During the Chinese New Year, the happiest thing is to eat and drink in the bright, and you can enjoy yourself without thinking about tedious things for the time being.
If you want to sum it up in one word, then congratulations, you have entered "goblin mode".
It was recently selected by the Oxford Dictionary as Vocabulary of the Year. Simply put, it is an advanced version of "lying flat". Isn't it very in line with the atmosphere of the New Year?
The official explanation for "Goblin Mode" is: "self-indulgence, laziness, sloppiness, and no need to be sorry in a way that rejects social norms or expectations". To put it bluntly, you can be yourself freely without catering to the eyes and standards of others.
It is called "goblin" because in European folklore, the goblin story is mostly about fighting for some rights for himself. Although it is a little self-centered, it is not evil, and it is a bit like the real life of ordinary people.
Oxford's Word of the Year, which coincides with 2022, is the result of the first ever vote of 340,000 people. It competed with "metaverse" and "I stand with you", and rode the dust with 93% of the votes, which can be said to accurately express the public's thoughts.
And most importantly, the goblins don't look bad. In addition to appearance, because I live underground for a long time, I wear rags to meet the most basic physiological needs.
In sharp contrast, "That Girl" is still popular in 2021, the hottest on social media. Everyone loves a delicate girl like Mrs. Maisel. Seeing the video clip of Mrs. Maisel measuring her figure every day and never removing her makeup in front of her husband, her eyes still shine.
The "Goblin Mode" in 2022 is almost entirely the opposite of "That Girl".
In Goblin Mode, girls are allowed to wear a pair of pants they've had since 10 years ago, have their hair tied up casually, have ash on their faces that haven't been washed overnight, and eat takeout without brushing their teeth.
Its emergence stems from the factors of the times. After experiencing forced isolation, perhaps everyone has tasted how presumptuous people can be at home. Home clothes became overalls, our coffee tables became makeshift desks, and we began to prioritize physical comfort over appearance.
And, more importantly, after a few years, everyone has become a little tired of overly idealistic things. Instead, I feel that this simple and authentic way of life is more intimate.
After returning to the "real world" busy, this "goblin mode" rest becomes crucial. Researchers at Integris Health say that such occasional "breaks" are actually good for physical health and have a decisive role in mental health.
It is most appropriate to explain it with the title of a play - escape is shameful but useful.
Part of the reason "Goblin Mode" resonates so much with the public is because it exposes real life.
Because everyone knows in their hearts that they can't really live as "Mrs. Maisel". Also know high standards of beauty, high standards of fitness, high standards of healthy eating... These things can make the happiness index plummet.
Even professional models and athletes occasionally indulge in junk food, let alone ordinary people.
Usually, no matter how much a person pays attention to the image outside, he will also have a sloppy time wearing pajamas, not washing his hair, and lying in bed watching the drama when he goes home.
At this time, the "goblin mode" is a mouth-like existence, putting on the table what everyone knows in their hearts, but has been afraid to say.
On the other hand, it also reflects the mood of women at the moment.
Because "goblin mode" is generally used only to refer to women, men can exhibit disgusting behavior as much as they want without being labeled as sloppy.
Women who dare to deviate from gender expectations will be criticized for not behaving "ladylike enough". Because this is contrary to the patriarchal expectation of femininity.
Women in reality do have to maintain certain standards, and it is almost impossible to be completely unaffected by external aesthetic pressures. But both men and women have moments of longing for self-indulgence, wanting to deviate in some form from elegant social norms.
So "goblin mode" is more of an emerging emotion than an identity or way of life. It reflects that everyone is beginning to get tired of the involution culture and start not eating the "delicate girl" set.
To put it bluntly, the roll can't move.
Look at the life photos of many stars, in fact, they are quite "goblin mode".
"Dragon Mother" Emilia Clarke often posts photos of her daily life without makeup, and often laughs happily "regardless of image" in interviews, which has become her personal feature for fans.
Jennifer Aniston loves hair and make-up photos, usually her hair is messy, and she never shies away from wearing pajamas.
Zendaya on the red carpet will always be the queen of fashion, and in private she is also infected by the goblin pattern.
The "Goblin Queen" is Helena Bonham Carter, whose messy and creative dress style has even become her personal hallmark over the years.
Even the fashion circle, which focuses on the appearance of gorgeousness, has not found a suitable style for the "goblin mode". The only similar Athflow, also born from working from home, is lazy, comfortable, and not picky.
After all, all styles can be "goblin", because everyone has their own most comfortable aesthetic way.
While to some extent the "goblin mode" encourages the messy parts of life, on the other hand, it also siphons away the overly perfect false life online.
More importantly, it allows everyone to briefly give up the need to please others and be comfortable being their most authentic selves.
This year's Spring Festival, are you "goblin"?
Source: Google, Instagram