The culture staff’s “hot takes” of 2025

2025 Spotify Wrapped will be even worse than last year

Dylan Paradise, Staff Writer

Spotify has captivated its users for years with Spotify Wrapped, a culmination of each user’s listening history that highlights top artists, songs and overall vibes of the past year. However, listeners were incredibly disappointed to find that their 2024 Spotify Wrapped was a hopeless mashup created by A.I., a clear example of the corporate trend toward extreme A.I. usage. Spotify Wrapped is supposed to represent a personalized recap of something that many people hold dear — their music — that gives them fond memories to look back on. Instead, users were overwhelmed with buzzwords like “pumpkin spice strut-pop vibes.” As A.I. continues to develop and become more integrated in all facets of technology, I fear we are losing an essential personal touch, especially among huge corporations like Spotify. While I do not have high hopes for Spotify Wrapped this year, I, among many others, will still be waiting dutifully to see how my listening stacks up to last year’s.

Taylor Swift’s latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” wasn’t all that

Kelly Kowalewski, Staff Writer

From country tunes to pop, it’s no secret that Taylor Swift has kept a chokehold on culture and the music industry. As a former Swiftie, I am disappointed in how she has turned out as an artist. Instead of surprises, authenticity and a compelling story to tell, her sound is now repetitive, tone deaf and hard to love. Since this album showcased more of her “showgirl” persona, living in the light of fame, I was really hoping her rebrand would change my mind on her recent albums. Still, no matter how record breaking “The Life of a Showgirl” was, the underwhelming lyricism will never compare to her peak music from the 2010s. Instead of writing and performing about relatable experiences, this was her chance to let fans and new listeners in on an attempt to understand a reality that is specific to her. Swift has revealed that she will not be going on tour for this album, as she is “so tired,” which may be the best move for her. Swift has lost her authentic charm that once made her music so successful. Her music is bland, basic and baffling to listen to, considering her history of musical expertise and success.

“Materialists” was one of the top movies of the year

Maxine Van Nortwick, Senior Staff Writer

Director Celine Song’s newest movie, “Materialists,” released on June 13 with a star-studded cast of Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, yet didn’t receive the praise I felt it deserved. The movie highlights the perils of modern dating and redefines what a romance movie can be — a refreshing break from past disappointments like “Anyone But You” — although that’s a hot take for a different day. The characters aren’t perfect, but they are distinctly human and take on engaging arcs throughout the film. Song gives a truthful critique of today’s ways to find love and the courage that dating takes, especially in our modern consumer culture. I found Zoe Winter’s portrayal of Sophie to be an Oscar-worthy performance, focusing on the dangers of womanhood and the aftermath of assault, a heartbreakingly honest depiction that many movies about dating avoid. Song wrote a movie about the business of love and the heartbreak of life that should have received more praise, and that I believe should be hailed as one of 2025’s best films. From the performances to the writing to Japanese Breakfast’s closing song, “My Baby (Got Nothing At All),” “Materialists” was everything I wanted in a film and deserves a slew of Oscar nominations. 

Labubus are ugly and not worth the hype

Cassie St. John, Staff Writer

Pop Mart’s Labubus are plush dolls that have become the latest fad of consumer culture, as adults and kids alike try to collect the different monster-like toys. The Labubus, while undeniably popular, are not worth the excitement that surrounds them. While typically considered to have an “ugly-cute” design, the plushies are just flat-out ugly. The doll bears a creepy, toothed grin and menacing eyes that stare into your soul. Their exterior is fuzzy, giving the appearance of an animal, but they have human-like faces, making the doll a weird human-monster hybrid. The look of a Labubu genuinely scares me, and I find no sense of comfort, compassion or joy when I see them. The monster plushies are only so popular because everyone treats them like this one-of-a-kind toy that everyone must have. People want them for the sole fact that everyone else has one — they don’t actually care about the product. Labubus are just another fad that will eventually fade away and be forgotten, like so many other trending items like whipped coffee and pop-it fidget toys. Labubus are unlikable creatures that are a part of an unethical consumer culture, and people should be spending their money on more quality products.