Filmmaker Statement

MANTIS STREAM! LIKE & SUBSCRIBE is a satirical reflection of the pathological online reality we find ourselves in today. Our film seeks to recreate the surreal feeling of watching the world experience every human emotion through the filter of consumption and the anxiety of trying to connect with people in an environment where performativity has become so normalized. We utilized elements of digital video art to tap into the sense of overstimulation in online spaces overpowering the genuine truth of real life. Growing up in the 21st century, we have witnessed the growing monetization of joy and suffering alike as the internet has rapidly subsumed our culture and creativity. We hope that viewers of the project will be able to take notice of performativity in their own lives and seek to be more authentic to themselves.