The hottest Aesthetics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

Getting a new tooth

Disaffected Newsletter • 1199 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Aesthetics
  1. Getting a dental implant can help you feel better about your appearance if you've lost a tooth. It's important to consider both the physical and mental effects of tooth loss.
  2. Delaying dental work can lead to more problems later, like losing jaw bone. Taking care of your teeth right away can save you money and hassle in the long run.
  3. The dental implant process involves several steps, but it doesn't have to be painful. With modern techniques and anesthetics, many people experience minimal discomfort during and after the procedure.

Niall Ferguson: The Vibe Shift Goes Global

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 6543 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. Culture influences politics and geopolitics, making it important to understand cultural trends.
  2. There have been distinct vibe shifts in pop culture over the years, each with its own style, like Hipster/Indie and Hypebeast/Woke.
  3. Recent changes in tech culture reflect a shift towards a more unfiltered environment, especially with Elon Musk's influence.

PfU VI–VII: The Based and Meaningful

The Lifeboat • 252 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. People crave a simple, positive identity they can be proud of; adopting a label like “an idler” or someone who celebrates what’s "based and meaningful" gives comfort and self-respect.
  2. Humans don’t act purely to optimise measurable goals—there’s an unquantifiable ‘North Star’ of independent desire and whim that often overrides rational self-interest and breaks predictive models.
  3. Civilisation, data, and AI won’t fully fix human unpredictability or cruelty; they can create boredom, new forms of harm, or provoke backlash from people who value acting on their own will.

Why I love movies (and why you should too)

Adaobi’s Newsletter • 11 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. Movies can give you a sense of friendship and belonging by showing characters and communities you recognize and want to be part of.
  2. They help you face hidden feelings and start honest conversations with yourself and others, because seeing someone on screen can reveal emotions you didn’t know you had.
  3. Great cinema blends visuals, music and dialogue into powerful experiences that are often best in theatres, and films are also an easy, universal ice-breaker — choosing movies that fit your mood and rewatching them can make the experience even richer.
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The Missing Now

Dada Drummer Almanach • 235 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🎶 Music Aesthetics
  1. AI runs in time as computation but has no subjective "now" or lived sense of duration, so it analyzes musical sequences without experiencing their unfolding.
  2. AI can copy and combine musical patterns well enough to move listeners, but it lacks embodiment, genuine spontaneity, and true improvisational presence, which often makes its music feel derivative or airless.
  3. AI might develop more creative practice if built to iterate, adapt to feedback, and collaborate with humans, otherwise it will mostly reinforce past patterns and risk homogenizing musical culture.

On the Ontology of Poems

Orbis Tertius • 71 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
📚 Literature Aesthetics
  1. Poetry is better defined by its power to evoke meanings beyond the literal words, not just by meter or line breaks, so strict formal definitions are often inadequate.
  2. Context and how a work is labeled strongly shape how we read it, but calling anything a poem simply because someone treats it that way can make the word lose useful meaning.
  3. The idea of poetry is a human-made concept and can be flexible, yet it’s still valuable to keep some distinctions—prose can be equally noble and shouldn’t be automatically subsumed by broad claims about poetry.

Notes of many things- SPICY edition

Philosophy bear • 128 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. AI is the urgent, game-changing issue: whether models can reliably control GUIs will decide how fast office work is automated, and AI is already crushing markets for human visual art so public policy and funding are needed to preserve human creative practice.
  2. The job-application system is broken and demeaning, wasting huge amounts of time and locking out talent; collective pressure, legal reforms (like interview limits and wage transparency), and even tactical use of AI can force employers to fix it.
  3. Online communities should not act as courts and need simple, fair norms: punish only clear, current malice with a high evidential bar, avoid perpetual shaming for past mistakes, and focus on preserving decency rather than total moral cleansing.

The other chair

Product Identity • 118 implied HN points • 29 Jul 24
🪑 Design Aesthetics
  1. The HÅG Capisco chair is unique and has a very different design compared to typical office chairs. It encourages users to change their sitting posture often for better comfort.
  2. This chair, although on the pricier side around $1,000, stands out for its aesthetics and quality. It's not just a piece of furniture but also an art piece that can spark conversations.
  3. Designed with inspiration from horse saddles, the Capisco challenges how we think about office chairs by promoting movement and discouraging sitting still for too long.

The Anti-Airbnb-Space

Culture Study • 5104 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. The concept of 'airspace' refers to a trendy design style popular in the past but now considered outdated and replaced by more unique and diverse aesthetics.
  2. The rise of Airbnb has led to a shift in the hospitality industry towards standardized, 'cool' interiors, sometimes at the expense of personal touch and uniqueness in spaces.
  3. Creating a truly comfortable and inviting space goes beyond trendy decor and requires a personal touch that reflects individuality and a sense of being lived in.

A Matter of Taste

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1792 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. Taste can be compared to grammar, meaning that there are rules and structures to follow within different contexts. You can appreciate different kinds of taste, similar to how you can master varied languages or styles.
  2. Sometimes, taste seems like a competition to stay trendy or relevant. There are instances where people's taste can be influenced by social status or group preferences, rather than genuine appreciation.
  3. It's important to appreciate both high-quality and low-quality things. Having taste doesn't mean you should dismiss simpler pleasures; learning to enjoy a range of experiences can be enriching.

The fourfold prophecy engine

Philosophy bear • 42 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. Use a simple random method (repeated d4 rolls) to generate four prompt words, then meditate on their connections or turn them into a poem, painting, or scene.
  2. A structured symbol catalogue is provided across four realms—Cosmos, Bios, Psyche, and Polis—each with thematic quartets to supply varied lenses and imagery.
  3. Approach the exercise calmly and with the intention to learn and help; interpret each concept flexibly for self-knowledge and contemplation rather than literal fortune-telling.

On Time.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 65 implied HN points • 28 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. Time is our most important and limited asset. How we spend our days ultimately shapes the life we get to live.
  2. Big gains in careers and projects come from patience and steady effort over years, not just short bursts of intensity, so lengthen your time horizon and be persistent.
  3. Everything is impermanent, so losses are inevitable—notice and cherish what you have, take chances, make memories, and keep embracing change.

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #175

Creative Destruction • 34 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. The future feels closed and nostalgia rises because dominant narratives narrow what futures we can imagine, so we need to spot and widen the cracks that let new visions emerge.
  2. Game-theory and optimization logic drive many systems and tools today, crowding out cooperation and authenticity. That pressure also creates “reverse centaurs” where humans become appendages to machines instead of being truly augmented.
  3. Better paths exist: slow down consumption and shift from consuming to expressing, rebuild shared stories that organize attention and design, and use AI selectively for closed problems while keeping humans in creative, open-ended roles.

Twee Whistler: Internet Core

Do Not Research • 938 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Aesthetics
  1. The term 'Internet core' emerged within contemporary art, encompassing net art, post-internet, and new media, highlighting a shift towards internet-centric reality and engagement.
  2. Artists within the Internet core scene are creating works more focused on personal narratives, political interpretations, and user engagement outside traditional gallery settings, shaping a distinct approach to digital art.
  3. The Internet represents more than just a medium; it is a mindset, an approach, and a language for artists, shaping their practices and leading to a diverse range of artistic expressions beyond categorizations.

Friday Thread: Can you become stronger at your broken places?

The Recovering Academic • 435 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. The path from academia to entrepreneurship can be filled with contradictions and tension, but owning and navigating them honestly can lead to growth and survival.
  2. Navigating modernity and its challenges may require reevaluating one's relationship with delight and joy, and finding ways to adapt and thrive amidst brokenness.
  3. Building bonds of reciprocal obligation with others might be a way to combat individualism, even in virtual spaces like LinkedIn and Zoom.

Does The Past Exist?

Castalia • 579 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. Some people believe that the past doesn't matter as much because they think progress leads to better results today. They argue that everything improves over time, like athletes breaking records.
  2. However, the author argues that past achievements in areas like literature and chess have their own unique value and should not be dismissed. The past has lessons and beauty that are still relevant today.
  3. It's important to respect the past and recognize its significance. It shouldn't just be seen as a stepping stone for the present.

Uninflected Images

So Here’s a Thing • 845 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Aesthetics
  1. Audiences can fill in narrative gaps between images or scenes to create a more engaging story.
  2. Leaving space for interpretation and gaps in storytelling can lead to a deeper connection with the audience.
  3. Allowing readers or viewers to connect the dots on their own can lead to a richer and more personal experience.

Beauty matters

Disaffected Newsletter • 1478 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. Beauty is important in our lives. It can transform a simple home into a cozy and inviting place.
  2. Older appliances and goods can be more reliable than new ones. They cost less and often last longer.
  3. Hobbies can bring joy, like collecting antique kerosene lamps. They not only serve a purpose but also add charm to a space.

#144 Design Déja Vu

Design Lobster • 479 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Aesthetics
  1. Corporate Memphis or Globohomo is an overused illustration style characterized by flat colors, geometric elements, and simplistic human figures, popular in Big Tech software.
  2. The Lobster typeface, designed by Pablo Impallari, became widely popular in the 2010s for its retro-contemporary appeal, but font choices should always align with the intended message.
  3. Designers should aim to bring a human touch to designs without relying on typical illustrations, considering alternatives to communicate warmth and humanity.

The Class Tier List

Knowingless • 1256 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. People judge class based on wealth and aesthetic taste. For example, some activities may be rich but seen as low-class in taste, while others might be poor yet viewed as classy.
  2. A survey was conducted to rank various items by class, but it was only a small snapshot of one specific culture. The responses were mostly from young American men.
  3. The context of class rankings can vary and lead to surprising results, illustrating that people's perceptions of class are influenced by trends and cultural views.

The Subjective Grounds the Physical

Ethics Under Construction • 25 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. Physicalism assumes the physical is primary, but subjective experience actually grounds and makes physical facts intelligible; you can’t fully describe phenomena like color or pain without the first-person perspective.
  2. Experiential facts are a distinct, irreducible class: what it is like to see red or feel pain is constitutive of those facts and can’t be captured by wavelengths or neural descriptions alone, as thought experiments like Mary’s Room and the Chinese Room illustrate.
  3. There is no neutral “view from nowhere” — all knowledge is mediated by subjects, and objectivity is best understood as a shared, structured map built from and dependent on subjective experience.

Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon

Castalia • 399 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. The movie 'Barbie' is all about world-building and creativity. It mixes different genres and offers a fun view on feminism, showing that it's not just about power, but also understanding emotions and relationships.
  2. In contrast, 'Killers of the Flower Moon' focuses on the dark side of American history. It tells a sad story about greed and racism, showcasing how these forces affected the Osage people and their lives.
  3. Both films represent different styles of storytelling. 'Barbie' uses imagination and humor, while 'Killers of the Flower Moon' highlights serious historical themes, inviting viewers to think deeply about America’s past.

The Good Life: Buen Vivir, Hygge, Solarpunk & Degrowth.

Sunshine and Seedlings: A Newsletter by HydroponicTrash • 609 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. Imagining a postcapitalist, ecological, and equal future is vital for creating change.
  2. Buen Vivir, Hygge, Solarpunk, Social Ecology, and Degrowth are interconnected in promoting community well-being, sustainability, and decolonization.
  3. The concepts of Buen Vivir and Hygge can give insight into a degrowth future, emphasizing interconnectedness, community action, and well-being for all.

Jordan Peele's Divided Aesthetic

Castalia • 499 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. Jordan Peele's film _Get Out!_ was groundbreaking because it mixed horror with comedy and highlighted the awkwardness and hidden racism in America. It showed that racism is deep-rooted and not just a product of overt actions.
  2. Peele's later films, _Us_ and _Nope_, struggle with the same themes but seem less clear in their messages. While they aim to critique social issues, the storytelling sometimes veers into confusion.
  3. The success of _Get Out!_ has led to a genre of films that exaggerate social issues and trauma, but this can make the realities of those issues seem cartoonish and oversimplified, leading to less effective critiques.

The Intrinsic Value of Consciousness

Going Awol • 139 implied HN points • 24 Apr 24
📖 Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. Intrinsic value is value something has for its own sake, like pleasure or achievement, while instrumental value is value something has as a means to an end, like money.
  2. Consciousness is considered instrumentally valuable as it is a prerequisite for many intrinsically valuable things like forming relationships, feeling happiness, and experiencing beauty.
  3. The aesthetic value of consciousness lies in its beauty and the wonder it inspires, as it is seen as sublime and intricately mysterious.

Sunday Strip: Paranoid lately?

Who is Robert Malone • 41 implied HN points • 28 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. Sometimes what looks like paranoia is actually a rational response to real facts and information, so suspicion can be justified when evidence lines up.
  2. Those in power control narratives by steering questions and limiting criticism, so who you cannot criticize often indicates who is controlling you.
  3. Paranoia often springs from fear mixed with good sense, and you can either let it make you miserable or use it to make yourself stronger.

A meaning of life

Philosophy bear • 57 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. Meaning isn’t just an abstract answer but a story you craft to present your values to yourself in an aesthetic and emotional way, so life feels purposeful and livable.
  2. The best human life mixes bliss, adventure, creativity, friendship, and deliberate struggle, and rich, responsive simulations (with real-seeming people) can help deliver those deeply felt experiences.
  3. We can and should work to reshape the world and ourselves toward an intelligently designed moral order—ending involuntary death and needless suffering, guiding evolution, and improving animal welfare—while preserving voluntary challenge and growth.

🤯 10 surprising ideas about design

Design Lobster • 519 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Aesthetics
  1. In design, being obvious can be a compliment. It requires a creative mindset to see things as they truly are and eliminate the unnecessary.
  2. Design that makes people look good resonates more. A little flattery in design can go a long way in enhancing user experience.
  3. Embracing bad ideas in the design process can lead to wider exploration and better solutions. It's about challenging assumptions and sparking fresh ideas.

I LIKE Labubus and Dubai Chocolate and Matcha and Lana and Brandy Melville and TikTok Aesthetics and and and

Default Wisdom • 210 implied HN points • 14 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. Trends on TikTok, like Labubus and Dubai chocolates, might seem random but actually reflect deeper cultural connections. People enjoy sharing and discussing them, which brings a sense of community.
  2. The identity of today's culture isn't tied to specific trends but rather to the ability to navigate and mix different aesthetics. Being part of this conversation is what matters now.
  3. Many people view AI, like ChatGPT, as infallible, which could lead to misinformation. It's important to stay critical and ask questions to discern what's true.

Resistance is necessary

Austin Kleon • 1878 implied HN points • 02 Aug 22
📖 Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. Resistance helps us move forward. Without some friction, we can't really make progress in life.
  2. We often get distracted by easy paths. It's important to seek out challenges that guide us in the right direction.
  3. Creativity thrives on challenges. Facing resistance can spark new ideas and help us grow.

🟧 Is boutique a bad word?

One Thing • 217 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. The concept of a boutique has evolved from locally-owned stores with unique goods to a term that is overused and often diluted in online advertising.
  2. Boutiques represent a curated taste experience, but their high prices can make them exclusive and inaccessible to many customers.
  3. The internet provides opportunities for boutique-style businesses to reach wider audiences, but it lacks the physical charm and surprise of an in-person boutique.

In Defence of Beauty

Mind & Mythos • 419 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics
  1. Beauty matters in our lives. It's not just about looking pretty; it's about how things make us feel emotionally and spiritually.
  2. There are some rules of Beauty that many people agree on across cultures. This suggests that Beauty isn't just personal preference, but something more universal.
  3. When we ignore Beauty in our society, we lose touch with important values like kindness and hope. Reconnecting with Beauty could help uplift our culture.

Math is not art

The Strategy Toolkit • 26 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. You often need to leave your familiar life and roles to really discover who you are, because you can’t fully see yourself from inside your own island.
  2. Having a craft, job, or practical skill can sustain you but it doesn’t replace the deeper search for identity and meaning.
  3. Moments and changing perspectives can reveal unexpected beauty and mystery, so paying attention to how time and place shift perception helps you understand the world and yourself.

Morgane Billuart: Virtuality and Aesthetics, An Evening in the Void Club

Do Not Research • 239 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Aesthetics
  1. In virtual spaces, the absence of detailed information can enhance creativity and imagination.
  2. Digital platforms challenge the concept of realism and likeness in representations, prioritizing subjective interpretation.
  3. Virtual environments offer individuals the opportunity to craft and curate their own narratives, leading to a shift in the experience of existence.

Hidden Open Thread 353.5

Astral Codex Ten • 688 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. This is a thread for subscribers to discuss various topics openly. People can share their thoughts and insights freely.
  2. It is exclusive to those who have paid a subscription. This means that the discussions here are intended for a smaller, dedicated group.
  3. Engagement is encouraged, with comments and sharing options available. Subscribers can interact with each other in a more personal space.