Raygun and the Eclipse of the Zany? Reading Contemporary Cultural Moments with and against Sianne Ngai’s Aesthetic Categories

breakdancing, or 'breaking', as an Olympic sport, Australian female breaker Dr Rachael Gunn (otherwise known as b-girl Raygun) performed a routine which failed to attract any competitive points yet became an internet obsession.In an Olympics already making headlines due to online 'culture wars', the responses to Raygun were particularly polarised (Tocci; Stewart; Doyle).It seemed like everyone-from family members on Facebook, to TikTok influencers, to Reddit conspiracy theorists, to American comedian Jimmy Fallon and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese-had a fresh take on Raygun (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; Convery and Cox).Generally, critics took issue with her academic platform, the opacity of the Australian Olympic Committee's ('AOC') selection process, and apparent taking of opportunities from other breakers, while defenders embraced her dedication, adherence to the Australian principle of 'having a go', creativity, and distinctiveness.For critics and embracers alike, vacillating between earnest and ironic, there was one aspect that all had in common: the agreement that Raygun was worth discussing-at a level of fervent insistence comparable perhaps to Raygun's own dancing.