The hottest Criticism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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My borscht recipe and other essential knowledge

The Lifeboat ā€¢ 229 implied HN points ā€¢ 14 Mar 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. The first episode acts as a microcosm of the whole novel, using poetic, associative logic and repeated symbols instead of a conventional plot.
  2. The English translation adds lively, digressive footnotes that serve as commentary and cultural background, giving readers extra context and a distinct translatorial voice.
  3. Rich multimedia and folkloric imageryā€”songs (Letov and Pink Floyd), Ophelia paintings, the chort figure, and borscht/samogĆ³n motifsā€”build a sensory, immersive Tulubaikan world.

Further thoughts on some of the topics from my 'Conversation with Tyler'

The Common Reader ā€¢ 1488 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Mar 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. A major English-language religious novel could appear much sooner than expected, possibly within a few years rather than decades.
  2. Dostoevskyā€™s short works can be excellent, but his long novels often feel melodramatic and nationally biased, and readersā€™ temperaments strongly shape how they respond to him.
  3. Shakespeare wrote for both the stage and the page, with a substantial contemporary print readership, so reading his plays is a legitimate and sometimes preferable way to experience them.

Lines Composed In A Fake Sequoia Forest

Astral Codex Ten ā€¢ 6469 implied HN points ā€¢ 11 Mar 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. The title evokes a poetic or lyrical piece that contemplates an artificial sequoia forest and the contrast between made and natural environments.
  2. Access is restricted to paid subscribers, so the content is behind a paywall and aimed at a paying readership.
  3. A publication date and numeric engagement indicators are shown, suggesting the piece has measurable reader interest.

What is happening to writing?

Res Obscura ā€¢ 22550 implied HN points ā€¢ 18 Feb 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. AI is already generating huge amounts of readable but shallow prose that many people actually prefer, which is commoditizing large swaths of writing and coding work and threatening lower-tier creative jobs.
  2. Jobs and tasks that require embodied, in-person, or heavily regulated workā€”like teaching, archival history research, electricians, and plumbersā€”are much less likely to be replaced quickly because social and regulatory change lags technical capability.
  3. New AI-powered interactive tools and research helpers are exciting and useful, but they create cognitive debt and risk hollowing out the slow, solitary practice of thinking-through-writing and the shared public conversations that great literature and scholarship produce.

The Problem Isn't Polyamory. It's Lindy West.

Default Wisdom ā€¢ 847 implied HN points ā€¢ 17 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Criticism
  1. Constant self-deprecation and jokes about being a mess can undercut real observations, leaving sharp insights feeling abandoned instead of fully developed.
  2. Believing you are unworthy can make you accept relationships you donā€™t actually want, because you assume no one else would choose you.
  3. A strain of millennial "choice" feminism turned personal pain and messy behavior into a performative aesthetic, treating self-destructive acts as authenticity or marketable confession rather than things to be healed.
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My appearance on Conversations with Tyler

The Common Reader ā€¢ 2126 implied HN points ā€¢ 05 Mar 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. They did close readings of Measure for Measure and debated bold interpretations, like whether Isabella slept with Angelo, treating Shakespeare as ideologically pragmatic.
  2. The discussion offered strong tastes about many writers and works ā€” calling the Forsyte Chronicles overrated and weighing Milton, Spenser, Tolkien, and Harry Potter ā€” and raised big questions about whether fiction can seriously handle religion and mental illness.
  3. The tone was lively and candid, with spirited philosophical back-and-forths (skepticism about Girardian readings) and a pointed critique of advertisingā€™s 1960s "Creative Revolution."

Hollywood Franchise Reboots Are Full of Overpowering, Stultifying Reverence

Freddie deBoer ā€¢ 5785 implied HN points ā€¢ 02 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Criticism
  1. Many modern franchise reboots treat their own past like sacred scripture, stuffing films with reverent callbacks and sentimental moments that make new entries feel self-serious and stale.
  2. This kind of reverence kills surprise and risk, so studios default to safe repetition, rigid canon, and fan-service instead of bold storytelling or real invention.
  3. Original hits often worked because they were irreverent and playful, so revivals should treat old material as clay to reshape and update, not as relics to be worshipped.

George Steiner breaking my heart with his description of the way people used to memorise poems, Bible passages, classic works.

The Common Reader ā€¢ 4536 implied HN points ā€¢ 23 Feb 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Memorising poetry and classic texts used to be central to educated life, giving people a shared store of quotations and echoes that shaped public speech and culture.
  2. That routine memorisation has largely faded in modern schooling and many teachers no longer practise it, though pockets of the habit survive in some places and among some people.
  3. Making a personal effort to memorise poems and to copy out passages (ruminatio) deepens understanding of texts and is a worthwhile, rewarding practice to revive.

Nick Cave's The Sick Bag Song

Kvetch ā€¢ 16 implied HN points ā€¢ 21 Mar 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Regional memories are turned into inflated myth, with a big-voiced, self-mocking epic style that challenges a national reluctance to grand storytelling.
  2. Lyrical prose freed from music creates vivid and often grotesque imagesā€”sex, decay, and strange humorā€”while quieter currents of loneliness and grief run underneath the bravado.
  3. The vast American landscape serves as a stage for these myths and points to a broader longing for an Australian epic, and hearing the text read aloud noticeably deepens the impact.

Why Continue After Five Years?

Animation Obsessive ā€¢ 6458 implied HN points ā€¢ 15 Feb 26
šŸŽØ Art & Illustration Criticism
  1. Theyā€™re celebrating a fiveā€‘year anniversary for their animation newsletter, marking a big milestone in the projectā€™s life.
  2. The project began as a Twitter account about animation and evolved into a full publication run by co-runners.
  3. The newsletter uses a paid subscription model with a sevenā€‘day free trial and gated archives for paid readers.

My Warning About AI Music from 1988

The Honest Broker ā€¢ 14029 implied HN points ā€¢ 30 Jan 26
šŸŽ¶ Music Criticism
  1. Human imperfections are central to artistic expression; mistakes and rough edges can make music more expressive and emotionally powerful.
  2. Art is an expressive human activity, so works produced by machinesā€”even if technically flawlessā€”are categorically different from human-created masterpieces and lack the same expressive meaning.
  3. AI that closely imitates human creativity can feel unsettling, and this gap between human artistry and machine imitation canā€™t be bridged merely by better algorithms.

One Man In His Time Plays Many Parts

Gideon's Substack ā€¢ 9 implied HN points ā€¢ 24 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Criticism
  1. Writing for a quarterly gives critics time to think, but those pieces often appear after productions have closed, so theater criticism frequently becomes the only lasting record of ephemeral shows.
  2. Rising costs for live performers make large-cast classical plays harder to stage, so theaters respond with higher prices, star casting, inventive doubling, or by reimagining works as one-person shows.
  3. One-person shows can be theatrically inventiveā€”using technology or a virtuoso performer to create many roles and worldsā€”but they can also feel lonely or mournful, reflecting social isolation as much as artistic choice.

I Blame Jan Garbarek

The Honest Broker ā€¢ 14162 implied HN points ā€¢ 23 Jan 26
šŸŽ¶ Music Criticism
  1. Jan Garbarek helped create a distinct European jazz identity with a cool, spacious "ECM" sound that stood apart from American jazz and let European artists flourish at home.
  2. He started out steeped in U.S. models like Coltrane but evolved into his own voice, moving from fiery postā€‘bop to a haunting, minimalist saxophone style.
  3. Garbarek and producer Manfred Eicher championed bold crossā€‘cultural collaborations that blurred jazz with world, folk, and early music, expanding what jazz could be.

Oscars 2026 - Thoughts & Predictions

Obvious Bicycle ā€¢ 328 implied HN points ā€¢ 15 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Criticism
  1. One Battle After Another is the predicted Best Picture winner despite Sinnersā€™ record nominations and recent wins, while Marty Supreme is widely regarded by many as the best film but is unlikely to take the top prize.
  2. Best Actor looks like the nightā€™s wild card ā€” TimothĆ©e Chalamet and Michael B. Jordan are the main frontrunners and a DiCaprio upset is possible, with Chalamet slightly favored in most predictions.
  3. Technical and craft awards are expected to be split mainly between Sinners and One Battle After Another, with Marty Supreme strong in editing and score, and thereā€™s a broader sense that the Academy is playing it safe by concentrating nominations and wins among a small group of films.

Top reads of the week

gender:hacked by Eliza Mondegreen ā€¢ 277 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Oct 24
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. The week features a selection of interesting articles to read. It's a great way to catch up on new ideas and perspectives.
  2. There's an option for a 7-day free trial to access more content. This lets people explore more without any initial cost.
  3. You can easily share the top reads with friends. Sharing is a good way to discuss things you find valuable or thought-provoking.

Hating Stranger Things During the Death Rattle of Criticism

Freddie deBoer ā€¢ 29764 implied HN points ā€¢ 05 Dec 25
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Criticism
  1. Honest negative criticism is disappearing because critics and outlets avoid upsetting fanbases, turning cultural commentary into timid PR instead of meaningful evaluation.
  2. Stranger Things is held up as an example of that decay: it's criticized for lazy nostalgia, contrived plotting, too many characters, weak visuals, and pandering that flattens people and moral consequences.
  3. Fandom-driven reference culture and fear of backlash prioritize viral, comforting content over authenticity and nuance, tokenize representation, and discourage critics from calling out bad art.

Maxims Vol.3

Heir to the Thought ā€¢ 99 implied HN points ā€¢ 27 Oct 24
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Mistakes are part of learning, but aim to make ones that you can learn from more than once. It's about improving rather than being perfect.
  2. True journalism supports freedom, but vanity can make journalists act against it. Being genuine can help you find a path to liberty.
  3. Grace is important in life. It's a powerful quality that everyone should try to create and share with others regularly.

Ten reasons to read great literature in 2026

The Common Reader ā€¢ 8363 implied HN points ā€¢ 01 Jan 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Literature offers unique, deep pleasures and stretches your imagination through the force of language.
  2. Great books help you understand human character, grapple with moral questions, and pursue meaning in life.
  3. Reading cultivates solitude, focus, and intellectual freedom, and preserves a civilization's highest achievements across time.

Fierce, wild, intractability. Emily Brontƫ's untameable spirit

The Common Reader ā€¢ 1842 implied HN points ā€¢ 10 Feb 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Emily needed liberty and the moors to breathe; being sent to school or foreign systems made her physically and mentally ill, so home solitude was essential to her wellā€‘being.
  2. She was intensely reserved and impervious to public opinion, with a powerful, logical mind and vivid imagination that she pursued quietly even while doing household work.
  3. She showed fierce, uncompromising loyalty to animals and a strong will ā€” willing to punish them harshly when provoked but also to tend and mourn them with deep care.

How Naomi Kanakia read the Great Books

The Common Reader ā€¢ 2161 implied HN points ā€¢ 05 Feb 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Anyone can read the Great Books ā€” they arenā€™t just for snobs or scholars.
  2. If you spend enough time with these books, theyā€™ll probably change you in some way; the fear of slogging through them and getting nothing is usually unfounded.
  3. Practical, down-to-earth reading habits make the Great Books doable even with a busy life, and reading widely and persistently is how people actually get the most out of them.

Marty Supreme

Life Since the Baby Boom ā€¢ 3688 implied HN points ā€¢ 30 Jan 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Criticism
  1. The film lacks a moral center and a convincing motive for its protagonist, so you never really root for Marty or understand why his quest matters.
  2. The director prioritizes flashy technique and hyper-kinetic editing over character and story, making the movie feel showy and exhausting rather than meaningful.
  3. Loud, anachronistic choices like the 80s-style synth score clash with the 1950s setting and distract from the film, so it can feel more grating than immersive.

An economist asks: What is the value of reading great literature like Eliot and Tolstoy?

The Common Reader ā€¢ 5563 implied HN points ā€¢ 06 Jan 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Long novels let you live inside many characters' minds, so you can see how people are absorbed in their own concerns and how that shapes their actions.
  2. They let you watch decisions play out over years, revealing long-term and second-order consequences and the slow moral formation you don't get from short films or posts.
  3. Experiencing the book yourself matters because summaries can't recreate the immersive detail, and different passages will resonate with different readers in different ways.

My Problem with Clear Writing

The Honest Broker ā€¢ 10173 implied HN points ā€¢ 08 Dec 25
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Clarity isn't always the best goal; sometimes obscure or complex writing preserves nuance and rewards careful, patient reading.
  2. Forcing writers into a crystal-clear style can stifle their voice and creativity, leaving the writing dull and lifeless.
  3. Calling difficult writing meaningless is often unfair ā€” challenging texts can contain real insight if readers slow down and engage differently.

Poetry as contemplation

Silentium ā€¢ 299 implied HN points ā€¢ 19 Oct 24
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Poetry can be a way to find peace and quiet in a noisy world. It encourages us to slow down and reflect on our thoughts.
  2. Engaging with poetry allows for deeper contemplation and understanding of our feelings. It can help us connect with ourselves in a meaningful way.
  3. Taking time for poetry can improve our mental well-being. It offers a gentle escape and can be a source of comfort and inspiration.

Top reads of the week

gender:hacked by Eliza Mondegreen ā€¢ 297 implied HN points ā€¢ 19 Oct 24
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. You can find a list of popular articles to read each week. It's a great way to discover new topics and ideas.
  2. Thereā€™s an option to subscribe for a free trial to access more articles. This allows you to see if you like the content before committing.
  3. The site has a focus on specific interests, making it easier to find related information you care about. It's like having a personalized reading list.

David Mamet: Robert Duvall Was the Best Actor of His Generation

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 978 implied HN points ā€¢ 18 Feb 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Criticism
  1. Robert Duvallā€™s acting was marked by truthful simplicity, showing a real person with a clear objective instead of theatrical embellishment.
  2. Sanford Meisner urged students to study Duvall, seeing him as the prime example of authentic, watch-and-learn acting.
  3. Duvall is remembered as the best actor of his generation and as a model who teaches actors to prioritize honesty over technique or interpretation.

Awards Season Rivals Sinners and One Battle Another Are Both Very Good, Very Fun, and Very Overrated

Freddie deBoer ā€¢ 4981 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Dec 25
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Criticism
  1. Both Sinners and One Battle After Another are very entertaining, well-made genre movies but donā€™t actually contain the deep political or prophetic meanings critics keep assigning them.
  2. Auteur prestige and the cultural economy of importance create a halo effect that leads critics to read symbolic weight into films that are primarily popcorn entertainment.
  3. Itā€™s fine for films to be fun and lightweight; critics should be willing to praise craft and enjoyment without forcing unwarranted profundity onto every popular movie.

The Biography Bots are Back

Roryā€™s Always On Newsletter ā€¢ 615 implied HN points ā€¢ 04 Oct 24
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Authors often check their names online to manage their reputation and prevent other products from hijacking their name. It's important for them to stay aware, especially around book release dates.
  2. AI-created biographies often contain inaccuracies and may read like generic content. Many times, they lack the personal touch and detail that a real biography should have.
  3. Despite the rise of AI, there's still a significant difference in quality between AI and human-written works. Original and creative writers can still stand out and have value that AI can't replicate.

Curator

Castalia ā€¢ 1758 implied HN points ā€¢ 08 Aug 24
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Criticism
  1. Literary writing should introduce new ideas, provide honest experiences, or unleash creativity. Unfortunately, much of what's out there feels repetitive and lacks depth.
  2. There's a growing disconnect between writers and publishers, as publishers often prioritize profits over the integrity of literary work. This leads to a system that might not serve those truly passionate about literature.
  3. The publishing industry is shifting, and some men feel left out of the conversation. It's essential to remember that literature should be about artistic expression, not just political representation.

The Troll School of Literature

Castalia ā€¢ 2238 implied HN points ā€¢ 30 Jul 24
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Some writers gain fame not for their talent, but for the buzz around them. This can help their books sell, even if the writing isn't good.
  2. Reviews can sometimes fail to criticize bad books, making it harder for readers to know what's worthwhile. Honest reviews are important to point out what really matters.
  3. The idea of just getting attention, regardless of quality, can overshadow real literary talent. Itā€™s easy for readers to get caught up in the hype instead of seeking out good literature.

2025 was a very good year for literary writing on Substack

The Common Reader ā€¢ 3508 implied HN points ā€¢ 09 Dec 25
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Substack is becoming an important platform for literary criticism, showcasing many talented writers. More people are noticing and engaging with their work.
  2. Writers like Naomi Kanakia, BDM, and Joel J Miller are producing exciting content and gaining larger audiences. Their contributions are important to the literary community.
  3. Overall, there's a revival of deep literary discussion and analysis, which is beneficial for both writers and readers. This trend seems likely to continue and grow.

Why read novels?

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER ā€¢ 1546 implied HN points ā€¢ 22 Jan 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Novels let you explore characters' inner lives and deliver a single writer's clear vision, giving access to thought and nuance that other media often can't match.
  2. Reading is an active, focus-building activity that trains sustained attention and usually feels more rewarding than passively consuming short-form phone content.
  3. Novels create shared cultural touchstones and are a realistic, high-quality way to spend limited free time when great conversations or other ideal experiences arenā€™t available.

OpenAIā€™s Waterloo? [with corrections]

Marcus on AI ā€¢ 14900 implied HN points ā€¢ 14 Aug 25
šŸ•¹ Technology Criticism
  1. OpenAI has overhyped its AI models, especially GPT-5, leading to disappointment among users. Many now realize that the promises made about the technology were not delivered.
  2. Critics of AI, who have been dismissed in the past, are starting to gain recognition as the limitations of current models become clearer. The scientific community believes that a new approach may be necessary to advance AI technology.
  3. The situation reveals that the science of AI isnā€™t about popularity; itā€™s about truth and progress. It's important to listen to critiques and recognize that real advancements need honest discussions.

Things Worth Remembering: Elvis Costello Brought Poetry to Life

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 1020 implied HN points ā€¢ 01 Feb 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Criticism
  1. Music can make poetry feel immediate and accessible. It shows poetry doesn't have to be remote or obscure.
  2. A narrow focus on classical, canonical poetry can make poems seem distant and confusing. That approach can alienate readers and make poems feel chopped up.
  3. Finding a personal entry point, like song lyrics, can change how someone relates to poetry and even shape their creative path. A relatable gateway can open a lasting appreciation for poetic language.

What is "Comfort," Anyway?

Story Club with George Saunders ā€¢ 67 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Mar 26
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Comfort often comes from facing the truth, even when itā€™s painful, because admitting reality can reduce anxiety and open possibilities.
  2. Sometimes reassuring a frightened personā€”especially a childā€”means offering a gentle untruth, since calming them in the moment can be the kinder, more useful choice.
  3. Turning your attention outward to help someone else can steady you and remind you who you want to be, and honest appraisal of problems often frees you to find new solutions.

The New Cultural Criticism

Political Currents by Ross Barkan ā€¢ 41 implied HN points ā€¢ 15 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Criticism
  1. A new wave of cultural critics mixes novelistic storytelling with serious criticism, producing long, narrative-driven essays that feel more like stories than short reviews.
  2. They favor deep, first-person, character-focused reporting and welcome moral ambiguity instead of quick condemnations, often writing 5,000ā€“17,000 word pieces that let the reporting shape the conclusion.
  3. Publishing on platforms without strict print limits lets this work escape short-form social media, offering a possible antidote to ephemerality and creating criticism that can be read and argued over for years.

Seamus Heaney: a jobber among shadows.

The Common Reader ā€¢ 2126 implied HN points ā€¢ 11 Dec 25
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. Seamus Heaney often uses a soft and calming voice in his poetry, creating a sense of comfort and familiarity. This voice is filled with packed meanings that invite readers to explore deeper emotions.
  2. Heaney's writing encourages a balance between being literal and vague, allowing his words to convey mood and atmosphere while still crafting vivid images. This gives his poetry a musical quality that resonates with the reader's feelings.
  3. Heaney skillfully employs compound nouns to create unique images and express complex emotions. This linguistic technique adds richness to his work, reflecting his connection to nature and history, and emphasizes his distinctive poetic style.

What Is Happening to Music Criticism?

The Honest Broker ā€¢ 9840 implied HN points ā€¢ 24 Jul 25
šŸŽ¶ Music Criticism
  1. Music criticism is declining, with fewer full-time writers left at newspapers. This has made it hard for local music stories and events to get coverage.
  2. In some big cities, there is only one full-time arts critic left, and they might not last long. This could leave communities without anyone to write about their local arts and culture.
  3. Many places no longer have any paid journalists covering music or culture at all. This lack of coverage can create a 'media black hole' where important stories don't get told.

E.B. Whiter than White

The Common Reader ā€¢ 2197 implied HN points ā€¢ 27 Nov 25
šŸ“š Literature Criticism
  1. E.B. White is known for his beautiful writing style and essays, but some find it too gentle and nostalgic, lacking depth in more serious topics.
  2. While his stories like _Charlotteā€™s Web_ are cherished, his essays sometimes come off as overly simplistic, making readers wish for more complex ideas.
  3. Many appreciate White for his clear and charming prose, but it can feel insufferable and repetitive after a while, as he often avoids hard-hitting truths.

Can We Stop Trying to Cancel the ā€˜00s?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 204 implied HN points ā€¢ 20 Feb 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Criticism
  1. Thereā€™s a growing wave of documentaries re-examining early-2000s pop culture that focuses on how those shows and brands were abusive or problematic.
  2. These pieces follow a predictable formula: highlight practices that were already criticized, make viewers feel complicit, and then offer only mild behind-the-scenes revelations.
  3. That cycle is getting tiresome because it often feels like performative canceling instead of real accountability or deeper insight, and it overlooks the historical context of how people saw things at the time.