A zeitgeisty time capsule of words

I stole the idea for the I Thought About That A Lot essay collection from The Cut’s now defunct feature with a similar name. In it, writers described a ‘private meme’. That is, every piece was centred around something that had little to no impact on most folk, but through a combination of unique personal experience and wider societal context was stuck on repeat for the writer. They then explained the lasting impact it has had on the way they’ve lived. I liked that.

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For example, one writer obsesses over the part in The Little Mermaid when Ursula mutilates a sea creature and – nonchalantly and in two dexterous, underwater swipes – paints her lips red with its innards. The writer joyfully credits the sea witch with shaping their devotion to lipstick. Another writer, with a deeply religious upbringing, more earnestly attributes her commitment to “living fearlessly” to the impact that Britney dancing with a seven‑foot Burmese python at the VMAs had on her 8‑year‑old self.