The hottest Culture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Go away, you cupcake fascists

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 08 Apr 14
🎭️ Culture Media Social media Internet Trends Humor
  1. Nine out of 10 TV viewers stick to the same few channels, with classic TV being largely ignored, indicating a TV culture amnesia is developing.
  2. There's a dangerous decline in civil discourse, with free speech possibly under threat, likened to the cause and solution of problems in our society.
  3. There exist social networks that predate the internet, showing surprising history beyond what we typically think of.
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That DisneyWorld Reopening: An Opportunity Lost

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 13 Jul 20
🎭️ Culture Entertainment Fashion Travel
  1. Disney missed an opportunity to make mask-wearing fun and whimsical at the reopening of DisneyWorld in Florida.
  2. Despite the company's ability to get people to buy and wear fun accessories like ears, they fell short in creating appealing mask solutions for the park.
  3. The employees and visitors at Disney parks were seen wearing plain masks, missing a chance to showcase creativity and magic during these challenging times.

What WILL they think of next?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 14 Apr 14
🎭️ Culture Art Internet Technology Social media
  1. Is irony ruining our culture or is culture ruining our irony? - A thought-provoking essay on art, integrity, and snark.
  2. Google spends a lot on lobbying - Google's lobbying efforts have dramatically increased and could affect politics and policy.
  3. Nine questions about Tinder - An interesting article addressing common questions about Tinder.

Not-so-casual Craigslist encounters

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 23 Apr 14
🎭️ Culture Internet Beer Parenting Crime Social media
  1. The 'Google of spit' is a project to revolutionize healthcare by collecting and storing DNA like Google did for data.
  2. There's a man who has reviewed nearly 10,000 beers online and is a top user on RateBeer.com.
  3. Nathan Yau, a self-quantifier, is tracking changes in his life with charts as his son grows, showing how data can capture life's moments.

Everything is parody these days

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 30 Apr 14
🎭️ Culture Internet Social media Teenagers Humor Satire
  1. Some online dating profiles are managed by ghostwriters, sparking discussions on deception and misogyny in modern dating.
  2. The phrase 'me IRL' has evolved with unique origins over time, contrasting from its simpler use during the early days of the Internet.
  3. Accounts like @EmergencyPugs, which seem like casual fun, can actually be profitable businesses run by clever teenagers.

Let’s hope they come in peace.

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 02 May 14
🎭️ Culture Media Social media Events Photography Journalism
  1. Facebook's new community manager used to be a war photographer, bringing unique perspectives on photography and social media.
  2. Teaching software engineers social skills can be challenging and pricey, but important for effective communication.
  3. Hallmark's Mother's Day operation is very pink, giving an inside look at how the company celebrates the occasion.

Shame is the ultimate algorithm.

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 06 May 14
🎭️ Culture Internet Social Issues Food Entertainment Media
  1. #BringBackOurGirls gained significant attention with nearly 1 million tweets, standing out as a new form of 'slacktivism.'
  2. Lacey Spears, a blogger and suspected of her son's murder, manipulated online sympathy by fabricating her son's illness over the years.
  3. The concept of 'trigger warnings' has become widespread online, raising the question if the internet itself is a constant trigger warning.

The white-male effect

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 25 Sep 20
🎭️ Culture Friendship Work Music Internet Media
  1. The close friendship between Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her reporter friend showed remarkable devotion to principles and ethics.
  2. An exploration into how the 'white-male effect' in Silicon Valley leads to ignoring risks in pursuit of innovation.
  3. Investigations reveal the extent to which websites track user data, with tools available to uncover trackers and ad cookies.

Adult Colouring Books Remind us that Innovation lies outside economics

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 31 May 16
🎭️ Culture Innovation Economics Art Books Gifts
  1. Innovation often happens unexpectedly and cannot always be fully planned or anticipated.
  2. Economists face challenges when trying to rationalize innovation within traditional decision-making frameworks.
  3. Adult coloring books serve as an example of innovation lying outside traditional economic reasoning, succeeding despite initial doubts.

Octopi terrify

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 08 May 14
🎭️ Culture Social media Reality TV Humor Food & Drink Celebrities
  1. Twitter can be effective for raising awareness and promoting change, but also comes with its issues like imperialism and laziness.
  2. Reality TV star Susie Meister has been on multiple shows despite having a Ph.D., challenging stereotypes.
  3. Using 'ahahahahahaha' instead of 'lol' saves time and characters - who needs all those extra letters anyway?

PostPostPost: In Defense of The Edgelord

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Ideology Controversy Critique Art Pop culture
  1. Ideology operates beneath our consciousness, influencing how we believe rather than what we believe in.
  2. The concept of the 'beautiful soul' contrasts with the edgelord, who embraces transgression and pushing boundaries without committing to a fixed ideology.
  3. Edgelords challenge norms and seek attention through shock value, but their actions can transition from provocative to dangerous when associated with extremist ideologies.

Look Good, Feel Good

Aerial Shot • 0 implied HN points • 26 May 23
🎭️ Culture Movies Actors Characters Romance
  1. Movies can be simple and entertaining with just two attractive actors in a room.
  2. Chemistry between actors and a willingness to 'go for it' can make a movie stand out.
  3. Exploring the question of the hottest movie character can lead to fun discussions and different perspectives.

Institutional code and human behavior (2)

Space chimp life • 0 implied HN points • 20 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Human behavior Mythology Narrative
  1. Processes are a collection of actions that help achieve a goal. They can vary depending on how you define them, like swimming or walking.
  2. Stories and reenactments can shape behavior by creating shared understandings of roles. They convey lessons and expectations in a way that can influence people without direct language.
  3. Shame and rituals, like dance or religion, can enforce social codes and behaviors. They help society manage roles and relationships, guiding how people interact with each other.

Julianna Ham: Cultural Learnings of a Post-Borat America

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Comedy Documentary Ethics Social Commentary Reality
  1. American comedic film and TV can be categorized into two eras, pre and post the 2006 film Borat, reflecting the changing cultural landscape in America.
  2. The emergence of 'reflexive mockamentary' genre in filmed comedy showcases a trend where protagonists interact with real-world subjects in a deceptive manner, revealing the complexities of human behavior under social influence.
  3. The genre blurs the line between reality and fiction, raising ethical and philosophical questions about the power dynamics between the 'addressant' who knows the truth, and the 'addressee' who is unaware, highlighting the human desire to explore the limits of truth and absurdity.

Pedro Gossler: Fanfic Politics

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Film Art Music Politics Festivals
  1. The post discusses fanfic politics involving various topics like autocratic men, post-truth discussions, and connections between Taylor Swift and oil fields.
  2. Pedro Gossler is featured in the post, which is related to events such as the 68th Oberhausen Short Film Festival, Het Nieuwe Instituut, and Reykjavík Film Festival.
  3. The post delves into themes like the art world, film festivals, and political nuances through the lens of fanfic politics.

The Best Best Picture

Aerial Shot • 0 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Movies Reviews Entertainment
  1. The Academy expanded the number of Best Picture nominees between 2009 and 2021 based on voting percentages.
  2. Yorgos Lanthimos' film 'Poor Things' is praised for its bizarre and offbeat nature.
  3. Greg Gottfried ranks 'Oppenheimer' as the best movie of 2023 and recommends watching it in theaters before the Oscars.

Sarah Chekfa: Viral When You Cry (On Main)

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Social media Emotions Influence Authenticity Trends
  1. Crying selfies have become a trend, representing a range of emotions from deep sadness to joy, with authenticity being a key value for Gen Z.
  2. Posting crying selfies on social media blurs lines between vulnerability, authenticity, and performative behavior, impacting how emotions are shared and perceived online.
  3. The monetization of crying selfies by brands and the viral nature of exaggerated emotional expressions on social media platforms reveal the complex interplay between genuine emotions and commercial interests.

What's this Notorious

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 01 Aug 14
🎭️ Culture Social media Food Internet Pop culture Memes
  1. Defending 'clickbait' can actually be about encouraging people to read valuable content on the internet instead of dismissing everything as worthless.
  2. Chefs have a love-hate relationship with Yelp, feeling it has both ruined and supported them, showing a complex dynamic.
  3. Sharing personal content online can lead to unexpected outcomes, like viral success causing unwanted reactions and responses.

The NYT needs a mathematics editor

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 03 Feb 16
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. The article highlights the importance of understanding numerical data in relation to benchmarks for accurate interpretation.
  2. It emphasizes the responsibility of editors to ensure accurate statistical representation in published content.
  3. The discussion points out the potential for misinformation and the need for nuanced evaluations of data before drawing conclusions.