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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

Anthem for a Forgotten Generation

881 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
📚 Literature Essays Memoir
  1. The author's new essay is in Harper's Magazine's September issue
  2. The essay has a nostalgic and depressive tone but is relatable
  3. The issue seems to be focused on Gen X with appearances by various authors

The Reeds and the Silt

362 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Ethnic conflict Colonialism Cultural heritage Nationalism Imperialism
  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.

The Superette

725 implied HN points • 01 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing Music Speaking Events Collaboration
  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.

Occupation: Jean Cocteau

362 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Art History Literature
  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.
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Apple Vision Pro: A Product Review

380 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Product Review Wearable Tech Artificial Intelligence
  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.

My Own Private Energy Crisis

881 implied HN points • 29 May 23
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Ethics Political Philosophy Epistemology Aesthetics
  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.

All the Feels (Eels)

311 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
😂 Humor Comedy Satire Jokes Parody Entertainment
  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.

The Reckoning of Time

708 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Time Modernity Ritual Existence
  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.

“JEHS”, RIP (2001-2023)

656 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🎭️ Culture Personal Story Identity Literature
  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.

The Transmutean Hypotheses

708 implied HN points • 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.

Chignon. Chapitre dix : Le terrier du langage

0 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Language Religion Literature Art Tradition
  1. Reading is changing and becoming more like playing an online game. Many people now want texts to be clear and easy to understand right away.
  2. There is a concern that as readers rely more on simplified texts, the true act of reading may disappear. Readers might become just sharers of content rather than engaged thinkers.
  3. The beauty of life and creation is still celebrated. Moments of joy and wonder, like observing nature, continue to remind us of deeper meanings and connections.

Великая субдукция

0 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Internet Epistemology Ontology Aesthetics Social media
  1. The internet is changing how we connect with the past and could impact our future. Some believe it's creating a new type of economic system that feels more like feudalism than capitalism.
  2. There's a struggle in how we understand truth and reality today, with misinformation and different worldviews clashing. This affects how we see everything from politics to culture.
  3. People worry that technology is changing us too fast. There's a need for rules and frameworks that help us keep our sense of history and identity in a rapidly shifting world.