Read Max

Read Max explores the evolving landscape of internet culture, digital media, technological optimism, and fringe politics through analytical commentary on current events, movies, and social trends. It critiques major platforms, examines the impact of technology on society, and delves into speculative futures, offering perspectives on culture and technology's intersection.

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Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways

A cool alt-history noir set in a Native American city, a great conspiracy documentary, and ... Bruce Hornsby doing Brazilian leftfield house?

339 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Books Movies Music Recommendations
  1. A cool detective novel set in an alternate 20th century St. Louis with indigenous American culture dominating.
  2. An excellent documentary delving into one of the most baffling conspiracies of the 20th century.
  3. Bruce Hornsby ventures into Brazilian leftfield house music on a unique EP.

What I'm reading about the crisis in media; a great, overlooked '90s crime thriller; and a wonderful compilation of new-sound folk covers

339 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Media Movies Music Books Podcasts
  1. The author offers a roundup of articles and podcasts discussing recent layoffs and shutdowns in the news media business.
  2. A 1990s thriller from a lesser-known director is recommended as fantastic.
  3. There's praise for a compilation of reworked classic folk songs featured in the weekly roundup.
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'Brotherhood of the Wolf,' revisited with Indignity's Tom Scocca

339 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Film History Entertainment Society Art
  1. The movie 'Brotherhood of the Wolf' is a wild mix of genres like kung fu, horror, period drama, and conspiracy thriller set in 18th-century France.
  2. The film captures a turn-of-the-millennium 'Bootleg Cinema' vibe with its commitment to each genre element and its unique visual style.
  3. The narrative of the movie cleverly navigates historical and philosophical themes, presenting surprising twists and unique characters like Monica Bellucci's role and the Vatican conspiracy.

A literary history of fake texts in Apple's marketing materials

331 HN points • 15 Sep 23
📚 Literature Fiction Analysis Apple Marketing
  1. Apple's marketing materials often feature fake texts to demonstrate new features in their products.
  2. The users in these fake texts engage in activities like sharing photographs, planning trips, and throwing surprise parties.
  3. There is a recurring character named John Bishop in these fake texts who appears across different iOS versions, adding a layer of mystery.

Read Max Labor Day sale: 20% off, this week only!

226 implied HN points • 04 Sep 23
  1. Read Max is having a Labor Day sale with 20% off subscriptions this week
  2. Subscribers get benefits like weekly newsletters, recommendations, and exclusive content
  3. You can also purchase collectible Read Max merchandise on sale, like baseball caps

Google made an A.I. so woke it drove men mad

8 HN points • 28 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Technology Media Youth culture Social media Online Communities
  1. Google created an A.I. that unintentionally generated racially diverse images, leading to controversy and criticism.
  2. The purpose of A.I. chatbots like Google's Gemini remains unclear, raising questions about their ideal use and user expectations.
  3. The cultural shift away from tightly-knit, geographically-rooted subcultures may impact youth's sense of validation and self-worth.

The end of business-class A.I. doomerism

3 HN points • 01 Dec 23
  1. People outside the tech industry may not care much about specific A.I. companies or figures.
  2. Major Silicon Valley investors and executives are moving away from A.I. doomerism beliefs.
  3. Increased accessibility and interaction with A.I. models could help demystify and lessen public fear around artificial intelligence.

David Fincher's new movie 'The Killer' is sigma cinema

2 HN points • 10 Nov 23
  1. David Fincher's movie 'The Killer' explores the concept of sigma males in a dark and thought-provoking way.
  2. Sigma males are seen as mysterious loners who follow their own path, embodying a mix of self-pity and self-justification among insecure individuals.
  3. Fincher's work often delves into societal and gender anxieties shaped by digital culture rather than being explicitly about the internet itself.

The interested normie's guide to OpenAI drama

2 HN points • 22 Nov 23
  1. The firing and re-hiring of Sam Altman at OpenAI caused a significant stir, with implications spanning the tech industry.
  2. OpenAI's corporate structure and culture create tensions between safety-focused goals and the drive for commercial success.
  3. The situation at OpenAI reflects a clash between different perspectives on artificial intelligence and highlights the complexities of navigating these issues.