The hottest Criticism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

A Bone to Pick (With Me)

Story Club with George Saunders • 37 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
📚 Literature Fiction Non-fiction Poetry Essays Criticism
  1. The importance of intention in writing is significant. It's about understanding what you want to communicate and why it matters.
  2. Engaging with feedback can enhance the writing process. Listening to others can provide new perspectives and improve your work.
  3. Creative exercises can be beneficial. They can stimulate ideas and help writers think outside the box.

Reading, Watching 11.03.24

Unpopular Front • 28 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
📚 Literature Books Essays Criticism Publishing Media
  1. The controversy around using the term 'fascism' to describe Trump shows differing views on political threats today. Some argue it doesn’t quite fit our current situation.
  2. There is a debate about how historical contexts of fascism apply today, especially concerning the role of the left in political upheaval.
  3. The left today feels both ignored and targeted, raising questions about its true influence and significance in current politics.

Review of a City on Mars (Part III)

Planetocracy • 137 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics International Law Sociology Criticism
  1. Space law and international treaties can be used to argue against human expansion but may have unexplored assumptions.
  2. The concept of collective property in space, favored by some, could lead to a bureaucratic system overseen by an international body like the UN.
  3. Enforcing international law on Mars, especially in the face of defiance, poses challenges that have not been thoroughly considered by critics of human expansion.

What Do You Do With a Problem Like Achilles?

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 99 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
📚 Literature Themes Narrative Violence Mythology Criticism
  1. Book 21 of the Iliad portrays Achilles' extreme violence and cosmic impact, highlighting the danger he poses and his conflict with gods.
  2. The narrative in the Iliad marks Achilles' actions as excessive and transgressive, questioning the traditional heroic depictions in battle.
  3. Ancient readers and scholia saw the behavior of Achilles in book 21 as excessive and indicated a shift in the epic's storytelling approach.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Ernest Hemingway: Macho Cat Dad

Litverse • 479 implied HN points • 05 Oct 22
📚 Literature Biography Criticism Authorship Writing Style
  1. Ernest Hemingway, known for his macho image, had a deep connection with cats and spent a significant part of his life breeding them.
  2. Hemingway's persona often overshadowed the complexity and sensitivity in his writing, leading to misconceptions about his work.
  3. Through his unusual interactions with cats, Hemingway's true character emerges as a blend of strength and vulnerability, challenging common perceptions of his masculinity.

Trail Runner's editor-in-chief vows to remain a hypocritical, privileged imbecile who dismisses athletically, intellectually, morally, and creatively superior people as "trolls"

Beck of the Pack • 137 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Running Media Criticism Sports Ethics
  1. The editor-in-chief of Trail Runner has been criticized for being hypocritical and dismissive of others
  2. There is concern over the quality and integrity of content in certain running publications
  3. Ethical concerns have been raised regarding the behavior of individuals in the running industry

Beloved liar, cheater, coward, and quitter Latoya Snell BAILS from ANOTHER race, collects ANOTHER sham medal, and belches out MORE nonsense from Scamtown

Beck of the Pack • 117 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Running Social Issues Criticism Fitness Satire
  1. Latoya Snell is criticized for bailing from races and collecting medals under false pretenses
  2. The running industry is portrayed in a negative light regarding ethics and integrity
  3. The author expresses frustration with the lack of accountability in the running community

Essay Club: Why I Write by George Orwell

Mind & Mythos • 179 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
📚 Literature Essays Fiction Non-fiction Writing Criticism
  1. George Orwell wanted to make political writing more artistic and impactful. He believed that writing should not just inform, but also engage the reader emotionally.
  2. Orwell reflected on his personal motivations for writing, showing that his experiences shaped his views and style. He felt that understanding one’s own reasons for writing is crucial.
  3. His work reminds us that writing can be a powerful tool for social change. Orwell believed that through good writing, we can influence thoughts and inspire action.

Story Thirty-Four

Stories From The Rail • 279 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Criticism
  1. Tucker Carlson faced consequences and got kicked out by Fox with little fanfare.
  2. Be careful with your text messages, as they can easily be seen and shared by others.
  3. Supporting individuals in need can make a significant difference in their lives, whether through financial contributions or subscriptions.

Book out Book in

Splattern • 39 implied HN points • 21 May 24
📚 Literature Memoir History Politics Criticism Book Reviews
  1. _A Pearl in the Storm_ is a powerful memoir about resilience and finding purpose, highlighting the importance of inner strength during tough times.
  2. In _The Best and the Brightest_, Halberstam explains how fear of being labeled soft on communism influenced American decisions in the Vietnam War.
  3. Halberstam enjoyed the process of researching and interviewing for his book, finding it to be a fulfilling intellectual journey.

Some Notes on Hate-Watching

Banana Peel Pirouette • 197 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Media Literature Society Entertainment Criticism
  1. The practice of hate-watching involves watching shows or movies that are disliked, without enjoying them but still keeping up with the content.
  2. Hate-watching can stem from strong emotional responses like umbrage or aversion, leading viewers to engage with content they dislike on a sub-rational level.
  3. Hate-watching has evolved with modern media, offering a safe way for audiences to consume and critique content remotely, often leading to online discussions and shared sentiments.

How We Read

Something to Consider • 39 implied HN points • 11 May 24
📚 Literature Writing Reading Fiction Communication Criticism
  1. Great writing is more than just being understood; it's about how effectively it communicates complex ideas. Sometimes, what we call 'great' can actually be harder to grasp.
  2. We read not just to learn, but to judge the author's skill. Good writing shows intelligence, while mistakes can hint at a lack of it.
  3. Bad writing can still be easily understood, but it doesn't impress us. Great writing often challenges us and makes us think differently.

Copy and paste

gen yeet • 176 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
📚 Literature Criticism Poetry Authors Novels Writing
  1. Intertextuality explores the relationship between texts and their cultural environments.
  2. Writing can be seen as a collage, with language harvested and organized like pieces of a puzzle.
  3. Craft in writing can involve playful word experimentation and the incorporation of multiple voices.

Escaping a Hostage Situation

Five’s Substack • 3 HN points • 02 Sep 24
🎭️ Culture Art Education Literature Philosophy Criticism
  1. Art isn’t just about making choices; it’s shaped by tradition and cliché. Artists work against old patterns to create something new.
  2. Writing essays teaches important thinking skills, just like exercising builds muscle. It’s about understanding tradition and learning to navigate it.
  3. There’s a growing issue with relying on AI, which can hurt self-confidence and creativity. We need to foster independence from these tools to create authentic art.

Months Late Game Review, Part 2. ... Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Some Bad Things.

The Bottom Feeder • 315 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Gaming Design Criticism Storytelling Inventory Management
  1. Deep criticism of games may not always engage a wide audience.
  2. Critiquing games can help keep design skills fresh and provide valuable design exercises.
  3. Large games like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom may have flaws, such as excessive encounter reuse and key plot elements revealed too early.

Channeling Gore Vidal in a James Bond Book

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 40 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
📚 Literature Fiction Writing Criticism Books Authors
  1. The book 'Forever and a Day' has exciting scenes that build tension and keep the reader engaged, including moments where the characters share their backstories.
  2. The story provides a unique perspective on World War II, suggesting a critical view of American involvement and its consequences.
  3. The author, Anthony Horowitz, weaves in political commentary, showing how fictional characters can reflect real-world issues and beliefs.

AI shit lit panic

The Leftovers • 139 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
📚 Literature Culture AI Criticism Writers Books
  1. The focus is on the quality of content, whether produced by humans or AI, rather than who created it.
  2. There is a concern about AI-generated 'shit lit' cluttering platforms, and a desire for human-created content.
  3. The author embraces elitism in drawing critical lines in literary criticism.

Are we allowed to criticise Australian national teams?

The Pick and Roll • 137 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Criticism Basketball
  1. The Australian Boomers failed at the FIBA 2023 World Cup, and their coach admitted they deserve criticism for the failure.
  2. It's important to acknowledge both the benefits of positivity and the necessity of facing truths, like the fact that failure is part of life.
  3. In a culture that often leans towards endless positivity, it can be challenging to objectively critique and address failures in professional sports.

Inspiration, Indolence, and the Torment of Toilet Texting

Litverse • 239 implied HN points • 26 Oct 22
📚 Literature Creativity Inspiration Poetry Romanticism Criticism
  1. Many people use their phones on the toilet, but this habit may be robbing us of valuable inspiration. Finding moments of boredom can actually lead to creative breakthroughs.
  2. In a culture obsessed with measuring every aspect of our lives, we often overlook the value of unquantifiable activities like relaxation and creativity. Embracing unmediated moments can bring joy and inspiration.
  3. Constant phone use can hinder our ability to relax and be creative. We need to find a balance between hustle and leisure to truly tap into our potential and avoid missing out on life's deeper experiences.

To Build a Healthy Super-Organism: A City for Citizens

Holodoxa • 139 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Urbanism Architecture Criticism Community Public spaces
  1. Jane Jacobs emphasized that cities should be viewed through the collective lives of their citizens, not just imposed rational designs.
  2. Jacobs advocated for grassroots, decentralized approaches to city development, challenging orthodoxies of urban planning from the mid-to-late 20th century.
  3. Critics point out that Jacobs' ideas may overlook factors like human capital, centralized planning benefits, and power dynamics within urban communities, but her work remains influential in urban planning and design.

Becoming human

The Leftovers • 119 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture AI Criticism
  1. AI is impacting the cultural landscape by potentially taking over scriptwriting jobs previously done by humans.
  2. The automation of culture has been ongoing even before AI, with much of culture being formulaic and automatic.
  3. There is a significant amount of mind-numbing ideological junk produced in the cultural sphere that extends beyond just popular blockbusters.

George Orwell, Snobby Truthteller

Litverse • 119 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
📚 Literature Biography Criticism Themes Impact Analysis
  1. George Orwell's descriptions of poverty and working-class conditions often came across as snobbish and elitist to some critics.
  2. Orwell's upbringing in a family benefiting from the Empire's sins influenced his perspectives on injustice and societal change.
  3. Through his gardening, Orwell showed a commitment to beauty and resistance, highlighting the importance of finding beauty in life despite its cruelties.

On Disliking Stories

Castalia • 219 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
📚 Literature Writing Modernism Storytelling Narrative Criticism
  1. Stories can often be seen as practical jokes, repeating the same patterns that people fall for over and over. This can make writing feel cheap or formulaic.
  2. Some writers want to break free from traditional story structures to explore deeper, more honest experiences. They think the best writing comes from simply sharing real-life observations.
  3. There's value in both traditional storytelling and more experimental writing. Each has its way of connecting with readers, whether through polished craftsmanship or open exploration of truth.

Disfiguring the Fallow Earth

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 25 Mar 24
📚 Literature Classical Studies Criticism Themes Characters Narrative structure
  1. The final book of the Iliad, Book 24, ties up major tensions, transitions between the living and dead worlds, and revisits themes like reciprocity and mourning, notably in the meeting of Priam and Achilles.
  2. Zeus serves as a figure of justice in Book 24, intervening to settle the dispute between gods over giving Hektor a proper burial; this showcases a different approach to politics and the separation between mortals and gods.
  3. The opening scene of Iliad 24 sets the stage for the return of Hektor's body by emphasizing the importance of divine intervention and the resolution of conflicts, presenting Zeus as a symbol of ethical thinking and justice.

The end of literary criticism

The Leftovers • 139 implied HN points • 08 Feb 23
📚 Literature Criticism Reflection Writing
  1. The post discusses the idea of the end of literary criticism and reflects on mortality and life's meaning.
  2. The author talks about a personal Twitter list named DICKHEADS, and how it serves as a reminder of mortality and the importance of accepting life's end.
  3. There's a reflection on life wearing one out so that accepting its end is a more natural process, rather than feeling robbed.

What I'm Looking For In Literature

Castalia • 219 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
📚 Literature Criticism Writing Genres Authors Themes
  1. Literature can be seen in two ways: as an exclusive club with a few great writers or as a broad space open to anyone's creativity. Both ideas hold value, but they require different approaches to writing.
  2. The ideal literature celebrates personal truth and creativity, allowing for unique expressions rather than just following traditional rules or famous examples.
  3. Criticism of the publishing industry often focuses on the lack of originality in many works. Yet, good writing is possible if writers avoid clichés and stick to their true voices.

Fast writers and generous readers

Thoughts on Writing • 339 implied HN points • 17 Aug 22
📚 Literature Poetry Writing Reading Criticism Communication
  1. Writing at speed in modern life is common, but it's crucial to balance it with thoughtful reading to avoid rushing to judgment.
  2. Language can be complex and sometimes betray us, so it's important to consider the context and medium in which statements are made before reacting.
  3. Being a generous reader, avoiding snap judgments, and nurturing media literacy skills are essential in today's world of diverse content and opinions.

Did the French National Assembly pass a "Pfizer Article" criminalising criticism of the mRNA vaccines?

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 104 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Legislation Vaccines Criticism
  1. French National Assembly passed a law targeting explicit advice against mRNA vaccine, not just criticism.
  2. Details of the law are significant and may differ from sensational reports.
  3. Reports highlight the controversy around the law but suggest it may not be as extreme as initially portrayed.