"Familiar yet Estranged" explores the concept of the "ordinary" in a world of excessive overconsumption, reimagining it as a radical departure from capitalist excess. This thesis contends that amidst a culture obsessed with the acquisition of material goods and status symbols, there lies a profound opportunity to rediscover the significance of the everyday. Rejecting the notion of life as a relentless pursuit of consumption culminating in a Freudian death drive, it advocates for a shift towards a more deliberate and meaningful existence. By examining the dichotomy between familiarity and estrangement, it proposes a reevaluation of the overlooked facets of daily life.

Within the thesis, “Numaish-e-Tamasha” plunges into a grotesque depiction of our hyper-consumerist society. It paints a morbid portrait of a world drowning in capitalist excess with the aim of leaving a visceral distaste when faced with the repugnant reality of a civilization careening towards self-annihilation. In contrast, vibrant zines and thought-provoking illustrations present a radical antidote to the prevailing malaise and advocate for the virtues of the ordinary and offer a beacon of hope in a world shrouding in despair.