For God’s Sake, 2020, Choose A Genre

Summary

The year 2020 is portrayed as an unpredictable narrative that shifts through various genres, reflecting the tumultuous events from a promising start to a chaotic mix of medical thriller, psychological thriller, self-help book, musical, crime novel, and historical fiction, culminating in a plea for stability and a hint of humor amidst the uncertainty.

Abstract

The article "For God’s Sake, 2020, Choose A Genre" humorously characterizes the year 2020 as a book that can't decide on a genre, starting with a hopeful creative nonfiction narrative about American life and an election year climax, only to switch to a medical thriller with the introduction of a deadly virus. The plot thickens as it turns into a psychological thriller with forced isolation, then shifts to a self-help book offering advice on coping with the new normal. The year then takes a musical turn with viral family performances, before transitioning into a crime novel filled with social unrest and a historical fiction twist reminiscent of the 1960s. The author implores 2020 to settle on a narrative, suggesting that the year's unpredictability is leading everyone toward madness, with the next chapter being a complete mystery.

Opinions

The author views 2020 as a year that began with promise but was derailed by unforeseen events, leading to a sense of whiplash from the rapid genre changes.
There is a clear frustration with the year's unpredictability and the constant introduction of new, challenging plot elements, such as the pandemic and social issues.
The article suggests a sense of dark humor in the face of adversity, particularly in the ways people have adapted to the circumstances, such as cutting hair like celebrities or turning to armchair therapy.
The author seems to appreciate the resilience and creativity shown by individuals during the lockdown, as evidenced by the viral family videos and the various skills people have picked up.
There is an underlying hope that the year will eventually settle into a more manageable and less chaotic storyline, as indicated by the plea for 2020 to choose a genre and the mention of efforts to "flatten the curve."
The reference to the 1960s without the "fun parts" implies a criticism of the year's negative aspects, such as racism and protests, being reminiscent of historical social struggles without the cultural vibrancy of the era.

Please make up your mind

You started out as a promising Creative Nonfiction debut. Your storyline involved multiple generations of the average American family. The economy was doing well. The class of 2020 looked forward to graduations, senior trips, the future. The United States braced itself for an election year. Your climax would occur on Nov 3rd, Election Day.

And then wham…you turned into a Medical Thriller. Just like that. You introduced a deadly virus, which had no place in your previous plot. You scared us with deadly statistics. Everyone over the age of sixty-five became an “old person” overnight. You threw in a bit of the Twilight Zone along the way, taking away toilet paper, household cleaning supplies, and staples such as rice and beans. You were a fast paced story, one that was hard to put down. One we wanted to end.

Then you morphed in a Psychological Thriller. We turned the page and there we were locked at home with family members. Parents, kids, grandparents all under one roof, multiple personalities trying to get along as everyone claimed their work/school/sanity area. Cocktail hour moved from sunset to sunrise.

Out of necessity, you became a Self-Help Book. You gave us advice on how to cut hair to look like our favorite celebrities, plant a sustainable garden on a windowsill, turn coffee filters into toilet paper and masks, paint like Picasso, write like Shakespeare, become armchair therapists, speak to our animals, knit puppy sweaters, bake twenty layer cakes decorated with happy faces, declutter, meditate and Zoom. There wasn’t a topic too complicated for you to tackle.

As most self help begs for irony, you turned into a Musical. You had families dancing and singing across the internet. Multi-generational videos became the rage. Eventually, you became a bearable story with a new plot: Flatten the curve. All was good.

But no. You weren’t pleased. We turned the page and you became a Crime Novel, with murders, racism and protests. You threw in a bit of Historical Fiction, taking us back to the sixties, but leaving out the fun parts of flower power and free love.

Dear 2020, please, please make up your mind. You are driving us all toward the Cuckoo's Nest.

Because whatever story you have next — is a Mystery to me!

Thanks for reading! Be safe.

For God’s Sake, 2020, Choose A Genre

Please make up your mind

You Can’t See My Lips, But You Can Know My Thoughts.

A saying a day, keeps the blues away!

How I Made 40,000 Pennies My First Year On Medium

Translated as: 80 lattes, 40 books or 1 car payment