Two years ago, the novel and unpredictable COVID-19 virus hit Florida and led to the series of events everyone is aware of now— closed schools and offices, working and learning from home, vaccinations, and the eventual reopening of public areas. Even as the past few years prove that the unexpected is always to be expected, there’s hope for what’s to come in the new year.
The Social Issue
In the summer of 2020, the world saw an increase in people supporting the Black Lives Matter movement all around the world. This activism sparked change for other topics they believed in strongly, namely Cuba’s conditions in the face of COVID-19 because of their government and Haiti’s political state.
The fire that has been lit under these new social activists has started to flicker out as time goes on and as priorities change. But these people will not forget what they have started to fight for.
Living in governments with constantly changing laws, like the United States, means there will always be people who protest against certain laws. As Texas’ abortion laws begin their ripple into other states, social activists for women’s rights and healthcare will feel that fire once more.
Though the thought is saddening, there will always be an instance in which a group of people is oppressed, and it will be up to social activists to stand up for these groups.
Next Up: Entertainment
Taking a step back from the real world and finding a world to escape into is one of the main advantages of an expanding entertainment industry.
As Disney continues expanding their Disney+ platform, they will stay on top of the game. With the recent release of Encanto in theaters, and continued animated releases like What If? on the site, fans have multiple things to keep up with and look forward to. Disney, master of entertainment, knows how to play to their advantages, letting fans keep coming back instead of corralling them.
Sites like Netflix and Hulu, who haven’t been garnering any more attention than what is already there, have not made any big moves to catch up with Disney’s popularity— most especially in the area of animation. The future of entertainment isn’t clear, but one thing is— Disney topping every chart in animation in the foreseeable future.
This doesn’t mean Disney is lacking in live-action releases; if anything, it’s the exact opposite. Disney’s Hawkeye and Diary of a Wimpy Kid releases have charted on every basis, leaving competitors in the dust. Disney is, unequivocally, topping every chart.
Now Debuting Our Next Hit
Spotify Wrapped and Apple’s 2021 Replay’s popularity shows just how important music is to so many people. On top of this, everyone wants to be on the up and coming, knowing what artists will be the next big thing.
K-pop, for one, will continue to grow. Girl groups especially will garner much attention, especially in the Western markets.
Artists who have recently released music and have caught the attention of both the South Korean and international market are largely girl groups— namely Ive, containing 2 members of a recently disbanded group; Kep1er, a girl group yet to debut but whose lineup was chosen by viewers of their television program; STAYC, who has recently blown up with their recent hit “ASAP”; and Aespa, who debuted in 2020 but continues to gain popularity with every new release.
Girl groups will top the Kpop markets, but this leaves a space in the Western market. The next big thing in the West won’t be what the general public will expect it to be. The next big thing? They’re already in the market.
Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, SZA, and Jack Harlow’s newfound popularity won’t dwindle— these top new artists will continue to grow and be the next new idols of this generation. Latin artists will also continue to make an impact, revealing to the world that there’s more to Latin artists than just reggaeton and hip hop.
2022 is coming soon, and there’s no true way to know what’s to come. The mystery of what’s going to happen in the next year is what keeps everyone hoping— a chance at new realities and new chances.
