gg blog

  From blind boxes to cultural totems: A sociological reading of the Labubu phenomenon Rituals and collective effervescence The heartbeat of the phenomenon isn’t the vinyl itself; it’s the choreography that surrounds it—queues, countdowns, livestreamed reveals, the collective gasp when a rare variant emerges. These are modern rituals that generate a charge greater than any individual could summon alone, what Durkheim called collective effervescence: a momentary fusion of bodies and feelings that forges a “we.” The blind-box “reveal,” with its suspense, revelation, and celebration, functions like a shared rite that renews belonging, even among strangers who meet only in a chat window. The toy becomes a totem, a portable symbol of the group’s energy and values (Durkheim, 1912/1995). Scarcity, capital, and the game of distinction Limited runs and region exclusives convert objects into status markers, shifting their meaning from “cute” to “credential.” Within Bourdieu’s framework, ...

  The Labubu pandemonium: How a fang‑toothed plush took over the world and the human side of hype Some crazes feel like noise; this one felt like a heartbeat — steady, warm, impossible to ignore. Imagine cradling a small, fang‑toothed creature in your palm while the world outside spins too fast. For thousands, Labubu became exactly that: a pocket‑sized refuge from the static. It lured people out of bed before sunrise to queue in the cold, drew strangers together in cramped shops and across glowing phone screens, and sparked conversations that skipped small talk and went straight to delight. The internet didn’t just notice — it leaned in, turned the spotlight gentle, and gave us a rare moment where hype felt human. In this story, you’ll see how an offbeat sketch grew into a global frenzy, why it resonated so deeply that grown adults grinned like kids again, and how a wave of counterfeit heartbreak tested the very trust that made it soar. It’s part cultural snapshot, part love lett...

  This Week on the Internet: 5 Memes You’ll Pretend You Saw First Intro “From gorilla showdowns to kiss‑cam chaos, the internet’s been busy serving up the kind of content you can’t unsee — and wouldn’t want to.” 1️⃣ 100 Men vs. One Gorilla The vibe : The absurd hypothetical fight that’s taken over TikTok and X — people debating strategies, making mock battle plans, and even animating the showdown. Why it works : It’s peak internet — ridiculous, visual, and endlessly remixable. Where it’s going : Expect merch and maybe even a parody video game. 2️⃣ Coldplay Kiss Cam Scandal The moment : At a Boston concert, the kiss cam caught a CEO and his HR exec in a very awkward embrace — both reportedly married. Meme magic : Brands and meme pages jumped on it instantly, with captions about “career‑limiting moves” and “HR policies in action.” Longevity : This one’s got legs — every future kiss cam fail will be compared to it. 3️⃣ Morgan Wallen’s “Get Me to God’s Country” Ex...