The Unforgettable Delight of PowerPoint Presentations: A Fun and Comradery-Fueled Party Trend
PowerPoint presentations have transformed from a staple in corporate offices and classrooms into an engaging and entertaining medium for friends to connect, share hidden passions, and showcase their quirky senses of humor. McCall Mirabella, a popular TikTok and YouTube personality with over 1.3 million followers across both platforms, recently hosted a unique 21st birthday party where she asked her guests to bring only one gift: A PowerPoint presentation.
Mirabella’s closest friends eagerly accepted the challenge, delivering presentations on a wide range of topics, from ranking the attractiveness of 10 animated characters to exploring the humorous stages of being high. Mirabella herself presented her predictions for how long her friends would survive in the Hunger Games and the violent ways they might meet their ends – a popular PowerPoint party theme.
PowerPoint nights have been captivating groups of friends since their inception, even amid the regular use of this software in more formal settings. These events provide an unmatched opportunity to get to know each other’s niche interests, secret pastimes, and frequently hilarious takes on friends’ quirks and strengths.
Mirabella shared the unique joy she’s experienced at PowerPoint parties: “They’re so unserious! Most of the time, people are left crying from laughing so hard or bent over wheezing.”
The idea for PowerPoint parties can be traced back to 2012, when three students at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, hosted a “Drink, Talk & Learn” event. Guests were required to come with a presentation on a subject of their choice, like the moral alignment of Sonic the Hedgehog character Shadow (Buzzfeed News). This theme gained popularity and by 2018, PowerPoint enthusiasts across the US were presenting slides on hyper-specific topics to small crowds.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual PowerPoint parties became a safe and entertaining way for friends to stay connected while isolated at home. These gatherings provided much-needed levity as groups shared their screens on Zoom or even recruited housemates for private TedTalks.
Tantalizing snippets of these presentations made their way to TikTok, inspiring users to host their own PowerPoint parties and share zany takes on group dynamics. Presentations ranged from speculating how friends would fare during a zombie apocalypse to debating the “real” (fictional) reason dinosaurs died.
Microsoft PowerPoint software isn’t essential for these presentations, as alternatives like Prezi, Canva, and Google Slides are also popular. Microsoft even offered advice on hosting a premier PowerPoint party, suggesting the use of whacky transitions to add excitement to presentations.
Since being introduced to PowerPoint parties by her cousins during a sleepover eight months ago, Mirabella has honed her presentation skills and added theatrical elements, such as Taylor Swift performing a brief halftime performance in a Hunger Games-themed presentation. Her friends voted her latest slideshow the best of the night.
The PowerPoint party trend continues to evolve, with users experimenting with creative twists on the classic format and sharing unique presentation ideas on various platforms. So, gather your friends, an HDMI-compatible TV, a willingness to share hidden passions or razz each other, and prepare for a night filled with laughter, camaraderie, and unforgettable memories.
