Raygun
The 2024 Paris Olympics were interesting. From the slew of controversies of the actual housing for the athletes to the banning of religious wear for athletes to even just the city of Paris itself is touted as one of the most down-trodden places in the world to hold such an event, it miraculously went off without a hitch. However, one such event caused an uproar in online culture that sent shockwaves that can be felt today.
That event is known as the Raygun Incident.
But could this incident tell us something greater about the human psyche? Could it be that through the high-kicking and flamboyant flailing of arms, there is an underlying truth within ourselves that wants us to become Raygun? We all seek some artistic expression, seeking the opportunity to show ourselves to the world and who we are. A person of no renown was able to breakdance the world off its feet and focus on her performance even if it wasn’t all that swell.
As said, we all seek this form of attention whether we like to admit it or not. What comes out of this attention is purely up to the social media gods and the people around us as to how they interact. Raygun had no idea that her performance would blow up the way it did. In her past break dance performances in Australia, she still dances the same and follows a routine. Why else could she have been selected? You can even see somewhat good performances from her within these videos (which might still not be to your liking, but you can at least admit they ARE better than the Olympics). Nevertheless, she persisted in her ways and was forced to apologize after causing detrimental effects within the breakdancing community.
Where does she go from here? Where do we go from here?
Raygun has been seen living it up in the past few months on Instagram after the debacle that was the Paris Olympics. It seems that her fifteen minutes of fame have only garnered extra attention and extra opportunities, even if it was a disaster-fire of a performance.
As is known, bad publicity is still publicity in its own right.
As for us, we must go on with our scarred eyes as we fall asleep to the thumping and tapping of Raygun’s heels on the circular breakdance pad. Like counting sheep, we must count the amount of high knees that were brought up. She will always now be a part of Olympic culture, as a warning sign to young, ambitious Olympians who, while qualified, might need to take a step back and ask if it is worth it. It could be, as seen with some part of Raygun’s life after the incident. But who knows, maybe this is the start of something that we cannot handle, and maybe there will be a resurgence in the art of breakdancing as a whole.
9/21/24, c.pyle