BITES // 12.05.19 // THE ART OF SURPRISE
Every month we collect six of the best pieces of content published on the web and share them with you, because we believe that the most extraordinary thinking is inspired by looking to unexpected places. BITES is a reading list for those who want to bring a little of the outside, in.
1. AN ADORABLE ENIGMA, BABY YODA IS
No character has risen to Internet superstardom and meme-ification quite like “Baby Yoda,” the extremely cute, Yoda-resembling infant from Disney+’s The Mandalorian. The unexpected introduction of Baby Yoda created a swell of intrigue and theorizing across the online universe, as up until this point, Yoda’s origins have always remained shrouded in mystery throughout the Star Wars saga. The creators of the series worked hard to keep Baby Yoda under wraps prior to the show’s release, with the hope that the reveal would surprise & delight viewers and amplify buzz around the show. Although it can be a risky gamble to withhold information without a guaranteed payoff, it goes to show that when done right, positive surprise can be elicited from fans who are least expecting it.
2. COFFEE INTRIGUE
What happens when we partially conceal visual information for the purpose of creating intrigue? In the case of Basic Coffee, a new third-wave coffee shop in Beijing, removing visual distraction can arouse curiosity and bring a greater sense of appreciation around the sensory experience of coffee. By hiding certain visual stimulus within the interior and exterior, “orchestrated movements of drinking coffee” are highlighted in ways that we wouldn’t otherwise see. By design, the shop is tastefully manufacturing positive surprise at every pour (and every sip) by suspending our expectations and creating a space for customers to notice the little details.
3. HIDING LIKES FOR GOOD
Instagram’s new rollout of hiding likes is yet another example of withholding information, but in this instance, to create a more positive social media experience. The move is intended to make the so-called “public grade” a mystery in order to reduce social comparison on the platform. When others can’t see how many likes you’ve received, it removes expectations we place on ourselves for what we should / shouldn’t post based on how many likes it will (or will not) garner. By removing these expectations, it could help us be more in the moment and less planned with our posts, freeing us to be more authentic, unfiltered, and even surprising in our expression. Time will tell if this move will help improve the emotional connection between Instagram and its users, too.
4. TO REVEAL, OR NOT TO REVEAL
We can all agree that spoilers suck, right? Well, there’s an argument to be made (with research to back it up) for why spoilers can actually be good! We typically despise spoilers because we don’t ask for nor expect them; it takes the control out of our entertainment experience by robbing us of the joy we get from speculating, guessing, and being surprised. However, some people embrace spoilers because it gives them a sense of personal control knowing what’s going to happen, and can help increase their enjoyment of all the events that happen prior to the final outcome. For those who have anxiety around “not knowing,” it alleviates the potential for negative surprise. So, what makes a spoiler negative or positive may really come down to the psychology of the individual- how we anticipate and respond to surprise.
5. FLOG NAHHHHH
What happens when the novelty of a “mystery headliner” backfires? In the case of Tyler the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival, it did just that. By dangling a secret performance in front of people’s eyes, the public started to speculate and write their own narrative of who it could be. Many signs and rumors led back to Frank Ocean; nearly everyone in attendance had it set in their mind that it was going to be Frank. The result? When one of the biggest stars on the planet came out to perform (cough, cough Drake), he was booed off stage simply for not being who people wanted him to be. In this instance, a spoiler may have helped avoid a case of negative surprise, so attendees could adjust their expectations and enjoy the show for what it was.
6. SHELTERED FROM SURPRISE
Out with FOMO, and in with JOMO (“Joy of Missing Out”). These days, millennials are finding joy in cancelling plans and opting in for nights of “self care” i.e. Netflix, Postmates, and facial masks. So when did “staying in” become cool? Quartz reporter Sara Todd puts some thought to why millennials are becoming homebodies, and it may be because this generation is becoming more surprise averse. They’re learning to find meaning and value in the mundane, where expectations will be met, never underwhelmed or exceeded. It begs the question — is being a homebody a bad thing, or could it just be a way of managing surprise and finding contentment in the routine?
TAKEAWAY:
The world is full of unavoidable surprise. How we manage our expectations can determine whether a surprise lands on a positive or negative note. When our expectations (or lack thereof) are met or exceeded by reality, we feel positive surprise. When reality falls short of our expectations, the surprise can be rather unpleasant. As we move forward into 2020 with new goals and aspirations, remember to be kind to yourself in how you set and manage expectations. Being in tune to how we ourselves respond to surprise, and anticipating how others might respond to it, could be the difference between a viral sensation or a letdown; a pleasure or disappointment.
