The hottest Culture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Travis Hunnie: Dark Forests and Student Organizing

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Art Political Activism Education
  1. Starting a student group during a labor dispute involved combining online and offline experiences from dark forest spaces.
  2. Creating a collective space in Discord allowed for trust to develop, enabling risky direct actions like sit-ins and pickets.
  3. Engaging in community organizing work alongside artistic practice led to personal transformation and upcoming exhibition of solidarity experiences.

"Links" Weekend Edition: GET IT?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 16
🎭️ Culture Digital Culture Social media Internet culture
  1. Emoji meanings can sometimes be different from what we expect, for example, the 'goat' emoji can signify 'greatest of all time' as an acronym.
  2. On Fridays, the newsletter changes slightly by offering an ebook of weekly reads along with the regular link roundup, providing a different form of catching up.
  3. The digital culture newsletter includes varied content like articles on Tumblr teens, video-game rehab, Instagram-famous animals, and online mob behavior.
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"Links" Weekend Edition: 15 minutes of fame

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 16
🎭️ Culture Memes Digital Culture Internet Trends Social media
  1. Two legendary memes, involving llamas and dresses, outlasted their 15 minutes of fame.
  2. Questioning whether new memes will ever reach the same level of popularity as the llama and dress memes.
  3. The newsletter provides a roundup of digital culture reads and can be seen as an ebook or accessed through direct links.

"Links" Weekend Edition: Let's put this to rest

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 04 Mar 16
🎭️ Culture Internet Digital Culture
  1. The truth about Hank the Ballpark Pup being killed or stolen and replaced with a lookalike has been debunked by the Milwaukee Brewers' released vet records.
  2. The newsletter provides recommendations for interesting reads related to digital culture, including articles on cyberstalking, Snapchat, and the app store economy.
  3. Readers can download an ebook compilation of the week's recommended reads to catch up on the digital culture topics covered.

Pixel Austerity: Brand Manifesto

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Activism Art Social media Environmentalism Satire
  1. Pixel Austerity promotes reducing online carbon footprint by dithering images, making them less resource-intensive and retro-looking.
  2. The movement challenges the idea of wasteful NFTs and advocates for greener alternatives.
  3. Pixel Austerity critiques performative activism on social media and aims to provoke thoughts on systemic change for a sustainable future.

"Links" Weekend Edition: What's shakin', bacon?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 18 Mar 16
🎭️ Culture Social media Digital Culture Internet Celebrities Fiction
  1. Scientific minds have identified textual cues that indicate someone is drunk, like saying 'pong' or 'Friday.'
  2. The newsletter's weekend edition includes some unique reads and an opportunity to catch up on digital culture through an ebook.
  3. Readers are encouraged to share the newsletter with friends or enemies if they like or dislike it, respectively.

Jakob Maier: Friend

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Entertainment Media Consumption Nostalgia Digital Media Identity
  1. Media consumption plays a significant role in filling the void of loneliness, allowing individuals to form parasocial relationships with characters on the screen.
  2. The ironic memeification and hyper-sincere fan economies of entertainment franchises like Friends showcase how media consumption can become an identity signifier and a meme.
  3. The average American has been spending around 8 hours per day on streaming services during the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating a steady increase in digital media consumption.

c u soon

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 16
🎭️ Culture Internet Media Social media Comedy Literature
  1. Life in the aftermath of a viral death can be unsettling, with media attention sometimes overshadowing helping those affected.
  2. Computers are being taught humor through New Yorker cartoons with trial and error, algorithms, and human input.
  3. Celebrities' online personas can shift over time, like J.K. Rowling transitioning from beloved author to attention-grabbing Twitter presence.

Michael Bikeal: Skitching w/NPCs

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Capitalism Politics Social Change
  1. Psychogeography encourages unconventional ways of engaging with infrastructure to reconnect with more inventive and fun ways of navigating the world.
  2. Skitching involves riding a bicycle and getting pulled by a moving car, offering a unique and thrill-inducing DIY transportation experience.
  3. The concept of NPC memes dehumanizes individuals and reflects a societal struggle with dissociation caused by modern capitalism's impact on our minds and experiences.

If it seems too good to be true THEN IT IS, part 17:

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 05 Apr 16
🎭️ Culture Art & Illustration Fashion & Beauty Internet Tech Photography
  1. Silicon Valley's unheard voices are being highlighted through 'The Techies Project', showcasing minorities in the tech industry.
  2. Be wary of online scams promising discounted designer dresses - if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
  3. Our relationship with photographs is changing as we take more but look at them less, raising questions about the purpose of photography.

NO GOOD

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 11 Apr 16
🎭️ Culture Social Issues Technology Relationships Entertainment Media
  1. The internet can facilitate important discussions and activism, like The Guardian's anti-harassment project.
  2. Online mapmakers, with no formal training, are contributing valuable insights into conflicts in countries like Syria and Yemen.
  3. The dynamics of attractiveness in relationships can vary, with some trends being influenced by online dating apps.

"Links" Weekend Edition: IT'S ON

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 29 Apr 16
🎭️ Culture Internet Literature Social media Technology Digital Culture
  1. The post discusses the dumbest side of humanity seen through websites like Yahoo Answers and Quora.
  2. On Fridays, the newsletter takes a different form, offering an ebook or direct links for catching up on digital culture.
  3. Links included in the post cover various topics like internet changes, laxative teas on Instagram, and Facebook's evolving role.

Maybe people are just shitty. Or maybe it's the Internet's fault.

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 03 May 16
🎭️ Culture Bullying Internet Literature Social media Online behavior
  1. The definition of "bullying" has expanded so much that it's losing its true meaning of powerful people intimidating the powerless.
  2. Online trolling and cyberbullying can have devastating real-life consequences, like disrupting a family's grieving process.
  3. There are instances of heart-wrenching online harassment, but on a lighter note, there's a young food critic making waves on YouTube.

Oh man, I miss 2011

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 08 May 20
🎭️ Culture Movies Literature Books Internet Social media
  1. The author reflects on the current world situation, expressing interest in more dystopian stories that mirror the present fears and explore different responses.
  2. The text includes useful links for wellbeing apps, supporting shuttered clubs, and a source of joy on Twitter related to bookcase credibility.
  3. Book and movie recommendations such as 'Minority Report' and 'Station Eleven' are made for those interested in exploring themes of technology and personal legacies.

[Best of] Top 5 Rubesletters (non-comedy) of the year

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 0 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Comedy Arts Media Society Entertainment
  1. When trying to get votes, calling men toxic too often doesn't work well. It's better to engage with them positively.
  2. Understanding what makes a protest anti-Semitic is crucial to having respectful discussions on sensitive topics.
  3. Music and cultural debates, like those between different bands or genres, can spark interesting conversations and different opinions.

Is 2020 over yet?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 05 Jun 20
🎭️ Culture Social Issues Media Internet Activism Social media
  1. People and brands posting black squares on social media faced criticism for making it about themselves rather than the cause. It's important to question if online actions complement offline efforts for social justice.
  2. The internet's translation challenge in providing COVID-19 information in multiple languages is a significant issue affecting over half of the world's population.
  3. Venezuelans turning to selling Runescape currency for income showcases an interesting shift to a virtual economy during real-world economic challenges.

And yet … here I am, hustling on Substack

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 01 Aug 20
🎭️ Culture Internet Media Social Issues Pop culture Entertainment
  1. The "hustle economy" has emerged during the pandemic, leading people to sell various services online like classes, podcasts, and newsletters.
  2. With the rise of streaming services like Netflix, the concept of what makes a "blockbuster" has evolved, blurring traditional definitions of popular culture.
  3. MSCHF, known for creating viral products, represents a throwback to a whimsical internet era, despite operating in a more commercialized current landscape.

The news ain't all bad

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 05 Aug 20
🎭️ Culture Social Issues Music Internet culture Entertainment Food & Drink
  1. TikTok has faced issues of Black appropriation, and creators utilize the platform for social causes like climate change and racism education.
  2. Cottagecore is a trending aesthetic embraced by Taylor Swift, covered by different sources in relation to music and fashion.
  3. Ed Yong's latest article delves into the failures of America during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mentally I am here

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 28 Aug 20
🎭️ Culture Internet Media Politics Social Issues Entertainment
  1. QAnon has transitioned from an odd internet phenomenon to mainstream politics and culture.
  2. There are thought-provoking articles and profiles to explore, from personal interviews to explorations of evolving cities.
  3. The newsletter features a variety of interesting topics, from the racial undertones in reaction videos to the black market for white sage.

Sam Stewart: The Rise and Fall of the American Valkist Party

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Politics Online Communities Youth culture
  1. Roblox serves as a platform where niche political groups, like the American Valkist Party, can develop their beliefs and ideologies through role play.
  2. The line between virtual and real-world politics can blur, especially in online communities like Roblox, where individuals can imagine and experiment with new political systems.
  3. LARPing in spaces like Roblox can lead to the evolution of new political ideologies and positions as manifestos are written, actions are planned, and group identities are formed.

A long-time open secret

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 28 May 21
🎭️ Culture Social media Communities Influencers Internet culture
  1. The writer finds little joy in personal internet use, despite being an internet writer for a decade
  2. Finding comfort after a loss in an unexpected online dog community showcases the power of shared experiences online
  3. Shared interests can lead to strong online connections, even in unexpected places like workout groups or pet groups

Too pretty, too famous

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 04 Jun 21
🎭️ Culture Social media Internet culture Media Art Entertainment
  1. Thompson, a famous beekeeper, faced criticism on social media for the way she presents herself, sparking discussions on authenticity and stereotypes in beekeeping.
  2. People portraying their lives on social media often present a glamorized version of reality, leading to questions about authenticity and representation.
  3. Criticism based on appearances can be problematic and may reflect deeper societal issues, as seen in various online controversies related to famous individuals.

Everybody can own themselves

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jun 21
🎭️ Culture Technology Social media Current Events Internet Entertainment
  1. People can buy shares in others on platforms like BitClout, leading to a trend of 'financializing people.'
  2. Monetizing every aspect of someone's life raises questions about incentivizing behavior and the impact on undercompensated individuals.
  3. The rise of platforms like BitClout and NFTs leads to creators making money from previously unpaid actions like having interesting ideas and avoiding scandals.

Let’s not get meta about it

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jul 21
🎭️ Culture Influencers Internet culture Politics Social media Art
  1. The newsletter mentions interesting articles to read, like one about a scamming influencer and another about 'main character energy'.
  2. There is an article highlighted on parasocial friendships that readers might find intriguing.
  3. The newsletter also touches on evolving social media trends, like the shift in trolling practices and the rise of 'anti-MAGA trolls'.

Talking grief and Goodreads with "Seeing Ghosts" author Kat Chow

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 24 Aug 21
🎭️ Culture Literature Memoir Writing Grief Family
  1. Writing a book can be a profound process of navigating grief and loss, shaping personal identity, and connecting with family history.
  2. Publishing a memoir can be a vulnerable experience as the book's narrative becomes open to interpretation and projection by readers.
  3. A memoir reflects a part, not all, of the author's life, offering a narrative with a collection of memories that mirror the complexity of grief.

Keep on Dancing

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 10 May 20
🎭️ Culture Dance
  1. The post is about sharing a zippy video on Facebook in honor of Mother's Day.
  2. The author encourages others to keep on dancing.
  3. The post includes the author's Substack link.