Why does Gen Z laugh at tragedy? From memes about pandemics to TikToks about depression, their humor often shocks older generations. But behind the irony and absurdity lies something deeper: survival. This talk explores how dark humor, irony, and memes function as coping mechanisms in an age of constant crisis revealing that behind every laugh is fear, grief, and resilience. Zeynep Küçükmustafa is a 9th grade student at Üsküdar American Academy in Istanbul, where she is deeply involved in academic and extra ...

[Music] [Applause] [Music] This piece I did it on abandoned railways. station in Surami. Imagine a place long forgotten where nothing remains for use. They try their luck in a bigger louder cities. There is kind of stillness there but not a peaceful one. On a contrary a silent heavy one that grows when hope starts to fade. The wall says I am the wall and I can't. But you, this rhetorical question, simple as it is, has power. It does not scream, but it stirs. It becomes a fume for those who feel frustrated, ...