“ILO MILO” : CRITIQUE ON A CULTURE OF LONELINESS RISHAV SARAVANAN " When your mental health becomes impacted by social media, it is time for a detox.” Renowned philosopher and author, Germany Kent, challenges the fabric of reality that a modern, interconnected society prides itself on having. With the increasing integration of cell phones and tablets into the lives of today’s youth, a starkly altered lifestyle has emerged when compared to previous generations. Amidst this lifestyle is influential artist Billie Eilish, a voice that dives into the turmoil of the digital age by exploring themes of emotional fragmentation, isolation, and the anxiety of losing a loved one within an interconnected society. In her widely acclaimed song “ilomilo,” Eilish critiques the disintegrating nature of human connection by intertwining chilling lyrics with minimalism, an indication of the pervasive anxiety and isolation true to the digital era. Billie Eilish first captures the feeling of isolation when juxtaposing comfort with worry and challenging her audience’s sense of security: “told them not to worry / but maybe that’s a lie.” These opening lines undermine the listener’s initial reassurance with doubt, immediately establishing uncertainty and mirroring our current society. This fragmentation of trust, first used to deceive her listeners, demonstrates an inability to hold trust in modern human connections. She continues, urging, “Honey, what’s your hurry? Won’t you stay inside.” The connotation of “honey,” as Eilish uses it, is a firm expression of endearment or a display of emotional connection to another. Yet, this diction isn’t maintained, as she decidedly pairs it with a demanding “stay inside,” suggesting a forced intimacy and again demonstrating the effects of large-scale isolation on an individual; one who has been lonely for so long that they choose to demand intimacy from another. She begins successfully pulling away at the layers of her audience’s sense of security, enabling them to empathize with her situation.
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