First appeared in DC Journal
By Julia Salvato
Have you heard about the Wes Anderson social media trend? It’s all the rage among Gen Z users who are obsessed with the director’s unique aesthetic.
Seriously, this thing has gone viral beyond belief! This isn’t the first social media meme to get huge attention — and it won’t be the last. Because it’s honoring a famous visual artist, it’s something that I started to follow and really fell into.
So, what’s it all about? Well, people are creating short videos that perfectly capture the essence of Wes Anderson’s films. You know, those movies that are so well-known for their symmetrical shots, precise compositions and vibrant colors. They even include a title card with that cool typewriter effect using the Futura font.
In these videos, everything is carefully arranged, and the framing is on point. Characters and objects are often centered, and the colors are chosen to create a specific atmosphere. They often tell a simple story that is illustrated by minimal action. It’s like stepping into a Wes Anderson movie.
This trend has sparked a newfound interest in Anderson’s work, as people online are getting creative and giving their own lives the Anderson treatment. It’s not just about making videos; it’s about embracing that Anderson-esque style in various aspects of life. The way in which ordinary people can spot the director’s signature vision in daily life demonstrates the accomplishment of Anderson’s single voice.
And it’s not just individuals getting in on the fun. There are social media accounts solely dedicated to paying homage to Anderson’s style. One example is the “Accidentally Wes Anderson Instagram” account, where people share pictures that unintentionally resemble scenes from his movies.
As somebody who voluntarily gets caught up in these memes and also likes to think that I play some leadership role in them as a filmmaker through the content I create, I often think about how and why these kinds of memes get started. I think this trend highlights the value of these platforms because of the ease with which they can turn a fan into a creator.
I’m convinced it’s a really good thing for everybody’s creativity. The entire point of these memes is not necessarily for people to outdo each other but for my creativity to supplement yours. As more and more people, for example, create Wes Anderson memes, the overall quality of what we produce gets better. As an entirely different current meme likes to say, “Everybody’s so creative!” They really, really are.
Julia Salvato is a video and content intern at Esquire Digital, and a recent graduate of Penn State, where she majored in Acting. Julia is also a professional filmmaker, having done a short film, Wasted Potential. In addition to her creative pursuits, she enjoys writing about all things film, entertainment, and pop culture. Julia hopes that people will one day be writing memes about her own films.