Deep Dive: The new Tik Tok trend, Wes Anderson and Asteroid City.
Anyone who’s got the habit of poking around the Instagram reels feed would’ve noticed a new reel trend in the past two weeks or so. The “accidentally Wes Anderson” trend, as named by the internet, is perhaps the most aesthetic craze yet and has now taken social media by storm. The trend started when Ava Williams shared a clip with the caption “You better not be acting like you’re in a Wes Anderson film when I get there,” followed by an Anderson-style title card and a series of quick, very symmetrical shots depicting a simple train journey, set to a track from Alexandre Desplat’s soundtrack to The French Dispatch. And of course, countless social media users have jumped on the wholesome trend, with plenty of similar (and similarly delightful) videos doing the rounds online. Some of us might have a question now, who is Wes Anderson? What’s so special about his aesthetic that everyone is so keen about? And also, WHY NOW?
So yes! I’m here with answers to all these questions. Let’s first get to know about Wes Anderson, the legendary American filmmaker. He’s got 10 films to his name, currently the most popular being The Grand Budapest Hotel and the French Dispatch. His films are known for their eccentricity and unique visual and narrative styles. They often contain themes of grief, loss of innocence, and dysfunctional families. Cited by some critics as a modern-day example of the work of an auteur, three of Anderson’s films have appeared in BBC Culture’s 2016 poll of the greatest films since 2000. Anderson has been noted for extensive use of flat space camera moves, symmetrical compositions, knolling, snap-zooms, slow-motion walking shots, a deliberately limited color palette, and handmade art direction often utilizing miniatures. His films always had a cult fan following, and the announcement and trailer release of his all-new work, “Asteroid City” has got his fans all pumped up.
Now, let’s move on to Asteroid City, the (gonna be) newest addition to his filmography. Asteroid City was announced by actor Bill Murray at the London Film Festival in October 2021 and is set to premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in May 2023. This is Anderson’s most hyped project yet, with a humongous star cast including Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie, Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston, among others. Asteroid City follows the transformative events that occur at an annual Junior Stargazer convention in 1955. The trailer screamed out how ecstatic the shots would be. The whopping sets and the overall setting seemed exceptional. Wes Anderson fans are waiting for this absolute treat to be released in June, and there’s every reason for them to be. This excitement of his fans for the release of Asteroid City has made the social media trend gain the momentum it has got now, and even though I’ve seen hundreds, the thirst to see more of them is still irresistible.
So yes, I guess that’s about the social media trend, why it has gained popularity now all of a sudden, Wes Anderson and Asteroid City. I, being a huge Anderson fan, hope that the movie comes out well and satisfies the two-year-long wait!
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