The hottest Culture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

Best of 2024

Obvious Bicycle • 723 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Music Art Literature Media Events
  1. The best of 2024 includes a wide range of media like songs, movies, and books that made an impact. It's great to keep track of what we've enjoyed over the year.
  2. Live events like concerts and stand-up shows are memorable experiences that often stand out. They bring joy and a sense of community.
  3. Quotes from various sources can inspire us and offer different perspectives on life. They remind us to think deeply and reflect on our experiences.

Big Dumb Adventure Housekeeping Updates

Splattern • 79 implied HN points • 02 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Personal Growth Travel Writing Adventure Community Engagement Life lessons
  1. The blog rebranding from Splattern to Big Dumb Adventure is complete, making it easier to share new adventures. It's an exciting fresh start!
  2. A fundraiser for building a children's cancer hospital in sub-Saharan Africa has launched, highlighting a meaningful cause to support.
  3. It's important not to stress too much about life decisions. Things will fall into place when the time is right, so focus on enjoying the journey.
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Deconstructing the Hegemony; Reconstructing the Pluriverse — I

Pluriversal Planet • 314 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Civilization Narrative Decolonization Humanity
  1. The hegemonic narrative is collapsing, challenging individuals to redefine their beliefs and stand for a different world where many worlds can coexist.
  2. Human consciousness is undergoing a significant shift, urging people to confront the oppressive systems of the past and choose a path towards creativity, selflessness, and consciousness.
  3. The concept of Pluriverse emphasizes the coexistence of diverse worldviews and interconnectedness, offering a new perspective on how to rebuild civilization along more inclusive and interconnected lines.

Rural Radicals – a path to non-urban revitalisation

City Quitters • 199 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Community Development Cultural Institutions
  1. Rural Radicals helps connect creative people to empty buildings in the countryside, making it easier to turn them into community spaces. This can help both the artists and the villages by bringing new life and activities.
  2. Many rural areas are struggling with declining populations and decaying buildings, so finding ways to revitalize these places is important. Young people often leave for cities, leading to economic issues and less diverse communities.
  3. The initiative aims to avoid gentrification by ensuring newcomers engage with and support the local community. Open dialogue and collaboration between locals and newcomers can help build a stronger sense of community.

Wars of the Sexes

In My Tribe • 820 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Gender Issues Social Change Human Rights Cultural Conflict Feminism
  1. Cultural conflicts often arise between men and women, but not everyone fits neatly into one side or the other. It's more about which side certain people feel connected to.
  2. Women's movements like suffrage and temperance had a huge impact historically, but not every cause gained lasting support. For example, the end of Prohibition showed a shift in societal values.
  3. There's a growing trend in institutions towards more feminine values, but this can create tension. Ideally, we should find a way for masculine and feminine values to coexist peacefully and appreciate each other.

Conclave is an M. Night Shyamalan Movie for Viewers Who Want to Feel Sophisticated

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 814 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Film Literature Art Media Entertainment
  1. Conclave is a film that tries to appeal to an audience that enjoys complex stories. It presents itself as sophisticated and intriguing.
  2. The movie features a twist ending that many viewers may find unearned or silly. This can leave a frustrating impression on the overall experience.
  3. While the film has decent elements, it may not live up to the expectations set by other movies in the genre, particularly those by M. Night Shyamalan.

Marriage isn't the solution

Men Yell at Me • 217 implied HN points • 10 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Marriage Gender Roles LGBTQ Rights Family Dynamics Social Issues
  1. Marriage rates are influenced by women's economic independence, which helps reduce divorce rates. When women have more choices, they tend to stay in marriages that are beneficial.
  2. The uptick in marriage can also be linked to changing views on relationships, such as the acceptance of same-sex marriage. These trends show a push for personal happiness over traditional norms.
  3. Arguing that marriage is the solution to social problems often ignores the need for broader support systems like healthcare and childcare. True stability comes from empowering individuals, not enforcing outdated roles.

Mississippi Mud

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper • 477 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Memoir Childhood
  1. Living near the beach in Biloxi, Mississippi wasn't what it seemed for a family struggling in the summer of 1980.
  2. Childhood creativity and imagination can serve as a powerful escape from hunger, boredom, and pain.
  3. Memories of making Mississippi mud pies symbolize resilience in the face of struggle and the ability to find joy in difficult circumstances.

The End of Rebel Wisdom and What's Next

The Bigger Picture • 1178 implied HN points • 18 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Media Society Philosophy Community Creativity
  1. Rebel Wisdom is coming to an end, but new initiatives are on the horizon with a focus on sensemaking, philosophy, and cultural context.
  2. David will collaborate with Perspectiva on a new project in 2023, recasting Rebel Wisdom's YouTube channel and courses.
  3. Alexander will continue with a new Substack called 'The Bigger Picture' starting from tomorrow, featuring exclusive content on trauma, heterodoxy, and pop culture.

Energy in the gap

Austin Kleon • 1578 implied HN points • 11 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Creativity Art Literature Philosophy Design
  1. Creative tension is the gap between what you create and what you wish to create. It's common for beginners to feel disappointed because their work doesn't match their high standards.
  2. Everyone starts somewhere, and it's important to push through the awkward early stages of creativity. Many people give up here, but sticking with it is key to improvement.
  3. Reading and learning from others can help process your own creative thoughts. Books often show us that our ideas are not as original as we think.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 80

Why is this interesting? • 60 implied HN points • 22 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Art Music Literature Travel Food
  1. Crying can be a good release for emotions, and it helps people feel better in real life too. It's okay to let your feelings out sometimes.
  2. There's a strange commercial flight in America that connects two very quiet airports, even though it doesn’t make much economic sense. It shows how some things are about more than just money.
  3. Joan Didion was very serious about hosting Thanksgiving, paying attention to every little detail. This shows how much love and care can go into making traditions special.

Leaving my full-time job

Tech and Tea • 772 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Life Changes Personal Growth Work-life balance Celebration Mindfulness
  1. Celebrating big changes doesn't always mean throwing a party. Sometimes, just having time to relax and think is the best way to celebrate.
  2. It's okay to do things that seem unimportant. These little joys can make us happy and should be valued too.
  3. We often push ourselves to be productive all the time. It's nice to take breaks and enjoy simple pleasures without the pressure to always be working.

Now, smol kitty

Disaffected Newsletter • 1079 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Pets Narrative Companionship Personal Stories
  1. Mina is a small cat who was adopted and had a tough start in life, being the smallest of her litter. She really depends on her new owner for love and support.
  2. Mina is very affectionate and trusts her owner completely, unlike how she is with others who take time to warm up to her.
  3. Mina and her big brother Shredder have a playful relationship, often chasing each other and cuddling together after their fun times.

Labor and wait

Austin Kleon • 1758 implied HN points • 26 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Art Music Literature Movies Communication
  1. Patience is key in the creative process. Sometimes, you just have to put in the work and wait for the results.
  2. Art and creativity can often be inspired by what we experience in life and what we consume, whether it's books, movies, or music.
  3. Sharing and discussing what you love helps you connect with others. There’s value in sharing your thoughts and favorites with friends.

Attitudes one can take towards people who have behaved badly

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 875 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Social norms Ethics Human behavior Communication Philosophy
  1. Social punishment is a natural part of how humans interact, helping to enforce a social contract. It can feel too harsh or unjust at times, but it still serves a purpose.
  2. There's a tricky balance in discussing the ideas of people who have done bad things. We need to find ways to remember their contributions without overlooking their wrongdoings.
  3. It's important to correct the record if someone is proven innocent after being publicly condemned. Reputations can suffer permanently, and it’s crucial to acknowledge when we've gotten things wrong.

Sending Our Problems Downstream

OK Doomer • 225 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Behavioral Science Social Issues Mental health Kindness
  1. People often pass their negative feelings to others instead of dealing with them. It’s like a cycle where one person's bad mood affects another.
  2. We’re facing deeper issues than just loneliness; we're not giving ourselves enough space to feel safe and cared for. This can lead to increased aggression and disconnection in society.
  3. Doing small acts of kindness can help us regain a sense of control and connection in a world that feels chaotic and hostile. It's important to clean up our reactions rather than pass on our frustrations.

You're Never Going to Be Original! (And Neither Am I)

Default Wisdom • 222 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Writing Media Plagiarism Influence Audience
  1. Originality isn't everything for writers. Instead, it's about how well you can market your ideas and connect with your audience.
  2. Many writers face idea theft, but it's often just a matter of timing and who presents an idea first, rather than straightforward copying.
  3. Success today relies more on adaptability than being original. The best writers understand their audience and keep creating content consistently.

A war on Stuff

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 319 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Minimalism Consumerism Psychology Aging Design
  1. Stuff can pile up because we think it might be useful later, but most of it just makes life messy and stressful. It's easy to lose track of things when we have too much stored away.
  2. Things are cheap and easy to buy nowadays, leading to lots of excess stuff that often isn’t worth keeping. This leads to clutter that can cause problems if it gets out of hand.
  3. To manage stuff better, we need to be proactive about it. This means designing our spaces and habits to prevent clutter from building up in the first place.

Pharrell Is In His Bag

HIDDEN.RSRCH • 491 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Fashion
  1. Pharrell won the Council of Fashion Designers of America's Style Icon award in 2015.
  2. Kanye West introduced Pharrell at the event.
  3. Kanye West gave a concise speech that didn't steal the spotlight.

Britain's sinking reputation

Wrong Side of History • 669 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Diaspora Politics Identity Nostalgia Cultural Studies
  1. Some people in the Anglo diaspora feel let down by Britain and its changing reputation. They look back at the old days with a mix of nostalgia and disappointment.
  2. Diaspora politics can be complicated, as it’s often based on memories rather than the current reality in the home country. Feelings about cultural issues can be influenced by generations of distance.
  3. The idea of cultural appropriation is shaped by individuals who have embraced new cultures while losing touch with their own roots. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflict.

When Auschwitz Becomes a Theme Park

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 644 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Film Tourism History Memory Trauma
  1. Tourism at Holocaust sites like Auschwitz can feel wrong and disrespectful to many people. It's strange to combine such serious history with entertainment.
  2. The movie 'A Real Pain' explores the impact of the Holocaust on future generations and how it shapes their identities. It's a personal story about understanding family and history.
  3. There's a disconnect in Poland where some people feel distant or unwelcoming toward Jewish history and culture, which can lead to a cold atmosphere during visits. This ambivalence is troubling for many visitors.

When poor people occupy land without paying, it’s squatting. When the rich do it, it’s parking

The Newsletter of (Not Quite) Everything • 491 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Books Society Global Issues Transportation Environment
  1. When poor people occupy land without paying, it's called squatting. When the rich do it, it's labeled as parking.
  2. The growth of cars and road infrastructure in cities like Mumbai mirrors past mistakes made in the West.
  3. Car ownership, particularly in developing countries, poses environmental and economic challenges that need addressing.

All the Internet's a Stage

Trying In Public • 159 implied HN points • 28 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Digital Presence Self-doubt Expression
  1. Content creation is a form of public speaking, online platforms offer a stage for sharing expertise.
  2. Fear of judgment and visibility online is common, leading to digital stage fright and reluctance to share.
  3. Despite challenges, seeking common ground with others attempting similar feats can provide comfort and remind us that we are not alone in the online space.

15 things I consumed this week

Maybe Baby • 680 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Media Entertainment Trends Personal Social
  1. People are consuming a lot of different media each week. It's interesting to see what others are watching, reading, or listening to.
  2. Oral histories and interviews can provide deep insights into culture and entertainment. They can be both fascinating and sometimes a bit sad to reflect on.
  3. Entertainment news and celebrity gossip can spark discussions and speculation among fans. It's fun to wonder about the lives of celebrities, like if Kylie is pregnant.