The hottest Art Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

why isn't there an A24 for kids?

Both Are True • 316 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Kids' shows often lack quality and depth, making parents feel frustrated. There's a desire for children's entertainment to be more meaningful and engaging.
  2. There's a call for a new type of kids' entertainment, similar to the indie film vibe, that tackles real emotions and experiences. The idea is to create stories that aren't just light and fluffy.
  3. Finding good, classic content for kids can be a challenge. Parents want options that are both entertaining and enriching for their children.

Harrison Ford: American Anti-Hero

Litverse • 239 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Harrison Ford embraced his limits and found success by knowing himself well.
  2. Settle for what makes you feel useful in order to find happiness and fulfillment.
  3. Limit yourself to what truly matters to avoid FOMO and focus on your passion and nature.

The map is not the territory

Austin Kleon • 1059 implied HN points • 20 May 22
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Maps are not the same as reality. They can only represent parts of a complex world we live in.
  2. You don't need to visualize things in your mind to create great art. Many artists, including those with aphantasia, can still draw well without mental images.
  3. The impact of creative works, like books and music, can influence and inspire us. Exploring new recommendations can enrich our lives.

writing my way home

Both Are True • 111 implied HN points • 22 Jul 25
📚 Literature Art
  1. Writing can feel tough and confusing, almost like being stuck in jello. But pushing through those hard feelings is important.
  2. Finding the right form for your writing is a big deal. It can change everything and help reveal what you really want to say.
  3. Writing can be a way to feel at home again. When you find your rhythm, it feels like you've come back to yourself.
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Top Links 551 Peak beef. The demand for rocket motors. New Delhi smog & ethical crystals.

Chartbook • 414 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. There's a growing trend called 'peak beef', which suggests that the demand for beef is reaching its highest point.
  2. Rocket motors are becoming more sought after, indicating an increase in interest for space or military technology.
  3. New Delhi is dealing with serious smog issues, while there's also a conversation about ethical crystals that might be more environmentally friendly.

The Lesbian Tragedy of 'Gia'

Paging Dr. Lesbian • 235 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Tragedy has different interpretations in art, with Aristotle seeing it as artistically and morally useful, Socrates finding it discouraging, and Nietzsche believing it relieves from the world's suffering.
  2. Lesbian and queer art intersects with the debate on tragedy, challenging perceptions of queerness as already tragic and exploring the importance of naming and portraying tragedy.
  3. The film 'Gia' portrays a tragic lesbian story, emphasizing the complexities of Gia as a character and highlighting the impact of her relationships and struggles, urging a deeper consideration of tragedy in queer narratives.

On Imagination

Castalia • 239 implied HN points • 20 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Imagination can be like a muscle that anyone can develop, regardless of when they start. It's not just for kids; even adults can tap into their creativity with practice.
  2. Many people carry the imaginative play from their childhood well into adulthood, often using it in unexpected ways. This can lead to a richer and more enjoyable life experience.
  3. Imagination is a tool for understanding the world and storytelling, but our culture often undervalues it. We can still push our minds towards creativity, which can help us see things differently.

Too good not to share

Disaffected Newsletter • 399 implied HN points • 28 May 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Helen Dale has a unique ability to explain complex ideas about government and culture in a clear way. She's great for anyone wanting to understand the Westminster system better.
  2. Dale combines her intellect with imagination in her writing, making her novels both insightful and creative. Her work on historical events like the Holodomor showcases her talent.
  3. The essay highlights the emotional and cultural impact of music, particularly through personal memories and experiences, making it relatable and engaging for readers.

Judy Heumann Was Not A Tragedy

Momspreading • 235 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. It's important to learn about the disability rights movement and celebrate activists like Judy Heumann.
  2. Judy Heumann and the disability rights movement showed joy, collectiveness, and creativity in their activism.
  3. Teaching children about disability history and rights is crucial for building an inclusive society.

Thinking on the page

Austin Kleon • 1278 implied HN points • 08 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Writing and drawing help to develop ideas, rather than just expressing them. Sometimes you need to start making marks to discover what you really think.
  2. Thinking is a back-and-forth process between your mind and your materials. What you draw or write can lead to new thoughts and connections.
  3. It's important to externalize your ideas on paper. By getting them out of your head, you can see patterns and create new insights more easily.

sunday memepool

bad cattitude • 97 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. People often deceive themselves and ignore the truth about their situation. It's important to recognize when this is happening.
  2. We live in a society where it feels like there is a lot of persecution for different beliefs and opinions. This can create a tense atmosphere where people are afraid to speak up.
  3. Finding humor and lightness in difficult topics can help us cope with serious issues. Memes and jokes are a way for people to express themselves and connect.

Rattle Bag

The Ruffian • 122 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Growing older can be done happily with the right mindset and approaches.
  2. Dealing with defensive people requires patience and understanding; knowing how to communicate matters.
  3. Looking tough isn't just about appearance; it's about confidence and how you carry yourself.

The most powerful woman you can see

Men Yell at Me • 155 implied HN points • 08 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Living in Iowa has brought a deep sense of meaning and fulfillment to teaching and community engagement. The connection with students and the supportive environment feels more impactful than in bigger cities like New York.
  2. A year of celibacy taught a lot about self-connection and feeling comfortable in one's own body. It shifted the focus from being seen by others to truly experiencing life and one's own desires.
  3. Everything in life is connected, from relationships to personal values. By recognizing these connections, there's a chance to bring passion and presence into all areas of life, including friendships and activism.

The Leonard Cohen Shoe Shine Edition

Why is this interesting? • 301 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Leonard Cohen was known for his love of fine tailoring, often wearing stylish suits. His attention to personal appearance showed he cared about looking good.
  2. While searching for his dress shoes, many images emerged of Cohen sitting on hotel room floors polishing his own shoes. This highlights his down-to-earth nature.
  3. The contrast between his polished look on stage and his simple shoe-shining ritual reflects a unique blend of elegance and humility in his character.

Video Game Thoughts Bonus Bag #4

The Bottom Feeder • 339 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Not many gamers know about online game controversies. Most people play games without getting involved in drama on social media.
  2. UFO50 is great for learning game design by showing how to make fun games without unnecessary complexity. It invites players to think about what really matters in game design.
  3. AI could really improve experiences at parks like Disney, but people might misuse it for funny or mean content, making it a tricky situation.

Thank you, and remember, the universe is in your basement

Both Are True • 298 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. David Lynch believes everyone has creativity and happiness inside them. It's okay to be positive and embrace the good in life.
  2. Cinema can express emotions and experiences that are hard to put into words. It connects with our feelings in a unique way.
  3. It's important to just create and share your work, instead of always explaining why you're doing it. The act of creating speaks for itself.

CROSSPOST: ALICE EVANS: Can YOU Uncover the Origins of Patriarchy?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 153 implied HN points • 31 May 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Gender hierarchies still exist today and are shaped by cultural beliefs about women's roles, particularly the idea that women should be kept secluded.
  2. Historical analysis of art and architecture can provide clues about how women's invisibility became a respected norm, especially following military conquests.
  3. It's important to be careful when interpreting ancient artifacts, as they represent only fragments of diverse cultures and may not reflect the whole picture.

That Day but Mostly This Day, Tomorrow

Greed • 176 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
📚 Literature Art
  1. The story depicts a day in a Greek setting with detailed descriptions of places and experiences.
  2. It explores themes of childhood, family dynamics, and cultural differences during a vacation.
  3. The protagonist's journey involves observations, interactions, and reflections on identity and personal struggles.

Hidden Open Thread 354.5

Astral Codex Ten • 412 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. This post is meant for paid subscribers only, so not everyone can access it.
  2. There are discussions happening in the comments section, with a decent amount of interaction.
  3. You can subscribe or sign in to view the content, which suggests it's a community-focused platform.

Five... Places to See Pieces of Canadian History in London

Londonist: Time Machine • 59 implied HN points • 21 Apr 24
🏝 Travel Art
  1. London has various places with fragments of Canadian history, often overlooked, that can be explored.
  2. 128 Regent Street holds significance as the location where Lord Stanley purchased the original Stanley Cup trophy in 1892.
  3. Canada House, located in the heart of Little Canada in London, offers a gallery promoting Canadian art across different regions and eras.

Love in the Machine Edition

As Ever • 30 implied HN points • 15 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Love shapes our identity and experiences, and it's important to understand how we can love the right things in the right ways. We are made to love and be loved, which influences how we interact with the world around us.
  2. Technology affects our lives deeply, especially in how it influences our love and connections. Understanding this relationship helps us navigate its role in our lives, deciding what to embrace and what to reject.
  3. Conversations about labor and technology remind us of the importance of personal connections over efficiency. Using tools with love and care can enhance our relationships and the world we live in.

In pursuit of a masterpiece

The Novelleist • 901 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
📚 Literature Art
  1. The author values creating a masterpiece in their writing, taking time to explore and research different elements.
  2. The author emphasizes the importance of incorporating personal experiences and uniqueness into artistic work to differentiate it from others.
  3. The author recognizes the need to slow down the creative process to pursue a masterpiece, allowing for deeper exploration and refinement.

Xleepyfay & Aemmonia: The Xenofeminist Hauntology

Do Not Research • 199 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Questionable fandoms and post-identity roleplays are replacing traditional political identities online, with origins in initially progressive communities.
  2. Xenofeminism challenges current identity politics, transitioning into hyper-aesthetisized roleplay as a response to political disillusionment.
  3. Post-identity roleplay serves as a detached, non-consequential fantasy exploration, replacing traditional political values and aims.

Artificial Means Human-made

Reboot • 25 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. AI is a human-made continuation of past technologies, not an alien force, and debates about what’s "human" versus "machine" repeat whenever new tools reshape culture.
  2. AI can evoke spiritual and communal responses by producing emergent, collective effects, and designing shared, voice-centered experiences counters the narrative of isolated, personalized automation.
  3. We need new social and legal protocols—like public-domain datasets, consent mechanisms, data trusts, and decentralized sharing—to ensure fair use, shared ownership, and cooperative discovery in the age of AI.

Self-expression

Austin Kleon • 1059 implied HN points • 15 Apr 22
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Art is about self-expression, and sharing your work can help you connect with others.
  2. Finding inspiration can come from unexpected places, like visiting a library or exploring your town.
  3. Music and movies can lift your spirits and provide great entertainment for family time.

TITAA #47.5: IKEA Diagrams of Demons

Things I Think Are Awesome • 216 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Art
  1. The post discusses using an IKEA-diagrams LoRa of SDXL for fun, generating impossible things like 'happiness' and 'poetry.'
  2. The diagrams in the post show steps to make a robot, angel, and golem, each with unique and interesting instructions.
  3. The post also touches on AI tools for code and reinforcement learning from an AI perspective.

The web is a place where people gathered

escape the algorithm • 219 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Archiving personal work online helps preserve self-identity and memories over time, creating a digital record of personal growth and experiences.
  2. Engaging with web projects and maintaining online spaces can signify personal transformation and serve as a form of ritual, akin to shedding old identities and adopting new ones.
  3. Focusing on intimate, personal archives and small community connections on the internet promotes a culture of deep care, preservation, and maintenance over constant expansion and scaling.

how are those design studies going?

vrk loves paper • 219 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🪑 Design Art
  1. Recognizing a fear of judgment is important when learning something new, like fashion or design. It's okay to need time to learn and grow without worrying about how you look to others.
  2. Instead of focusing solely on perfection in design, aim to create joyfully and embrace mistakes. It's about the process, not just the final product.
  3. Learning takes time and comes with feelings of being behind, but having supportive friends and a clear vision of your goals can help you stay motivated.

The Email Archivist

escape the algorithm • 219 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. In 2013, Miranda July started We Think Alone, a unique newsletter where celebrities shared personal emails, prompting subscribers' introspection.
  2. Through We Think Alone, participants were encouraged to view their emails with new curiosity, marking a shift from inbox anxiety to introspective value.
  3. Email archives, though rarely revisited, hold value in preserving memories and providing moments of reflection, prompting the reconsideration of digital communication.

Based Safety vs. Cringe Propaganda #51

Safety Propaganda • 216 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Adam Lehrer resumes his Safety Propaganda platform after a break, discussing his novel, music projects, and bodybuilding regimen.
  2. Adam reviews Ari Aster's film 'Beau is Afraid' as a work of art of near unparalleled genius, exploring its themes and reactions.
  3. Major media shakeups include the firing of Tucker Carlson and the bankruptcy of VICE media, reflecting on their impact and transformations.

Modern Magnificenza

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 133 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Our society is very focused on logical thinking, but we also need creativity and emotional understanding. It's important to balance both sides of our brains to have a fulfilling life.
  2. We are experiencing big shifts in power and wealth today, similar to what happened before the Renaissance. Wealthy individuals can lead to positive changes by funding beautiful, meaningful projects in their communities.
  3. Working on meaningful and beautiful projects can provide not just personal satisfaction but also benefit the community. This approach can help those feeling lost in today's fast-paced, tech-driven world.

Postmodernism Is Good, Actually

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 1226 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  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.

Solstice Journeys

Seven Senses • 319 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. The author shares creative explorations for the senses every full moon through their publication, _Seven Senses_. It's a way for them to connect with a community and dive deeply into various topics.
  2. The publication is ad-free and offers a reader-supported model similar to public radio, where readers can choose to support the author financially.
  3. Paid subscribers will receive exclusive benefits, like seasonal travel guides, discounts on collectibles, and occasional creative gifts in the mail.

Norway Notes

ChinaTalk • 311 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Oslo is a city full of parks and interesting activities, like volleyball, even if its neighborhoods are sometimes considered rough. The city has a vibrant vibe, especially during the summer with long daylight hours.
  2. Norway's history with its support for Palestine has created some complexity, especially as the nation grapples with issues of antisemitism. There are mixed feelings and challenges about how historical support affects current views.
  3. The Viking culture is fascinating but had both brutal and humane aspects. Books about the Vikings provide intriguing insights into their lives and are accessible for anyone interested in this part of history.