Joshua Citarella's Newsletter

Joshua Citarella's Newsletter explores the intersection of digital culture, social media dynamics, art, and politics. It delves into the implications of platform competition, the role of irony in Gen Z politics, fitness guidance, the speculative future of society, and the impact of internet subcultures on political discourse.

Social Media Dynamics Art and Creativity Political Discourse and Ideologies Fitness and Wellness Internet Subcultures Future Societal Trends

The hottest Substack posts of Joshua Citarella's Newsletter

And their main takeaways

A Letter to Young Creatives

668 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
  1. Artistic practice involves interruptions and side quests along the way.
  2. The important work may not be recognized until many years later.
  3. Do not limit your art to a specific context, as the future of art institutions is uncertain.

InfoGoop

471 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
  1. The artist explored consensus in polarized spaces through his work on alternative health products sold on InfoWars and Goop.
  2. He conducted auto-experiments by trying different supplements, emphasizing the importance of diet and exercise for wellness.
  3. Photographs of wellness products challenge consumer identities and reflect on the construction of truth in photography.

My Book Recommendations 🎄🎁

334 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
  1. Joshua Citarella shares his book recommendations for the season.
  2. He offers insight into his courses and syllabi that resemble university material.
  3. The reading list meme format is an effective way to propagate material to new audiences.

Watch My Video Lecture

235 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
  1. The post promotes a video lecture on 'extremely online politics'.
  2. The lecture was presented at FWBfest in Idyllwild, CA.
  3. Joshua Citarella's work and research over the years is summarized in the video.

Platform Wars (part 4): A Public Option for Social Media

511 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
  1. Having a public option for social media can help maintain regulatory control, user privacy, and democratic consensus.
  2. Implementing digital postage can help fund the public option for social media and encourage more thoughtful and meaningful online interactions.
  3. StateBook aims to bring unique features like civil servant moderation, limited 'Likes', and a data marketplace to create a different online social experience.
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The Platform Wars

1081 implied HN points • 10 May 23
  1. Social media platforms are entering a phase of intense competition for data and users.
  2. Creators may need to prioritize posting on select platforms as features become exclusive to specific platforms.
  3. The future of social media may involve more niche and specialized platforms, leading to a less divisive media landscape.

Spectacular Hyper-Commodification

255 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
  1. Theorygram is a subculture merging teenage meme posters exploring political theory due to online speech restrictions.
  2. The future ideologies involve drastic reduction in production to limit climate change and abolishing spectacle.
  3. The envisioned future society includes communal production of goods, no work, and nuclear energy usage.

Fitness Program & Syllabus: Summer 2023

530 implied HN points • 06 Jul 23
  1. This fitness program is for intermediate weight lifters and requires completion of previous syllabi for foundational knowledge.
  2. The program includes the use of progressive overload, taking notes for progress tracking, and specific instructions for each exercise.
  3. Consistency, gradual progression, and proper diet are key to maximizing results in this 15-week fitness program.

Platform Wars (part 3): Banning TikTok

353 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
  1. TikTok's data security and influence in geopolitics are major concerns due to its extensive data collection and potential alignment with the Chinese government.
  2. Differences in geopolitical blocks can lead to varying levels of censorship and political narratives on social media platforms.
  3. American platforms are preparing for a potential TikTok ban by investing in alternatives and shaping political consensus through alternative media.

Platform Wars (part 2): Twitter & the Blue Check

511 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
  1. Ad-driven models of social media lead to controversy and divisive content for engagement.
  2. Human moderation on social media platforms should be accessible and affordable for content creators.
  3. Trustworthy verification, like the blue check on Twitter, is crucial for ensuring authenticity in online interactions.

Irony Politics & Gen Z (part 1)

334 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
  1. Gen Z holds conservative values and progressive movements simultaneously
  2. Irony is used as a cultural strategy under late capitalism
  3. Teens are becoming politicized due to a world in crisis

Irony Politics & Gen Z (part 2)

275 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
  1. Edgy teens on TikTok are expressing dissatisfaction but are not yet politicized.
  2. Counter-narratives are important to recruit young people into leftist political projects.
  3. Memes play a significant role in forming the political views of young individuals on platforms like TikTok.

e-deologies IV, 2023

255 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
  1. E-deology is a term for complex ideological labels in online politics
  2. Various hyper-specific political labels like Anarcho-Transhumanist Solarpunk and New Federal State of China exist
  3. Ideologies like Anarcho-Pacifist Egoism and Young Americans for Liberty showcase diverse political perspectives

Unconditional Accelerationism

255 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
  1. Unconditional accelerationism advocates for accelerating societal processes regardless of the outcomes.
  2. Influenced by thinkers like Marx, unconditional accelerationism prioritizes the deterritorialization of society.
  3. Predictions for the future include increasing political extremism, economic inequality, and a shift towards decentralized networks.

Anti-Democratic Transhumanism

235 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
  1. The future could hold advancements in human-machine interfacing and digital immortality.
  2. Predictions for the future include 3D printed organs, genetically modified humans, and cyber terrorism.
  3. There may be changes in job markets, transportation, food production, and energy use in the future society.

Are Internet Subcultures the New Punk Rock?

2 HN points • 25 Jan 24
  1. The rise of internet subcultures is comparable to the impact of punk rock.
  2. Social media can be a platform for political education and engagement.
  3. Engaging with young online political subcultures is key to steering away from irony and nihilism.