After discussing the internet’s obsession with Nicolas Cage and cult films, I became very interested in the topic. Nic Cage has been put into the category along with Nickelback, Crocs, Internet Explorer, Comic Sans, and sometimes Miranda Cosgrove. I was introduced to this obsession through tumblr, which is an ironic affinity for these things. Here are some images that sum up this pseudo-fan base.
I believe a lot of this obsession stemmed from the unsaid but widely accepted belief that Nic Cage and Miranda Cosgrove are not serious actors and Nickelback is not a good band. I’m not saying that is right or wrong, but I think many people agreed with the comedic value of categorizing these aspects of society that no one really likes and associating them with one another. This group could be so easy to make fun of that it became a huge internet joke. Crocs are constantly made fun of, Internet Explorer is a notoriously bad internet browser, Nic Cage is eccentric and an easy target, and as the star of iCarly, Miranda Cosgrove may be easy to tease as well. Put all these things together and the internet goes crazy.
Personally, I never understood the obsession or knew where it came from. How did hundreds (maybe thousands) of internet users agree to make fun of these things? Who decided this? It’s similar to a meme: no one knows where it really comes from or how it catches on, but when it does it spreads like wildfire. When I was first introduced to this combination and tumblr’s ironic admiration for it, I found it funny because I myself would never give any of these products a second thought, but when a group of people categorized them together in a satirical manner, I was able to appreciate it and tease it a bit myself.
To me, this relates to the concept of cult films. These movies may have flopped in the box office, but somehow a large group of people found value in these movies and chose to celebrate them. Napoleon Dynamite was the first cult film I was introduced to. I thoroughly enjoyed how it didn’t take itself too seriously, did not really have a solid plot, and was weird enough that it was humorous. After the movie spread, “Vote For Pedro” shirts were sold everywhere and people constantly quoted the film. What made this one more popular than movies that try really hard and fail completely?
A more recent example would be the Sharknado series. Rotten tomatoes gives the movie an 82%, with the review that the film “Proudly, shamelessly, and gloriously brainless, Sharknado redefines ‘so bad it’s good’ for a new generation.” After watching it, I was one of the people that let go of reality and just enjoyed the film for what it was. Chainsawing a shark in half? Sure. Finding your fiancee’s severed hand (engagement ring included) inside the stomach of the shark you were trapped inside of? Why not? It was so ridiculous it was the talk of the town. I celebrated the second addition to the franchise. The producers of the sequel set up a Twitter poll allowing fans and viewers to choose the subtitle for the second film, to engage the cult following. What was the result? “Sharknado 2: The Second One”. That made it even better! The third film has already been announced: “Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!”
I think cult films and ironic obsessions with movies, actors, products, bands etc. are a breath of fresh air in a society where we tend to take things too seriously. We don’t agree on much, but many of us can agree that there’s humor in poking fun at objects present in our everyday lives, something we can all relate to. Almost all of us have seen/heard of Crocs, Internet Explorer, etc. It is harmless fun and a very interesting cultural phenomenon.
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