ARE THEY HELPING YOU? by Meg Severino

This piece delves into how Western culture affects and inspires how contemporary Asian youth think. The artwork's references liberate self-expression for Asian women by playing on the growing popularity of the stereotype of “toxic femininity” online.

One of the piece's references is Portrait of a Young Woman in White by Jacques-Louis David, the famous cover art for Ottesa Moshfegh's novel My Year Of Rest And Relaxation. The novel’s protagonist is a trainwreck you can't help but watch.

Other key references include the dry-witted fictional television character Fleabag, the “sad-girl” personas of musical artists like Lana Del Rey and Mitski, and nihilistic female characters Lain Iwakura from Serial Experiments Lain and Lux Lisbon from Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides.

While the characters in these references may be perceived as insufferable, they are also cathartic outlets for pressure-cooker systems that Asian families often foster. We resonate with them as they are flawed, emotional, and human; because we were taught not to “rebel” in the ways that they did, it is relieving to see fictional characters live out that anger.

“Girlfailures” and “unhinged women” are phrases growing on popularity on social media. Yet these characters possess an unexpected sense of fearlessness that makes us feel seen as human beings.

@c0okiejarred