The AI-generated “actress” Tilly Norwood sparks controversy in the film industry, the band HUNTR/X from Kpop Demon Hunters makes its live debut, and our review of Taylor Swift’s newest album The Life of a Showgirl. But first:
Resource of the Week – The Conversation Starter
Spend enough time on TikTok and you’ll eventually come across a video about “manifesting,” which is basically the idea that anyone can summon anything they want—health, wealth, a new romantic partner, etc.—by convincing themselves that they already have it. The practice depends on a philosophy called New Thought, which teaches that human beings can change reality by changing their thoughts and words. And while the Bible clearly talks about the power of our words and beliefs, is this what Proverbs 18:21 and Mark 11:24 are really pointing to? We don’t think so. Click here to check out our newest episode of The Conversation Starter, which is all about the difference between manifesting and prayer.
And now for our three conversations…
1. Now Starring, No One
What it is: AI-generated “actress” Tilly Norwood—the creation of real-life actor and technologist Eline van der Velden—is sparking controversy in the film industry.
Why it’s getting pushback: SAG-AFTRA dismissed Tilly as “not an actor.” Actress Emily Blunt called the idea “scary” and “disturbing.” But Tilly’s debut raises a deeper question: what makes a performance real? Acting teacher Sanford Meisner described acting as “behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances,” while Uta Hagen, author of Respect for Acting, said, “It’s not about losing yourself in the role. It’s about finding yourself in the role.” Both understood that acting draws power from presence—from the uniquely human mix of memory, pain, and imagination. For teens discovering their voice through art, music, and storytelling, the reaction against Tilly Norwood should serve as a reminder that their own creativity is sacred and irreplaceable.
Continue the conversation: Would you ever watch a movie knowing every actor on screen was AI-generated?
2. A Real-Life HUNTR/X
What it is: K-pop girl group HUNTR/X made their live debut this week with a stunning performance of “Golden” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as well as a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live.
Why it’s striking a chord: Born from the hit animated film KPop Demon Hunters, now the most-watched Netflix movie of all time, HUNTR/X’s single “Golden” has topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight straight weeks, breaking a record once held by Destiny’s Child. The film’s soundtrack has officially gone platinum, fueled by the trio’s real-life singing voices—EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, each bringing their own style and emotional depth to the project. Rei Ami, who sings for the character Zoey, says she first recorded the melody idea on her phone while driving to a dentist appointment and still has the voice memo saved. As HUNTR/X steps out of animation and onto the global stage, their music is turning imagination into reality and inspiring a new wave of K-pop fans.
Continue the conversation: Why do you think K-pop connects so easily across languages and cultures?
3. A Lonely Life
What it is: Taylor Swift’s new release, The Life of a Showgirl, hit a sour note with many of her longtime fans.
What people are saying: Some media coverage has called the album Swift’s most explicit material yet. But the themes and language on Showgirl are a natural progression from where Swift landed content-wise on her previous release, The Tortured Poets Department. Despite her famously young fan base, her songwriting hasn’t been squeaky clean since 2013’s Red. What is different here is the packaging—in the promotional material and the video for lead single “Fate of Ophelia,” Swift inhabits the part of a “showgirl,” in all the glitzy states of undress that would imply. What, if anything, is Swift actually trying to tell us?
Let’s translate this one further…
It’s sad, but not shocking, that Swift ended up believing her own hype. The life of a showgirl seems like a lonely one, indeed.
The general consensus on this music is that it isn’t Swift’s best. She claims she wrote these songs in snatches of free time during her Eras tour, and it shows. From the exaggerated, made-for-the-stage lyricism to the heavily produced pop hooks, these are songs for Taylor Swift to dance to. Whether anyone else will want to is a valid question.
While many longtime fans were pronouncing the release DOA, Swift was doing the rounds promoting it. Seemingly beaming with pride and enthusiasm, she gave us all permission to feel however we want about the new release (thanks?) and had a laugh with Jimmy Fallon about releasing a graphic song about sexual intimacy with her boyfriend—seemingly oblivious to the fact that a big part of her target audience is thirteen-year-olds. Parents who have shelled out hundreds of dollars to support their Swiftie with tickets to the Eras tour, overpriced tour merch, or one of the myriad special vinyl versions of her albums would be forgiven for failing to see this as funny.
Swift sings on this album about her “eldest daughter syndrome” and proclaims herself a “father figure” to industry newbies. But there is little evidence of a protective instinct here. Taylor is no longer the cool babysitter who lets you borrow her cardigan and shares her tips for winged eyeliner; she sounds more like an aging cheerleader nursing grudges from a decade ago. “Actually Romantic,” a diss track aimed at musician charliexcx, strikes the listener as “casually cruel in the name of being honest,” as she once accused an ex of being in her memorable ballad “All Too Well.”
Philippians 2:3 reminds us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, and to instead embrace humility that places others above ourselves. Taylor Swift isn’t worse than anybody else; she’s just a human whose talent and circumstances have collided, perhaps predictably, and blown her humility to smithereens. But without a guiding morality to steer us away from our own pride, all of us would be stopped short of our full potential, choosing flattery and the pride of our own lives instead.
Continue the conversation:
- What’s the best song ever by your favorite artist? What about their worst?
- Why do you think Taylor wanted to release a new album this year?
- Would you ever want to be as famous as Taylor Swift?
For more context and nuance, check out our Roundtable podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. On your way out, here’s a quick survey of some of the rest of the cultural landscape:
- Lebron James baited the world by announcing a “Second Decision” which ended up not being his retirement, but just an alcohol promotion.
- Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to over four years of prison, wrapping up (at least in terms of verdict) a very public and very scandalous trial.
- OpenAI’s video tooI, Sora 2, is out in the world, and it’s full of slop and copyrighted material.
- The meme phrase “The lion does not concern himself with…” followed by (usually) an innocuous task someone doesn’t like to do has been rising in popularity on TikTok.
- Netflix has renewed One Piece through season 3, keeping the Straw Hat Crew’s story of loyalty and found family alive for its growing teen fanbase.
Parenting together,
Kate Watson and the Axis Team
PS: Know someone who could use our conversation starters with their teens? Share the CT with a friend!