Consume Art (Q1 2026)
A Collage of Cover Art from the Art Discussed Below
I began 2026 with a feeling I could only describe as a deep and insatiable need to consume art. 2025 was a difficult year for many, myself included, and when the post-holiday rush of a Maine winter came with a dark existentialism, I remembered that the best coping mechanism I had was art. Exhausted from the previous year, I was experiencing what I call a creative deficit. To create, one must be brimming with inspiration, but when the first week of January rolled around, I wasn’t inspired. I was just tired. Thus began my journey to intentionally consume more art, and today, I want to share some of my favorite pieces I discovered in the last few months.
TELEVISION AND FILM
I feel like it was just yesterday when BoJack Horseman came out, but in reality, it premiered eight years ago. The show was lauded for its realistic portrayals of mental health and its absurdist-baked dark comedy. Initially, I wasn’t interested in watching it. I’m generally not a fan of main characters who don’t show growth, and Bojack is stuck in a cycle of bad decisions. However, I decided to watch the show because of a side character named Diane. Her arc as a writer who struggles between joy and duty really resonates with me, and unlike BoJack, her depressing beginnings were not also her destination. Her portrayal towards self-growth and healing is slow, imperfect, and deeply realistic. Plus the show is a masterpiece in referential humor, and probably taught me a thing or two about crafting comedy. The Hollywoo bit starting in episode one is a perfect example of how smart and funny the show’s writers are.
I found the 2024 film Thelma scrolling through a bunch of movie recommendations on reddit, and I am so glad I watched it. The movie pulls on classic action tropes and adds a comedic twist with the protagonist being a 93 year old woman, who fell victim to a phone scam. Her journey for vengeance had her rolling through the city on a mobility scooter and me rolling on the floor laughing. It’s such an endearing and light-hearted look at heavy topics such as aging and losing autonomy.
BOOKS AND GAMES
Bloody Rose is the sequel to Nicholas Eames’ first book Kings of the Wyld, which I read years ago. I loved his first book and was absolutely inspired by how intentional his writing was in it—even the jokes would pay off later. Bloody Rose helped me get back into reading chapter books. The chapters are relatively short and always end in a cliff-hanger to give the illusion of fast pacing. However, I didn’t recognize the same level of intentionality in the writing as I did in its prequel. In the last 100 pages in particular, I would read through a dozen pages and think, despite the writing style, not much really happened. The concept, worldbuilding, and characters are all top-notch between both books though and has inspired me in some of my own character creation. I recommend the book to anyone who loves Kings of the Wyld, and I highly recommend Kings of the Wyld to anyone who loves fantasy.
I’m slowly working my way through Don’t Nod’s games. They’re a studio famous for publishing games with rich narratives and impactful player choices. Life is Strange, which I mentioned in my post about why choice matters in narrative games, was developed by them. The latest game I played is Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, a love story complicated by tragic death during the witch hunt in New England. The blend of historical realism with the supernatural creates an experience that left me feeling grounded in and curious about the world. Anthea, the dead love interest, is playable before her death and after, making her feel like more than another female character killed to advance a man’s storyline. Ultimately, between choosing to bring her back to life or let her pass on, I chose the latter. I feel like it’s the decision she wanted most, but that didn’t stop me from shedding some tears at the end.
MUSIC
I discovered a new music duo named Haute and Freddy through their debut album Big Disgrace that came out in March. Their general vibe and sound reminds me of Chappell Roan, and the music is so fun. Dance The Pain Away and Shy Girl are two of my most replayed songs off the album.
Melanie Martinez also dropped a new album, Hades, which I didn’t expect to become immediately obsessed with. The album played like a hit list with every song like a carefully crafted bullet. She turned rage into art, mixing societal commentary with her own special brand of absurdism. My repeats from this album are Possession and White Boy With A Gun.
Finally, Paris Paloma has been teasing her listeners with new singles over the last few months. I started listening to her last year, falling in love with how her music portrays the female experience. Good Girl has never been more relevant as I am constantly bombarded with unwanted ozempic and weightloss ads. Then she dropped Miyazaki, a love letter to all artists with a clear anti-ai statement. I won’t lie, I cried a bit. The song is incredibly moving, voicing things that have felt too vulnerable for me to say out loud about my relationship to art and my fears regarding it during these challenging times.
What art have you been consuming lately?