The Carousel

The Carousel Substack delves into the intersections of modern propaganda, society, and culture, critically analyzing political agendas, advertising, gender roles, and social dynamics. It examines the impact of capitalism on social justice, media silence, and the evolution of workplace culture, while offering insights into consumer behavior and the commodification of social movements.

Modern Propaganda Political Agendas Advertising and Media Gender Roles and Workplace Culture Capitalism and Social Justice Consumer Behavior Cultural and Ethnic Identity Media Censorship

Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways

BLAME WOMEN

99 implied HN points • 16 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Society Sexuality Family Feminism
  1. The Sexual Revolution debate failed to address core questions and historical context
  2. Issues around consent and rape in the post-Sexual Revolution culture are highlighted
  3. Challenges faced in society related to women's roles and demands are discussed

The Way of the Scroll

36 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Art Humor Inspiration Friendship Motivation
  1. The article explores different types of successful posters on the internet, like Wrinkle Finders, Insight Miners, Gonzo Reporters, Parasocial Friends, Rise and Grinders, and Beauty Promoters.
  2. Successful posters offer emotional benefits to their audience, such as factual truth, emotional truth, adventure, humor, motivation, and beauty.
  3. Different types of successful posters engage with their audience in unique ways, from sharing surprising information to creating emotional connections through humor or aesthetics.

Woke Racism

28 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Discrimination Racism Monopoly Inequality
  1. The concept of 'woke racism' highlights situations where discrimination occurs under the guise of being progressive or equitable.
  2. The text discusses how certain corporations, like Google, have faced criticism for discriminatory practices towards white individuals, despite claims of promoting diversity and inclusivity.
  3. There is a criticism of the idea that anti-racism can sometimes exhibit behaviors that are essentially racist, such as discriminating against individuals based on their race.

Seattle

27 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Travel Food Lifestyle Society Fashion
  1. The post describes a scenic journey through Seattle and surrounding areas.
  2. Seattle's diverse atmosphere and unique culture are highlighted in the text.
  3. The author shares personal experiences exploring various neighborhoods and locations in Seattle.

The Favelazation of America

26 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Society Education
  1. The middle class in America is disappearing, causing extreme wealth and poverty to become more visible.
  2. Homeless encampments in San Francisco and Portland are resembling South American slums as a result of this shift.
  3. Elite institutions like Ivy League schools are being dismantled by their own staff, leading to chaos and changes in traditional values.
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It's Never Over

25 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Marketing Culture Ideology Brands Corporations
  1. A brand video called 'It's Never Over' was made as a response to the current culture war in the private sector
  2. The video aims to promote 'Based Marketing' as a strategy to counter toxic ideologies in corporations
  3. Creatives behind the video found a voice on Twitter and emphasize the need for honest and truthful marketing for the people

Why TV Commercials are Now All Pharma Ads

25 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Media influence Capitalism Propaganda
  1. TV commercials are now dominated by pharma ads due to a loophole in FDA regulations that allowed direct-to-consumer advertising.
  2. The surge in pharma ads on TV is driven by the need to maintain high revenue levels, even after the initial spike during the pandemic.
  3. Pharma ads target older demographics through traditional TV advertising, as other industries shift more towards digital and social media.

The Radioactive Power of Advertising

24 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Ethics
  1. Business should be cautious with new scientific discoveries to prevent exploitation.
  2. Advertising has a significant influence on public perception and can promote harmful products.
  3. The historical misuse of radioactive materials for health products serves as a cautionary tale for the dangers of unregulated marketing.

Why You, Anon, Should Love NFL Football

23 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Analysis Technology Culture Nationalism
  1. American football players have unique physiognomy based on their roles, making the sport highly specialized.
  2. The NFL combines complex problem solving, high tech, physical prowess, and aggression.
  3. NFL football allows examination of ethnic differences, encouraging discussions on race science within a mainstream context.

Gaslands

22 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Exploration History Technology Travel Business
  1. Helium was once a highly valued resource, particularly in the Airship Era.
  2. Amarillo, Texas, holds significant helium reserves but locals may not be fully aware of its value.
  3. There is a resurgence of interest in blimps and airships for environmental reasons, with projects like BlimpDAO seeking to promote blimp culture.

Elon's Current War

21 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Social media Advertising Censorship Subscription Business Models
  1. Elon Musk is facing a battle with advertisers on Twitter, with some trying to bankrupt the platform by pulling ad spending.
  2. Large advertisers coordinate efforts to control public discourse and speech on platforms like Twitter through censorship organizations and stakeholder capitalists.
  3. Elon Musk is navigating a conflict between his support for free speech and the need to appease advertisers to bridge the revenue gap on Twitter.

Get Laid or Die Trying

21 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Literature Society Psychology Gender Art
  1. Incels are portrayed negatively in mainstream media and associated with extreme ideologies and violence.
  2. The novel 'Incel' attempts to humanize an incel protagonist and explore the complexities of incel culture.
  3. The book 'Incel' is part of a left-wing project for deradicalization but fails to provide hope or solutions for incels.

Big Bear

18 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Lifestyle Entertainment Fashion
  1. Big Bear is a popular spot for skiing in Southern California.
  2. The environment at Big Bear is described as full of stylish and good-looking people.
  3. The article captures a scene at a ski lodge where individuals engage in various activities and conversations.

Facedox Hermeticism

16 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Archetypes Cultural Evolution
  1. Prominent online figures are revealing their faces after years of anonymity
  2. Anonymity for public figures can amplify their mystique and persona
  3. The visual iconography of public figures should match or exceed the mystery of their anonymity

The Longhousing of Sexiest Man Alive

14 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Celebrity Beauty Society Sexuality
  1. The concept of 'Sexiest Man Alive' has shifted to a more neutered and sexless portrayal of male celebrities.
  2. The Longhouse ideology influences societal beauty standards, promoting weakness over traditional masculinity.
  3. The evolving criteria for 'sexiness' may lead to a lack of real sexual attraction and potentially impact human reproduction over time.

The Anti Boomers

8 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Media Podcasts
  1. The article discusses the different attitudes between generations like Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z.
  2. The author reflects on a unique experience at a camp for tech nerds called Vibecamp.
  3. There are mentions of the author being featured in media outlets and creating podcast art for other creators.

Red Shadow

6 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
🪞 Fashion & Beauty
  1. Women's historical knowledge and principles may impact their online behavior.
  2. Red eyeshadow has a long history and has become more mainstream over the years.
  3. Wearing red eyeshadow can be seen as a bold and empowering choice for women.