These online articles both concern the movie To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, but while one offers a thoughtful reflection, the other should never have been written at all.
Title: ‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’ Has Creepy Racial Things Going On
Author: Oxford Kondō
Source: Plan A Magazine (via Medium)
Link: https://planamag.com/to-all-the-boys-i-ve-loved-before-has-creepy-racial-things-going-on-ad513e4dd470
In this article, Kondō offers logical and clear explanations of how the movie contains problematic content. He closely analyzes the book and movie and includes outside information that strengthens his argument. For instance, Kondō references related casting issues in the movie The Sun is Also A Star, demonstrating to the reader that the issues with this movie are representative of larger social problems. It reads like an informal literary criticism. Rather than attacking the film outright or using inflammatory language, Kondō explores possible explanations for the root causes of the movie’s failings. And while “creepy racial things” is strange and informal, the title provides an accurate depiction of the actual content of the article. (“You’ll Never Believe This Hit Movie Is Actually Racist” or “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Has a Dark Secret” spring to mind as alternatives with more shock value but less accuracy.) Readers may or may not agree with Kondō’s argument, but the article is overall beneficial because it causes its audience to ask critical questions about race, double standards, and pop culture.
Title: Kate Middleton’s odd connection to Netflix rom-com To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
Author: Zoe Forsey
Source: Mirror
Link: https://www.mirror.co.uk/film/kate-middletons-odd-connection-netflix-13174418
This article has only one purpose — to get clicks and generate money from ads. The title preys on the reader’s curiosity, referencing a popular movie and a famous royal that the majority of people will recognize. The idea of a connection between such dissimilar things makes people inquisitive, and many people who don’t even really care about either Kate Middleton or this movie will click just to find out the answer. They have to scroll through most of the article (past multiple ads, of course) before the disappointing reveal that Middleton’s university is mentioned in the movie. It’s not new. It’s not interesting. It’s clickbait, pure and simple, and it’s harmful not because it spreads false information but because it wastes the reader’s time. Clickbait competes for attention and often wins because it uses misleading titles and cheap tricks, but it doesn’t offer anything in return. There’s absolutely no information in this article, and that isn’t a responsible use of media.
