The hottest Art Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

Post-MacDowell Blues

The Fairest Writer • 79 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Going to MacDowell was a big deal and helped kick-start the writing process. The quiet environment allowed for focused work, especially since the author was isolated due to COVID restrictions.
  2. A snowstorm disrupted work but ended up being a bonding experience with other artists. The community aspect became more important, leading to fun events and valuable discussions.
  3. The author not only made progress on their book but also learned a lot from other artists. Conversations and interactions inspired new ideas and reflections on their creative journey.

#102 Let there be light

Design Lobster • 199 implied HN points • 07 Feb 22
🪑 Design Art
  1. Virtual reality headsets use different types of lenses for comfort and viewing experience, like 'pancake' lenses that reflect light back and forth to achieve magnification.
  2. The design of lighting fixtures, like the PH Artichoke light, can be both functional and visually striking, even when not in use.
  3. Designers should consider the qualitative aspects of a project, like the experience and metaphorical impact of light, in addition to the technical details.

Are you helping?

Austin Kleon • 239 implied HN points • 28 Jan 22
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Artists should focus on helping others in their work, even if it's not always cheerful. It's about the impact you make.
  2. Reading novels in relaxing settings, like the bathtub, can enhance your reading experience and enjoyment.
  3. Listening deeply to music can help you connect more with the artist. It’s a great way to appreciate something you love even more.

'The robot war against witches'

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 39 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. AI is causing a divide among practitioners of mystical arts like astrology and tarot, with some embracing it and others seeing it as a threat to their craft
  2. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are being used for tarot readings, sparking debate on the role of technology in spirituality and intuition
  3. The concept of intuition plays a key role in the discussions around AI's involvement in mystical practices, with some arguing that technology and spirituality are opposing forces
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A Celebration of Birds

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 119 implied HN points • 10 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Birding can be fun and doesn't need to be perfect. You can enjoy simply sitting and observing while learning with tools like bird identification apps.
  2. Barred Owls are common in places like Seattle and they have a unique call that can be fun to recognize. Learning about their history adds to the joy of birding.
  3. Seeing different types of birds like the Pileated Woodpecker and Cedar Waxwing can be exciting. Watching them interact with their surroundings gives a new appreciation for nature.

Digital poets

Philosophy bear • 71 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. People can't easily tell the difference between AI and human-made art. In fact, they often prefer the AI art, even if it’s not very good.
  2. AI can produce poetry that at least matches the level of a talented amateur. Some AI-generated haikus can even be quite nice.
  3. There's still a question about whether AI can create art that is truly great. It remains unclear how to measure what's undeniably good in art.

Reviewing "The Female Fantasy Exposed"

Default Wisdom • 59 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Cultural media has shifted over time; we no longer rely solely on movies, music, or literature. New forms of media are taking the spotlight now.
  2. The idea of a cultural 'stuckness' is false; instead, we are seeing evolution in how we consume and understand culture.
  3. Understanding female fantasies can provide insights into current cultural trends and values. It's important to explore how these fantasies shape and reflect women's experiences.

Camus, Perfectionism, and Absurd Creation—On Joseph Grand in The Plague

Vremya • 139 implied HN points • 11 Sep 22
📚 Literature Art
  1. Joseph Grand struggles with perfectionism, holding him back from completing his writing. He gets stuck on the perfect first sentence and can't move past it.
  2. Life is considered absurd, with no inherent meaning, and we get to create our own purpose. This idea is central to Camus's philosophy.
  3. Art and creation are ways to rebel against life's absurdity. Even small efforts in writing can be seen as part of the larger struggle of existence.

VFYW: A Pyramid Theme

The Weekly Dish • 21 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. The contest this week focuses on a location with a pyramid theme, suggesting a fun and challenging guessing game for participants.
  2. There are personal stories shared from previous contest participants, highlighting their emotional connections to past memories and experiences.
  3. The post encourages submissions from readers for upcoming contests, promoting community engagement and interaction.

Spool! (pause.) Spooool!

Dada Drummer Almanach • 178 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🎶 Music Art
  1. Listening to old tapes can bring up feelings of unfulfilled potential and alternative paths not taken in music.
  2. Each decision in music, like chord choices and melodies, leads down different creative paths.
  3. Rejected tapes and imperfect recordings can add character and beauty to music, enhancing the listening experience.

The Birds and the Wasteland

Neckar’s Notes • 144 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. In a world that may feel like a wasteland, it's vital to find what makes you feel alive and follow that path, regardless of external circumstances.
  2. The current culture is saturated with distractions that cater to the dopamine loop, leading to addiction to stimulating activities and a loss of genuine connection and creativity.
  3. To combat a dead culture, one must embrace mindful attention, direct experience, creative expression, and deep connections in order to create an alive culture filled with authenticity and humanity.

Links for January

By Reason Alone • 55 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. The rebranding of a blog can better reflect its content and help avoid confusion about its focus. A clear name makes it easier for readers to understand what to expect.
  2. Microplastics in food and water are a growing concern, and new data reveals interesting patterns about their presence. It's important to stay informed about health risks associated with them.
  3. Learning and education should emphasize knowledge acquisition, just like subjects like science and literature. Understanding the basics improves overall comprehension and appreciation of complex topics.

Why Write?

Passing Time • 234 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Writing has different motives including egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse, and political purpose.
  2. Writing is a way to communicate your current self in a moment of time.
  3. Good writing reflects the creator at a specific moment and aims to communicate emotions effectively.

When Art Is Liberty

Critic at Large • 39 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Italy has a unique approach to incorporating art into its prisons, with over a hundred theater companies thriving within prison walls.
  2. The film 'Caesar Must Die' showcases how even the most hardened criminals can find redemption and humanity through the power of art.
  3. Art has the profound ability to uplift individuals from the depths of despair, showcasing the shared humanity that transcends even the harshest of circumstances.

Woodbine: Communion

Do Not Research • 39 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Communal living has a long history filled with diverse experiments and movements, from religious separatists to hacker ecologists.
  2. Belief and faith in communal life are essential for successful experiments in communal living.
  3. Woodbine explores the importance of defending embodied life, memories, and shared narratives in building sustainable communities.

What's Cheering Me Up Lately

Green Graphic Design • 39 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art
  1. Author shares what's bringing joy in their life recently, inspired by a YouTuber.
  2. Appreciation for David Bird's 'Becorn' art and partner's creative fiction project.
  3. Discovery of the game 'Little Mouse's Encyclopedia' and starting a new personal project about nature journaling.

Algorithms Are A Cultural Artefact

The Digital Anthropologist • 39 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Algorithms have been an integral part of societies for over 4,000 years, serving as a crucial cultural artifact that impacts our daily lives.
  2. Understanding algorithms as cultural artifacts helps us regulate and develop them more responsibly, creating products and services that benefit our societies and economies.
  3. Algorithms are a representation of human culture, evolving over time to reflect our past and present, providing insight into societies and playing a vital role in our digital and physical worlds.

Stuffed animals and woody conks

Splattern • 39 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. The author received a stuffed dinosaur as a prize after a 50k race, marking a personal embrace of stuffed animals after not being into them as a child. It's a fun way to reconnect with childhood memories.
  2. During a camping trip, the author helped a woman who had lost her electrolytes and car keys after swimming. This led to a light-hearted adventure for the woman and her son, showing how unexpected situations can create memorable stories.
  3. The author learned to advocate for their own needs during weekend plans, finding it easier to express wants like finishing a hike early. This skill in self-advocacy is important for personal well-being.

Curator

Castalia • 139 implied HN points • 08 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Art has shifted from being a personal expression to being seen as a tool for social justice. This change can often make it feel like art is less valuable on its own.
  2. The idea of mental health and crime might need a new perspective. Instead of seeing criminals as purely bad or insane, we should consider how their behavior is shaped by their circumstances.
  3. People are increasingly viewing life through a 'gaming' lens, where winning is the main goal. This approach can lead to a lack of compassion and fulfillment, showing that there might be a need to seek a deeper meaning beyond games and stories.

Occam’s Shaving Cream

Breaking Smart • 18 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Writing should feel fun and engaging; if it doesn't, it may need a fresh touch.
  2. It's important to keep your own standards in mind when creating content, aiming for joy rather than just quality.
  3. Sometimes a simple idea or concept can spark the creativity needed to write something meaningful.

The Nature of a Cage

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. In restrictive environments, people tend to either comply with rules or defy them. This limits creativity and innovation.
  2. Explaining the reason behind rules can ease feelings of disempowerment and reduce defiance.
  3. To foster innovation, create open spaces with minimal constraints, allowing room for creativity to flourish.

The Ruffian's Greatest Hits 2023

The Ruffian • 165 implied HN points • 23 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Stories can hinder critical thinking by creating a comforting narrative.
  2. Historical narratives can overshadow truth and harm the discipline of history.
  3. Discussing complex and controversial topics like gender identity requires nuanced understanding and thoughtful discourse.

Little Treats #5

Autoscriptorium • 39 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Consider indulging in small treats to break up daily routines and find moments of joy and relaxation.
  2. Exploring different activities like watercolor painting or using unique products like squalane oil can bring a meditative and refreshing experience.
  3. Discover new interests, like trying out new snacks or equipment at the gym, to add excitement and variety to your routine.

#90 Zip it!

Design Lobster • 219 implied HN points • 18 Oct 21
🪑 Design Art
  1. The zipper's history dates back to innovative designs in the 1800s, leading to the mass acceptance we see today.
  2. Designs like 'Habitat' buttons showcased personal interests, similar to a mini smartphone wallpaper.
  3. A quote from a fashion designer emphasizes the importance of staying true to convictions, even in the face of initial rejection.

Thank You!

Unpopular Front • 60 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. The newsletter has been successful and is about to celebrate four years. The writer is grateful for the support from readers during this time.
  2. Starting the newsletter was a big risk after losing a job and facing rejections, but it turned out to be a great decision.
  3. The writer aims to keep providing understanding and entertainment to the readers in the future, especially during challenging times.

On Ibsen's Enemy of the People—Or How to Face Public Outrage

Vremya • 179 implied HN points • 09 Apr 22
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Public outrage has always existed, but it’s more concentrated now on social media. It’s common for people with new or uncomfortable ideas to be met with resistance.
  2. Ibsen's play 'An Enemy of the People' shows the struggle of speaking uncomfortable truths. The main character faces anger and backlash when he reveals that the town's spa is contaminated.
  3. The play highlights the challenges of changing people's minds about moral beliefs. It can be tough to share important ideas, especially when they go against what many believe to be true.

Review: The 95th Academy Awards

Obvious Bicycle • 263 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Certain winners at the 95th Academy Awards had their mic cut off during acceptance speeches, raising questions of disrespect.
  2. The movie 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' dominated the Oscars, winning in major categories despite divisive opinions on its quality.
  3. The success of 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' reflects a shift in awarding more original and risky films, indicating a positive direction for the future of cinema.

We Can Never Forget

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 179 implied HN points • 31 Mar 22
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. The U.S. government forcibly removed 120,000 Japanese Americans during WWII, showing a dark part of history.
  2. Artists Kamekichi Tokita and Kenjiro Nomura were respected sign painters in Seattle before their families were incarcerated.
  3. Their artwork reflects their experiences and perspectives, reminding us to remember and learn from past injustices.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 30

Why is this interesting? • 60 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. There's a website that focuses on the growing trend of not just saying 'hello' when messaging. It highlights how our digital communication has changed.
  2. One man shared his story of buying 81 leather jackets and how this habit has affected his life. It's a quirky take on consumerism and addiction.
  3. Tokyo's subway system is now managing one of London's subway lines, taking over from the previous Chinese management. This shows how global partnerships in public transport are evolving.

Purples

Nice Try • 199 implied HN points • 26 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Life is full of distractions, but they can be welcome ones. Whether it's cleaning or spending time with family, these activities help us cope.
  2. Ordering groceries online can lead to unexpected surprises, like receiving way too many cans of tuna. It's funny how mistakes can turn into unique challenges.
  3. Creative projects, like painting a room or using a synthesizer, can become overwhelming and messy. It's important to keep things simple and not lose track of what you intended to do.

The one and the many

Soaring Twenties • 131 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
📚 Literature Art
  1. The poem explores the concepts of unity and diversity through discussions about music and movies.
  2. It showcases the idea of unity-in-diversity in relationships, where individuals with different tastes can still find common ground.
  3. The piece emphasizes how art can bring people together and create unity, even in the midst of differing opinions and preferences.

30 Jan 2024 – Windowless skyscrapers and random numbers

Outsider Art • 19 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art
  1. Some skyscrapers lack windows and were constructed in the 1960s-1970s to house telecommunications equipment, like 33 Thomas Street in New York City.
  2. Windowless skyscrapers were designed to aid in temperature control and protect against external threats, including withstanding a nuclear blast.
  3. The Brutalist design of windowless skyscrapers like 33 Thomas Street replaced earlier Art Deco telecommunications hubs, ushering in an age of mass surveillance.

Monsters and Mediocrity

Breaking Smart • 47 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Monsters often need a vital or life-like element to exist, just like Frankenstein's monster needed a 'spark of life' to be animated.
  2. Contraptions and monsters share a relationship where both may lack design integrity and are often unnamed, highlighting their unfinished or imperfect nature.
  3. True monsters are typically derived from living beings, reflecting a recognizable perversion of something familiar, like a giant cockroach.

2024 Oscar Nominations: Picks and Predictions

Sounds Good! • 19 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. The Oscar nominations for 2024 were recently announced with some surprises and snubs.
  2. Opinions on who should win and who will actually win vary in different categories.
  3. The author has strong preferences for certain films and actors, like "Killers of the Flower Moon", but acknowledges the subjectivity and unpredictability of award ceremonies.

Five Links for December 2024

Five Links (and three graphs) by Auren Hoffman • 56 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Art
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