Together alone.

Humans are a weird kind of being. We want so much to be different, yet crave so much to be the same. We thrive to find our own identities, then search for others that also have similar identities. We want things that are just edgy enough to be cool, but still acceptable. It all resolves around the idea of "Accept me for who I am."

After reading Predictably Irrational I started to think a lot of the concept of uniqueness, especially in American Culture. The idea that we need to prove that we are our own selves tot he people around us. I find this idea very interesting, especially looking more into how it conflicts with the human need to be in groups and to have companionship.

It is very ironic that after reading the book and looking more into these concepts that I stumble across a video explaining it very well.

The Innovation of Loneliness

It focusses on the idea that as humans and following our need for companionship, we crave social media because it makes us feel connected, sometimes to hundreds and thousands of people. But are we really capable of maintaing that amount of relationships? According to the video, no. But we try. We develop our profile to create out ideal self, and unique individual, but then strive for other to "like" us and accept us, or at least what we want the world to see us as.

It is driving American society into a deeper loneliness than every before. How can this be considering we are the must connected generation ever? Probably because while we are connected, are we really making a connection?

And the Oscar goes to...

Upon the announcement of the Oscars winners, our local movie theater rereleased three of the most nominated/winning films: Gravity, Dallas Buyers Club, and 12-Years A Slave. All of these films have been out of theaters for about three months, so this got me wondering. How much do Oscar’s nominations increase the amount of money a film makes?

I found the answer in a article entitled Oscar for “Best Picture” Worth Its Weight In Gold (http://abcnews.go.com/Business/oscar-best-picture-worth-138-million-box-office/story?id=22668321). It showed that two of the most nominated films, Gravity (originally released in Oct. 2013) and Best Picture winner, 12-Years­ A Slave increase their sales by an extraordinary rate the week after nominations (Gravity increased 358% and 12-Years­ A Slave increased 415%).

Studios typically try to capitalize on the awards buzz by releasing their films into more theaters. Gravity rereleased in over 800% more theaters after its 10 nominations were announced. But other films, Wolf of Wall Street, Her, and Philomena reduced the amount of theaters in which they were playing. This also ties into the films original film dates. American Hustle and The Wolf of Wall Street both released during the prime Oscar nomination time, Christmas. Though, because they were originally released so close to the Oscar announcements, and there was already a buzz around these films before their release, the nominations did nothing for their sales

I will admit, I personally fell for the rerelease tactic, watching Gravity in 3D on the big screen and I am so glad I did. That film should be watched in no other way and, in my opinion, was extremely deserving for every Oscar in won.