Carefree Sketches

Carefree Sketches traverses speculative fiction, societal critique, and philosophical reflections, intertwining themes of class dynamics, the malleability of truth, and the interplay of history and cultural practices within a future and contemporary setting. It utilizes narratives of speculative worlds, personal introspection, and social commentary to explore deep and varied themes.

Speculative Fiction Societal Critique Philosophical Reflections Class Dynamics Cultural Practices Personal Introspection Future Technologies Historical Influences

The hottest Substack posts of Carefree Sketches

And their main takeaways

Do You Get The Feeling That Something Is Different

99 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
⚔ Fiction Relationships Memories Happiness
  1. The concept of revisiting past moments and redoing decisions is explored through the idea of returning to save points, sparking a reflection on the ease of changing the course of one's life.
  2. The narrative delves into the complexities of relationships, showing how misunderstandings, miscommunications, and past actions can impact present dynamics and intimacy.
  3. There is a theme of perception and memory, highlighting how individuals may struggle with recognizing changes or differences in themselves or their lives, leading to uncertainty and self-reflection.

Background for The Ingarie Files

59 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
📚 Literature Sci-fi Storytelling Fiction Writing World Building
  1. The Ingarie Files is a collection of stories that present a world set in a post-breakup Nigeria, featuring themes of espionage and cyborg soldiers.
  2. The narratives explore the intricacies of a fictional world through interconnected stories, essays, and reports, weaving a complex and immersive experience for the readers.
  3. The concept of THE INGARIE FILES acts as a jigsaw puzzle where each story piece enriches the depiction of the country across different time periods, offering a deep understanding of the setting.

On Glow, A Pre-Christmas Earwarm

39 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Music Virtual reality Performing Arts Fashion Art
  1. In 2060, the concept of media consumption may evolve to include immersive VR performances of music albums called earwarms.
  2. Earwarms like 'On Glow' integrate live audiences into the experience through AR/VR sessions, setting a new trend in media delivery.
  3. Artists like Ribad collaborate with engineers like MeMo to create interactive and visually immersive performances that blend nostalgia with modernity.

Happy New Year 2024

39 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
📚 Literature Essays Stories Fiction Philosophy
  1. New Year offers a chance to re-enchant ourselves and embrace opportunities for growth.
  2. Consolidating efforts into one space can build momentum, enhance visibility, and reduce logistical inefficiencies.
  3. Creative projects can benefit from being housed together under different categories for increased focus and impact.

Jab, Cross, Hook.

1 HN point • 17 May 24
🎾 Sports Training Fitness
  1. Boxing requires more than just physical prowess; it's a mental game that demands quick instincts and impulse.
  2. Starting boxing involves conditioning and learning basic skills like footwork and defensive techniques.
  3. The boxing gym environment introduces novices to experienced fighters, shows the intensity of sparring sessions, and highlights the need for controlled aggression.
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The Mystic and the Poet

39 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
📚 Literature Poetry Language Philosophy
  1. The mystic and the poet both relate to language in unique ways, with the mystic going deeper into questioning conventional language while the poet focuses on capturing fleeting moments.
  2. The mystic wants a total overhaul of language usage to communicate reality accurately, whereas the poet prefers creating sensory impressions with language.
  3. Prose can act as a mediator between the poet and the mystic, balancing between capturing moments and expressing eternal truths.

TRUE STORY

39 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Truth Reality Perception Existence
  1. Truth is not a one-dimensional concept; it has different levels of validity based on circumstances and perspectives.
  2. Truth can be distorted by stereotypes and outliers, challenging traditional notions and creating new perspectives.
  3. Truth, like a reliable tool, needs to be durable, versatile, and simple to be effective in various situations.

On Platforms: Idle Musings

19 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Platforms Identity Conformity Self-discovery
  1. Prejudices, like living organisms, have a life cycle - from sharp beginnings to slower, transformed stages.
  2. Platforms can shape and influence the development of new ideas, steering them towards a prescribed path.
  3. The requirements and regulations imposed by platforms can lead to conformity and hinder true self-discovery and individual growth.

The Haves and the Havents Part 7

59 implied HN points • 11 Apr 22
🎭️ Culture Wealth Social Class Fashion Society
  1. Indecent displays of wealth can cause suspicion and contempt among different social classes.
  2. There are typically two reactions of the poor upon acquiring wealth: becoming miserly or spending extravagantly, both with their own consequences.
  3. The interplay between the rich, the newly rich, and the poor creates a complex environment of social dynamics, mutual respect, and practicality.

The Haves and the Havents Part 5

39 implied HN points • 02 Jan 22
🍲 Food & Drink Food history Food culture
  1. Food preferences of the wealthy often have historical origins tied to times of scarcity or risk, where consuming aged or rare delicacies was a necessity that evolved into a symbol of extravagance.
  2. The pursuit of unique and potentially dangerous foods represents a delicate balance between risk and reward, highlighting the connection between life, death, and culinary indulgence.
  3. Food culture and gastronomic experiences are often shaped by historical challenges and reflective of societies where indulgence is a luxury reserved for the well-off.

An October Sunset

39 implied HN points • 28 Nov 21
📚 Literature Short Story
  1. Arinze was captivated by a mesmerizing October sunset that stirred various emotions in him.
  2. The fleeting nature of the beautiful sunset made Arinze deeply melancholic yet thrilled with the magic of the moment.
  3. Despite the disappointment at the end of his playtime, Arinze found solace in the calming aftermath of the sunset, realizing that even broken experiences can have a touch of redemption.

The Haves and the Havents: Interlude

19 implied HN points • 22 Jul 22
📖 Philosophy Love Valuation Understanding Human nature
  1. When we say 'I like you' to someone, it involves a certain conceit and value judgment based on rational parameters.
  2. Liking someone involves weighing various values such as amenity, rank, purpose, and affinity, and assigning them a value.
  3. Contrasting 'I like you' with 'I love you,' love is seen as irrational, residing in the heart, while liking is a more reasoned and intellectual process.

The Haves and the Havents Part 4

19 implied HN points • 06 Jul 21
📚 Literature Fiction Analysis Storytelling Characters Themes
  1. Good sex can be a creation from scarcity or novelty, not just abundance. It's not just about size, but how you use what you have.
  2. The interactions between the rich and poor can involve co-opting methods - like staging wealth for status. The Cinderella story reflects a clever deception of scarcity for opportunity.
  3. Class dynamics and prejudices play out in situations where distinctions are made based on novelty and scarcity. The tale of Cinderella demonstrates how the prince's fixation with the slipper symbolizes societal judgments and preferences.

The Haves and the Havents: Part 2

19 implied HN points • 04 Jun 21
🎭️ Culture
  1. In the game of survival, each individual plays to their strengths, leveling the playing field based on their unique approaches to resourcefulness.
  2. The poor focuses on using ingenuity to stay alive, while the rich concentrates on maximizing the potential of available resources, creating a different approach to material wealth.
  3. The poor values utility and survival in resource management, while the rich emphasizes selectivity and efficiency, showcasing contrasting perspectives on material abundance.

The Haves and the Haven'ts (Pt 1)

19 implied HN points • 27 May 21
📖 Philosophy Wealth Creativity Survival
  1. Poverty can lead to creative resourcefulness when there's a lack of surplus.
  2. Having material advantages often makes people into managers, while lacking resources can prompt innovative solutions.
  3. Scarcity encourages the poor to find multiple uses for single items, showcasing resourcefulness and creativity.

With sidelong gazes and carefree sketches

19 implied HN points • 12 May 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Narrative Fiction
  1. The author's Substack, Carefree Sketches, presents everyday life through a unique perspective of 'sidelong gazes and carefree sketches.'
  2. The author, Ebuka Igbokwe, invites readers to reflect on how we present ourselves to others and encourages them to explore his other writings on Medium and Substack.
  3. Readers are encouraged to subscribe to the Carefree Sketches newsletter to not miss the first issue and are prompted to share it with friends.

The Haves and the Havents Part 6

0 implied HN points • 23 Mar 22
🎭️ Culture Art Ceremony Craftsmanship Food
  1. Culture is a curation and elaboration of elements from the past, reflecting interactions between the affluent and less affluent.
  2. The rich set aesthetic standards that the poor strive to meet to gain resources and validation.
  3. The Japanese tea ceremony, _chanoyu_, showcases how artisanship is patronized by the wealthy, creating a system where artisans adapt the rich's preferences in new ways.

BIRTH PANGS

0 implied HN points • 03 Mar 22
⚔ Fiction Fantasy Short Story
  1. The story explores the concept of 'Eternal Recurrence' and the idea of living life all over again.
  2. It delves into the theme of wishes and the consequences of pursuing them without caution.
  3. The narrative touches on rebirth, pain, and the cyclical nature of existence.

A 2019 Joke

0 implied HN points • 14 Jul 21
  1. The movie "The Joker (2019)" is critiqued for focusing on a relatable character instead of a traditional hero like The Joker, leading to a lack of nuance and impact.
  2. The artist's depiction of characters as relatable may limit creativity and narrow our range of feeling, fostering a common, shallow understanding of heroism and villainy.
  3. The portrayal of The Joker as a relatable, psychologically tortured individual deviates from his traditional character as a psychopathic agent of chaos, undermining his menacing and iconic nature.