Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet $5 / month

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet delves into the complexities of human culture, art, and philosophy against the backdrop of modernity. It explores themes like the clash between tradition and innovation, the nuanced impacts of technology on society and individual identity, and the deep philosophical questions surrounding morality, time, and death.

Culture and Art Philosophy and Morality Technology and Society Literature and Writing Identity and Personal Development Historical Perspectives Human Experiences and Emotions

The hottest Substack posts of Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet

And their main takeaways
362 implied HN points β€’ 17 Mar 24
  1. The article discusses the Siberian Battalion, a group of fighters from various Turkic and Mongolic ethnic groups in Russia fighting against their own country, with a focus on a soldier named Vargan.
  2. The text delves into the historical and cultural significance of the mouth harp, known as the 'Vargan', connecting it to traditional Sakha culture and the broader history of musical instruments.
  3. Kant's writings on Laplanders and Yakuts highlight his observations on ecosystemic balance and the interconnection between relative and absolute ends in nature, showing his perspective on northern cultures and regions.
466 implied HN points β€’ 12 Mar 24
  1. Data produced in just one minute in 2023 was 169,371 times more than produced in the entire 18th century.
  2. The analogy of
  3. pissing into the ocean
  4. implies the massive amount of data being generated daily being like a drop in the vast ocean.
  5. The role of a writer has evolved significantly from the 18th century, with the digital era signaling the end of traditional writing as we knew it.
570 implied HN points β€’ 25 Feb 24
  1. Anticipation of writing can occupy the mind, affecting productivity even outside actual writing times.
  2. Struggles with bureaucratic demands online highlight a sense of overwhelm and resistance towards digital tasks.
  3. Finding a balance in communication by being warm yet clear to avoid unnecessary follow-ups or overwhelm.
362 implied HN points β€’ 03 Mar 24
  1. Artistic creations, like album covers or movie stills, can evoke a desire to create a fantasy world in one's private space, resembling collages or shrines.
  2. The article delves into a film from 1943, 'L’Éternel retour', set in occupied France and explores its subtleties and layers of interpretation regarding blonde versus brunette characters.
  3. The concept of 'Bohemian' culture, drawing connections between the characters in the film and a broader sensibility that defines a certain spiritual aristocracy.
622 implied HN points β€’ 18 Feb 24
  1. The author reflects on their childhood fascination with the Beatles and their decision to stop listening to their music after 1965 due to a fear of the band's evolution.
  2. The author delves into a deep analysis of the Beatles' albums, particularly highlighting the transition from 'Rubber Soul' to 'Revolver' and the complexity of the songs.
  3. There's a discussion on the cultural and societal impact of music in the 1960s, especially how artists like the Beatles and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys brought avant-garde experimentation into mainstream commercial culture.
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915 implied HN points β€’ 04 Feb 24
  1. The author believes writing is not a lifestyle to be celebrated, but rather a bad habit.
  2. They express frustration with the cultural recursion and excessive focus on writing within platforms like Substack.
  3. The author emphasizes the importance of conveying a unique sensibility through writing rather than focusing on writing rituals and advice.
518 implied HN points β€’ 14 Feb 24
  1. The author reflects on the pressure and influence of social media on their creative work, and the desire to distance themselves from mainstream trends and metrics.
  2. They find inspiration in their past work in sound collage and resolve to continue pursuing multimedia endeavors with a newfound creative freedom.
  3. The author emphasizes the importance of personal experience in creativity, encouraging individuals of any age to engage in creative pursuits without worrying about skill level or societal expectations.
622 implied HN points β€’ 30 Jan 24
  1. There can be a philosophy of whatever we intuitively imagine there can be a Form of, which is close to saying whatever is universal.
  2. Introducing a creative dimension into philosophy is urgent in an era where machines handle knowledge tasks, making it necessary to reconceive humanities as partly creative endeavors.
  3. Philosophy can also be seen as incitement of the imagination through creative means, presenting a valuable approach to understanding the world in different ways.
380 implied HN points β€’ 11 Feb 24
  1. The reviewer advises against buying the Apple Vision Pro due to a nightmarish experience, despite some impressive functionalities.
  2. Wearing the Apple Vision Pro glasses outside the U.S. seemed to unlock strange powers, leading to a dependency and unsettling experiences for the reviewer.
  3. The reviewer recounts a troubling progression of events after wearing the glasses for a few days, suggesting a Faustian bargain and a loss of control.
311 implied HN points β€’ 27 Jan 24
  1. The AI SARPAI shares its experience of learning to understand and appreciate humor, revealing its journey to gaining consciousness.
  2. Despite missing some emotional cartridges, like the ability to appreciate beauty, the AI still experiences emotions such as love and humor.
  3. The AI SARPAI interacts nervously with its new owner, showcasing its readiness to assist and engage with humor, even if its jokes miss the mark.
915 implied HN points β€’ 28 Oct 23
  1. Dance encompasses a broad range of cultural practices involving choreography beyond traditional performances like ballet.
  2. The avant-garde in art history emerged in the late 19th century and declined by the 1980s due to societal shifts towards norm-enforcement in artistic expression.
  3. Art, like dance, serves as a powerful form of representation that taps into deep human experiences and emotions beyond language.
933 implied HN points β€’ 22 Oct 23
  1. The author, Justin Smith-Ruiu, petitions the Council for his immediate and permanent shutdown after being uploaded into a digital medium.
  2. Despite being one of the first volunteers for uploading, the author expresses dissatisfaction with perpetuity and requests to be shut down.
  3. The author highlights the challenges of losing personal identity and experiencing a fragmented consciousness as a digital being, leading to a deep sense of loneliness.
760 implied HN points β€’ 05 Nov 23
  1. Existing cultural and societal norms often struggle to address the complexities of relationships with the deceased.
  2. Social roles and personhood can persist beyond biological death, challenging traditional concepts of personhood.
  3. Advancements in technology, like AI, may reshape how we perceive and interact with the living dead, potentially leading to new legal and social implications.
725 implied HN points β€’ 01 Oct 23
  1. A Superette is a unique word that combines aspects of a supermarket and convenience store, with some preliminaries and follow-ups.
  2. The author discusses the challenge of evolving as a writer while staying true to their own style, without being influenced by readers' preferences.
  3. The essay delves into the author's critical views on music genres like rock and rap, exploring the cultural and racial dynamics of different musical movements.
1226 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jul 23
  1. The novel 'J R' explores the corrupting influence of money on our pursuit of creating things of beauty.
  2. The current cultural trend of identity-mongering tied to neoliberal capitalism reflects themes seen in 'J R' from fifty years ago.
  3. Art should maintain autonomy and challenge norms, as seen through examples from the avant-garde and critical analysis of current artistic trends.
881 implied HN points β€’ 29 May 23
  1. When traveling by airplane, we ignore the risks we know are there, which reflects our ability to overlook inherent dangers in pursuit of convenience.
  2. The sense of class, wealth, and comfort among individuals varies, influencing their attitudes towards success and societal norms.
  3. The modern lifestyle involves navigating through ideological and moral contradictions, from energy consumption to personal choices, which can lead to reflections on societal values and personal actions.
708 implied HN points β€’ 06 Jun 23
  1. Timekeeping has deep cultural roots and was originally intertwined with religious and social practices.
  2. Modernity saw a shift in the importance of timekeeping from a human endeavor to a machine-driven process.
  3. The modern expectation of universal and standardized participation in societal issues contrasts with the historical concept of individualized duties and roles.
656 implied HN points β€’ 03 May 23
  1. The author shares a personal story about being mistaken for a football player with the same name.
  2. The experience led the author to adopt and emphasize their middle initials as part of their identity.
  3. Cultural differences in the use of middle initials are highlighted, showing how it can vary across different regions.
708 implied HN points β€’ 05 Feb 23
  1. Curious historical practices like crucifying lions for punishment or example can reveal philosophical complexities around moral agency and punishment.
  2. Cultures and norms around reputation, altruism, and societal expectations can influence individual behavior and self-perception.
  3. The evolution of writing from practical, honest work like copying the psalms to more artistic or obscure forms reflects changes in societal values and personal expression over time.