quite useless

The 'quite useless' Substack explores art, literature, social dynamics, and the impact of digital media through in-depth analyses. It delves into how branding, societal roles, and consumerism intersect with personal identity and creativity, offering critiques on contemporary culture, desire, and the superficiality inherent in modern life.

Art and Literature Critique Social and Cultural Analysis Digital Media and Consumerism Personal Identity and Creativity Branding and Marketing Societal Roles and Dynamics

The hottest Substack posts of quite useless

And their main takeaways

A bit too wet for me in the end

452 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Film Literature Critique Social norms
  1. The film 'Saltburn' cleverly explores class dynamics through traditional characters and allusions.
  2. 'Saltburn' effectively leverages its setting to provide keen social observation and moral inquiry.
  3. 'Triangle of Sadness' suffers from a lack of cleverness in its script, leading to failed attempts at role reversal and humor.

Masters of Atlantis

294 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🏝 Travel Experience Food Entertainment Accommodation
  1. The weather in Atlantis was perfect and helped improve the child's eczema.
  2. The resort had different areas and guest privileges based on colored wristbands.
  3. The food at the resort was expensive, but the son found entertainment in various activities like viewing aquariums and playing with Legos.
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Big racks

412 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Social Issues Inequality Social media
  1. Arms races can lead to inefficiencies and waste, like in economic and beauty standards competition.
  2. Positional social competition can create pressure and dissatisfaction even among winners.
  3. Implementing progressive consumption tax can help reduce material and digital arms races by altering spending behaviors and neutralizing competitive dynamics.

Spare rooms

314 implied HN points • 04 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Literature Travel Food & Drink Parenting Music
  1. The author finds glamour in solitude and imagination while living in a spare, retro space.
  2. The town of Lewes, DE offers historical charm, convenience, and good dining options in a small setting.
  3. The author enjoys simple pleasures like turkey sandwiches and interacting with locals at a beachside restaurant.

The DIY writing residency

452 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
📚 Literature Writing Residency Creativity Career Personal Growth
  1. Persistence in writing is important, but flexibility and adaptation are key.
  2. Consider finding your own way to create the ideal writing environment instead of traditional residency programs.
  3. Choosing a well-paying job unrelated to your passion can provide stability and the freedom to pursue your creative endeavors without being solely dependent on them.

Fame’s inflection point

393 implied HN points • 19 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Art Literature Fame Biography
  1. The summer of 'the riddle of the artist' explores the relationship between art and the biographies of artists.
  2. Artists' biographies often follow archetypal narratives like rags to riches and autodidacism.
  3. Passing fame's inflection point means the value of an artist's work derives more from who they are than what they create.

The Theory of the Leisure Class on Instagram

452 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Social media Influencers Artificial Intelligence Fashion Satire
  1. The internet phase of culture is driven by recursion, accelerating social cycles and shifting tastes rapidly.
  2. Instagram has evolved from reflecting real-world consumption and leisure to a curated space for projecting digital honorific waste.
  3. Strategies such as humor, conspicuous crap, hypercuration, and outsourcing signal a shift away from the pursuit of illusory perfection on Instagram.

Whistler’s MILF

334 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🎭️ Culture Art Restaurants Literature Theater
  1. Visiting storied restaurants for lunch at off-peak times can offer the same menu at a discount.
  2. Opera at the Metropolitan Opera showcases phenomenal music and acoustics, making it a must-visit for Mozart enthusiasts.
  3. Attending live performances, like the play 'A Doll's House,' can provide an intense emotional experience and a chance to see brilliant acting.

Twitter’s King Lear

353 implied HN points • 08 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media Platforms User engagement
  1. Substack announced a new feature called Notes, prompting a negative response from Twitter.
  2. Twitter disabled embedding, likes, and retweets of Substack links, leading to backlash from Substack writers.
  3. The conflict between Substack and Twitter highlights the importance of understanding the nature of platforms and not alienating loyal users.

High low

314 implied HN points • 14 May 23
📚 Literature Plot Character Genre Novel
  1. The novels 'The Line of Beauty' and 'Malibu Rising' both challenge traditional narrative dynamics about messy rich people.
  2. Frye's Theory of Modes categorizes stories by hero's power of action, including 'high mimetic' and 'low mimetic' modes.
  3. The mix of high and low elements in novels like 'The Line of Beauty' and 'Malibu Rising' help neutralize moral scrutiny and engage readers.

The most sophisticated horny schoolboy in art history’s catalogue

157 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history Symbolism Literature
  1. The post discusses a catalogue of Aubrey Beardsley's work and focuses on the intricate details of shoes and feet in his art.
  2. The analysis explores the symbolism and ambiguity of empty shoes in Beardsley's art, connecting them to themes of conquest and femininity.
  3. Artistic choices like the depiction of shoes and feet in Beardsley's work point to deeper themes of sexuality and power within his art.

Hello darkness, my old friend

117 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
📚 Literature Fiction Art & Illustration
  1. The post shares an excerpt from Julia Fine's novel, Maddalena and the Dark.
  2. The excerpt delves into the dynamics and complexities of relationships among young girls in a historical setting.
  3. The author creates a vivid backdrop of Venice and the Ospedale della Pietà, painting a rich picture of the characters' lives.

The thrill & treachery of publishing a novel

255 implied HN points • 17 Jun 21
  1. Publishing a novel can be thrilling but also treacherous.
  2. Connecting with other authors and readers can be a significant benefit of publishing.
  3. Success in publishing can lead to shifting goal posts and critiques of the industry's focus.

Deceit, Desire, and the Novel Part 2(x2)

157 implied HN points • 22 Nov 21
  1. Girard discusses the analysis of Proust's work and the criticism it faces for focusing on narrow social milieus.
  2. The 2x2 chart visualizes and compares idealism, realism, Marxism, and snobbism in art and literature.
  3. Sally Rooney's novel and characters reflect post-snobbism, Marxist values, and the interplay between material and metaphysical desires in contemporary literature.

The creative class against itself

176 implied HN points • 27 Aug 21
  1. Some articles critique the creative class from within, highlighting their privilege and complicity.
  2. Calls for dismantling systems of privilege may inadvertently reinforce the existing power structures.
  3. Criticism can be valuable for self-reflection, but political usefulness shouldn't overshadow the inherent value of art and writing.

War of ego

98 implied HN points • 02 Mar 22
  1. Hardship can reveal true nature of a person, for better or worse.
  2. War driven by ego is horrific and ultimately futile.
  3. In the face of atrocity, it's important to remember the shared humanity of all involved.

A literary guide to luxury bathrobes

98 implied HN points • 17 Dec 21
  1. Luxury bathrobes have a paradoxical quality, being glamorous and intimate at the same time.
  2. Recommendations for luxury bathrobes include the 'Amal Robe' by Loro Piana, 'Capability Silk Satin Robe' by Olivia von Halle, and the 'Chunky Wool Belted Robe' by Lunya.
  3. A classic and darling option for bathrobes is the 'Navy Flannel Robe with White Piping' by Petite Plume.

Deceit, Desire, and the Novel Part 1

98 implied HN points • 06 Oct 21
  1. Reading a book that resonates with you can make you feel less alone.
  2. Girard argues that desire is imitative and shows predictable dynamics in novels.
  3. Novels illustrate the complexities of desire and relationships, unraveling themes like metaphysical desire.

Lighter fare

58 implied HN points • 17 Mar 22
  1. The paperback edition of 'The Portrait of a Mirror' will be in bookstores on May 10, 2022 with a new cover design.
  2. When it comes to ski style, mastering form is as important as following fashion trends.
  3. Guiding principles for ski gear and attire include valuing longevity, embracing wear and tear, and preferring modular outfits for flexibility.

Gossip Girl in the Metaverse

58 implied HN points • 15 Jul 21
  1. Mimetic desire drives drama in Gossip Girl, where characters imitate each other's desires.
  2. Gossip Girl reboot maintains mimetic rivalries despite woke narrative changes.
  3. The Metaverse blurs lines between life and simulation, shaping immersive social media interactions.

Beware the frozen art

39 implied HN points • 14 Jan 22
  1. The path to a meaningful life lies in embracing the finitude of time and enjoying its imposed limits.
  2. Leisure's appeal can be found in surrendering to chance possession and embracing moments of balmy calm.
  3. Literature and personal passions can bring equanimity even when experiences unfold contrary to plans.

It's Pub Day for THE PORTRAIT OF A MIRROR

58 implied HN points • 01 Jun 21
  1. Debut novel, The Portrait of a Mirror, available now
  2. Virtual book tour starting on June 3rd
  3. Book received positive recognition from various sources

T-3 weeks to THE PORTRAIT OF A MIRROR

19 implied HN points • 11 May 21
  1. Debut novel "The Portrait of a Mirror" has a beautiful animated cover and stunning physical design.
  2. Consider preordering the hardcover format for the full experience.
  3. Author will be hosting virtual book tour events in early June.

Selling anti-consumerism

98 implied HN points • 01 Feb 17
  1. Selling anti-consumerism involves selling the absence and promoting minimalism.
  2. Exposing and empathizing with consumers' issues with consumerism builds trust and loyalty.
  3. Anti-consumerism can be a form of consumption itself, where buying things symbolizes rejecting materialism.

Why we love stories about messy rich people

2 HN points • 20 Apr 23
📚 Literature Character analysis
  1. Readers have conflicting views on novels about wealthy characters, some loving the genre while others express dislike.
  2. The structure of 'messy rich people' narratives often revolves around characters having many choices, making decisions in the face of numerous possibilities.
  3. Literary preferences for choice plots (characters making things happen) versus no-choice plots (things happening to characters) can correlate with aestheticism versus moralism in storytelling.

Midway through the journey of...my novel

39 implied HN points • 21 Jun 17
  1. The author is halfway into writing her first novel titled 'Recursion' which combines her pet themes and ideas collected from her journal.
  2. The writing process involves non-linear ideation, sequential drafting, and constant refinement through editing and brainstorming.
  3. Receiving feedback from readers, exploring different writing styles, and accepting imperfection are key elements in the novel writing journey.

Arcade Fire is obsessed with recursion, too

19 implied HN points • 18 Sep 17
  1. Arcade Fire's album and tour combine anti-consumerism with disco-pop music.
  2. The band's use of recursion in their themes and marketing campaigns is prominent.
  3. Musically and conceptually, Arcade Fire's album 'Everything Now' is well-received.

A brief history of manufactured nonchalance

19 implied HN points • 19 Apr 17
  1. Modern culture has a fascination with manufactured nonchalance
  2. The concept of sprezzatura goes back to Castiglione's 'The Book of the Courtier'
  3. Social media has heightened the prevalence of manufactured nonchalance in our lives

Recursion: the remix to cognition

19 implied HN points • 19 Sep 16
  1. Recursion transcends academic disciplines and unites art and nature.
  2. Recursion may be a fundamental linguistic and cognitive function unique to humans.
  3. Recursion is found in various forms in art, literature, mathematics, and computer science.

An English-major-turned-consultant's guide to right now

0 implied HN points • 14 Feb 17
  1. Author feels offended by President Trump's disregard for facts
  2. Author is concerned about the negative portrayal of fiction by President Trump
  3. Author discusses the impact of current events on their writing process

THE PORTRAIT OF A MIRROR

0 implied HN points • 17 Mar 20
  1. The post discusses a novel titled 'The Portrait of a Mirror.'
  2. The author's novel announcement is featured in Publisher's Marketplace.
  3. The post includes various sharing options like Facebook and Email.

The Super Bowl's winning ad is ingeniously recursive

0 implied HN points • 07 Feb 18
  1. People loved the Tide Super Bowl ad for its parody and humor.
  2. Repetition and recursion made the Tide ad stand out and go viral online.
  3. The clever use of recursion by P&G and Saatchi & Saatchi made the campaign successful and memorable.

The Poleax

0 implied HN points • 07 Mar 17
  1. The concept of realistic fiction can blur the line between fact and fiction.
  2. Mimesis in art can create worlds that feel real, similar to post-truth propaganda.
  3. High-fidelity fiction and low-/no-fidelity representations of reality share similarities in creating believable worlds.