Is It Glitter or Is It Gold?

“Young people today are under immense pressure to live luxuriously, not because they can afford it, but because they feel they must perform wealth online.”, quoted from Dr. Jean Twenge, the author of "iGen".

This expert observation has been very persistently presented through scriptures, campaigns, and even what our elders are trying to warn us about. Young individuals often display a natural resistance to criticism, particularly when it comes from authority figures (e.g. parents, teachers, advisors); however, they tend to be more receptive when such feedback is delivered by their peers. Especially, in this modern world infested with superficial ‘role models’ from social media who attained their position through drama and hypocrisy, young generations only listen to what they want to hear: giltter-covered decay, mistaken for gold. In the absence of youth discernment, Joshua Michael made his way cleverly through cinematography, which feasts on our visual-auditory perception, and perhaps, will awaken our conscience.

Damar is flexing his brand-new gold chain. Courtesy of Youtube (Joshua Michael).

In his short movie "Kaset Pita", Joshua introduced "Damar", an aspiring content creator and a high school student. Through his search for inspiration to improve his social media branding, he came across flexing content made by another spring mind like him. It is ironic that such social criticism emerged this early in the storyline, it evaluates how hedonism rules over the young generation. Digital content is essentially filled with creativity, originality, and a sense of humanity. Once wealth is exposed to greedy humankind, everyone is unable to break free from the immense pressure to cover themself in luxury. Now Damar, consumed by the blinded lifestyle, decided to take loans, only to sell the illusion to luxury. However, at the very last minute, his conscience took over and took him on a stroll inside his mind where authenticism and art is what he truly has. A word of wisdom from his father that brings him back to reality, 

“Nilai seni dan budaya adalah harta yang memberi kita jadi diri dan makna hidup. Lestarikan! Karena merekalah identitas sejati kita.”

Damar realized the importance of embracing who he truly is: full of creativity in music. He remembered how significant it is to show the world his cultural beauty, its value, about how it has the power to overtake superficial lifestyle.

Damar is making a content featuring his seruling, Courtesy of Youtube (Joshua Michael).

Joshua Michael’s creation is not merely a short movie, it’s a reflection held up by our generation. In a world where clout often overshadows character, where the value of authenticity is drowned by algorithms, his return to culture and creativity serves as a powerful reminder. The performance of wealth may impress the crowd, but it is art, heritage, and self-awareness that truly build a legacy. As young people continue navigating the noise of the digital age, perhaps it is time we redefine success—not by what shines the brightest, but by what stays true the longest. Identity. Authenticity. Art. These aren’t relics of the past, but the compass that keeps us grounded in who we really are.