![]() Through an insightful session with her therapist, she learns that living within a binary of good vs. In episode nine, “Social Media is a Great Way to Connect,” she is sucked into a warped dimension of online activism where she feels obligated to speak the truth and fight for the justice of others at the expense of her own well-being. But her hyper-connectivity and consistent online presence quickly becomes detrimental to her healing process and causes a chasm between her and her friends - particularly her friend Kwame who has also experienced an instance of sexual assault but is dealing with it in a manner that Arabella is judgmental of. Arabella consistently turns to social media for affirmation, using it not only as a way to establish self-importance but also as a way to use her voice. Something as small as a "like," an empty heart turned red or a positive comment can drastically change the way a person feels about themselves. ![]() It’s another common coping mechanism of today - hurt, lonely people turning to strangers on the Internet for slight boosts in self-esteem. ![]() The love she receives from her followers manifests into a graphic heart that floats giddily from the screen to her face, and it’s as if all of her troubles and trauma melt away, even if momentarily. When she has a silent breakdown after being victim-blamed by her Italian lover, Bella immediately posts a selfie on Instagram and receives an instant barrage of "likes" and compliments. Social media is an omnipresent force in the series, offering a sense of comfort and purpose for Arabella. And like Arabella’s therapist reminds her, sometimes when we try to distract ourselves with the bigger picture, we lose sight of the small, which includes us and the little details of our lives.Īrabella’s struggle to process her assualt drives her to increase personal engagement with the very same tool that contributes to her mental overstimulation and exhaustion, social media. ![]() It’s a common small coping mechanism many of us use to deflect and diminish the very real and very true feelings we either don’t want to admit we have or can’t fully process. Not everyone has a cell phone.” She does this to remind herself of the bigger picture. Arabella mentions that she needs to be around other people, and if that isn’t possible and she is alone, she repeats to herself, “There are hungry children. In the fourth episode, “That Was Fun,” Arabella’s therapist asks her how she is coping with her emotions following her assault. The premise is inspired by Coel’s own experience of being sexually assaulted the night she went out to blow off steam while she tirelessly worked on the second season of Chewing Gum. She spends the following morning unsure of what transpired the night before until a flashback reveals she was raped. As she struggles to meet a deadline for her debut novel, Chronicles of a Fed-Up Millennial, Arabella decides to go out in London for a night of debauchery with friends. The series starts with Arabella, played by Coel, a Twitter personality turned author, recounting the night she was sexually assaulted by a stranger. And it’s the small moments and little details in I May Destroy You that have the most profound impact within the story. With her depiction, Coel has created one of the most comprehensive works of art to tackle rape culture throughout 12 episodes, she digs into all of the muddy subtleties and gray areas without hesitation or remorse. I May Destroy You, which wrapped up its first season on HBO on Monday (August 25th), is a painstakingly honest portrayal of what happens when millennials try to cope with confronting their trauma. Coel's response: “I’m not aware of that pressure, to be honest.” This attitude probably contributes to her effortless ability to tap into the zeitgeist and capture snapshots of contemporary truths and relevant discourses. In an interview with Shondaland, Coel is asked about being "beholden to the often binary rules of wokeness" mostly found on Twitter. Michaela Coel - writer, creator, and star of HBO's brilliant I May Destroy You - spares no one from her transparently objective scrutiny. I May Destroy You, which recently wrapped up its first season on HBO, is a painstakingly honest portrayal of what happens when millennials try to cope with confronting their trauma.
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