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

Strategic design and the 2016 US presidential election

0 implied HN points • 06 Nov 16
  1. MacGuffins can trigger big changes by powerful people from small actions by those with less power.
  2. Hillary Clinton used small policy changes as MacGuffins to create a big societal shift.
  3. Clinton was seen as the innovative choice for president, aiming for a balance between no-ceiling-high-floor.

In which DFW & I explore Chinese beauty app Meitu

0 implied HN points • 16 Dec 16
  1. The IPO of Chinese beauty app Meitu embodies innovation, glamour, and recursion.
  2. Meitu blurs fact and fiction by mirroring quotes from news articles and 'Infinite Jest'.
  3. Despite claims of promoting happiness, Meitu primarily focuses on making profits through image retouching.

Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors

0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 17
  1. Yayoi Kusama's work creates illusions of vast magical landscapes in small spaces.
  2. Exhibition Infinity Mirrors is popular due to its interactive and Instagrammable nature.
  3. Kusama's art at Hirshhorn Museum blends recursion, innovation, mythology, and glamour.

Many Loops Magazine

0 implied HN points • 13 Jan 19
  1. An article was republished in a new magazine about recursion.
  2. The magazine is exploring the use of machine learning to produce content.
  3. AI may play a role in the evolution of the magazine over time.

Welcome to Quite Useless

0 implied HN points • 05 May 21
  1. The post is introducing a newsletter called 'quite useless' by a. natasha joukovsky
  2. The newsletter includes updates about the author's upcoming novel 'THE PORTRAIT OF A MIRROR'
  3. Readers are encouraged to sign up to not miss the first issue and to share with friends
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Delpozo, Westworld, and futuristic nostalgia

0 implied HN points • 22 Oct 16
  1. Delpozo SS17 collection draws inspiration from both sci-fi futurism and Victorian nostalgia.
  2. Technical innovation in 'Westworld' focuses on mimicking and blending organic elements with technology.
  3. 'Westworld' cleverly blends future innovation with nostalgic Wild West themes, appealing to current audiences.

Rapid-prototyping life

0 implied HN points • 22 Dec 16
  1. What we think we want in life may differ from what we actually want
  2. Rapid prototyping is valuable for testing reactions with low investment
  3. Trying out different living situations can provide valuable insights for future decisions

Inauguration 2017: sartorial subtext

0 implied HN points • 20 Jan 17
  1. Inaugural attire can carry symbolic meanings and political messages
  2. Color choices in clothing can convey unity and personal perspectives
  3. Fashion can be a subtle way to express support or dissent in public roles

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 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.

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.