 1973, US made abortion legal. And, now the supreme court wants to push a ban of abortion across the entire country. This happening caused more than 300 pro-choice protests . And even though a clear majority of Americans support an abortion, some of the states has already created ban on it (ex. Louisiana - they would charge women with murder if they end their pregenecy) It’s unimaginable for me that abortion is still considered a murder or is taken away form women who lifes can be at stake. I was especially surprised that a country like the US, which is synonymous with freedom, now struggles with dealing with this matter. In my opinion, it’s inhumane to take away this choice from women and it's even worse to listen to privileged men talking about it. I believe that the key for this “problem” is a proper education about an abortion ( for everybody ) and to finally listen to each other without judgement    “ When abortion is illegal, women die. Forced motherhood is fe...

The toy company Mattel has released a Barbie version of the Queen. The doll pays a tribute to the platinum jubilee and also celebrates the monarch's 96th birthday. And since the release there have been quite divided opinions about the doll.  The article states that the harmless toy became a true representation of the lower class women’s position in the UK . I would agree to some extent with the author. I believe that the doll serves as a reminder that being born to a wealthy and white family is a privilege. And people should remember that even though the Queen is privileged, she still has a hard job to do. She also didn't have a choice to which family she was born to. So in a way she is a good role model to younger people. But making a doll which represents a national treasure of the UK just seems off and unneeded.  source: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/queen-jubliee-barbie-mattel-feminism-b2062393.html

One of the most famous paintings of the even more famous artist Andy Warhol’s portrait of Marilyn Monroe (1962) will go on auction in May in New York. It is estimated for £150m and which will make Andy’s painting the most expensive 20th century artwork ever auctioned. In addition, the artist will become the greatest artist of the modern age therefore beating Pablo Picasso.  Personally, I consider Warhol as one of my favorite artists, so it’s hard for me not to be biased. I believe his artwork deserves to be valued highly. He was able to grasp a modern idea of art which can exist at the same time as the vastly-changing world of the 60’s, 70's and 80's. Also, people like to make little of his artwork into simple pop art, but he was a thinker, who lived way before his times. And the way that he changed the perception of the public about an artist in the culture is just remarkable. source:https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/apr/13/yours-for-200m-how-warhol-overtook-picass...

The well known British rock band Pink Floyd has collaborated with Ukrainian singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk, on their new song Hey Hey Rise Up. This the first songs which the band has produced since their split in 1985. Moreover, the proceeds from the song are going to the Ukrainian humanitarian relief.  In my opinion, it was a high time for musicians to take a stand for the Ukrainian cause. They can reach people through artistry like no other news outlet. Helping those who need help and collaborating with the person who had the first hand experience of the tragedy, is so powerful and pivotal at times like this. I believe that music can express so much more than words, especially through lyrics and melody. Pink Floyd should be taken as an example for others’ musicians, especially those in America, which haven’t done anything „special” involving Ukraine cause. source:  https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/07/pink-floyd-reform-to-support-ukraine

 Many people were expecting the Oscars to take a stand about current political issues in Ukraine. One of those people was the actor Sean Penn (previous academy winner). He said publicly that he expects The Academy to give some air time for President Zelensky. If that doesn’t happen, he will melt his Oscars, as a sign of protest directed at the Academy.  We now know that the Academy did a bare minimum in the matter of the Ukraine- Russia war. The gala lasted three hours, in which only at the end there was a moment of silence. On the screen appeared tile cards about Ukraine and that was it. The hosts didn’t pay enough attention to the war, let alone the winners in their speeches. It was like nothing was happening in the world besides American issues. Letting this pivotal opportunity to slip by and losing the chance to educate and share awareness about the most important topic right now was a huge mistake on the Academy's part, which I hope will not be forgotten. source:  ht...

A new showcase study has been conducted about the presence of the plastic in the human blood. The results showed  (for the first time) that in the human bloodstream we can find a staggering number of 5 different types of microplastic. And the doctors are saying that plastic can enter our bodies not only in our food, and drinks but also in the air.  I don’t think we realise when something so innovative for the 20th century-plastic- could become one of the main reasons for the bad state of the environment. And now for our health. Everything that plastic has to offer is widely spread across the world, so it would be impossible to cut down it completely. So, it was inevitable for it to be in our bodies. What I’m most concerned about is that doctors don’t know how much plastic is too much. And what the future will hold for us if we don’t find the answer. source: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/human-blood-microplastics-pollution-environment-b2043751.html

The Oscars season is now on the rise. The Academy is well known for biases towards the movies which are the winners. And the article tackles the issues of the last winning screenings which haven’t aged well. Due to their problematic and questionable plot. I’m a huge movie fan therefore I stopped supporting the Oscars a long time ago. It’s no longer a secret that they are corrupted. Most of the voting judges are white, old ,biased males. They are choosing the winner not because of the movie but what they can get from it. Movies which are creative and different don’t get the same recognition. I get the feeling that now it’s not about the craft and the message of the movie. I believe that nominated films should be thought provoking, original and have every quality that the Academy is ignoring source: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/oscars-2022-winners-problematic-movies-b2033549.html

The first MacDonald’s opened in Russia 32 years ago. It was a sign of a new beginning for the Soviet country - the end of the cold war and the start of a better life. But now, the MacDonald’s is leaving (temporarily) to show their support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.  I believe that the article tackles a crucial matter which we are seeing right now, but it also adds some backstory for the whole picture. As probably the entire world knows by now, Putin is not the biggest fan of the West. He wants Russia to be powerful, more self-proclaimed, independent etc. But in my understanding, you can’t be all of these things in a modern society by doing things on your own. Russia is not that different from other countries. Russians have also tasted “the West” and now it’s unimaginable to get rid of all of this stuff. It is like going back 32 years back and living in an entirely different world - without changes, growth and truly becoming an outcast. source: https://www.theguardian....

In the Ukraine-Russian war a new threat came into play - radioactive Chernobyl. This highly contaminated exclusion zone is a new target for the Russian military as their base and connection to Kyiv. The environmentalists are petrified of the consequences of this occurring. As for now, the radiation readings are rising because of the stirred up dust caused by tanks.   I thought it could not be any worse than it has already been, but it is. It’s now becoming more and more apparent that the Russian President doesn’t care about anything. In 1986 when the Chernobyl disaster happened some many lives were sacrificed for our survival and better future. And for what? The zone is still dangerous, and it’s the threat for the entire continent and the future of our planet within the still visible issue of climate change. Nobody in the world should think that they have a right to do such a thing and to put humanity in jeopardy only to win a useless war. source: https://theconversation.com/m...

 Facebook has limited access to the platform for many Russian’s news outlets. Their reasoning is to prevent the spreading of false information and propaganda which harms human rights. The decision was made a day after Russia’s attack on Ukraine. And since then, and I quote: Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor accused the network of "censorship" and violating "the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens".  It’s the first time in our history when we have access to such an inclusive communication platform as social media, while a huge conflict is taking place. And with that comes a lot of responsibility to everybody and especially news outlets and journalists. So, I believe Facebook is doing a huge favor to Russia and stopping them from adding more insult to the injury. If Russian politicians blame Facebook for blocking their “truth” they are simply admitting that what they are doing is wrong and unethical. source: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-605...

 I had a discussion with my friends about clothes and the culture that surrounds it. And during the conversation one topic in particular was quite controversial. It referred to men’s clothing as not fashionable (in general).  This is without the doubt a true statement. In my opinion, the popular clothes, the most common ones that men wear are praised for being fashionable. And the truth is, they are simply basic. Men just have lower standards put on them by society. Example: formal wear – man can have one black suit and wear it for every event and he’s considered put together, but woman has to buy new dress for many events just to fit the standards and to prove her appeal. And I’m not saying that all men dress basic, there are many male fashion icons but as a society I guess we should consider more room for equality in fashion the department between all genders.

I started watching Old Hollywood movies, from the 50’s and 60’s. I’m impressed by how aesthetically pleasing and fascinating those movies are. But while watching them I was interested in actors’ real lifes aside from a movie set. And I came across an interesting pattern. Most of the time, when I search for an actor’s name the only pictures that will come up will be them at a young age.  In most cases I thought that those people weren’t alive or died at a young age. It was harder to find their present pictures. It’s like they are being completely erased as older people despite them being still alive. I think the idea of being ageless is so deeply rooted in our culture, but we need to accept that we are going to age. It’s amazing that people are more afraid of aging than death. This desire to remain young will increase in the next few years and the outcome will be interesting to say the least.

One of my Christmas presents was a calendar in table format. It’s covered in drawings of flowers and butterflies. It’s pretty… But I wasn’t expecting to get one of these. I don’t want to lie but the last time when I had a calendar in a paper format it was probably 2011.  Even though I don’t use a paper calendar, I still gave it a shot. And I don’t understand their popularity. They are collecting dust, and they aren’t practical. Mainly, because of the size of my calendar. It’s pretty small, so I don’t have enough space to jot something on it but still I wouldn’t like it. The whole calendar would be unreadable. I think people forget that the calendar on their phones is way more practical. When you are on vacation or simply not in your house you would have a serious problem. And the most important part of it all is that people wouldn’t contribute to deforestation.

Every time when December comes around, there is a booming of Christmas movies. Nearly every one of them is about facing hardship and embracing love. There is little variation. Although Christmas is about being optimistic and spreading cheer, we can’t ignore the repetition in these movies. In my opinion, the predictability in the plot and the monotonous remakes aren’t using the full potential of the given subject.  Honestly, I don’t remember the last time when I saw a good Christmas movie. Every year, me and my family watch the same old classics “Home Alone” and personally my favorite “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. Those movies are timeless, and they have an original and engaging storyline. I tried to give a chance to the new ones. And I was met with disappointment. They are pretty much all the same and please don’t get me even started on the Netflix Originals movies – don’t recommend that. Let's wait for another year and maybe then something new will come out. Fingers crossed. ...

 No matter where you live in the world, you are well familiar with popular Christmas songs. Like, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey, “Last Christmas” by Wham! or “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Johnny Marks. And the most fascinating thing about all of these kinds of songs is that we don’t get sick of them. Despite them being played so many times.  I think the big part of this phenomenon is nostalgia. Music brings good old memories back, that makes us feel joyful and excited for the upcoming festivities. Also, we don’t usually hear them all year round, or we don’t have a need to put them on during the rest of the year, so in a way they carry special place in our hearts. And I would say that over the years, they became in some way a Christmas tradition that you can’t ignore.

I’ve recently come across an interview with Adele in which she was promoting her new album “30”. And she said something that I found really intriguing: “If everyone is making music for the TikTok, who’s making the music for my generation?”  So basically, for the last 2 years music from TikTok has taken over the music industry like no other app. Now it’s not necessarily the music which blew up on TikTok is trending, but musicians put out new music which is meant to be “TikTok friendly” (energetic with high tempo and danceability) And it’s working because most of these songs you can hear on radio, or they are number 1 on the charts. In my opinion, most of them are generic and shallow but there are some gems. Self-made singers who with the help of TikTok were able to show off their music. Either way, I can still understand why Adele said what she said, and I think it’s good that she spoke about it. 

During the weekend, I received a message about my class going on a one week “break” because of a covid case among my peers. It means remote school for 5 days and mostly spending time at home.  Nobody at my class expected this to happen, mainly because of the fact that we’re all vaccinated. Of course, I’m wishing all the best to a person who is sick. But honestly, no matter how bad it will sound, I was waiting to go on this break. Not even for a particular reason, but just to have a couple of days to gain more motivation. My initial reaction was a wave of relief. And in some unexplanatory way, I kind of missed having school at home. Especially when it’s so cold and gloomy outside. Also, the whole situation made me realise how I longed for online classes, even though they are not necessarily good for me as a student. What a bummer…