The hottest Cultural analysis Substack posts right now

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Top World Politics Topics

Did Trump Just Take the First Steps Toward Civil War? & Backlash for NYT Essay Speculating on Taylor Swift’s Sexuality

kareem • 8982 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Legislation Social Issues Media Critique Cultural analysis
  1. Donald Trump is seen as both a flawed individual and a symbol by his followers.
  2. Historians support Colorado's effort to bar Trump from running, citing the 14th amendment.
  3. Speculating on someone's sexuality without clear evidence can be harmful and irresponsible.

Links to Consider, 2/25

In My Tribe • 318 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Political theory Cultural analysis Economic Impact Religious Studies Government transparency
  1. In some areas, class status is heavily influenced by college education and the prestigious Yankee settled areas.
  2. Martin Gurri envisions a future where the online electorate has more direct engagement in government and information is more transparent.
  3. It's important to consider the long-term effects of defense spending on the economy, as resources might be more beneficial if allocated elsewhere.

The Forgotten Capital

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 271 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🏝 Travel City exploration Monuments Cultural analysis
  1. Madrid, despite its historical significance and size, lacks a single iconic monument that stands out globally, which may contribute to its feeling of being 'normal'.
  2. The presence of iconic monuments in a city is not necessarily crucial for its day-to-day functioning, but they can play a role in enhancing a city's global recognition and status.
  3. The absence of iconic monuments in Madrid could stem from factors like historical timing, cultural preferences, or simply random chance, leading to its 'forgotten capital' status.

AI Legislation Ideas, After Xi, Tweets of the Week, Weibo Doom Scroll

ChinaTalk • 177 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Social Commentary Cultural analysis
  1. There's a push for AI legislation, where engaging in the legislative process can shape the future of policies.
  2. The succession plan after Xi Jinping in Chinese politics remains unclear and involves intricate power dynamics.
  3. Discussion around various societal topics in Chinese culture, like superstitions in housing and parenting practices.
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The Three Segments of American Culture

Political Currents by Ross Barkan • 71 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Cultural analysis Media Literature Music Online Platforms Counterculture
  1. The Macroculture includes mainstream media, major record labels, and Hollywood, shows wealth but also vulnerability in the 21st century.
  2. The Microculture, like TikTok and YouTube, represents bottom-up content creation and massive growth in online platforms, but also lacks stability and can be a hustle culture.
  3. The Mesoculture is the missing middle ground between the Macroculture and Microculture, emphasizing physical communion, demand for alternative infrastructure, and a resurgence in literary and artistic events.

And the Oscar for Economics Goes To... (2/2)

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 2 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🚌 Education Economics Cultural analysis Gender Studies Social Sciences
  1. Attending elite prep schools like the fictional Barton Academy can significantly impact future success, leading to better chances of admission to prestigious colleges and higher income levels.
  2. Distinctively Black names have always existed in the United States, and research shows that having these names does not necessarily imply disadvantages in the labor market.
  3. Moving to better neighborhoods during childhood can have a positive impact on future outcomes, such as higher education attainment and earnings, particularly if the move occurs at a young age.

The Possible Relevance of Joseph Tainter

The Permanent Problem • 5 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🚌 Education Social Dynamics Economic Implications Cultural analysis Predictive Models
  1. Joseph Tainter's theory highlights the declining marginal returns of investments in social complexity.
  2. Tainter's model suggests that unsustainable costs of complexity can be shed through controlled social simplification and decentralization.
  3. Redirecting resources and innovation to promote social and economic independence from the system could address the struggles caused by overextended capitalism.