Likes

One of the most prevalent themes in “Likes” is the generational divide between Dave and Ivy that keeps them from understanding each other. This manifests most prominently in Ivy’s social media presence and Dave’s inability to understand it. Since Dave struggles to speak with Ivy—she often rebuffs his attempts to talk in the car—he tries to get to know her through her Instagram posts. However, he finds them inscrutable, in part because he and his generation are more accustomed to different forms of storytelling. Dave lacks Ivy’s generational vocabulary, represented clearly in the Instagram post of the pink neon sign that says “warm.” Devoid of any other context, the word loses its normal meaning, creating a moment of disconnect for Dave. As time progresses, the same words and signifiers take on new meanings, and it can be difficult for older generations to keep up.

At the same time, Sarah Shun-lien Bynum subverts the idea that Dave’s alienation from his daughter is purely generational. Ivy connects with other adults, like her physical therapist; where she is sullen and quiet with her father, she is talkative during her therapy sessions. The therapist is implied to be younger than Dave, but she is still an adult, showing that generational differences don’t have to result in divisions.