It has become one of the trending terms in recent days.
“What is
ennui
?” ask dozens of users unaware of this word of French origin whose presence on social networks only multiplies.
Although its growing viralization has been going on for a long time, the launch of the trailer for the new Disney and Pixar film, the sequel to the successful
Inside Out
, has ended up overflowing curiosity.
In it, the four new emotions that will be part of the teenage life of the protagonist, Riley, in the film are presented.
To such 'popular' emotions as Shame, Anxiety or Envy, Ennui will also be added, a violet teenager with an apathetic character and a languid gaze directed towards her mobile phone.
With a French accent – her voice actor in the original version of her is the actress Adele Exarchopoulos (
The Life of Adele
) – She answers the confusion of the other characters: “It's what you would call boredom.”
The lack of knowledge of the word has caused confusion among many users, who wonder why an alternative in Spanish has not been sought and offer options such as 'boredom', 'ennui' or 'apathy'.
Asked by this medium, Disney Spain assures that the decision not to translate the term into Spanish seeks to “be faithful to the original intention since it is not translated in the English version of the film either.”
His commitment to highlighting adolescent apathy is not new.
Already in 2015, when Del Revés
was released
, those responsible for it confessed that they had characterized up to 26 emotions and that one of those that was about to enter the finalist quintet – along with Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear – was Ennui.
Would translating it as 'boredom' oversimplify a polymorphous word with extensive and ancient roots in French culture?
What is so special about ennui that Disney has decided to export this emotion to a global audience?
02:21
Trailer for 'Del Reves 2'
“
L'ennui
is an emotion that manifests itself physiologically as a drop in energy and generalized drowsiness and, psychologically, as a feeling of emptiness and boredom caused by idleness and a change in the way of perceiving time that seems to stretch out,”
psychologist Laurence Parnier
explains to
S Moda , who considers it a universal and essential emotion.
“It appears when the individual is unable to carry out a satisfactory activity, in an unstimulating context and in which a lack of commitment, interest, involvement and meaning arises.”
Christine Lebriez, psychologist and coach, has worked directly with patients who showed clear symptoms of this condition.
“They often describe a persistent feeling of boredom, lack of interest in everyday activities, and a loss of motivation in their life,” she notes.
The expert is not surprised by the inclusion of emotion in the next Disney film: “Boredom is more common than we can imagine in modern society.
Continuous exposure to technology and constant overstimulation can contribute to this phenomenon, as well as the fact that productivity, digital connection and entertainment are overrated in today's society.
It is a very typical state of the moment in which we live.”
Ennui gained popularity and significance in French culture during
the
19th century, with special strength in literature and politics.
Alphonse De Lamartine, former French Foreign Minister, warned Parliament in 1839 that “France is a boring country.”
Baudelaire also wrote about emotion and the poet Théophile Gautier said that “barbarism comes before ennui.”
George Steiner suggested that the unbearable boredom that had taken over France and Europe, lacking epic and conflict until the beginning of the 20th century, was one of the reasons that ended up driving World War I.
Halfway between pathology and a poetic and romantic expression, ennui
also
manifests itself in the protagonists of novels such as
La Regenta
or
Madame Bovary
and evolves towards the existential emptiness of the antiheroes of Kafka, Sartre or Camus.
But far from being exclusive to the French spirit, this phenomenon can manifest itself in people from different cultures and social contexts.
This is what Lebriez assures: “Feelings of boredom and demotivation are common experiences that can arise at any time in our lives.
The millennial generation is not spared and may also experience ennui due to pressure to succeed, job uncertainty, and relentless exposure to technology and social media.
But it is important to highlight that boredom does not affect all individuals of this generation – or the others – equally, since experiences and perceptions vary depending on personal factors and context.”
The data corroborates his words.
In 2016, a study revealed that two in three British
millennials
(born between the mid-1980s and 2000) felt “bored with life.”
The same year, Pope Francis warned about the growing number of “boring and boring” young people who seemed “to have retired early.”
'Procrastinate', which is experiencing growing popularity in the current lexicon, was one of the candidates for word of the year 2018 by Fundeu.
If a well-honed marketing strategy has made terms like
saudade
or
hygge
cross borders to become lifestyle philosophies worthy of selling millions of books around the world, will ennui become the new fashion concept once Disney have you presented it to millions of viewers?
Experts corroborate that feeling ennui does not have to be a bad thing and that, like any other emotion, it has function and purpose if we apply positive thinking.
“It is a signal that we can take advantage of to improve,” concludes Parnier.
“The untrained mind does not like to be alone with itself.
Therefore, verbalize what you would like deep in your heart at this moment, but that you cannot get: 'what am I missing?', 'what would I like to feel good about?', 'what would make me vibrate?' ?', 'what could I do to lift my mood?'.
By asking yourself these questions, you will be able to make positive use of this unpleasant emotion and know what to do to feed your need to feel alive.”