Main Character Energy is Good Again
A closer look at Public Expression, Attention-Seeking Behavior, and the Right to be Unpredictable
The comparison between the viral responses to the Kaytranada Boiler Room dancer, who was ridiculed, and the dancer at Swami Sound's boat set, who was celebrated, highlights a significant shift in societal attitudes toward public displays of joy.
But what does this shift say about us, and how does it relate to broader cultural forces like surveillance capitalism and bodily autonomy?
In recent years, the concept of “main character energy” has gained prominence as a cultural shorthand for unabashed self-expression. It comes up particularly often in live music spaces. Let's take a closer look.
The Shift in Cultural Norms: From Ridicule to Respect
The Kaytranada Boiler Room dancer became a meme, widely mocked for her expressive movements that were perceived as an attempt to "steal the spotlight."
It's retained its relevance for more than 10 years since, even making its way onto an official piece of Boiler Room merchandise.
This reaction can be traced to deeply ingrained societal norms that viewed public displays of exaggerated or "attention-seeking" behavior as embarrassing or disruptive. These judgments were often rooted in neoliberal ideas about visibility—that one must "earn" the right to attention and that anything too bold or uninvited was out of place.
Fast forward to the Swami Sound event, and we see a completely different reaction. The dancer, Queen Szymoniak, embodying what many called “main character energy,” was praised for her joyful and unrestrained movements.
What changed between these two moments? It wasn’t the dancers, the style of dancing, or the length of time spent dancing.
It was us.
As a society, we've become more compassionate and respectful of bodily autonomy, recognizing that public spaces, especially those centered on music and dance, should allow for uninhibited personal expression.
Bodily Autonomy and the Rejection of Judgment
This shift reflects a broader cultural move toward inclusivity and respect for individual freedom, particularly in shared social spaces. The concept of bodily autonomy—that one should be free to express oneself in public without fear of ridicule or judgment—has gained significant traction. This change speaks to a growing recognition of how personal expression can coexist with collective experiences, enriching rather than detracting from them.
However, this is not just about changing tastes or becoming more open-minded. The rejection of past judgments, such as those directed at the Kaytranada dancer, also reflects a broader cultural pushback against the internalized norms that once policed how people "should" behave in public. The acceptance and celebration of "main character energy" represents a conscious decision to allow individuals to exist freely in spaces where joy and expression are meant to flourish.
Dance floors, after all, should be places where everyone is encouraged to feel the music and express themselves without constraint.
Surveillance Capitalism and the Duty to Be Unpredictable
Yet, within this liberatory shift lies a deeper, more insidious reality: the omnipresence of the digital gaze. Public spaces today are not just arenas for human connection but stages for potential future content. The dance floor, once a haven for private joy, has become a site for surveillance—where any moment might be captured, shared, and turned into digital currency. Social media platforms, driven by surveillance capitalism, thrive on predictable behaviors that can be commodified and sold.
It is in this context that unpredictability becomes a form of resistance. We have a duty to find things machines can't do well and do them more often and more loudly. In other words, in a world where algorithms aim to predict and monetize our every move, we must actively embrace the unpredictable, the unquantifiable.
By dancing freely, moving in ways that defy expectation, and rejecting the internalized enforcement of the digital gaze, we reclaim the authenticity of our experiences.
Main Character Energy as Defiance
"Main character energy" encapsulates this defiance. The very essence of a "main character" is someone who doesn’t act how they are "supposed to." They carve their own path, refuse to conform, and make choices based on their personal joy and narrative rather than external validation.
In public spaces, this kind of energy challenges the pressures of surveillance capitalism, where predictability equals profit.
By dancing without concern for how one might appear on social media, by allowing oneself to express joy in ways that are genuine and unfiltered, individuals disrupt the data-driven systems that seek to commodify these experiences.
It is an act of rebellion against a world that would prefer our behaviors to be easily categorized and sold. Main character energy, then, is not just about personal liberation; it is also about resisting the commodification of self-expression.
Reclaiming Authenticity in a Digital World
The evolution from ridiculing the Kaytranada dancer to celebrating the Swami Sound dancer represents more than just a shift in taste. It reflects a broader societal change toward inclusivity, respect for bodily autonomy, and the right to exist freely in public spaces. But within this liberation lies the challenge of the future digital gaze—where every action is potentially a performance for an unseen audience.
To reject this gaze is to reclaim our right to be unpredictable, to express joy in ways that defy algorithmic commodification. In doing so, we resist the pressures of surveillance capitalism and insist on the value of human spontaneity. Main character energy, then, is more than just a trend; it is a declaration that we will not be reduced to data points in a digital economy. We will dance, move, and live unpredictably, loudly, and freely.