Why does certainty about other people feel so emotionally relieving? Using the film Mickey 17, this post explores black and white thinking, snap judgments, and the discomfort of sitting with ambiguity and complexity in other people.

Why do we sometimes laugh off painful experiences, even when they genuinely hurt us? A reflection on Jordan Peele’s Nope (2022), trauma, family stories, and the pressure to adopt the “acceptable” version of events.