Recently, cursed content, whether in the format of memes, internet posts, or random images, has been growing in popularity. One of the internet’s most popular sources for cursed content is the subreddit that goes by the same name, known as Cursed_Images.
In our previous interview with a moderator of the group, Hangryhufflepuff1, we asked what makes these weird photos so intriguing. "I think we find cursed images captivating because they make us ask questions, like why did someone think this was a good idea? How did this happen? Who in their right mind would do this?”
The cursed images spark our inner curiosity, making us wonder and question reality. According to the moderator, his “own personal favorites have layers, or are just downright stupid, completely random things that if you saw in real life you'd write off as a dream."
Meanwhile, Lina Survila, a connoisseur of internet culture and the creator of the metaverse news newsletter The Wearables Daily, argues that cursed images have become a certain alternative for memes. In our previous interview, Lina explained that cursed images are used to visually demonstrate just how absurd any given situation can be.
“Something unpleasant to watch can be anything from a baby without a hat in cold winter to just a moment of bizarre surroundings. In real life, it looked and felt just so normal,” Lina told us.
She believes that cursed images are peculiar internet phenomena because they illustrate that sometimes when you're looking from a different perspective, the whole thing can look like a different story. It puts the mundane into a whole new, outsider-like perspective.
On the other hand, Lina warns that some of the cursed images that are shared online can have a negative effect on people, especially if they are used in the wrong context. “It could help to illustrate a false story or even propaganda. Without any explanation, images can circulate on the internet, hyping people with very wrong intentions.”
“My advice would be, don't always assume that everything you see is true. I guess this is why those images are so popular after all - because, in the right context, they can do a good job at misleading people,” she concluded.
