This week on The Deep Dive: Representation and a much-needed change in gymnastics, the good news is that parents these days are doing way too much and the bad news is that parents these days are doing way too much, why today’s comedy movies aren’t even funny and apparently don’t have to be, how one lamp can cost three different prices, and speaking of childhood magic, what happens when corporations are allowed to advertise in a make-believe world?

Let’s help Fadi AbuTaqiya’s and his family evacuate Gaza. The offer still stands – if you donate at least $10, reply to this email with your receipt and a video essay category of your choice, and I’ll send you a personalized recommendation from The Deep Dive’s archive!

SPORTS

is gymnastics becoming a black sport? by amandamaryanna (26:02)

In 2012, Gabby Douglas was pivotal in shattering a glass ceiling for Black gymnasts, and since then, the sport has only become more diverse, with its biggest stars today displaying undeniable levels of innovation, skill, hard work, performance, and talent. Like, I don’t even need to explain to you that Simone Biles is literally in a league of her own – and that’s just one member of Team USA. But where there are successful people of color, you’ll find thinly veiled racism from establishment figures complaining about the “loss of artistry” their beloved sport once had. The thing is that gymnastics has lost an air of this so-called artistry since the 1970s – and it’s all thanks to a springy Eastern European teenager by the name of Nadia Comăneci. In this video, amandamaryanna explains what’s behind this much-needed change in one of the world’s most popular Olympic sports, the importance of representation, and the barriers that still make gymnastics inaccessible to so many today.

CULTURE

The dangers of manufactured childhood magic || Motherhood In Progress by Ashley Embers (26:16)

Why does childhood magic these days feel so manufactured? For some parents, it’s the result of keeping up with the Joneses through Pinterest, mommy bloggers, and social media highlight reels. For others, it’s a fear of their children becoming bored. Whatever the reason may be, parents today may be inadvertently preventing their children from finding the magic that is inherent to childhood – and putting way too much pressure on themselves in the process. In this video, Ashley Embers gets to the heart of elaborate balloon-arch birthday parties and Elf on the Shelf (as if moms didn’t have enough to do during the holidays). How does the constant competition to create the most fantastical childhood ruin the “villages” mothers would otherwise rely on? And to what end? Are adults interrupting their children’s imaginative play when they join in on the “fun”? And how can children be expected to find their own path out of boredom if they’re taught to rely on their parents to entertain them at all times?

A Sneak Peek at The Rabbit Hole:

June 2, 2024: How Video Essays Ruined (Saved?) My Shopping Habits

If you’ve been paying attention to the videos I’ve recommended for The Deep Dive recently, you’ve probably noticed an underlying theme in many of them: “capitalism bad,” to put it simply.

I had my fair share of criticisms of capitalism long before I started The Deep Dive, but I’ve only gained a more holistic understanding of the economic system that governs every aspect of our existence since making the decision to dedicate many, many hours to watching these videos every week. If I’m being honest with myself, this has officially destroyed my relationship with an activity I would have once called a “favorite hobby” of mine: shopping. Please refer to The Rabbit Hole post “Authenticity Sells” to read more about my relationship with hobbies.

I know – shopping can only be characterized as a hobby in a system that prioritizes profits above all else, but there was a time when it was very important to me. Until fairly recently, I felt the most myself when I was regularly buying new things to wear. I hate to admit it, but I even sometimes struggle now with this new version of myself that has developed a distaste for overconsumption and constantly being in step with the latest trends.